I first heard rumors of some woman from Alaska being considered for VP as I was boarding the shuttle at o-dark-thirty (around 6am) Friday morning. Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention, figuring that the talking heads on TV were just doing their normal filling airtime. As I was sitting in the smoking lounge at the Denver airport, I started seeing pictures of this woman flashing on the screen. Moments later, the caption was changed to indicate that she was Sarah Palin – and Republican John McCain’s pick for VP. NBC’s Matt Lauer broke the news on MSNBC.
My initial reaction was WOW. On the surface, this appeared to be a bold pick for McCain: a female, who could possibly appeal to the disaffected Clinton supporters, a youngster (she’s 44) which could help with McCain’s health and age issues, and a conservative who could shore up the base. An added bonus was that this choice would force the Democratic Convention and Obama’s speech from the front page and limit the so-called “convention bounce” in the polls. (According to Gallup, McCain and Obama were virtually tied prior to the start of the convention but by Friday (which doesn’t include the announcement), Obama’s lead had stretched to eight points.) Even though the announcement included some information that she was under investigation, I figured there must be nothing to it. After all, she’s been vetted, right? Surely the McCain folks wouldn’t choose a running mate who had real issues.
Two days of non-stop coverage (McCain at least got that one right) have led me to a different response.
The party of “family values” has taken on a woman who has five children to care for, including a four-month-old with Down Syndrome. Isn’t that a bit disengenuous? Somebody explain to me how she can trapaise around the country for the next two months?
As for capturing the disgruntled Clinton supporters – um, no. Despite giving Hillary her props in her announcement, Palin earlier said Hillary was whining when she complained about the sexist treatment by the media. And, of course, her laughing at a cancer survivor being called names. Somehow, I can’t imagine these things will endear her to the Hillary contingent.
And then there is her stance on abortion. Palin is even more anti-choice than most:
The candidates were pressed on their stances on abortion and were even asked what they would do if their own daughters were raped and became pregnant.
Palin said she would support abortion only if the mother’s life was in danger. When it came to her daughter, she said, “I would choose life.”
Given this stance, the rumor that her youngest child is not hers, but that of her 17-year old daughter, it not too far fetched. (Of course, I don’t expect the MSM to do anything to try to get to the bottom of this. Calling the National Enquirer!)
If McCain were serious about capturing the Hillary vote, he would have picked a different woman. As others have said, she’s no Hillary Clinton. Not even close.
McCain achieved his goal of getting Obama off the front page. And he likely achieved his goal of firing up the conservative base, which might very well make this election competitive. But at the end of the day, I think America needs to follow the lead of another conservative woman, Nancy Reagan, and just say no to Sarah Palin.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Nope, that wasn’t OK, either. Edwards, even though Elizabeth didn’t want him to, should have dropped out.
What this appointment (or anointing) demonstrates is that now, neither of the major parties have tickets who will have the support of the Middle Class working men and women.
Senator Obama and Senator Biden are too far out on the political left and, so far, have run a campaign devoid of real solutions. They just like to say, “Change” a lot, because that is what their market researchers have told them to do. Can’t blame them for trying.
Then Senator McCain pulls this bone-headed stunt to absolutely prove that he has impaired judgment, by picking this snotty, vindictive, airhead, to be his trophy running mate.
Perhaps America really has been, as the radio show personalities say, “Dumbed down” because, with these two tickets to choose between, neither Party has much to offer in the form of new and creative ideas that will inspire and motivate our fellow Americans.
God only knows what shall become of our Republic. Where are the Presidents like, Jack Kennedy, who inspired us to travel to the Moon, or Ronald Reagan who led us to end the Cold War?
Since my first campaign volunteer work (on Senator Goldwater’s campaign in 1964) I have never seen both Parties offer the American Citizens, lackluster, uninspiring candidates at the same time. It is as if both the Democratic and Republican party bosses have given the People the finger, and have together proclaimed that they are completely out of ideas, and competent leaders. The message is, that we are on our own and we can no longer expect inspired or even rational leaders at the National level.
This political system has failed. Arm yourselves and be prepared for the worst.
On this executive experience argument, Senator Obama has been running a presidential campaign for at least a year. That is executive experience. And what you can see from that is that he made many good decisions that landed him the nomination. McCain bankrupted his campaign early on; and had Mike Huckabee not been around, Mitt Romney would be the Republican nominee.
Also, the difference with Governor Palin’s experience is that she did not run for the president herself on her own merits. She has a good chance of becoming the president though should McCain become president because of his age and health. And McCain set this standard for himself. I’m not saying that Governor Palin shouldn’t have the opportunity to prove herself. What I worry about though is that she won’t have to prove herself, and we could be left holding the bag. Her talent may transcend her limited experience managing a state smaller than the population of any of our major metropolitan areas. But I’m afraid as a VP pick, we’ll never get to fully test that. So, until she proves herself, all these questions about her experience are fair.
Hey CR UVa – I found the pictures in that link and she doesn’t look pregnant to me. Better yet, check out the photos in this http://dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223
McCain made a BIG mistake. Go Obama!
Vivian, if your best Republican source is “The View”……
Women of America, the Republican party doesn’t really give a damn whether or not you have the time or resources to raise your kids. It just wants to misuse your love for your family to run a slick PR campaign based on “family values” so it can remain in power and bring us more corruption, cronyism, and incompetence.
