What Sarah Palin should have told Katie Couric

Memo to all future vice presidential candidates:

OK, rest easy. There's no need to have a precise case name embedded in your memory bank if and when you confront the now-infamous query that Katie Couric pitched Sarah Palin -- name a Supreme Court decision (other than, depending on your viewpoint, Roe vs. Wade) with which you disagree.

Even if you have a case citation at the ready, don't use it, because almost always it's best not to sound like a lawyer (even if you are one).

Now, if you happen to be a social conservative like Palin, court decisions banning school prayer and protecting the burning of the U.S. flag as an expression of free speech might merit mention.

But here's an all-purpose answer for politicians of all stripes: the Dred Scott ruling.

True, it's not exactly contemporary; the case of a slave (Scott) who pursued a legal avenue to gain his freedom was decided in early 1857. But still, you won't go wrong decrying the majority opinion that declared that no black -- slave or free -- could be considered a U.S. citizen (and thus subject to its legal protections).

The decision was of no small consequence; most historians agree it helped hasten the Civil War.

-- Don Frederick

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Comments

[jurisdoctro]

she should have told Katie Couric that she does not know of any other Supreme Court cases because she has not been prepped by the McCain campaign and never thought about these issues before they "selected" her as VP. That would have been the truth.

[MaryJo Bruce]

Katic Couric interviewing Gov Palin was so evil as most liberals. They don't just disagree with someone. They actually hate that person. And it shows when Couric interviews someone she differs with. Interviews can be civil, which certainly is something new for liberals.

[steve rodriguez]

Dear Katie,

You're no Sarah Palin!!!!

Senator Loyd. Benson

[morfin]

The Palin interview was the first time I had watched Katie Couric in years. Know I remember why; she is a very poor journalist.