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REGINA BRETT
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Women can relate to Gov. Sarah Palin
by Regina Brett
Thursday September 04, 2008, 7:08 PM
This is one of those columns that's going to get me in trouble.
My family will hate it. Friends will disown me. Faithful readers will think I've lost my mind.
But I have to say it. I kinda like this Palin Power surge.
• Connie Schultz's view: Palin played the girlfriend card
• Blogger Susan Weber: "Sarah Palin isn't the kind of mom I can relate to"
• Blogger Kellybelle: "Feminism, as I understand it, is about equality, not quotas"
When Sen. Barack Obama, my choice for president, picked a tried-and-true white male as a running mate, I was disappointed. Women were once again sidelined. It has been 24 years since Geraldine Ferraro made history on the Democratic ticket. I hated to see Sen. Hillary Clinton left in the dust.
Then Sen. John McCain shocked America. He picked a female running mate.
Wow. I felt ecstatic until I found out who she was. Sarah Palin. Sarah Who?
OK, so she's governor of Alaska, population 670,053. Big whoop. That's like being mayor of Columbus, only easier. Our capital has 77,702 more people than Alaska.
Before that, Palin was mayor of Wasilla, population 9,780. That's like being mayor of my Ravenna, only easier. My hometown has 1,642 more people.
McCain picked a token female, a former beauty queen who looks like the model in those eyeglass ads. His cheerleader choice insulted some women.
Plus, she was a bad role model. Why wasn't she home with her five kids? The youngest, a baby boy, has Down syndrome. Then, heavens to murgatroyd, her unmarried 17-year-old turns up five months pregnant.
So, what kind of mother is Sarah Palin?
The kind people all over America can relate to.
A mom who joined the PTA to make the public schools better.
A mom who is sending her own son off to war. (How many governors, senators and Congress members have sent theirs?)
A mom who chose to have a baby others would have rejected as imperfect.
A mom who asked if we knew the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull, then pointed to her face and said, "Lipstick."
A mom who married a fisherman/oil field worker who never finished college and looks clumsy in a suit.
A mom raising a flawed family, the kind we all have.
Women can relate to her. I know I can. It doesn't mean I'll vote for her, but I'm excited that she's one of our choices.
Like it or not, Palin proves there's more than one kind of feminist. That you don't have to be pro-choice to fit under that umbrella. That women can break ground for other women and still believe life starts at conception and is always a gift.
Those who criticize Palin for putting country first and family second should consider this: Men do it all the time, only when they do it, we call them heroes.
Wednesday night, on stage with her family, Palin didn't seem to put country ahead of family. It looked like a tie to me.
She took her place in history, the first woman vice presidential nominee for the GOP. She took her place with her family, a beautiful baby boy in her arms, a pregnant daughter at her side.
When it was over, one commentator called her a torpedo aimed at Obama. She's more than that. She's a rocket, aimed at that last glass ceiling in America.
For previous columns visit cleveland.com/brett
HOORAY for you, Regina! You had the guts to express this accurately and fairly. Even if you do not like the GOP, or plan to vote Mcain/Palin, this has to be acknowledged as good for women. All of the so-called feminists have either been in hiding or blasting her because she isn't pro abortion.
Thank you for being able to be objective about Sarah Palin even though your politics may not be the same. As a politically conservative, pro-life, evangelical Christian woman who has juggled career and family, I applaud John McCain's choice. Unfortunately, the hypocrites on both sides of the aisle are coming out in droves. The feminists on the left don't like her because she's pro-life and conservative, so suddenly they question her ability to raise a family and run for a national office. The right-wingers who have always advocated that women can't do both are suddenly embracing the concept of a woman with both a career and a family. Then, of course, there are those who dismiss Obama's admitted drug use in his youth, but are wringing their hands over Sarah Palin's husband's DUI 22 years ago. Bottom line -- I will vote McCain/Palin because I think they offer the best combination of talents and abilities to lead this country, not because she's a woman. But I agree that this is a huge step forward for women.
McCain only picked Palin because she's female and she looks better on camera that Kay Bailey Hutchinson or Kristie Todd Whitman (either of whom would have been far more qualified). I find it hard to feel empowered as a female when I'm clearly being pandered to.
Wow! Regina I am so thrilled! You don't have to agree with Palin, but she shouldn't be dismissed because she is a conservative working mother.
You certainly understand making difficult decisions in life, as Governor Palin did. Every though I don't agree with you all the time and get angry with some things you say, I continue to read your column because I respect your devotion to your family and the fact that you were a single mother.
Hillary got a terrible shake in the press. They are doing it to Palin (seen the US weekly yet?). We need to stand up and say this is wrong. Being a mother doesn't limit your potential.
The press didn't question Joe Biden's commitment in 1972 when he was a newly widowed father who was sworn into the Senate at his son's beside. Nobody questioned The Governator about who was caring for his 4 kids. Yet this woman has been dragged through the mud - along with her children.
I am a stay at home mom of young kids. I stay at home because my husband travels often for work and I couldn't juggle all the sick days, etc. I've been accused of being lazy. I've been told I've wasted my expensive education. I have friends who work and have been accused of being heartless mothers who leave their children with strangers. We are all good women who do what works for our families. Please teach Connie this is what sisterhood is about.
