Ladies, is it just me or did I sense Palin was pretty intimidated by Couric?

[Emit]

I couldn't help but notice that in several clips, Couric gave Palin raised eye brows, frowns, piercing eye stares, crossed arms -- and Couric gave Palin plenty of time to dig herself deeper. Palin tended to ramble nonsensically during those moments. Seems she may be less able to hold it together when she can't flirt her way around.


As much as I can find fault with Couric for the softball she's played in the past, I think she did pretty well with this interview - I think she was nonplussed with Palin's lack of intelligence and sophistication and it really showed in her body language and questioning of Palin. In many ways, this interview was more telling than the Charles Gibson one -- shows another weak side of Palin when she's up against a confident woman.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/25/eveningnews/main4479062.shtml


Here's one of Gibson's interviews with Palin, just for comparison:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI9J3nxB0KM&feature=related

edit typos

[cliffordu]

1. Well, ya!!! Katie's on the telly all the time and Sarah ALWAYS wanted to meet

such nice television stars.

Cause she learned everything she knows from watching television, don'tcha know.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. She can see LA and NYC from her house

Thanks a lot Leno and Letterman....

[NYC_SKP]

9. "Foreign countries are in the state that I am the executive of."....

"dontcha know..."

(thanks to Blizen's thread)

[1Hippiechick]

62. THAT was my favorite IDIOTIC line in her whole damn ramble.

[lapfog_1]

2. As Stephanie Miller said this morning

"It's a sad day when we have to depend on Katie Couric to bring gravitas to an interview..."

[Essene]

21. The pink outfit... brought gravitas!

[Left Is Write]

56. I liked the pink jacket.

Can't stand the woman, her manner of speaking, her incoherent answers, or anything she stands for, but I did like the pink jacket. ;)

[billyoc]

4. Paulson makes Couric sound like Albright.

[MrModerate]

5. Wonder if you've got something with the gender issue . . .

As in Palin's chirpy bullshit doesn't play as well with serious women as with men?

Just thinkin'

[NYC_SKP]

12. Yes...

The dynamic is different for some pretty natural and cultural reasons related to gender.

I think it's fair to say that Charlie or any male interviewer would have been very careful about pushing too hard, while for Katie there was no such worry.

From Palin's point of view, none of the flirty bullshit that she might have used, either consciously or not, was not going to be available with a female interviewer.

So, we got quite the fair and tough interview.

[seabeyond]

64. damn straight. that is why i knew the woman vote going ot her was bullshit

i can stand women like that and take them down immediately. they make my skin crawl. and then to profess she is feminist.... what bullshit. an insult. and stupid and vapid and manipulating and lyin as something i will vote for. they are just calling me stupid

[FightingIrish]

6. I just watched one of the clips. I was like they got her to memorize

a bunch of words without a clue of how to put them together in a sentence. With her lack of preparedness she would be intimidated appearing on Sesame Street.

[Emit]

14. Ichingcarpenter nailed it with this screen shot, lol

at link:

Ichingcarpenter (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-26-08 12:35 AM
Original message
Palin was even allowed to use her 3X5 Notes with Couric


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=7188983

[grantcart]

15. you watched the clip then you need to read this urgently

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7192558&mesg_id=7192558

[madrchsod]

35. katie asked intelligent questions with conviction

she actually did something meaningful for the millions the advertisers are paying her.

[JI7]

7. this interview may have saved Couric's career

i don't think Palin expected this. the interview was a bit better than Gibson in that Couric would follow up or push to try to get her to actually answer the question rather than repeat talking points and go on to the next question.

[KathieG]

8. Palin was clearly scared shitless...

I'm not sure if it was Katie, or the fact that she has finally realized how far out of her league she is. Maybe a little of both.

[Starry Messenger]

10. I've seen a few clips. I'm glad this interview happened.

I think if a male reporter had gone after Palin in this fashion, Palin defenders would be shouting cries of sexism.

[blondeatlast]

30. Couric's out of her element handling the news, but I always thought she was very good

at interviews. I think that the gender issue is valid, too; we women can tell how Palin gets her way, we've all seen it used.

Couric knew it too. She knew she had an advantage and she used it positively.

[TheDonkey]

11. the juxtposition was glaring. Palin may have felt very intimidated. She comes off as very catty

how she talks and insults people so I think she's probably very insecure.

[Essene]

19. Her comments about Russia & Putin always have a catty tone to it...

When she did that silly "see which way the wind blows" diss of Obama, it came off as really cheesy.

Also her discussion about RUSSIA seemed so superficial it was mind-boggling. She's actually making these subtle character attacks at Putin whenever she discusses her credentials. It's extremely catty.

[Emit]

44. Catty, mind-boggling and plain stupid and/or naive if you ask me

I cringed, literally, when I watched this. Then, I just froze for a moment in a panic thinking that there remains the possibility that she might someday be VP or even POTUS. Yikes. This is absolutely nuts.

[Left Is Write]

57. Her tone of voice and eye-rolling when she spoke of Putin "rearing his head"

were very reminiscent of a teenager gossiping about another teenager.

