My Anti-Sarah Palin Post

[neonds13]

So McCain has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. She's young -- 44 -- and a self-described "hockey mom." Because Palin is relatively unknown on the national level (she's been governor since 2006, and before that was mayor of a town of 8,000 people), a lot of people are already identifying this as a ploy to snag the votes of disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters. I don't know whether that's true (my guess is yes), but it's my sense that Hillary backers who don't like Obama are not going to like a McCain/Palin ticket much better.

Let me say right off the bat that, overall, I think it's great that Republicans have chosen to elevate a woman to this level -- no matter what their motivations. I want to see more women of all parties involved in politics. But, as we stated over and over in the primaries, a politician's gender isn't everything. It's merely one factor to be considered. And quite frankly, Palin's political views suck.

First up, she's super anti-choice. The forced-pregnancy crowd is thrilled today! (She recently had her fifth child, who has Down's syndrome.) She's against marriage equality and supports a federal gay-marriage ban, but has made sure to note that she "has gay friends." Though she has signed on to same-sex partner benefits. She believes schools should teach creationism. She's also pretty terrible on environmental issues, and is a huge advocate of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Plus, she's embroiled in a scandal:

    But Palin's seemingly bright future was clouded in late July when the state legislature voted to hire an independent investigator to find out whether she tried to have a state official fire her ex-brother-in-law from his job as a state trooper.

As Vanessa blogged last month, Bill Kristol was claiming McCain would pick Palin -- and that would prove that Republicans are "much more open to strong women." Frankly, that's bullshit. Republicans are more open to a certain type of woman -- one who is strongly against things like equal pay, universal health care, and reproductive freedom. In other words, the party is pro-woman-candidates, as long as they enact anti-woman policies.

More to come later... Any Alaskans out there who know a bit more about her? What do the rest of you think?

UPDATE: My colleague Adam over at TAP makes some great points:

    The pick of Palin is dripping with transparent condescension, the notion that the enthusiasm behind Hillary was simply the result of her being a woman, that it had nothing to do with what she actually stood for, and in that sense it's equally sexist. Palin is essentially a hard right ideologue, and therefore nothing like Hillary as far as substance is concerned. It's not very different from running Alan Keyes against Barack Obama in 2004. The conservative media reaction has already engaged in paternalistic language, with FOX News reporting on television that "McCain broke the glass ceiling," implying in fact, that the pick had nothing to do with Palin or her qualifications, but merely her gender. It's fitting that the party positing affirmative action as a program that picks people exclusively based on race or gender rather than qualification should do something similar given an opportunity for political advancement. While Obama is promising change through policy, not simply through the circumstances of his birth, the McCain campaign thinks his appeal is simply visual and demographic, and therefore something they can exploit.

UPDATE II: Bilerico has more on her record on LGBT issues.
Posted by Ann - August 29, 2008, at 12:03PM

[neonds13]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 3:21 AM

PLEASE VOTE POPULAR & BUMP!!!!!!

(Original Poster)

[nursetroutt]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 11:55 AM

Sorry friend, I don't agree with you at all. I think the article is one sided and bigoted. I think the cartoons are despicable, they are vulgar and immature. I know you would not like me to post thinks that make fun of your candidate. The "not now honey, mommy is busy" is a total lie that goes beyond spoofing. I'm not really sure why someone would mock a person who hunts animals and then those who do  mocking hold the value of human babies at such a low level. I'm an animal lover but I'm a human baby lover first. I will always choose the side of life. I've tried not to argue politics with my friends here, but many of you show no respect for the feelings and values of your friends. So here are my feelings: I do not want redistributed wealth for myself or my kid's. They don't earn it they don't get it. They want a house, save and get what you can afford. Don't start with your dream house. I don't want the definition of family re-defined by anyone. Maybe you live in a different America that I do. My life has not always been easy. We struggled for years. I worked nights, went to nursing school on evenings and weekends and still coached the kid's sports teams and volunteered at school. Sorry if life has dealt you some bad blows but I don't see how the government is going to help you out without taking away what our family has worked so hard to get. I will give you as much encouragement as I can, help you when you're destitute, teach you the things I know so you can pull yourself up by the bootstraps. But please don't belittle the candidates who support the American dream.

[momandstepmom]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 2:49 PM

i don't agree either ( i agree with nursetroutt - very well said.!) and find the attacks on sarah palin awful and vulgar also and completely against women. 