Oh Regina, Regina, Regina......how in the name of God can you relate to her? Simply because she shares your gender means nothing. Get past the vagina and breasts and focus on SHE the person. There is nothing remarkable about her other than she is an embarrassment to our gender - How she parades that pregnant daughter around advocating abstinence and proving by her daughter's example that, that does not work. Remarkable, I think not. Embarrassing, most definitely.
lol..........the plain dealer editors are a joke..connie insult the palin family.....dems cried chealsea off limits......now brett repeats the hatch job and offers a little support.......
Once again, Regina never misses a chance for white male bashing.
I really don't care if a candidate has zero kids or twelve, or if those children have special needs, are in the service, have a drug problem or are pregnant. I do care about their qualifications, where they stand on the issues and their overall vision for this country. We (with help from the media) have turned the election of the most powerful person in the world into a popularity contest akin to prom king/queen. All I heard this morning from the talking heads is that Ms. Palin's story has all the makings of a "lifetime" movie, are you f*#*ing kidding. With all of the issues facing this country; economy in the toilet, an endless war, housing crisis, massive trade and budget deficits, all the while millions of its citizens are sinking into poverty. But hey, I'll vote for the guy/gal that I would want to have a beer with. That is the mindset which brought us George Bush, who proudly states "I never read newspapers" and "rarely is the question asked, is our children learning."
John McCain had several choices for a running mate if his intent was to truly break the glass ceiling for women. Every Republican female Governor or Senator that he passed over (all with far better resumes) had one fatal flaw in the minds of the party faithful, they were all pro-choice, save one, you guessed it Palin. So when McCain and his cohorts go on TV and with a straight face claim that the former mayor of Mayberry is the most qualified choice to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. It is an insult to the American voter, especially women voters. He put politics above country, he put ideology above the safety of its citizens, he made a choice based solely on gender, a women he spoke with twice in his life.
This isn't a Lifetime movie, there will be no happy ending people, just four more years of incompetence.
"There is nothing remarkable about her other than she is an embarrassment to our gender."
Being governor of a state -- even Alaska -- isn't remarkable? Come now. Someone needs to put down the Gloria Steinem.
An excellent column, Ms. Brett. It baffles me why some women -- like, say, winslow52 -- apparently believe feminism lies on only one side of the aisle.
As an aside, Ms. 52, abstinence, the last time I checked, does indeed work when practiced. I'm not sure what your point is, other than that teenagers simply make mistakes.
You're right Regina she is awesome!
I loved the lipstick line it was so remarkably intelligent!
And the cheap shot at community organizers! classy!
Her speech was so full of substance! Just like your article!
go away Regina.
GOLF = Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden
Out of this Forum MEN. Women Only!
Good for you Regina. I am an Obama supporter, I see the world very differently from Palin, yet I am pleased to see women rising into positions where they have the same opportunities as men.
But let's stop calling her a hockey mom, she's a hockey grandma!
She said she's proud of her daughter for making the right choice and keeping her baby. Yet she wants to take away the opportunity for my daughter to make a choice if she makes the same foolish mistake Bristol made.
As far as her going back to work when her kids are babies, no one says anything when soldiers go off to war with their wives pregnant. Let's get past this silly double standard. If she believes her children are well cared for and she could make a difference in their lives by serving in government, that's fine.
Women should be able to relate to her in a simple way. She has risen to the top of her field in a male dominated world. I am not saying that is a reason to support her by voting for her. Choose who you will vote for by what they stand for and what their party platform is.
And as far as picking her because she is attractive? I heard the same comments made about Mitt Romney, Dan Quayle and John Edwards.
It should be remembered that Adolph Hitler(a right wing zealot) was a family man who was great with kids. Mein Kumpf, Hitler's manifesto, tells how government should gear its laws towards families. A canidate's personal family affection(in any country) should have no bearing on what type of governing ideas they possess. In fact, an overdone focus on family can easily become an excuse for tyranny(just look at our U.S. drug laws - mainly infuenced by out of control paternalism in the 1980s.)
ddl118 - this is a PUBLIC forum, and we affect and are affected by women's issues. You sound like one of those hysterical feminists!
By the way, Regina, if the relatively small population of Alaska disqualifies Palin, then the liberals favorite president, "wild Bill the women groper" should have been disqualified because Arkansas at the time had about the population of the Cleveland metro SMA, and ranked 33rd in the country.
eyeruggardo,
intelligent?
classy?
substance?
Which speech were you watching, it was fluff mixed with a few attacks. There was no mention of how they are going to fix the myriad of problems facing this nation, not one policy initiative. A brief bio paired with some clever one liners, all of which were written for her. Her selection is an insult to women, as he passed over far more qualified women, in a sad attempt to lure Hillary supporters, while appeasing the far right of his party.
Mrs. Mc Cain stood proud and said "when I became a mom, my life changed and my dedication was to my child" (said approx. 21:50 est). This is a conflict with Palin, instead of her dedication to her small children she prefers to play the political game. Being Gov. is one thing your in your home state with less travel, VP is a totally different ballgame and different sport. Where is her dedication to her family and what type of values will she promote, her 17 year old daughter is old enough to make her own choices to some degree but what about the smaller ones? She would prefer politics over her own children, that is NOT to say she doesnt care but Mrs. Mc Cain strongly feels that a MOM should be there to help raise her children. Mrs. Mc Cain should have been his running mate.
