On Aug. 10, Karl Rove was interviewed on Fox News.
He talked about Gov. Tim Kaine, a member of Sen. Barack Obama’s shortlist for vice presidents. Rove said that Kaine was governor for only three years, and he was mayor of Richmond, VA, which is “not a big town.” He said if Obama picked Kaine, it would mean Obama was “not really concerned with, is this person capable of being president of the United States.”
Then, 19 days later, Rove did another interview with Fox News.
This time, he talked about Gov. Sarah Palin and said that Palin is a “reformer. She’s a former mayor, she is the mayor of, I think, of the second-largest city in Alaska.”
First, Rove argued that Kaine would be a solely political choice because he has been governor for only three years. Ironically, Palin has been governor for only two years. How can she be a good choice if she has less experience?
Then, Rove argued that Kaine was mayor of Richmond, a very small town. According to the 2007 US Census Bureau, Richmond is ranked 105 in terms of population, with 200,123 residents. Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, an even smaller town. According to the same report, Wasilla was estimated to have a population size of 9,780 people. Alaska overall was reported to be ranked 47 in terms of population.
Looking at these facts, how can one assert that Palin is the better choice, or even a good choice, for vice president? Doesn’t this reasoning seem a little illogical? Talk about double standards.
When Kaine was being considered, Rove condescendingly looked at the choice as a political choice. And then when Palin, with even less experience, was chosen, it was an excellent, apolitical choice.
Rove is revealing his bias.
But here’s the thing: no matter what way Rove tries to spin the choice of Palin, it can’t be justified.
During her interview with Katie Couric, Palin couldn’t even name one Supreme Court case that she disagreed with outside of Roe v. Wade. After that, Palin started calling the media the “gotcha media” and the elite. She said that she wants to talk to the American people without a filter.
This argument, yet again, doesn’t make sense: Joe Biden was asked the same questions by Couric and was able to thoroughly answer.
There were no problems with the questions or interviewer, but there was a noticeable difference between the two interviewees.
When she interviewed with Charlie Gibson, Palin didn’t even know what the Bush Doctrine was and tried to talk her way around the question. During the vice presidential debates, in between her shout-outs and dropping her g’s, she couldn’t even properly define the role of the vice president.
Is that what we are expecting from the next vice president?
This is one of the most important elections: our country is immersed in two wars, college is becoming more expensive, jobs are being outsourced, our credibility is questioned overseas and the economy is in trouble.
Take a “you”-turn. Know the issues, the bias, the candidates and be informed. Don’t buy the spin. Take initiative and vote.
Take a step out of your comfort zone and empower yourself and this country.

Samiksha Tarun is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.