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An introductory video tells the story of John McCain’s military
service, including a disastrous fire aboard an aircraft carrier:
“Somehow, John McCain’s life was spared. Perhaps he had more
to do.”
Wait, so could he be … The One?
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So far, the security here at Xcel has been a tight seal. But
just as McCain starts to speak, a young many on a balcony unfurls a sign—“McCain
Votes Against Vets”—and starts yelling. “Ask McCain about his voting record,”
he shouts.
The crowd turns to look and drowns him out with a round of “USA! USA!” (He
chants along with them.) Security guards are trying to reach him, but he’s all
the way in a corner. Instead, an RNC volunteer reaches out, snags his sign, and
tears it up.
Police finally persuade the guy to leave his perch.
Now others in the audience are yelling. Men with "Law Enforcement" tags are roaming the aisles.
Update 11:48 p.m.: The American Prospect's Dana Goldstein got an interview with the heckler.
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ST. PAUL—John McCain is about to do his 2 p.m. walk-through in the Xcel center arena. But for now, the center of attention is Trace Adkins, the 6-foot-6 inch, goateed country singer slated to sing the National Anthem tonight.
“Oh my God,” says convention attendee Deb Suchla into her phone when she spots him. “I can’t breathe.”
Adkins is hard not to spot. He’s part cowboy, part Norse god, with a bass to match Sam Elliott. He hangs back in a corner next to the stage, but fans keep drawing him out to the rope line, asking to take pictures with him. Each time he tries to vanish, another fan grabs one of his enormous hands and pulls him back. Adkins’ hang-dog expression never changes, except when a camera is about to flash, at which point half his face cranks up into a crooked grin.
“Will you take a picture with my daughter’s elephant?” asks a man, shoving a stuffed doll into Adkins’ arms. Adkins looks confused. “OK,” he says, holding the elephant up next to his head. “But that’s kinda silly.”
His fans are diverse, at least for the RNC. Young girls, security guards, elected officials, older women—especially older women. Suchla says Adkins is “the only man I’d leave my husband for.” (Don’t worry, her husband knows.) One of his songs, “Hot Mama,” talks about how his wife is still sexy even if she can’t squeeze into “them old jeans.” When the ladies hear that, Suchla says, “they just melt.”
Adkins is an avowed Republican. Fans cite his song “Arlington,” sung from the perspective of a dead soldier, as evidence of his support the troops in Iraq. But it can also come off a little creepy. Here’s the chorus from “Arlington”:
And I’m proud to be on this peaceful piece of property, I’m on sacred ground and I’m in the best of company,
And I’m thankful for those thankful for the things I’ve done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.
His most famous turn, though, was as a runner-up on The Celebrity Apprentice, where he faced off in the finals against British tabloid editor Piers Morgan. Suchla described it as a “battle between good and evil”—she must have watched Mitt Romney’s speech—in which Adkins was “decent and honorable” from start to finish.
Real life has been more complicated. Adkins was charged for drunk driving in 2001 and has battled alcoholism. He was once a barroom brawler. His second wife shot him in the heart and lungs.
But of course that’s not a disqualification for the RNC. I ask Adkins if he’s nervous. “Not really,” he says. “I did the World Series.” Indeed, his sound test sounds marvelous. His high note—“land of the freeeeee”—must be somewhere around middle C.
When I ask Suchla for her last name, she jokingly suggests I include her number. You know, in case Adkins is reading.
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On Tuesday, Trailhead asked you for your suggestions on what Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston should name their baby. Many of you thought the contest was a little tasteless—a number of people suggested that Bristol and Levi might want to name the child "F--- you, Slate." The best of the rest of our 200-some entries:
Juneau
"Titular chick in unwed teen pregnancy flick; city in Alaska."—Anthony Radanovich
Slick
"Named for the famous Alaskan spill."—Rich Sapienza
Puck
"Since the Palins love hockey so much."—Becky from San Diego.
Trojan
"After the mythical god of premarital safe sex."—Anonymous
Strauss
"Because it goes with Levi."—Marc Naimark
Eagleton
"Sure, a first and last name that both end in 'ton' may be a bit much, but Bristol and Levi don't really strike me as the kind of people who would vet their child's name before picking it."—Kim Mendelsohn
Mark
"Short for earmark."—Robert Sawyer
Gravina
"As in the proposed Gravina Island Bridge, aka Alaska's Bridge to Nowhere."—Jeff
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Tonight, Sarah Palin crystallized the McCain campaign’s main strategy against Barack Obama: withering sarcasm.
You could almost hear the words drip. “My fellow citizens,” she said, “the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of ‘personal discovery.’ ” Ouch! “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.” Yikes, cut it out already! “Listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform.” For the love of ... “This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word victory except when he's talking about his own campaign.” OK, OK, tap out!
Palin will likely get accolades for her oratory, her mom-next-door likability, and her willingness to hit Obama. But hats off for being not just on-message, but on-tone.
McCain’s campaign has lately felt like a laugh track. Obama travels to Europe. McCain mocks him as an elitist celebrity airhead. Obama fills a stadium. He’s like Britney. Obama works out. He’s conceited. Obama suggests inflating your tires to save gas. Call it “Obama’s energy plan.” Anything the Obama camp does, McCain has a pat response: derision. The message boils down to, Can you believe this guy is running for president?
So far, it’s been working. McCain’s “Celebrity” ads apparently cut into Obama’s lead in national polls. And until his acceptance speech in Denver, Obama seemed reluctant to hit back.
Palin seems well-suited to join in the fun. She’s smart, she can clearly land a zinger, and, unlike McCain, she actually looks like she’s having fun up there. There’s another aspect, too, and here we’ve all been instructed to tread lightly: Palin’s gender could well strengthen her attacks. Sure, the text is that she’s simply highlighting Obama’s weaknesses. But the subtext is that she’s emasculating him. Or at least that’s the way McCain’s people should hope it looks. This general election has already had its share of measuring contests. Team McCain has done its best to paint Obama as a fey elitist—not unsuccessfully, either. In that respect, Palin could be their best weapon yet.
“Now you know why we picked Gov. Palin,” McCain said when he came onstage after her speech. It’s true. Tonally, she’s a perfect fit.
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From Sarah Palin’s speech:
I'm just one of many moms who will say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way. Our son, Track, is 19. And one week from tomorrow, September 11th, he'll deploy to Iraq with the Army infantry in the service of his country.
My nephew, Casey (ph), also enlisted and serves on a carrier in the Persian Gulf.
My family is so proud of both of them and of all the fine men and women serving the country in uniform.
(APPLAUSE)
From John McCain’s interview with Time last week:
Q: A lot of people know about your service from your books, but most people don't know that you have two sons currently in the military. Can you describe what it means to have Jack and Jimmy in uniform?
A: We don't discuss our sons.
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