Mrs. Mc Cain stood proud and said "when I became a mom, my life changed and my dedication was to my child" (said approx. 21:50 est). This is a conflict with Palin, instead of her dedication to her small children she prefers to play the political game. Being Gov. is one thing your in your home state with less travel, VP is a totally different ballgame and different sport. Where is her dedication to her family and what type of values will she promote, her 17 year old daughter is old enough to make her own choices to some degree but what about the smaller ones? She would prefer politics over her own children, that is NOT to say she doesnt care but Mrs. Mc Cain strongly feels that a MOM should be there to help raise her children. Mrs. Mc Cain should have been his running mate.
Regina,
If you haven't noticed our country is in a bit of trouble lately. Wars, economy and corporate amerika are but a few of the problems.
I don't care if the next President or VP were male or female, black or white or a bi racial hermaphrodite as long as they could solve the problems and restore some honor to the WH.
If you think a family more suited for Jerry Springer than DC should be our next VP you're too blinded by your own sexism to see the truth. Maybe you need some downtime.
If you want to drink the kool aid go ahead, just don't take the rest of us down with you. What I mean is move to Alaska and be closer to your friend.
You kind of embarrass all of us. Stop it already.
Tracy63, the post you refer to is what we literate folk call "sarcasm."
Sadly, your vote counts as much as mine. Quite tragic, that.
Nice work, Regina!
It's refreshing to hear someone say they can actually identify with someone across the aisle. She seems like a good person and it's a shame that she's had to endure the usual partisan witch hunt that's taken place over the past several days. I'm glad that you chose to take the high road. You are to be commended for it.
As a male, I can say that I'm happy for what this means to the women of this nation. Like Mrs. Palin's politics or not, this nomination is a still a victory for our country, just like Obama's is.
You go vote for Obama with pride, Regina, knowing you didn't see fit to tear down the opposition like so many of your colleagues in the media do. Your colleague Connie Schultz's article yesterday was an unacceptable charachter assasination. Your comments were very appropriate, given your political leanings.
We can always disagree with the opposite party's views, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't respect them as the human beings that they are. They live, eat, breathe, sleep, poop and have personal challenges just like the rest of us do.
Personally, I'd love to have a few beers with Joe Biden. Although I'm a staunch Rebublican, I do still admire his wit and "straight shooter" attitude. I'd never vote for him, but hanging with him seems like it could be fun.
Pluto,
Read your history book. Hitler was not a family man. He was unmarried until the last days of his life. He had no children. As for being a right winger, do you know the name of his party. You think it's the Nazi party. You're wrong. Nazi is the beginning of the "Nationalistic Socialist Democratic Workers Party". Hardly a right wing phrase.
He was a thug, and a crazy one at that.
Ascalia2,
I missed the end of the comment as I was skimming, however it did indeed sound like most the posts of you right wing nutjobs who blindly back any candidate that repeats Limbaugh's talking points.
By the way teenagers are less likely to make mistakes when they are not sheltered by overly religious parents who don't believe in sex ed. If you believe telling teens to "just say no" suffices as sexual education, you are beyond naive.
It is sad that your vote counts the same as mine.
I would like to think that people will vote for the best candidate irregardless of party affiliation, sex, or race. I thought Sara Palin sounded like a typical republican in a skirt, i.e. might equals right. She mentioned Obama almost as many times as Obama mentioned McCain in his acceptance speech, both talked the politics of the negative. I thought McCains speech was wonderful, dispite the uncomfortable smiles, that looked even less sincere when compared to his smile of relief at the end of his speech. I will still vote for Obama but I feel good about both choices dispite their different views [except for future supreme court choices-there I worry about McCain].
Call me the only man to speak out about this: Sara Palin a good choice for women. She cannot be. She's a Republican, with a "Grand Old Purpose." She wants to shake up Washington 'as only a woman can.'
"She has the toughness to be a woman," many have honestly claimed these past few days.
SHE WILL PUSH BUSH'S AGENDA
She supports The Patriot Act, which is the first step to a facist state in America.
She is against unions, even though a union man has brought home half of the family's earnings. I did say half, ladies.
She is staunchly anti-choice. She wants to repeal Roe V Wade.
She does not support equal pay for equal work in the sallaried work force.
She will expand "No Child Left Behind", the most underfunded teacher leglation in the history of our nation.
She is anti-free woman. She is Anti-American.
"If you believe telling teens to 'just say no' suffices as sexual education, you are beyond naive."
That, of course, is not what I said. Maybe you skimmed again. I said only that abstinence works when practiced. This, I hope you will concede, is an unassailable fact.
But, since you asked, I do believe in more expansive sex education. You, though, don't really care about that; your jab is just a cover because you didn't read.
My advice? Be sure to review your ballot carefully.
I will never vote for this woman. She is portraying herself as someone that is totally opposite of who she really is and that folks is scary. Adolf Hitler also stood behind God and preached a message that God approved of his actions too. We all know how that turned out. I have read numerous articles and watched videos of her and I think she is one of the most unqualified and pretentious candidates to ever run for vice president of the United States. I don't trust anyone who uses and stands behind God as an excuse to go to war or build a 30 Billion dollar pipeline. According to Palin, Iraq is "a task that is from God" and that's why we should go to war. Religion and politics don't mix. Remember that our Constitution states that there should be "separation of church and state." We do not need a brainwashing V.P. in office preaching otherwise. She is reprehensible.
