Written by:
Kristin A. Smith
I was an ardent Hillary supporter from the beginning. And like all Hillary supporters, there was a moment of mourning over her losing the nomination. And another moment of mourning over her losing the VP slot. But my reaction to the news that McCain has chosen a woman running mate was not mourning—I rejoiced. McCain’s VP announcement was the day the Democrats won the White House.
The 2008 presidential election has reminded us that women deserve to be in the White House, but it needs to be the right woman. Sarah Palin is the wrong woman.
She’s wrong in nearly every way—she’s inexperienced, she hasn’t been thoroughly vetted, she opposes pro-women legislation and most horrifying, she wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Even after the announcement that her teenage daughter is pregnant, Palin still contends that abstinence is only form contraception that should be taught in sex education classes.
The Palin pick was not a shattering of the glass ceiling that Hillary put 18 million cracks in; it was the crystal elevator that swept the beauty queen up to the penthouse. More than that, it was a ploy by the Republicans to lure in the Hillary supporters, but it won’t work.
McCain, we see your decision for what it is—desperate, fearful and out of touch. If you think that parading a woman around as your VP shows progress, you are wrong. If you think Sarah Palin, with her skimpy record, is a good choice for our nation, you are wrong. If you think that women will rejoice that one of our own is in line for the presidency, you have seriously misunderstood us.
One of our own was in line for the presidency and we did rejoice, but not because she is a woman—because she is a capable woman, and a politically brilliant woman and because she has always fought for the rights of women.
Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin are not the same. Clinton’s resume includes senator, first lady, lawyer and a lifetime of advocacy for the middle class. Palin’s still includes the PTA.
As a person, Palin seems decent—she’s a dedicated American and a dedicated mother; one of her children is in the army, which is more than most war-supporting Republicans can say. Palin is articulate and has moved up the ranks from a star of the basketball court to a star of Alaska, but her luminary powers stop there.
Palin isn’t a national leader, and more than ever we need a leader. We need someone who knows how to tackle the ailing economy, get us out of Iraq, reform our healthcare and eliminate our dependence on oil. With only two years of state government under her belt, Palin is not that person.
McCain’s choice has put us all at risk. As the oldest candidate in history, the chance that McCain’s second in command will have to don the commander in chief jacket is more likely than ever. And if we are going to be lucky enough to have a woman wearing that jacket, wouldn’t it be better to choose someone who knows how to wear it? Condoleeza Rice would have been a good pick, but Palin is not.
So, today I rejoice because in attempting to provide a bridge for the Hillary supporters to walk across, McCain has made us cling to our Democratic column more than ever. Palin is not a replacement for Hillary. Thank you, McCain, for uniting our party.
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