Wow, what a week, eh? McCain shocks us all with an announcement this “in-the-know” gal never saw coming. Experts murmurred and people much more knowledgable than I speculated. But I’ll admit, I had to do some serious goggling when the official word finally broke. Truth be told, I’m lazy and I wasn’t about to waste my time seeking out info on the half-dozen or so GOP’ers on the short list til a clearer picture was available. I mean, who needs a bunch of politicians cloggin up your neurons needlessly, right? So for me and many obviously, this choice was out of left-field (pardon the pun).
Today Momocrats challenged readers to look at the issues that set Palin apart. Apart progressives and apart from the person McCain might be delusional enough to think Palin can replace – Hillary Clinton. I would have to do some research obviously to take on such an assignment.
When I come across an unfamiliar name in politics, like many, I go to On The Issues.Org. It gives me a jumping off point: Is she pro-choice? Ah, no. Is she for gun control? Ah, no. Is she progressive on energy issues and environmental concerns? Ah, no. Is she for equal treatment of all citizens? Ah, no.
Not all too surprising, she is a Republican afterall and that certainly is the flawed party line. But the startle comes when you go to the issues that are unknown. It’s rare to see a politician with so little listed for those little things like: IMMIGRATION! TECHNOLOGY! FREE TRADE! FOREIGN AFFAIRS!
A Vice Presidential candidate with no declared background in Foreign Affairs? While we are engaged in two wars? Facing heated tensions in a handful of other global locations? With a 72 year old wanna-be President? (Oh, Happy Birthday McCain, I was gonna send you a present, but what do you get a guy with more houses than he can count? Gingkoba?)
It was at this moment that I was convinced Ashton Kutcher was to blame and we (the American people) were being punked. I mean McCain is the candidate that for the last eight months (even before Obama won the nod) sang a rousing chorus of “Obama has no experience! With a capital E and that rhymes with P and that stands for Pool…where’s my pet press pool?”
Don’t get me wrong, there wasn’t much chance I was going to vote for McCain, short of Jesus being his running mate and all. But shouldn’t it at least be a reasonably fair fight? After the GOP ended up with the candidate NO ONE really wanted, didn’t my red friends (hi friends) deserve a decent running mate? Sure they did. And as much as I would like to celebrate his choice and take pride as a woman and a mother that someone who looks like me will jockey for the second highest office in the land, I simply can’t.
You can take all the other pieces out of the equation. Forget she’s not pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-civil rights for all people. She’s simply not qualified to take command of this nation should the need arise. And that need is a very real possibility, like it or not.
McCain, you’re either stupid or you think we are. Did you actually think any pair of breasts would do? Democrats who voted for Hillary didn’t do it just because she’s a woman Johnny – they support her positions on issues, they admire her character and ethics, they AGREE with her on the basic fundamentals of how to govern this nation we all love so dearly. You’re a fool to think that any ol’ woman would do to fill those shoes.
So you’re right McCain (oh, how it pains me to type that), experience does matter. And I’ll take Obama’s and Biden’s, every day and twice on Sunday over your’s and Sarah Palin’s.
You’re a maverick alright, question is, what are you smokin’?
Go to Momocrats & read as other voters cover the Palin Comparison-all day Monday (9/1).
15 comments
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September 1, 2008 at 9:52 am
Quart
Right on, Amy! I think my favorite thing I’ve heard so far is that she was desperate to work for ESPN (even named her daughter “Bristol” after its HQ) but was unwilling to move to Connecticut. Now Obama’s camp needs to have the cajones to giver her hell.
September 1, 2008 at 10:31 am
PunditMom
Yes, she does pale in comparison, but I’m still worried. Progressives need to try to look at this from the other point of view — Palin could be a very motivating force for the right wing
September 1, 2008 at 11:29 am
AmyInOhio
Oh I agree Pundit Mom, she’ll motivate the right base – but I think they were already turning out regardless in November.
But of course not all conservatives are evangelicals and strictly voting on pro-life issues. And most I’ve talked to in recent days are just as terrified at the thought of such a novice heading up the nation in such times. Even they’ll admit she’s too green should something happen to McCain. Two of the folks at work, who up til now would have been labelled Super-Righties said Friday that they doubted they would even vote cause they couldn’t do so with a clear conscience in light of this new development. Of course they weren’t exactly thrilled with their candidate to begin with, so this didn’t help McCain one bit in their eyes.
It’s all any one’s guess, but I truly think this has strengthened our cause and I see only a minor hit here or there in demographics we had no chance of taking in the first place. I don’t know what progressives could do in this case – the differences on these big issues aren’t ever going to subside, right?
And not to gossip, because I don’t think that solves anything, but if the dirt keeps being dug, true or not, she’s hurting. Evangelicals are a finicky bunch afterall – just ask McCain!