"This is one of those columns that's going to get me in trouble.
My family will hate it. Friends will disown me. Faithful readers will think I've lost my mind."
This shows (once again) that mainstream media is infested with leftwing commentators.
Governor Palin is a huge breath of fresh air that scares the entrenched liberals and appeals to mainstream America.
Regina, you don't need to tell anyone how you vote in the election. I think you're on the right track.
birdietrucki,
The Constitution does NOT say there should be "separation of church and state". You are wrong.
Ignorant liberals like you should be very afraid of Governor Palin.
Sarah Palin is the second mother in this race. After his wife died, Joe Biden was both the mother and the father for his kids.
"A mom who is sending her own son off to war. (How many governors, senators and Congress members have sent theirs?)"
Well, Regina, one senator immediately leaps to mind:
John McCain.
In fact, he's sent two.
Of how many Democrats can that be truthfully said?
Sending your kids off to war... How could any parent be that stupid?
Thank you Regina. All working mothers, regardless of their politics do share alot in common. In my heart, I am as proud of Connie's success as I am of Sarah's. I can relate personally to the obstacles that gender presents in the workplace, and in many different fields of achievement. I am thankful every day that their leadership will make it a more joyful journey for all of our daughters, just as my own mother made it easier for me.
You have just fallen off the writer's pedastal I have placed you on. In that perfect stage picture of Sarah Palin you wrote about -- they should have included the picture the Los Angeles Times showed of the bloody moose she bagged --triumpantly kneeling beside it with her young daughter at her side. What a terrible lesson to impart - hunting is fun. She in no way will ever be my role model and I hope that women of compassion will realize that a woman who glorifies hunting and is promoting the aerial shooting of wolves-- promising a $150 bounty for each wolf's foreleg is not my idea of a worthwhile woman candidate. McCain could have done better --much better. Sadly, you are no wiser than he.
Regina,
Your apology prior to the substance of your column only made me not want to read another bleeding heart, liberal, button-holding story. However, to keep the world in balance and to check myself for staying dead-on the middle of the road, I read it. I was pleasantly surprised that you took a rather objective view and I congratulate you for it.
Now, we just need to bring you into the McCain camp. I just now stepped right of the center line for this election.
Wow, I cannot recall a campaign that brought out so much vitriol! One the one hand, it's good to see voters passionate about an election, but on the other, I'm scared to see the level that some parties are stopping...both on the Dems and Republican sides.
I'm undecided. I would love to take the qualities I agree with from both Obama and McCain and merge them into a new candidate.
However, I applaud your column, Regina. I can't say that I'm in love with Palin, but I'm rejoicing in an election where a woman, especially one who didn't come from power, money or connection, is within reach of becoming VP.
I only wish the supporters on both sides would stick to attacks on the candidates and NOT the candidate's families.
"A mom who is sending her son off to war?"
Um, dontcha think the son had some say in it? If he's any kind of man, he'd have refused if his mother wanted him to enlist in a war he wanted no part of.
But I kind of agree that the kid's parents may have influenced his decision. Because children of power and money don't enlist in the military for want of other things to do. They enlist to pad their resumes, knowing full well that when they're discharged, their families will see to it that they get jobs doing whatever it is they want to do. Like be president of the United States.
I've known people who served recently, and none of their lives are the better for having done so. But if you're the child of a big-oil politician, you'll be taken care of. And the military service will look good for both the kid and his family.
Poor bastard. I hope his heart is true.
neovita, all arguments about Cindy or Sarah dedicating themselves to motherhood are kind of beside the point, because they're both rich. Cindy is a gazillionaire. And people like that can afford to feign nobility and say crap like, "I'm going to be a mother now" when they have children. Some women don't have the choice of saying, "I'll stay home with my baby" because they have to work to feed that baby.
Regina, if you think that McCain's pick of Palin is mostly about breaking the glass-ceiling, you're being narrow-minded. The vice presidency is bigger than that. Running this country ought to transcend color or gender. Sarah Palin has already broken the glass ceiling for herself. She's already a success and an inspiration for women who see it that way. Putting her in the white house doesn't "break it" any more. She's money. She's been money, and will continue to be money and earn more than you or me whether or not she gets elected. This country is in a bad way, and people have got to broaden their perspectives beyond glass-ceilings and labels if it's going to get better.
Palin can call herself a "hockey mom" all she likes, but she's never been a hockey or soccer mom the same way that NE Ohio's working mothers are. I suspect that if Palin marched her true family out onto that RNC stage, we'd see a couple nannies and a maid. Because there's just no way you can be a mayor or governor and have the time for properly raising five kids. And there's no way that Todd Palin is doing it alone. This is a guy who didn't even register to vote until he was pushing thirty. It's good strategy for Palin to affiliate herself with that demographic, but do some research and you'll realize it's not so. A mother can be a governor, sure. But a governor cannot be a "hockey mom." They're mutually exclusive.
I was quite interested to find out that I was "Anti-American" according to IGuessImLeft.
I'm against abortion. I'm somewhat Republican, though frankly, I don't have much use for either party. I'm a fundamentalist Christian. And, oh, yes, according to IGIL, I'm anti-American. Or the Anti-American.
That's why I'm afraid of both sets of candidates, frankly. If Obama wins, people like me are going to be beyond marginalized. And if McCain is indeed Bush 3.0, he's just going to make things worse.
