Perky Palin lacks seriousness

DIPLOMACY is hard work by serious people.

Tina Fey couldn't have said it better and just might on an upcoming "Saturday Night Live." But last night, those were the words of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, during the foreign policy portion of the debate with Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware. It was the weakest part of Palin's performance and Biden's strongest.

Palin did not fall completely flat on her face. But she buckled, especially when questions focused on Iran and Pakistan. Margaret Thatcher never made an appearance. Instead, voters heard from a vice presidential candidate whose knowledge is very fresh and obviously superficial.

The strategy for John McCain's running mate was clear. Be folksy and perky. Her answers were sprinkled with "darn right," and "betcha." Early on, Palin told moderator Gwen Ifill she could ask whatever she wanted; "And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people."

She kept true to that promise, whether she was ducking the question of whether the past week's drama over a bailout bill showcased the worst of Washington or the best, or whether she was ducking the question about the McCain-Palin plan for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Politicians often duck tough questions. But with Palin, it feels like she doesn't know the answer, not that she is avoiding a politically sensitive one.

She did a decent job of exposing Biden's disagreement with Barack Obama over Iraq policy when the two were both seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. But Palin couldn't sustain that line of attack in any meaningful way. Biden's understanding of Senate votes that were taken by Obama and McCain is clearly superior to his Republican opponent's.

Palin's big problem, which is now McCain's problem, isn't ideology. It's her lack of seriousness, especially on foreign policy. That's no joke.

Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globe.com.