In an election where McCain has repeatedly gone after Obama for being too inexperienced to run the White House, he has chosen a first term governor of a sparsely populated state (47th out of 50) to be his Vice President.
Gov. Sarah Palin is vehemently anti-choice, pro gun, pro oil drilling, pro Iraq War, and a former beauty queen. She believes creationism should be taught in schools. She stresses that she chose to have her fifth child, despite knowing he would be born with Downs Syndrome - the implication, of course, being that a liberal would have aborted that same child. Her only previous service in government was to serve on the City Council and as the Mayor of a town in Alaska that has a population of 9,000.
And even with all of that, McCain is hoping that something in that pathetically thin right wing resume will make other women rise up and vote for her. As if the election is a college dorm room, and all of us girls end up having our periods at the same time. As if any woman who voted for Hillary Clinton did so on the basis of her reproductive system and not her qualifications. As if women are so blind, so stupid, and so hysterical that the mere sight of a woman running as a VP would send us pouring into the streets to proclaim John McCain a hero to women's rights.
This is the most disgusting, pandering, pathetic, condiscending pick for a Vice President I can think of. And in an age where women still do not get equal work for equal pay, where the right to choice is threatened from all sides, where a woman who's been raped can still perceived to have been asking for it, where slut shaming is practically a national sport, where sexual education cannot be taught in every school, where Hillary Clinton can be called a bitch on national television by a journalist and no one seems to care - this is McCain's idea of progress.
I am happy to see that there is a woman on the ballot, and that the Republican Party has finally gone where the Democrats went over twenty years ago. But there is no way in hell that any self respecting woman who loves the Constitution and her country would ever vote for a ticket that has Sarah Palin. No way, no how, no McCain.
Below is a video that underscores how far we have to go - police at the DNC shoving a protester to the ground and telling her to "Back up, bitch." Code Pink, the group that is protesting in the video, is known for peaceful protest. Yet this officer summed up what a lot of people think about women in this country. And the response to the command "back up, bitch", whether literal or metaphorical, should only be what Obama has already said. Enough.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Gov. Sarah Palin
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12 comments:
First off, I completely agree with your analysis regarding McCain's pathetic pander to the "woman vote." Yet, I think that the Palin pick for VP remains the best thing to happen to this election. Her pick equalizes the playing field for both Barack and John. The constant attacks of Obama's "inexperience" will no longer hold as much merit with Palin, the gun toting witch of the North Pole, being on the ballot. On the other side of the coin, Obama's constant attacks of McCain as having "the same old politics" should not be heard as loudly, considering his pick, an individual with thirty lobby filled years of service. Not saying Biden comes from the bottom of the barrel, but he still represents old politics.
Overall, I am thrilled to watch the debates, and hope the election will now focus more on a policy comparison.
Democrat '08- Hillary '12 or '16,
Patrice
I am too looking forward to debates - Joe Biden is going to wipe the floor with her.
I agree that it balances two of the arguments... let's see if Americans understand the arguments that are left.
It strikes me as sadly amusing that one can espouse feminist ideals while simaltaneously calling a woman who disagrees with your politics " the gun toting witch of the North Pole." It is the same garbage the Obama camp pulled on Clinton in the primaries. I pretty much disagree with everything Palin is for but it was a bold choice. And it is strange to me that people keep leaving the fact that she is a sitting govenor off of her resume.
Having said that, I think the VP debate is Biden's to lose. Of course, expectations are so low she could get lucky.
For me, I don't understand why this is a "bold choice"? This is McCain et al picking a social conservative. They are terrified that McCain isn't coming off as Conservative enough so they vetted (and by vetted I mean called her twice) Palin because she is a very outspoken Pro Gun, Pro Life, Pro Drilling, uber conservative. So I assume the "boldness" is in relation to her gender? Am I correct?
And if so, the "bold choice" notion makes about as much sense to me as this idea that in January, "history will be made" with either a Black man or a woman in the white house. I mean, I am a fat gay man, ya don't see me doing everything I can to get Barney Frank in the White House. I could care less about your skin color or naughty bits, I just want someone who is not gonna fuck up the country anymore then it is.
To me, the only thing that needs to be "history" is the Bush administration and by voting for McCain/Palin you are merely extending this administration for another 4 years. And whether you are a PUMA, die hard Hillary supporter, or an Independent, that should be foremost on your mind. Because McCain/Palin might be courting you today but the second, and I mean the very second, they are sworn in (if they win) your concerns and, more importantly, your rights are out the window.
McCain is using Palin. He is using the anger of the disenfranchised. This is not "bold" it is offensive.