How long does it take to get a work visa for New Zealand?
Why is it that as women we are so judgemental of each other? Why are the comments about her daughters pregnancy not also directed at her husband? She is not a single parent. Her husband shares the duties of caring for their youngest, perhaps the are a more evolved couple than many of us that shoulder most of the child-rearing duties in our families.
warciple - obviously your many years as a governor qualifies you to decide that being a hockey mom and a governor or mutually exclusive...like you would know.
I find her resume short but are we interested in someone who HAS done something i.e. experience or someone who CAN do something, i.e. ability? Obviuously in a short period of time she has had an impact on the state of Alaska - her approval rating is through the roof!
Like Regina I find I have as much in common with a fellow hockey mom as I am different. However, I have nearly nothing in common with our other 3 presidential and vice presidential candidates. Whether that is a reason to vote for someone or not is up to me and will be decided in the privacy of the voters booth, but certainly this election has gone from a whole lot of same old same old to something that may hold all of our interest.
Avonagitator,
Actually Joe Biden's son is be deployed soon too.
Neovita,
Cindy McCain didn't contradict Palin when she said becoming a mom changed her life. Are you saying that working mom's lives aren't changed and defined by their children? Can they not love their children because they work? That is silly!
Posted by parmaperogie on 09/05/08 at 1:07AM
"Sarah Palin is the second mother in this race. After his wife died, Joe Biden was both the mother and the father for his kids."
Parmaperogie, did people call for Joe Biden to resign because he was a newly widowed father who had to be sworn in at his son's bedside? No, because he's a man - and a Democrat.
Republicans don't think women should stay at home on the kitchen - unless they WANT to. We aren't dismissive of moms in the military who are deployed and leave their kids with children. We aren't dismissive of Rice, Dole or other women politicians simply because they work!
Rnagel, I have read the history books. Haggling over the proper name of Hitler's political party is missing the point. Hitler's political principles, written in Mein Kampf, are classic right wing philosophy, or stated differently, a guidebook to tyranny. In Mein Kampf Hitler suggested censoring film and media (becasue of the rotting moral character it promoted.) He also talked extensively about the importance of faith(Hitlers first wish was to become a Catholic priest.) I honestly believe that few right wingers or Republicans in America favor concentration camps, however, why is it that Palin favors censoring books in libraries? And why is "faith" and "religion" continually brought up by Republicans?
So many words and busy voices weighing in on Palin's balancing work and children. "Whats all the fuss?" say the millions of mothers who have no choice in working everyday in unsatisfying, often dangerous jobs, e.g. - chicken factories, seafood industry, dismembering the limbs of still warm, pulsating carcasses of cattle, pigs, sheep or seeing to the needs of the discarded eldery housed in warehouses called nursing homes - Clearly, they would love to exchange places with Palin. Why all the worry about whether Palin can handle her "job", a most fortunate position, when common folk mothers are forced to handle "child care" as best they can, at an untold emotional cost to both mother and children. Put your worries in perspective PLEASSSSE. Obama's spouse is just as far removed from the problems of this sort. Get real - they have nothing in common with REAL working mothers, their voting public.
"When Sen. Barack Obama, my choice for president, picked a tried-and-true white male as a running mate, I was disappointed"
While I commend Brett for not jumping on the liberal band wagon and writing a sexist attack article on Palin like Shultz did, I have to wonder why Brett would have a problem with the race of Obama's pick. Were you really disappointed by both the gender and race of Obama's VP pick, Regina? That one line is a real clunker in your otherwise well reasoned column.
Wrong title for this article...it should be
"SOME" women can relate to Gov. Sarah Palin...
Palin said she is gun totin', moose stew eating, PTA member, hockey mom, who calls her self a pitbull, mother of 5 and "women" can relate to that?
I'm a female born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, educated, single with no kids...I don't own a gun, I don't hunt or eat moose anything unless you're talking about chocolate "mousse"? I'm a basketball, football, & baseball fan.. hockey is not my cup of tea...i'd never compare myself to a female dog or any animal for that matter... so I guess you can count me out on relating to Palin besides having the same female parts :/
Thank you, rnagel, for setting Pluto straight about Hitler. BTW, the book he wrote was "Mein Kampf," not "Kumpf."
The NAZIs were definitely an authoritarian fascist government, but by no means conservative. They were big-government advocates, where the state would control all aspects of life, sort of like modern-day liberals.
Maybe PLuto should read "Liberal Fascism" by Jonah Goldberg. (I know, he's a neo-con, why listen to him?)
"As a politically conservative, pro-life, evangelical Christian..."
You mean terrorist in sheep's clothing?
GREAT. VOTE FOR SARAH BECAUSE SHE WEARS LIPSTICK. ONLY A REPUBLICIAN WOULD THINK OF THAT. IF THAT DON'T GET YOUR VOTE, THEN VOTE FOR HER BECAUSE OF HER EYEGLASSES. OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT SHE STANDS FOR NONE OF YOUR PROBLEMS. AND ALSO THE FACT OF HOW SHE PASSES THAT KID AROUND TO EVERYBODY.
VOTE FOR MCCAIN, HIS WIFE'S DADDY DESTROYED SO MANY LIVES AND CAUSED SO MANY BLACK EYES AND MOTHERS AND CHILDREN BEING IN SHELTERS DUE TO HIS GETTING RICH OFF YOUR MISERY.THE BEER KING.
