Advice for Biden: Pretend Palin's a Man

VP debate against 'unserious' opponent is minefield for Democrat

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2008 1:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – Joe Biden has only one prayer of winning the vice-presidential debate: He has to pretend Sarah Palin’s a man, Dahlia Lithwick writes on Slate. Biden has the experience and knowledge to crush the Alaska governor, but that’s precisely his problem. Palin’s not a serious candidate, but if Biden lectures or condescends to her, he’ll look like “a sexist bully.”

The answer on Oct. 2, Lithwick says, is to pretend Palin is not a woman, but “a machine in 3-inch heels that has been programmed to make you look brutish.” Biden must not attack Palin, no matter how much Ann Coulter-style nastiness she employs. Instead, “play to your strengths,” Lithwick advises. “Know stuff. Say it briefly.” But above all, “fight like a man. She will.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (5)]

Democrat Joe Biden is scheduled to meet Republican Sarah Palin in a debate between vice-presidential candidates Oct. 2 in St. Louis. (AP Photo)

"By every obvious metric%u2014experience, knowledge base, decades of public service, policy experience, understanding of the world%u2014Palin is an unserious candidate for the vice presidency," Lithwick... (AP Photo)

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There is no easy way to tell you this, Joe Biden, but the surest way for Joe Biden to lose a debate against Sarah Palin is by being Joe Biden. - Dahlia Lithwick

Do whatever you need to do—take four Percocet, deploy Zen breathing techniques—to prevent yourself from attacking this woman. - Dahlia Lithwick

Don't lunge (a la Lazio). Don't sigh (a la Gore). Don't roll your eyes (a la Where the Wild Things Are) or look longingly into the camera as if to plead 'This is the best they could find for me?' - Dahlia Lithwick

Play to your strengths. Know stuff. Say it briefly. Don't accuse her of not knowing things. Just know more. - Dahlia Lithwick

My best advice to you for dealing with Gov. Palin? Fight like a man. She will. - Dahlia Lithwick

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Advice for Biden: Pretend Palin's a Man