But I will tell you what offends me more: Palin has a newborn with Down Syndrome and is going to spend the next two months most likely away from that baby OR using that baby as a token of her Pro Life stance. And if she gets in the office of VP, how much time is she gonna be able to devote to a disabled child when she is helping to run the country. Now, don't take this as a "well, male VP's go of and leave their kids all the time for work, why can't a woman do the same?" This is COMPLETELY different. This is a child who is disabled and needs BOTH parents to commit to it 100% especially in the early developmental years. Palin should have turned this down.
rabble rouser said "while simaltaneously calling a woman who disagrees with your politics " the gun toting witch of the North Pole."
I agree with your sentiment...there's going to be so many sexist attacks on her, and we have to be extremely careful to attack her on policy, not gender.
monkey see, monkey doo doo: Right. On.
Brian-
The thing about Palin is that there is so much we don't know. For instance, you had to pick me up off the floor when I read that cast her first veto to quash an ugly bill that sought to strip benefits from the partners of gay public employees. I think Palin is a bold choice because the first rule in politics is do no harm. He is taking an unknown political figure who it wasn't even for certain could sure up the neocon base (though it appears it has).This was not the safe choice and was certainly not the choice many in the Republican Party wanted him to make. Palin is a smart choice because she is likable in a way McCain isn't and she can actually give a speech. It is possible to admire the selection of a VP that shows some balls while still not agreeing with that candidate's policies. Yes, they hope to draw some Clinton supporters but no one really thinks they will go McCain because of this move. What they really want is to make sure the neocon women turn out. They are McCain's most resistant group at the moment and this has sured up support.
I am appalled by how people are using the fact that she has a Down's Syndrome child against her in some of the most blatantly antifeminist rhetoric in recent memory. The truth is that this would NEVER be a question for a male candidate. And I wonder what happened to choice. For me, I choose having a choice in pregnancy and after. And I will be honest when I say this is a very personal issue for me. I have two cousins who I have helped to care for since they were infants- one with Downs Syndrome and one with cystic fibrosis. Both my aunt and my uncle work because they don't have the economic resources not to. When you slam Palin for working (and yes she has the resources to not) you are also slamming the parents who have to. And one parent households. And nontraditional households. It's a slippery slope and I'm ashamed my Party has decided to use that tactic.
And yes I'm a PUMA but here's the deal. IF McCain gets my vote it will have nothing to do with Palin and everything to do with the repugnant behavior of the DNC toward women. We have basically been told to get in line cause who else are you gonna vote for? It's a protest vote pure and simple. (And yes there's a debate right there!)
But hey at least the Republican convention may be interesting now!
Mon Chi Chi,
I'm really glad to hear that. So much of the criticisms of her have been related to her being a woman and her being a mother with precious little commentary about her record. The thing is that we have to be able to discuss these things without resorting to name calling. Just because I won't support Obama doesn't mean I don't care about reproductive rights. The very opposite in fact. This is the first election I can remember where people have literally started screaming at me because of feelings toward the two major candidates. I suppose at least there is some good to come of it though because at least it means people aside from us political junkies are getting involved.
Rabble Rouser: I was a also a Hillary supporter, yet would never consider voting for McCain. I find the PUMA issue, or protest vote, as you call it, to be extremely problematic.
In my original post, I noted that the policies of Palin and McCain bothered me because of the insulting nature of using a woman to lure other women. Particularly because I care about reproductive rights. While I support anyone's right to vote in the way they feel moved to do, I would offer this as a Hillary supporter - please vote third party. A third party with a platform you can be comfortable with. Voting for McCain/Palin is a vote against reproductive rights - if that is truly a priority for you, then support your cause rather than use your vote to punish another set of candidates.
A third party vote is telling the DNC what you feel. A vote for McCain/Palin is telling women that you don't think they should be able to control their own bodies.
That being said - I'm thrilled you've continued the debate.
Liz:
The McCain/Palin ticket's slogan is "Country First." What does that say about their commitment to their own family & personal lives?
I am not "using her child against her" I am saying that a child with special needs has just that "special needs" and the life of a politician has its own batch of "special needs." And when you have a kid your needs MUST come 2nd.
Plus, the job of the Vice President is vastly different then any regular job. There is extensive travel and the inherent danger that comes along with some of that travel. And, let's be honest, the hours the VP faces go way beyond 9 to 5.
Your relatives, I'm sure, come home every night and spend time with their child but is Palin going to have that opportunity? The job she is up for is a LIFESTYLE not just a JOB. Parents in public service are vastly different then regular two parent, single parent, or nontraditional parenting, etc. Her circumstance is completely different and in NO WAY relates to regular parents dealing with a special needs child. To me, that rhetoric (which I am sure the GOP will be using soon), saying she is "just like every other parent" of a special needs child is the dangerous rhetoric. Finally, let's not kid ourselves by saying that the 2nd in charge of the United States is gonna have the same free time as someone who is 2nd in charge of a United Colors of Benetton.