WAY TO GO REPUBLICIANS.
myUSA
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
LIKE I SAID, IF GOD WANTED WOMAN OVER MAN, HE WOULD OF CREATED HER FIRST,AND TAKEN HERE RIB.
BE CAREFUL REPUBS.
If you vote for anyone because of their gender then that is the very definition of the word Sexist
If you vote for anyone because of their race then that is the very definition of the word Racist.
So keep talking about how your voting for that woman because she is a woman. you only only show your ignorance
Now I see where Mr. Obama recruits his supporters. From this blog. MyUSA: Christian=Terrorist. CTYRD266: McCain's father-in-law caused people to drink beer and ruined our lives. warciple: Palin is rich (really? Governors don't make millions). birdietrucki: Palin=Adolf Hitler.
The left will lose this election for a very simple reason: They've abandoned reason. Reasonable arguments can be made by both sides against the other. Calling Palin "Hitler" is just ridiculous. If I said 'Obama is a muslim "Manchurian Candidate" that will use our nukes on Red States as soon as he gets his finger on the button', would that be a "reasonable" argument against the man?
If you want your posts to be respected, don't type faster than your fingers can apply proper grammar, don't use ALL CAPS, and please...please have a coherent point of view.
If you are black and vote for Obama because he's black (like 95% of blacks will do), according to jabb0, you are a racist.
Thanks for clearing that up for us. Oh, and you show your ignorance too. Thanks again, jabb0!
The way liberal women are attacking Palin reminds me a lot of high school.
You've got the hot gal who is president of the National Honor Society, an athelete, prom queen, etc. She may or may not be intelligent, but she's popular in either case and some people think she's stuck up and without substance.
Then you've got the plain jane girls that are resentful of her because they are not her. They secretly root against her and hope that she falls flat on their face. They grew up believing in princesses and fairy tales, but it's now dawned on them that they will never be a princess, find their prince, and live happily ever after.
So when they see a woman who appears to have made it as a princess, they hate her. They despise her. They are threatened by her.
But deep down they want to be her. But since they can't, they deride her. It's the story of Cinderella and her step sisters.
I think the other reason liberal women are sore is because there are a lot of men who like Palin. Again, they are resentful of this. They see the pretty girl getting all the attention, and it bugs the heck out of them.
I believe that if Palin was about 20 years older and 40 pounds heavier, there would be a lot less rancor coming from liberal women against her. If she looked like Madeline Albright, they wouldn't feel threatened by her. And they wouldn't be so mean about it.
Guys have some of this sort of thing going on as well, as far as how they relate to other men. It usually involves who is more physically dominant. But there are different dynamics, and that's for a different conversation.
Now I very much expect to be attacked for these comments. I've stated my opinion, and I won't respond back in kind.
eww
I'm not the governor of this state or any other, nor have I been, you silly you. However, I do have a busy full-time job and am a "soccer dad" married to a "soccer mom" with two young children. We barely have time to do the things we need to do. We both work (I work two jobs) and we both do the kid stuff and household chores. We barely scrape by.
I don't need to be a governor to assume, probably correctly, that as busy as my job might be, the office of governor would keep one even MORE busy. Or at least, it should. And when you've got not two but FIVE kids at home, one with special needs, you've got your hands full. And if that's the case, and you're wealthy, you probably have help.
I do admit I'm assuming the Palins have outside help with the children and help around their home. But I'm probably correct. And if they have help, they aren't really "soccer parents" in the same sense you or I might be. I'm not judging wealthy people who hire nannies and whatnot--that's fine. I'd probably take on a maid service too. I'm stating simply that Palin's affiliation of herself with "hockey moms" is probably just a ruse, or at least an exaggeration. I'd eat crow if it could be proven that either Todd or Sarah 1) works at least one full time job, 2) picks up their kids from school EACH day and 3) shuttles at least one--if not more--of the kids at least three times a week to and from AT LEAST one extracurricular activity. And gets dinner on the table and laundry out of the dryer. When I hear the phrase "soccer mom" or "hockey mom (or dad)", THAT's the kind of schedule that comes to my mind.
But all that aside, I do like Palin and haven't ruled McCain out. I'm waiting for the debates to see who has real chutzpah.
Yes try2teach Nazism promoted authoritarian fascist government. I've read many books on political theroies comparing Nazism(far right thought) to Communism(far left thought). Both are awful examples that should be avoided. I'd recommend to every American to read Hitler's manifesto, Mein Kampf and judge for themselves whether today's Republican principles mirror Hitler's ideology. Hitler was a strong believer in nationalism(patriotism), using fear to advocate war, racism, censoring of books and film, bringing elements of faith into politics, and taking authoritarian stances toward issues that should be covered by freedom ie.,drug use. All these are staunch pillars of the conservative Republican platform except for racism(however, in the 1960s Republicans opposed interracial marriage and used race scare tactics in the South to help Nixon get elected.)
Sadly, Palin has a very poor record on health care, an issue very important to women. As a breast cancer survivor, Ms. Brett may want to take a closer look at her record on an issue of such vital importance. So far, her only record is pink ribbon symbolism with little substance.
Snappy dialogue, spunkiness and perkiness alone aren't enough to end the disease. Women deserve only the very best in the WH. Ms. Palin isn't it.
