By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star
But for the grace of God go many women when the subject is Sarah Palin.
No, most women will never be considered for vice president. Palin should never have faced that challenge either. As many have pointed out, she doesn’t exactly have the heartiest resume of political experience.
Kay Bailey Hutchison comes to mind as a better choice, as do Christine Todd Whitman and Olympia Snowe. Surely there are others who could have filled this role and also been of the gender that John McCain wrongly believes is necessary to court women voters.
Palin is being touted a bit like the female boss whom female workers are supposed to like because of her gender alone. Sorry, but far too many of us have been out in the world long enough to see through this simplistic shtick. Those who look like us do not always have our best interests in mind.
Yes, Palin is likable. Spunky even — the kind of woman you’d enjoy knowing because she could hold an interesting conversation, retell a poignant anecdote, and also offer a tip on where to buy a great pair of shoes. She’s obviously accomplished as a local and state politician, a loving wife and mother. All laudable attributes.
But women voters do not need a vice president they can lunch with. They need someone who could step in and be the commander in chief.
Peel back the Palin veneer and what is revealed is a woman dealing with many real-life issues facing American families, but not in ways that would form strong public policy. So while Palin alternately glows and flinches during her 15 minutes in the national spotlight, her story can highlight a few concerns.
She has a 5-month-old baby with Down syndrome and a teenage daughter who is pregnant.
The risk of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as a woman becomes older (1 in 910 at age 30, according to one source, and 1 in 28 at age 45).
Palin is 44. With many women now marrying and having children later in life, and with many unable to afford the tremendous cost of fertility treatments, the odds of older women giving birth to a child with a genetic disorder are high.
Some turn to abortion. Personally, I respect and agree with Palin’s opposition to abortion. It would not be my choice either. Seeing the way the Palin family held the infant son Trig during Palin’s Wednesday acceptance speech, there was no doubt how much love exists for that baby.
But voters also recognize that rape happens, that pregnancy by incest happens, that giving people access to contraception can prevent unwanted pregnancies. Palin’s view doesn’t address those harsh realities. How Palin runs her family is her business, but what she deems best for the Palin family isn’t necessarily best for the masses.
Bristol Palin is pregnant at 17. Thankfully, she is also from a well-off, supportive family that will likely ensure she does not end up in poverty and still earns a college degree. Most teenagers in her place can only hope for the same.
Bristol doesn’t need sanctimonious critics chastising her. But teenagers like her most certainly need well-run public schools that accommodate students with children, daycare options, and employers that will see her potential and not just the conflict a baby can cause for a new career.
And Bristol obviously could have used what her mother adamantly opposes: access to contraception rather than just the “stay a virgin” message that, while perhaps ideal, is not realistic.
Dissuading kids from having sex too young is one thing. But the wishful hopes of the adults preaching chastity should not cloud the truth: that teens are still having unprotected sex.
Finally, much has been made of the idea that Palin should focus on being a mother rather than a politician, as if the two were mutually exclusive.
Had Mitt Romney been chosen as McCain’s running mate, you can bet no one would be suggesting that Romney would be too taxed at the end of his day to spend appropriate time with his five children. There is, after all, a Mrs. Romney to help out. Just as there is a Mr. Palin.
Respecting Palin as a savvy woman is one thing. Believing she is the right choice for the job of vice president is condescending to women voters.
©2008 The Kansas City Star
Distributed by Tribune Media Services
To reach Mary Sanchez, send e-mail to msanchez@kcstar.com
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what false premise?
Here's what the article above says:
Kay Bailey Hutchison comes to mind as a better choice, as do Christine Todd Whitman and Olympia Snowe. Surely there are others who could have filled this role and also been of the gender that John McCain wrongly believes is necessary to court women voters.
In other words, the question is whether Palin is remotely a sensible choice to be second in line for the presidency behind the 72-year-old McCain, based on her experience and qualifications.
Sanchez makes her case that Palin is nowhere near the qualified candidate that we as Americans should like to see in the second highest office in the land.
A friend gave me this analogy:
"You are in the emergency room. You have to have brain surgery. Do you want the surgeon who changed schools six times to operate on you or the one from the best medical school in the world?
Oh yeah, the female surgeon is the first of her kind. Does that change your mind?"
Running the country IS tantamount to brain surgery -- we should have the smartest and most able in the office.
The Republicans offer a man who graduated 894th out of 899 in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy, and as his VP nominee, a woman who attended five colleges in six years en route to a bachelor's degree in journalism.
The Democrats offer a man who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and who served as editor of the Harvard Law Review, and his VP double majored for his bachelor's degree in history and political science at the U. of Delaware, then earned a law degree from Syracuse University.
Qualifications matter. This isn't just brain surgery -- it's heading the most powerful country in the world. We've had 8 years of poor management by an admitted "C" student -- it's time to get someone qualified back in charge.