Secondly, although you might have inferred differently, for me it has nothing to do with gender. AT the DNC, when Beau Biden told the story about how 30 + years ago his dad got sworn in at his bed side after the fatal car accident I had a very similar reaction. I didn't go, 'oh swell! That man is committed.' I was like, "What the fuck Joe?! Pack it in and take care of your kids!" In that case, you quit (or don't take office) and you take care of your children.
It is also similar when I watched an interview with Michelle Obama and how she talked about how much her daughters miss their dad and how they cry sometimes at night because of it. These children didn't ask to be apart of this but now must sacrifice so much so their parents can serve the public and, in some ways, put OUR needs before their families.
And, to me, this is doubly problematic when you have a child that has special needs.
So in the final analysis, I do not trust or respect a person who would choose to take the 2nd highest office when they have a child that requires all of their attention. Call me a sexist, or whatever, but when you have a child they COME FIRST, not COUNTRY.
And as far as your "protest vote" goes, why is McCain/Palin the only choice? There is Bob Barr, the Green Party candidate, or WRITE in Hillary or Bill or whoever.
And, once again, as a gay man, no one gets the rhetoric of "Who Else Ya Gonna Vote For" thrown at us more then us queers. But we like getting fucked in the ass, so it is not really a big problem :) But all jokes aside, to be fully aware of what the GOP has done and will continue to do and STILL vote for them out of protest is silly.
But, of course, you have the right to do that. And if McCain wins and things turn out like I fear, I have the right to do the "I Told Ya So" Dance as the shit hits the fan.
Brian-
I'll be honest. When I heard the Biden speech-a man who I genuinely like despite the Anita Hill debacle- I thought the same thing. But he put service ahead of his family and I respect that. I think we just have different world views which is probably why the "Country First" slogan bugs you and not me. I'm a collectivist and it sounds like you may be an individualist. neither position is inherently right or wrong. It's just what it is.
Not with regard to Palin, you've kind of made my case. No one in the mainstream media criticized Joe Biden for going back to work so to now turn that on Palin reeks of sexism. My aunt actually works 4 12 hour days a week so she sees her kids only 3 times a week. And she went back to work immediately. Maybe it isn't something I would have done, but it doesn't matter. It's about choice. You support a woman being able to make her own decisions for herself and her family or you don't.
And hello I hear you on the gay rhetoric and his stance or lack thereof on gay rights is one of the reasons Obama is not my candidate. The PUMA movement is a lot more complicated than you give it credit for. I know people want to write us off as being bitter and pissy our candidate didn't win. And I'm sure some of that exists within the movement. But speaking for myself, a protest vote makes sense because that is the only vote the Democrats understand. I am a PUMA not because I'm bitter but because the entire process was hijacked. I don't know if you got to watch the DNC-RBC debacle but I was there and I can tell you it was brutal. Donna Braizil essentially told us we don't need you to win this election and where are you going to go anyway? Well never ask a question you don't know the answer to :-0
Mon chi chi-
I agree. I know how I feel and it is more interesting to me to hear the perspective of others. Otherwise, things would get really boring.. As I said I haven't decided who I will vote for in this election. My grandmother who has marched and petitioned and fought is staying home and it makes me unbelievably sad. She can't vote for either in good faith and so she votes for no one at all. That's not an option for me because too many people fought to hard for me to be able to vote for me not to show up. I'm looking at all the candidates. One thing that saddens me is that you cant write in names in all states. It seems very undemocratic to me. But yeah, I'm reading and looking and am still deciding. Time will tell.
The whole Roe v. Wade is certain to be overturned under a McCain Presidency argument is simple drum beating without substance. Lets forget for a moment that Obama is against late term abortions, has hedged his position on choice is and thinks women should have to consult their husbands and ministers before even considering an abortion. For the sake of argument, lets also forget that Cass Sunstein, one of his judicial advisors, is a name he has mentioned for SCOTUS even though Sunstein is an arch-conservative and anti-choice. Row v. Wade has been in danger for years so this sudden concern is disingenuous. It is to the Republicans interest to keep this issue alive because it drives people to the polls. Also, Bush is anti-choice and he had a Republican Congress behind him and did nothing. Frankly, keeping this issue alive helps both parties. I mean lets not kid ourselves that the issues are black and white.
But you know what I really resent? People thinking I am just a voting uterus. I am sick and tired of people assuming that the only issue women care about is abortion. I'm concerned about national security, our dependence on foreign oil, the housing market, and healthcare just for a start.
But lordy how bizarre is it for me to be defensing an arch conservative?! But then I suppose the one thing we can all agree on is that this election is still one of the most interesting spectatcles going!
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