Now Republicans are implied racists because some opposed interracial marriage in 1960. Well, former minority leader Dem. Robert Byrd was Grand Wizard of the KKK. And Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves...yeah he was a Republican.
Nazis controlled all aspects of their society. Republicans advocate smaller government. Democrats want to restrict freedom of speech through reenactment of the "Fairness Doctrine". That way they can legislate conservative talk of the radio. Republicans advocate free speech.
You people need to get over this Palin lady - she is heartless! She speaks of how loving she is, NOT!and she voted for the aerial hunting of wolves and bears! This disgusts me! go and look it up on youtube.com - The way this type of hunting is done is terrible! All you animal lovers out there should take a look at this video and tell me you would agree to this type of hunting!
I am a member of Defenders of Wildlife and I know this organization has been fighting congress for a long time over this!
I am an independant and was leaning toward Mc Cain until he brought this heartless witch into the picture!
You should be ashamed of your own provincialism. Why is everybody obsessed with the population size of Wasilla and the entire state of Alaska?
Wasilla is EIGHT times the size of Plains, Georgia and about 60% of the size of some place called Hope, Arkansas.
This is where America gets her leaders - from small towns like Dixon, Illinois.
There are a little over 200 cities in America that are over 100,000. But there are 100,000 towns with populations under 10,000. We are a nation of Wasillas.
Its not the artist, musician or writer from a large cosmopolitan are that stands between you and an ideology firmly rooted in the 7th Century. It is the men from small towns all across America who do rough, nasty things do protect your way of life.
gun totin', moose stew eating, PTA member, hockey mom, who calls her self a pitbull, mother of 5????
Either its 1890 or we have a really bad episode of Leave it to Beaver here.
I highly doubt that any true liberal woman would be threatened by her. I don't know any liberal women that would want to be labeled any of the above. Having choice of (career, partner, etc) is much more important.
Good column Regina, I rarely agree with you but always read you. Glad to see there are some writers who can still be objective in these cynical and devisive times.
As for Winslow52 - you seem angry. At who exactly? I don't know if I will vote for McCain or not but I'm just about certain that of all 4 of the people on top of those tickets, he genuinely puts service ahead of his own personal gain. You may not agree with him on any of his policy ideas but to accuse him of putting politics before his country - that is exactly who he is NOT. I question whether you know anything about him.
For those of you who think Sarah Palin's speech at the RNC was lacking because she didn't address the issues, you are ignorant. The conventions are supposed to be a way to introduce the nominated candidates to the citizens of the United States. Her speech did just that. The subsequent debates and campaign speeches will address the issues and their plans to resolve them. John McCain and Sarah Palin will shine at these events; Obama and Biden don't have a chance.
And would you people please learn to spell! If you don't know how to spell something, either look it up or use a different word that you do know how to spell. Some of these posts are pathetic . . .
Thanks for a great, non-biased opinion on Sarah Palin. Connie Schultz could learn alot from you.
Sarah Palin was considered months ago by McCain, and I had looked her up then, and had been hoping he'd pick her. Thank goodness he did!
So let me get this straight...
You don't agree with her politics (outlawing abortions for victims of rape) but you are willing to put her in the second highest office of the land?
That seems pretty selfish and short-sighted.
Columbus may have more people than Alaska, but do you honestly think that Columbus would be governable if it were the size of 250 Delawares? It's barely governable now.
I'm glad that you realize that all women don't have the attitudes of Mrs. Brown, your colleague.Don't be afraid of your friends and colleagues; if they'd abandon you over this tepid support, they weren't worth having anyway.
Well it looks like America is falling for it again. Put someone on TV you can "relate" to. Talk about non-sensical issues like guns, gays, abortion, blah, blah, blah blah. Every other developed country put these on the back burner years ago.
I want to hear how she is going to handle real issues - like the “real crisis” being unemployment, inflation, low wages and no benefits. In the end, the only solution is higher interest rates, a government that doesn’t lie about everything and “better paying jobs” for all Americans not just the Elitist top 1%. That means higher employment, above average wages, better pensions and benefits for 90% of Americans. Otherwise, expect housing and retail sales to continue to drop followed by more layoffs, bankruptcies, foreclosures, business closures etc. and repetition’s of this same cycle for many, many years. The top 10% of Americans don’t drive the American and World Economies forward it’s the bottom 90% of Americans... and the World is dependent upon an affluent American Middleclass to survive.
What about the The Elitist run World Banks, Investment Banking, Federal Reserve, Bush Administration and Neo-con Republicans who make the Mafia look like a bunch of boy scouts? These phony so called pious and immoral sociopaths totally screwed up the World Financial System. What is her and McCain's stance on that? How are they going to handle regulation?
I dont' want to hear another word about Hockey, Moms, PTA's, or children. Give me answers.
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS: Please read the actual words of the first amendment to the United States Constitution:
Amendment I. Freedom of Religion, Speech and Press; Peaceful Assemblage; Petition of Grievances
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Can you break that down? It says ``Congress shall make NO LAW respecting ..." (that means acknowledging that religion as the one the State considers to be the *right* one - like when candidates incorrectly state that this is a `Christian country') `` ...AN establishment of religion'' (meaning a CERTAIN religion) ``or prohibiting the free exercise of'' (like religions that the state does not consider to be the *right* religion, such as the Muslim religion.)
