You are right it doesn't let him off the hook, but only if he decides to attack on this subject, which politically speaking, I don't think he will.
There is a difference considering that Obama committed himself to running for this office and was elected by defeating Hillary Rodham Clinton. Palin recently commented on what exactly the VP does and at a separate point dissing the VP job. It seems to me that this pick is a result of republican strategy whereas Obama was a product of America's hunger for change.
And in team #2 if the QB gets hurt we are all screwed.
No, just no.