[neonds13]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 3:05 PM

Well, at least it is nice to know that I do have friends that can agree to disagree.  While I do agree that the above article that I posted is one-sided, I do agree with what is said in it.  I am pro-choice and I know that nursetroutt knows that and doesn't agree with me on that certain view.  Momandstepmom, I don't know where you stand on that issue....  I just think that it is really hypocritical that she wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade and have abstenence only education in schools, but she has/had a pregnant 17 yr old daughter and she goes out and kills (hunts) wildlife.  (BTW, I understand the reason for hunting and why it's done, but I don't agree with it and overall think it's very cruel to shoot animals from a helicopter or from a tree-stand.  You want to hunt animals, go and actually HUNT the animals.)  In my opinion, I think Palin is against women.  I think she is very naive, uninformed and thinks she can help run the country when she can hardly keep control of her own family.  But, yes, again this is only my opinion and I am choosing to vote for Obama/Biden for many, many reasons.  However, one of those major reasons I am voting Democratic is the issue of women's rights.  I AM NOT pro-abortion, but I am pro-choice and I strongly think that abortion needs to be legal and I am sure as hell not going to let ANY man take that right away from me.  My favorite quote on that is: "How can you trust me with a child if you can't trust me with a CHOICE?"  I know not everyone can or will have the same opinions and views that I do, but that's part of what makes us all different.  I just hope we all can agree to disagree.

 

(Original Poster)

[StarMommy77]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 3:30 PM

Palin makes me ill.

I am continually baffled how a woman with little regard for wildlife and wildlife conservation became Gov of Alaska. Sueing to remove polar bears from an endangered species list when their numbers continue to dwindle. Posting bounties for forelegs of wolves when many scientists have pleaded with her that their numbers are not large either. Allowing them to be hunted from helicopter is sick.  Maybe she really likes to shot and kills things.

I don't understand how her affliations with FFL (Feminsts For Life) and her husband's affliation with a militant group set on seceding from the Union would qualify them for even a tour of the White House. Who FUBAR-ed that one? Wow... some background check.  Palin is not worthy of the post she seeks. She was picked on the pop and fizzle she has created during the last gasping breaths of McCain's sad campaign.

Palin should have stepped down as Gov after having a child with special needs. My daughter has mild cerebral palsy, a feeding tube and developmental delays, and she is a full time job. We have therapy in home for OT, PT and ST several times a week. My focus is where it should be, I have put my own career on hold including my own company I am devoted to. Those are my priorities.

Palin has supported FFL in the past. This orgainzation is against termination of pregnancy, birth control even in the sancitity of marriage, and no sex education. Gee. Umm.... ok.. Bristol anyone?

She is mired in an abuse of power investigation and yet she has been Gov only 2 yrs. Fudged her per diem to get more $$ for being at home..

Wow.. yep.. Mavericky..

[StarMommy77]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 3:35 PM

I saw the above comments about Palin and not being supportive.

If the GOP had picked a running mate with qualifications and not a tight rack, we wouldn't be having this conversation. There were 2 other women who had the stats to be VeePee, but not the looks.. Sad, but true.. Had he picked Romney... He'd still have a respectable campaign, instead o the Circus Act that it has become.. Pandering to FOX news.. are youy serious.. The media is picking on me.. Ummm ok.. She's ready to be #2.

Bottom line they fucked up, not nearly enough background checking, into religious background, ethics ect.. She is not a person I want anywhere near the Capitol. Religion should be completely void when dealing with politics. After hearing her Abortion Stump Speech, it only hammered home my feeling on her.

I think she is dangerous and I think she may be sued for libel if her rallies continue the way they have been. And she would deserve it. Clearly she has not been tutored or coached enough.

Obama is going to win in Nov and McCain will be dead in less than 2 yrs.. and Palin can go sit under her UV light in Alaska..

[kandieann]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 4:29 PM

I don't claim to be political so please don't judge me but I just feel Palin is a joke!!  My husband likes her because he says shes down to earth and likes to hunt and seems homely, I told him "Hell honey you just named half the women in GA and the surrounding Southern states why the hell didn't any of us get to be elected as possible VP?"  BUT I digress just because she is a woman does not make me more likely to vote for McCain.  Sure I want a woman in office and think its about time but lets get real here and get someone who actually knows what they are doing and who isn't flip-flopping on issues and whether or not she supports whatever.  I don't trust this woman and I believe if someone is gonna hold the second highest office in America whether it be a man or woman lets have someone who is experienced and balanced.  I mean I can get good ole boy and girl down home politics all day long and thats JUST GREAT BUT lets get someone worthy of holding the office!!!!

[kahala]

Oct. 16, 2008 at 10:24 PM

Palin is a disgrace to women and she defineatly doesnt have this bitches vote! "We need to pray the gay away" Puhlease! We need to pray her away!