If you can't trust someone enough to be able to go on an interview without Big Grandpappy around to watch over you and make sure you don't say the wrong thing (or to try to divert the questions from Couric), then you can't trust them enough to be VP.

But there's another message beyond this and that is the sexist patronizing of women angle. I can't think of any other interview I have watched that had a *keeper* there as well. Oh, there was an interview with Kerry and Edwards (and I think, their wives) that I saw during the last presidential cycle, but I never got the feeling that the interview was done IN ORDER TO try to salvage, say, Edwards position, with Kerry there as goalee.

It reminds me of the newbies on the job. What happens when you have someone, male or female, that isn't ready to do presentations, say, or give the sales speech? You have them go along with YOU, as the senior, experienced person, and then, as they get more experience, you go with and have them do the pitch. But you still don't trust them to be out on their own, OR YOU WOULDN"T BE THERE.

It's particularly bad when the McCain touts Palin's experience as a FEMALE for McCain to be sitting next to her, watching her every move. If you're trying to say that Finally Here Is a Woman Who Is Capable, then that whole argument is undermined by having YOU, Gramps McCain, in the picture.