Should Palin Step Aside?

Republican Party insiders are reeling over the cloud storms that have gathered over John McCain's decision-making process in choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate. While the party is unified in her defense concerning the controversial pick, George Stephanopoulos of ABC News wrote this morning that there are three questions the party faithful are asking themselves at the convention:

1) What else is out there about Palin? Monday brought the announcement that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant; news that Palin was once a member of the fringe Alaska independence party; and the revelation that Palin's husband was arrested for a DUI in the 1980s. The news about Palin has continued to come this morning, with the Washington Post reporting that Palin hired a lobbying firm during her time as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, to lobby for millions in earmarks for the small town.

2) Was the vetting process complete and professional? Reports in Tuesday's New York Times and Alaska Daily News both suggest the McCain campaign's vetting of Palin was swift and superficial, although the McCain campaign continues to insist that Palin was thoroughly and professionally vetted.

3) And most significantly, what message will voters hear about McCain's judgment that he chose someone to be his running mate who has almost no national security experience and who is so much of an unknown quantity?

The answers to these questions could be deal-breakers, not only for Palin's political future but for John McCain's chances in the election.

For question No. 1, if there are no new revelations, she should survive the political storm. A DUI by her husband two decades ago is nothing to be concerned about. And despite the left's insistence that Palin is a hypocrite because of her stance on family values, evangelicals and social conservatives will see her actions in her daughter's pregnancy as a sign that she lives what she believes. That is, life is sacred at conception.

In regards to question No. 2, there is no real answer. Who is to say what is required in the vetting process? A presidential candidate can request thousands of documents from a potential vice presidential pick but there is always a chance something will fall through the cracks.

But question No. 3 might have produced the most damage for McCain. Clearly, this is a window into his decision-making process and ultimately his judgment. When Americans make their decision this fall, they will want someone in the Oval Office they can have confidence in to make the right call. Rash judgments and ill-advised decisions could lead to disaster for a president. McCain's reputation has clearly suffered in this regard. Palin may be the right person for the vice presidency, but her selection is seriously degrading McCain's chances in being elected. McCain may be forced to ask her to step aside. He could spin it by saying with new revelations, it's become clear that it's time for a midstream adjustment. She could say that she has decided for the good of her family and the party she is not going to run.

One thing is clear, if a move is to be made, it has to be soon, and that means during the convention. That would give him and the party time to recover from this political mistake, and rebuild his reputation for someone who normally has sound judgment.