How J. D. Vance Can Make It through His Trial by Fire

J. D.Vance is undergoing the trial by fire that all newly prominent Republicans suffer. He will probably get through this, but he should learn from the mistakes and successes of his predecessors.

Sarah Palin is the best modern example of how to self-destruct under pressure. The then-obscure first-term Alaska governor flew out of the political gates with a dynamite convention speech. This propelled the McCain-Palin ticket into the lead for the first time in months. It looked like a new star was born.

We know what happened next. Democrats and elements of the media started to pepper the newbie candidate with all sorts of questions about national affairs. She was frequently unable to offer serious, coherent replies. She had clearly neither been deeply immersed in national policy, as most people to ascend to the national stage are before they enter, nor had she done whatever homework the McCain campaign provided.

This sent her into a doom loop where she drew within a protective shell. She rarely interacted with the press, which of course only caused them to focus even more on her. Palin then agreed to do an interview with then–CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. She fluffed so badly that she was even unable, or unwilling, to tell Couric what newspapers or magazines she read.