If a four month old special needs child and his three young siblings have to sacrifice their mother so she can become a prop in this PR campaign, so be it. If anybody complains, or points out the inconsistency, just keep a straight face and tell them it’s God’s will. What, first you’re against motherhood, now you’re against GOD?
At least McCain had the smarts to pick a woman. She actually has executive experience. What has Obama done, except for run 4 president during his 4 years in the Senate? Nada! Nobama claims to be for a change and he picks an old washington insider that has been in Washington for over 30 years. I was going to vote for Hillary, but I am now supporting McCain/Palin. Obama sucks and he is nothing but a socialist! For the sake of our country, I hope that Obama loses the election!
Go McCain/Palin 08!!!
Perhaps Palin can go hunting with “the Dick” sometime in the near future and he
can tell her just what the VP does… Wonder who will have the biggest rifle?
Obama got so much money in hands that´s hard to argue that he managing it efficiently. That´s wasn´t the case of Romney.
That link should send you right to the article with the pictures. But no worries, the updates continue, and there are more pictures found now, these being undeniable. This link shows many pictures, all of which are telling. The first shows the Palin family, and the alleged picture of Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy. Only problem is that they are from well over nine months before the birth of the child. The remaining pictures show a very pregnant Sarah Palin.
Not Palin’s Baby, you, and the Daily Kos, are the only ones making a mistake here. I suggest you look at the pictures and recognize the reality of the situation. This only makes you look bad (particularly as it appears that there are a lot of people on the far left checking out a 15-year old), and does not help Barack Obama in the least.
Vivian, I would hope that you retract your statement. I know you are very smart, and I read your last comment as basically refusing to look at the evidence presented. As I stated earlier, I would not expect you to take a liking to Sarah Palin; it would not fit your firmly held beliefs, and it would be a waste of time for me to try to change that. But to lend credence to a rumor that still lacks any substantial evidence does nothing for you, or whichever candidate you will be supporting this election cycle. If I wanted to see mudslinging and lie-mongering, I can go to any of a very large number of websites. Please do not leave me wondering if there isn’t one liberal blog worth reading.
Ah, the tears of a crocodile, Chris. Seriously, go get your own house in order before you come concern trolling here.
So, apparently Palin just now announced that her daughter is pregnant. As in now. As in five months. End of discussion, til after the hurricane.
It’s well made and calculated pick politically. As fas governing, puh-leeze. Hasn’t Sen. McCain been saying that a VP pick must be ready to step in for the Prez if needed? I guess some things are negotiable when you want to win.
Unless I see clear and incontrovertible evidence that the baby is her daughter’s, I have to assume it is hers. I do think at this time that it is a bad idea for Palin to be nominated as VP with young children, especially the infant. Maybe she does okay in Alaska, where the responsibilities are a lot fewer. But a VP nominee or a VP for that matter has to do traveling that far exceeds the amount required for a governor in a given state. In addition, if it is true that her daughter IS pregnant, that is another reason that she does not need a position which requires so much travel, both in the US and abroad.
She is undeniably good-looking and intelligent. But she and McCain have some of the most reactionary views. While there are women who will vote for them because of her conservative credentials and others who will because of their disappointment over Hillary Clinton’s defeat, a lot of others will look at her in her totality and decide against voting the McCain-Palin ticket. The only change on the Republican side–which has had the major power in the last 8 years–is that she is a woman.
The Republicans will have to find something else to run on, as they have negated the importance of “experience.” Even if her only experience has been in Alaska, a VP
candidate should at least have knowledge of international affairs. So, with this choice,
McCain has also managed to undermine his claim of the importance of national security.
Ladies, Ladies, Ladies;
Please take a deep breath and think about what you’re saying.
Several points for you to consider:
1) There’s nothing wrong with having five children. In fact, having five children says to me that this woman (Sarah Palin) gives high priority to family values.
2) Doesn’t this lady (Sarah Palin) have a husband. Isn’t her husband on a leave of absence from his job so that he can help out more with parenting. As a father of three myself, I would like to state that a father is not a potted plant. I’m sure Todd Palin knows how to warm a bottle, feed a baby, burp a baby and change a messy diaper. And don’t forget that Sarah Palin has several daughters at home that will get some very valuable training by helping out with caring for little Trig.
3) With respect to family values (specifically, pregnancy and child-bearing), this woman (Sarah Palin) seems to have made all the right judgments. When she learned that her baby (fetus) would be born with Down Syndrome, she affirmed her pro-life stance by having the baby and welcoming the child into her family. She could have done what many others do. She could have aborted the baby without anyone ever knowing. When her 17 year old daughter became pregnant, she could have easily done what many others do. She could have gotten an abortion for her daughter without anyone ever knowing. She sets an excellent example by not just talking about her pro-life and pro-family values, but actually living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.
4) With respect to politics, this woman (Sarah Palin) also seems to have made all the right judgments. When she observed corruption on the part of a fellow commissioner who also happened to be the Chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, she followed the law of Alaska by resigning from the commission and then promptly reported the corruption to authorities. In similar fashion, she took on the Attorney General of Alaska who was also a Republican. Displaying tenacity (some would say the tenacity of a barracuda), she then proceeded to take on the corrupt Republican Governor and defeat him in the Republican primary.
So far, ladies, this woman (Sarah Palin) has shown me an incredible amount of good judgment. If these events had happened 10-12 months ago, I would have advocated putting her on the primary ballot for POTUS.