"Fair Game"

Any comparison between Clinton's treatment at the hands of the media to the Palin Paradox is like comparing apples to oranges.

Until Sarah Palin submits to unscripted media interviews we'll never find out what she really knows - or thinks.

"Fair game" is only a useful comparative construct when the criteria used to measure the answer applies to both parties.

Until Gov. Palin actually displays the same kind of unvarnished courage Sen. Clinton did during the primary season and makes herself available to the media on a regular basis, she will remain little more than an enigma - a GOP caricature of historic proportions.

The entire debate over her 'vetting' by McCain is now a moot point. The real 'vetting procedure' American voters are rightfully entitled to see carried out is her unqualified consent to submit to honest, open and unscripted interviews. They need to see how she performs on her own before November's fateful decision in upon them. Otherwise, Gov. Palin will remain little more than an empty vessel. One into which the Republican base will continue to pour all its partisan hype and drivel leaving the rest of us to wonder if she is truly qualified to sit one heart beat away from the Oval Office.

Failure on her part to engage the American people via the media will, of course, leave the 'fair game' conundrum unresolved. Yet, more importantly, it will leave voters ignorant of not just her social policy positions and her grasp on international affairs - it will leave them without a basis upon which to make an informed choice.

To fix this problem, the backroom GOP Geppetto's must cut her strings and give her a chance to prove she is a fully articulated politician like Hillary. Jiminy McCricket may not wish to see this happen - but it is time.

After all, if one is running for the second highest office in the land they must, by default, be considered 'fair game' for one and all.