September 1, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Julie Pippert
I don’t think she’s an asset: she shouldn’t appeal to Hillary supporters (because, as has been widely noted here, there and everywhere, she is pretty much the polar opposite—no pun intended), the anti-choice folks were already 100% behind McCain, same goes for anti-equality and anti-environment folks, and her inexperiene is NOT a positive foil to his vast (and I used that word melodramatically) experience.
Should we take her seriously and get to know her and her stance on issues? Sure.
But really, this is about McCain and his lackof judgment and how out of touch he is.
Thanks for the great post!
September 1, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Donna
Terrific post, Amy. (I’m still chuckling over the thought that McCain was in cahoots with Ashton Kutcher over this nomination.)
But I agree with Pundit Mom. The religious right IS energized over her addition to the ticket and that leaves me worried. I blame them for eight years of Bush and I was looking forward to seeing them sit this one out.
September 1, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Maura
You said it all, girl. I would have changed only a single line. McCain is “a fool to think that any ol’ woman would do to fill that bra.” ‘Cause really, that must be what he’s thinking!
September 1, 2008 at 6:48 pm
AMomTwoBoys
OH MY. I still find myself shaking my head over McCain’s decision. I just…I can’t…it doesn’t make any sense. AT ALL.
September 1, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Headless Mom
Ok, Amy. Great post. (I’ve been away for the weekend so I only have Friday’s info under my belt. Please know that for my comments here I am trying to be respectful. You’re my pal, ok?)
On the other hand, from your conservative friend, I think the choice was a slam dunk. The last polls I heard about had a full 30% of Hillary supporters still weren’t behind BO and weren’t sure that they would be. You must admit that there are women out there that will vote the gender line. Just sayin’. I also think that she was a great choice because even in the short time that she has been in public service she has learned a lot, very quickly, and is hugely popular there. She is attractive, smart, a dedicated mom and public servant, and is the ‘every day’ person that the democrats keep trying to say that McCain is not. From where I sit it is a pretty good ticket.
September 2, 2008 at 8:44 am
AmyInOhio
Headless – nothing could divide us, you know that – especially not a bunch of silly politics!
It’s interesting to me that the right is now commending how much she learned in such a short time when the left was chastised continually for saying the same exact thing about Obama.
And HRC’s supporters are pro-choice – they’ll not show up on election day before they would vote for a platform and candidates that are so ardently pro-life. As important as it is to the pro-lifers, pro-choice are equally committed. And Palin is super-pro-life; just ask her mother-in-law.
The convention did a great deal to unite our party and the wounds will fully heal long before November. And I think those folks voting on gender lines strictly are minimal if even existent.
I stand by what I said – as ex-military myself, the thought of Palin behind that desk should something happen to McCain scares me ten-times more than the thought of McCain behind that desk in the first place.
Love ya lady!
September 2, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Teresa Lea
Well, well, well…
Who woulda thought that I’d find a lady like you in a place like this??
I could have SWORN that adorable little girl I see pictures of on your site – looks an awful lot like this fantastic girl I knew in college. In fact, I walk down my hallway on regular occasion (as my toilet is there, go figure) and look at this picture I have of myself and that friend hanging on the wall. I believe it was taken at the Macaroni Grille in Columbus (are those even still around?) and I can’t help but think of days when I thought giant bottles of wine with screw off tops was GOOD STUFF!
I’d sure love to talk to you Mrs. Amy : )
September 3, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Shannanb aka Mommy Bits
What a mistake those Republicans made in picking her. I bet they are kicking themselves this week.
As a Hillary supporter it kills me that they thought Palin would even be able to compete for my vote.
Sorry McCain, not happening.
September 4, 2008 at 4:31 pm
blissfully caffeinated
When I saw that McCain had picked a female running mate, I was excited. For about a minute. For the length of time it took me to Google her name and skim through just the barest hint of her background.
And as we are seeing more and more of who Sarah Palin really is, I am more and more disturbed. If McCain is elected, and then kicks the bucket while in office (at his age and with his history, it could easily happen) then Palin is our president. And that scares the bejeezus outta me.
I would LOVE to see a woman VP or president. But not this woman. She makes us all look bad.
September 4, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Laura
The divisive rhetoric and empty statements were not the way any candidate should introduce themself to the world. The blatant mockery of Obama’s work as a community organizer was depressing — considering how many people do thankless work in their communities everyday that truly makes a difference.
It was a shame, that speech, because I didn’t know anything about her and was hoping that there was something there to at least pique my interest — not that she would be enough to make me vote McCain.
It’s all so frustrating. I need an Obama-Biden sign for my house ASAP
September 7, 2008 at 2:11 am
JCK
You sing it Sistuh! If you haven’t read Gloria Steinem’s article on Palin, you need to.
September 7, 2008 at 8:49 pm
hookedonhouses
Oh, my gosh. Did I really just run across a DEMOCRAT who lives in CINCINNATI? How refreshing. -Julia in Cincinnati 🙂