[Elwood P Dowd]

13. Palin is a high school softball player

suddenly thrust into the major leagues looking at 90 MPH fast balls. Can't wait to watch her swing at 100 MPH fast balls in the debate.

[zonkers]

16. Very astute. I believe you are onto something regarding gender dynamics here.

[CakeGrrl]

17. Good point

As others have said, whatever body language or visual cues Palin might use on men (enough so to prompt a foreign leader offering "You're gorgeous") wasn't going to fly with Couric.

I noticed that the ABC news website had a headline that claimed that Palin "charmed" NYC.

Couric let Palin know in no uncertain terms that she was immune to whatever charms Palin might work on a woman. I suspect Palin's natural instinct around women, as an ex-pageant contestant, is to see them as adversaries or competition.

I wonder if this will embolden Gwen Ifill not to lob softballs...assuming the McCain campaign doesn't cut and run from the VP debate.

[LiberalFighter]

33. I wonder how Palin would had responded..

if she was in the shoes of the German Chancellor that was given a rub by Gush?

Oh Oh OH OH

[Essene]

18. keep in mind that Palin's a small town girl dealing with major celebrities...

Even as governor of alaska, she lives in Wassila and works out of Anchorage.

When Palin said she thinks Alaska is a "microcosm" of america, she really means it. She's that ignorant.

She's likely overwhelmed and intimidated EVERYWHERE she's going these days. Sure, she's a confident woman but i think she's also human. Most of us would be intimidated by suddenly thrown into these types of situations, regardless of the "prepping" by the Sons Of Rove.

[CakeGrrl]

22. And that's where blame needs to come back squarely on John McCain's "judgment"

For insisting that this person is ready to become president. Like his voting record with Bush, this needs to be another anchor hung around his neck.

[Kind of Blue]

48. and squarely back to Palin's no blink arrogant acceptance.

[Carolina]

58. Blame McCain AND PALIN!

she could/should have blinked, she could/should have said no.

But she's too stupid and arrogant to realize this ain't no beauty contest so batting eyelashes ain't gonna cut it.

I am glad they are both exposed for their utter incompetence and power mad egos!

[LiberalFighter]

34. Most of us is right!! NOT the Governors of other states or other

elected state officials. Why? Because they have been vetted by being exposed to that level of professionalism.

She didn't even require her administrative staff or cabinet members to do their business in the capital on a daily basis.

[Left Is Write]

61. I've seen many refer to her as "confident." Is it really confidence or is it bravado?

[underpants]

20. Palin is "ATE UP"-- but that is a good observation

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7192994&mesg_id=7192994

Frankly Couric literally bailed her out by offering up "mocked" when Palin was clearly a fish out of water, totally lost.

and since this is a thread directed towards women, my wife pointed out her bangs down in her eye and now every time I see that interview THAT is all I can see. Very distracting.

[hlthe2b]

23. Exactly.. once put in a setting where her eyelash-batting flirtsy

folksy schtick won't play, she loses it....

[Essene]

25. Soooooo true so true. That's really it, isn't it? Her provincial alaskan femme charm...

... falls flat in such a situation.

[Max_powers94]

24. Ha check this out

[OneGrassRoot]

26. LOL! n/t

[Essene]

27. lmao... that needs to be shared WIDELY

[Max_powers94]

38. Bump

[rug]

28. She was overwhelmed by Katie's intellectual firepower and fierce questioning.

[dansolo]

29. She can't play the victim or the flirt

when the interviewer is a woman.

[Trekologer]

31. Palin is like a "Chatty Cathy" doll

You pull her string and out she says a talking point.

[Vinca]

32. Palin was like a moose in headlights. nt

[Orsino]

36. Couric didn't do well, except for her corporate masters.

She was throwing the softest of softballs, and Palin was hilariously unprepared even for that. The Powers That Be are no doubt blaming Couric, though, for being so tough on their precious doll.

[Jackeens]

37. Excellent theory!

I completely agree that she "may be less able to hold it together when she can't flirt her way around" - spot on! I found her body language with Gibson excruciating to watch, all that licking of the lips, winking, pouting, etc, etc....oh my God, pathetic. It's her worst nightmare to be interviewed by a woman, the 'cute but feisty little girl' routine just won't work. She looked lost, she simply couldn't handle it, and the confidence drained from her. Although why she should have had any confidence in the first place I just don't know!

[all.of.me]

39. Absolutely. There was a completely different feel to this interview.

She was cornered by one of her own and could not get out. Couric was unflappable and assertive. I had no idea she was like that. This interview was more revealing than Gibson's, because it was woman to woman, and Couric could push the envelope and Palin could not flirt her way through it. She sounded like a total idiot. I felt ashamed for her, but she probably does not feel ashamed at all. That is the scary part!

[pipi_k]

40. Hubby hates Katie Couric but...

even HE thought she did a decent job of rubbing some of the glitter off of Sarah Palin

[noel711]

41. This was a case of Female Dominance....

When Palin was interviewed by Gibson and HAnnity,
she used her 'feminine' charms' to flutter eyelashes,
and give long looks. Even if her intellect was less
than stellar, her presence with a male of the species
won some points. If either of them had overpowered her
with challenging questions or 'vibes,' the reaction
of the viewer would be to sympathize with the 'poor girl.'