False Premise
Interesting that you pose the premise that you would consider voting for any conservative. Somehow I doubt that you are pining for the opportunity to choose Senator Hutchison.
Another full of holes swiss cheese report by Mary Sanchez
Starting off, your title is a little racist in it's wording as I know you would never write something like, "Will we ever see Obama's darker side?" But you write about Ms. Palin without giving your choice of words a thought I'll bet. Lady, millions of teeenagers get pregnant every year regardless of their family upbringing. So you think this couple did not have access to birth control? Earth to Mary, they probably didn't give birth control a thought just like the millions before them never thought about it or that it would happen to them or that the fact that their actions were all was going against their parents wishes. You just said that to push your ignant left-wing loon ageanda. That was one dumb comment. Even for you. Another stupid comment comes from your lips when you complained about Romney not getting the same treatment. Of course, you pick Romney, not Obama for an example as Obama would have been the more applicable choice in this situation except your idiology prevents you from being even remotely fair in your analysis. And to answer your ignorance, Romney is not a Mother and neither is Obama. Mothers and fathers are different. Remember Mothers are deemed more important to the welfare of children, don't believe me just ask the 1000's of Fathers who are told that by the courts during custody hearings. Ask Judge Christine Sill-Rogers, she'll set you straight. So all in all, another report from the looney desk of Ms. Sanchez. Watch out Mary, someone might write a story about you titled. "Is Sanchez too spicy to write for the Star?.
Yea right.
You're right..I have not seen her on the "Not Fair and Unbalanced" MSNBC news either.
Republican Idiot #2
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/view.bg?articleid=1117009&srvc=home&position=emailed
palin's faith
If you look at her record, she has not made any public policies as a result of her religious views and has, in fact, made some in the religious community disgruntled with her lack of action.
Secondly, if you are going to compare religious faith of the candidates, it is fair to also analyze Obamas multi year full family integration and support of the God Damn America church. He must also a view that the white man in America deserves every rotten thing that could happen.
Where did Palin's minister spew racial hatred and epithets?
Jews for Jesus
He told congregants that terrorist attacks on Israel were God's "judgment" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity.
Isn't this the same type of comment that finally got Rev. John Hagee and his endorsement rejected by McCain? How do religious leaders in the Jewish community feel about this? If they were upset enough to get McCain to cut loose Hagee, I don't know why Palin would be acceptable.
As far as quantum leaps to be qualified, sitting down and discussing views is at least a minimum. How else are we going to find out about her background, positions and personality? They work for us. At least that's what McCain said during the convention. Now they don't want to answer questions? So much for answering to us.
This would be part of the job interview process. What are they scared of? That Palin will make a mistake, like when she talked about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae over the weekend and it was clear she had no idea what these companies do.
Damned arrogant here...
When was the Governor on with Greta? I never saw it advertised. I don't recall saying "lunch" or "national reporter". Would you buy a car without test driving it? I want to know her background and knowledge on the major issues. I don't see anything arrogant about that. I'm still trying to weigh my options but the nastiness from the "righties" is pushing me the other way. Since she has not been given a chance to speak for herself, I have to wonder why.
UPDATE: I got on "the Google" and saw that you told a fib, sonofrogue. Gov. Palin was not "on with Greta" but rather was the subject of a one-hour program about her life hosted by Greta. When I say Gov. Palin should meet the press I am referring to a face-to-face interview, that means in the same room.
WRONG
The Governor was on with Greta VanSustern. And BTW, who made the quantum leap that in order to be qualified you have to have had lunch with a National Reporter. What damned arrogance. I tell you what lefties, just keep in up, you are piling up the votes for the McCain ticket.
Not a good choice for VP
I don't understand the viciousness from the supporters of Palin. I don't recall the media having any contact with her directly to ask about her record as mayor or governor. I haven't seen her on any of the news shows, not even "fair and balanced" Fox News. Why? Could it be there's very little to talk about concerning her record? Could it be that what there is of her record is questionnable? Could it be she has no in-depth knowledge of the issues? It appears as though the Republicans are trying to hide something. Journalists are nosy-types and they tend to want the facts and the truth (ever hear of libel? No? Look it up). This is something that is taught in Journalism 101 and as I recall, your candidate has a degree in journalism. So when you badmouth the press you are, in effect, badmouthing your own candidate (see "hypocrite"). The piece written here is what's called an "opinion" piece, that means it is the writer's opinion. Last I heard the First Amendment was still in effect, although battered up a bit. If anything, the media has been very lenient with Gov. Palin even to the point of letting the Republican Party dictate the rules. Believe me, this is not how a democracy works. This election is about the issues and they are the war, terrorism, the economy, the environment, the energy crises, a deplorable educational system, job loss, unemployment (and no, they are not the same), immigation, home foreclosure, failing banks, high grocery bills, high gas cost, high home heating bills and the list goes on. If you can't cite your candidate's stand on any one of these issues, you need to enlightened yourself instead of bad-mouthing something that you know nothing about.