There are a multitude of US Supreme Court cases that construe and explain the meaning of this phrase, as written by the framers, over the last 200 or so years, you can go read all or some of them just by searching on `Freedom of religion' in a search engine or on Westlaw. The US system of laws as set out in the US Constitution provides for a system of checks and balances, and one of these is the check the judicial branch has on the legislative branch, in their interpretation of the laws as applied to real situations and parties.
The left-wingers on this board are intimidated by a woman who has made it on her own merits, not on her husband's coattails or her family name.
This is starting to remind me of the Clarence Thomas confirmation. Hey Libs - What's the female equivalent of an "Uncle Tom?"
czervik7 - I stand by my statement.
Here is something for you to contemplate
the business partner that the National Enquirer alleges that Palin had an affair with? He filed an emergency request to seal his own divorce records on Wednesday. It was denied.
You know what that means dont you?
Yep the Christian adulterer with a pregnant underaged high school drop out daughter isnt as honest as she seems.
This is a mirror of what was at www.courtrecords.alaska.gov today:
here is the link with the dockets and transcripts
Thus the beginning of the end
Game over.
PS no one is scared.
Everyone seems to be missing one crucial point here; John McCain picked her to be his running mate not just because she is a woman but because she is a CONSERVATIVE woman.
That is why this pick has turned out to be such a tremendous boost to his campaign. It is the main reason why the Republican convention was hugely successful and exceeded all expectations.
Sarah Palin has become the lightening rod that has, virtually overnight, completely energized the Republican base like it hasn't been for over 25 years.
Sure, McCain could have picked other, more well known Republican women like Christi Todd Wittman, Kay Baily Hutchison and others. But they would not have even come CLOSE to having this kind of positive reaction both in the Republican base and accros the country. Not because they are any lesser women but becasue they are not true CONSERVATIVES. That is why this choice was brilliant!
Sarah Palin IS the real deal, the complete package with conservative values who WILL resonate with mainstream America (as she has with Regina). She has drawn more viewers to her speech than Biden, or even Obama did to his!
She has awakened a sleeping giant (known as conservatism) and injected genuine excitement back into this race. My hats off to McCaine, job wee done.
If I were Obama and company I would be very concerned....
Sarah Palin has been governor for under 2 years. Wasn't one of McCain's strongest arguments against Obama that he wasn't experienced enough?
And as for the rascist card someone else mentioned on here, it goes beyond "republican". McCain's track record shows a pattern of votes that oppose civil rights laws.
Finally, ask Pat Buchanan (the epitome if a conservative Christian fundamentalist) what he thinks of McCain. Hint: he wouldn't exactly be comfortable with him as president.
myUSA,
Do you base your opinions on Pat Buchanan's recommendations?
Pat Buchanan isn't a "Christian fundamentalist." He is Catholic. BIG difference.
BTW, Buchanan has come out in praise of Palin.
Would most women fire the local librarian if she refused to ban books in the town library? a story like that seems like it would be hogwash doesn't it, but i'm afraid it's true.
Would most women fire the head of the Cleveland Public Library because he isn't in favor of banning books?
She is not a person will I want to select the Supreme Court Justices in MY nation.
Do most woman support hunting for animals from a helicopter like Palin? My mom probably doesn't, and I think that SHE is like most women.
She's a loose cannnon and a poor choice to lead our nation. Even I have more foreign policy experience than she does. I have travelled outside the US at least one time to see what the world is like. Palin must have shaped her world views by watching television.
Nice reccomendation, Ms. Brett. You are clearly an intellectual genius[sarcasm]!
A resident of Wassily offers us her name, her experience and observations of Mrs. Palin over several years, and more info for voters to consider before Nov. 4.
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/a-letter-about-sarah-palin-from-anne-kilkenny/
Regina Brett, it's worth 75cents of your time.
My point is Buchanan and McCain are supposed to be on the same team. Yet, he feels as though "McCain would make Cheney look like Ghandi". Yes. That's the man I want as President.
lot's of "know it alls"...especially warciple...how may times do you have to blog?...do you even have a life?...and blackguyxx...what a joke you are...looks like Regina upset some of you, huh?...lol
Regina,
I am so sad the women's rights issue has come down to this: we will accept ANY woman, regardless of her views, as breaking some kind of self-imposed barrier. What if Palin was Leona Helmsley? If she were alive, would it be OK to elect her if she was selected as McCain's VP -- because "women can break ground for other women"? How about Paris Hilton?
As a woman and as part of GenX, I, and many women of my age, don't feel that we need to prove anything to anyone. We don't have that kind of baggage that our mothers carry because we've always had the opportunity to "have it all." We don't feel the need to justify our success by breaking all these "barriers." Just like Barack Obama wants to be seen as a regular candidate (and not a black candidate), I wonder why women have to be seen as female candidates, and not just candidates addressing the issues. Women of my generation just don't feel the need to make it a contest. And we won't accept just anyone being president and VP of our country -- male or female, black or white.
Being a feminist means you choose the best candidate because of their positions on the issues, not because of their gender. And it also means you don't accept just any woman for breaking the glass ceiling.
I cannot believe the GOP lemmings who are looking at this through rose-colored glasses. John McCain's decision to select Sarah Palin proves he puts politics ahead of country.
An attractive woman, she fills the role of cheerleader