But bring on someone who knows the unspoken rules of
the real sorority... "The MEAN Girls.."

Altho we may decry Couric as a leggy lightweight in
the world of serious journalism,
she used her 'stuff' to full advantage with Palin.

Couric could go 'toe-to-toe' with Palin in regards
to feminine war-paint, with leg crossing, with
glassy stares, sighs and gestures.
And she would not be swayed.

When it came to questions, and attitude,
no one can accuse Couric with sexism...

Couric's questions were straight down the line,
no inference, no undertone, no subtle suggestion.
And Palin flailed...
Couric 'one-upped-her'... 'mean girl mano-a-mano'..

We should have sent Couric in first...
She'd a sent this chickie back to clean out her locker.

[Emit]

43. And those glassy stares were ice-cold

imho

[SDJay]

42. Did anyone else have the thought that...

while Couric isn't exactly Mike Wallace by any stretch, that perhaps she has some deep, underlying contempt for Palin? I've never been a big fan of Couric, and thought she was miscast in the nightly news role, but regardless of opinions, she is someone who worked her ass off, paid her dues, has taken countless body blows in recent times and stood strong in the face of some heated criticism. So after all of that, here she sits with some idiot who's never had to deal with any of this until recently, and Churchy Spice isn't reacting well to her first look at the big leagues. Churchy sees herself as above all of this scrutiny, and Couric senses that and it pisses her off. It was very clear that Churchy Spice was scared shitless - I totally agree with that. But I wonder if one variable within that fear was Couric's non-spoken vibe of 'you're not getting away with your flirty bullshit with me, bitch' that was pretty clear during that interview.

[Kind of Blue]

52. Seriously? Yes! Yes to all...

but Churchy Spice is hilarious. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Left Is Write]

59. I don't think there's anything deep or underlying about Katie's contempt.

Her contempt seemed pretty open and overt to me.

[seabeyond]

67. exactly. right on. we dont need this as representitive of women in workforce. exactly what

we have been fighting against.

[firedupdem]

45. I thought Katie would be soft as well....but Palin is an insult to any

rational thinking american. She is not a good reflection of any woman I know. She is a horrible mother and she's dumb as a box of rocks. She has allowed herself to be ridiculed. She knew she didn't have the talent for the vp position but she took the offer and didn't blink?! Fuck her..she gets no respect from me...and I still want to know why those kids don't go to school.

[nomorewhopper]

46. it's called being WAY out of your league

palin knew it, couric knew it.

palin was laughable in the interview. i seriously think that every single member of this message board has a far greater understanding of the issues compared to sarah palin.

[mitchum]

47. That's because Couric has the job that Palin always wanted...

reading a teleprompter on TV

[Mimosa]

63. Mitchum you nailed it!

That interview was something to see. Good for Katie. It took a woman to go where no man could go. I LOVED 'the glassy stare.' LOL

[spanone]

49. couric is probably her walter cronkite

[GoesTo11]

50. Couric looked like she couldn't believe what was happening

Whenever Palin rambled, Couric looked like she was thinking "This woman is a fool. She cannot really be running for VP. Is she actually trying to make something up? She actually doesn't know what I'm talking about?" And she seemed a bit contemptuous because of that. Also got that from Charlie Gibson. They may want to be friendly interviewers, but they don't want to be flat out embarrassed.

Interesting complication with Palin-Couric. Couric is better looking than Palin. I think objectively, that's true - Couric was a national star number 1, in part because of her looks. Palin is used to being the prettiest gal around - the competition in Wasilla wasn't that tough. She's used to being flattered. The competition threw her off. Could be useful to remember.

[mscuedawg]

51. Katie's EXPERIENCE frightened Palin....

[truthisfreedom]

53. Palin is used to getting her way with men. She's not used to speaking with female role models, her

personal heroes.

[curious one]

54. She is powerless against a woman but not a man since she uses her sex to get to the man.

This ia an example of a pinhead gal to use sex to cover her lack of knowledge.

[Left Is Write]

55. Katie's expressions were very revealing.

[seabeyond]

60. she is used to manipulating men. strong women intimidate her

and strong women get pissed at her. and she loses.

you can see vapidness in her eyes. you can see smart in courics. all the differenc in the world. fluff vs stuff

[theothersnippywshrub]

65. Palin was, as always, intimidated by her own intellectual shallowness.

She was, as always, at a loss for what to think or say without the Shadow Governor Dude sitting there telling her what to think and say.

[Cha]

66. I think couric gave The Edwards' a

mean spirited interview and I knew it was gonna happen.

The only clip I saw was katie saying, "not to belabor the point, but"(and then she was asking whatever she hadn't gotten an answer for)..and palin came on all.. "Well, I'll have to find it and bring it to ya"!

So I couldn't really say what palin's 3x5 card trip was.

[Demi_Babe]

68. BIG time