Palin: Passing the duck-n-dodge test for leadership

Sarah Palin had her chance to prove she’s more than a gimmick last night. She was not even prepared for that.

Here’s the best example.

An uncommitted independent asked her to rebut, with specifics, charges that she is unprepared to take on the major challenges of foreign policy and defense. Palin’s response:

“As for foreign policy, you know, I think that I am prepared,’’ Ms. Palin said at an enthusiastic town-hall-style meeting she held alongside Mr. McCain. “And I know that on Jan. 20, if we are so blessed as to be sworn into office as your president and vice president, certainly we’ll be ready. I’ll be ready. I have that confidence. I have that readiness. And if you want specifics with specific policy, or countries, go ahead and you can ask me. You can even play stump the candidate, if you want to.’’

And that was that. McCain jumped in with the usual bandaid replies — she is commander of the Alaska National Guard, she led negotiations on a pipeline — but Palin danced around the question and left it unanswered.

That’s what you get to do in front of a friendly, hand-picked audience that only wants to cheer you, not challenge you. I’m hoping Joe Biden can press the issue just a bit more when the two VP candidates debate on October 2nd.