"Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement and remuneration based on ability."
– Sandra Day O’Connor
As a woman who has lived through the 50's, 60's and 70's (not to mention the 80's and 90's), it warms my heart to see how many strong women have important roles in business and politics today. Sarah Palin is one of those women, but I hope that people look at her record as a politician rather than just her gender when it comes time to vote. This "Hockey Mom" stands politically for almost every type of legislation that hurt women. She talks a good feminine game, but to have her in or near the Oval Office would mean many steps backward for women and would take away much of what we've worked so hard to achieve. McCain said that he chose her because both of them are mavericks, but in fact, Sarah Palin is a throwback to the old conservative ways and is anything but a maverick. Just because she wears high heels doesn't mean she should get the womens' votes.
Diane H., 65, Boulder, CO
Diane H., 65, Boulder, CO
Sarah Palin may be the governor of Alaska, but she showed that she could be a bit petty on Wednesday night during her speech at the Republican National Convention. In it, she mocked Barack Obama's humble political beginnings as a community organizer, stating that being a small town mayor is essentially the same thing, "except that you have actual responsibilities." This remark, while intended to be funny, is a real slap in the face to those individuals who most benefit from the work of a community organizer, namely the homeless and hungry, who receive the aid from soup kitchens and shelters these organizers help to coordinate. Community organizers are also responsible for organizing free or low-cost health care clinics that are a boon to those Americans without health insurance. How are these responsibilities any less "real" than those of a small town mayor? Sarah Palin needs a serious reality check to compliment the dart that has been bestowed upon her.
–Linda S., 68, Morristown, NJ
As a wife, mother, grandmother and educator, I was appalled at John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin for VP. Did he really think that the women of America were not smart enough to see through this ploy to attract women voters? What an insult! Gov Palin stands for everything that I am against. Not only do I want real change in America but I want it for my daughter and granddaughter along with the males in my life.
–Margaret E., 58, New Berlin, WI
The Republican nomination of Sarah Palin is a transparent, cynical and unpatriotic attempt to pander to what is worst in all of us. Women in America are better than this. We care about the future of this country and the future of our daughters, and because we do, the Republican ticket will be defeated this fall.
-Laura H., 46, Tyler Hill, PA
We have moved far beyond the point where the selection of anyone in a skirt is a step forward. To select Sarah Palin as bait to those who supported the thoughtful, accomplished, intelligent Hillary Rodham Clinton is a cynical move very insulting to the citizens of this country.
-Sarah S., San Diego, CA
As Sarah Palin has been unquestioningly welcomed in the mind of hard-core Republicans as the offensive "pittbull in lipstick," while the delegates in the audience of the Republican National Convention sport buttons that refer to her as "the hot chick" and laud her ability to play basketball, I as a woman, both a wife and mother, feel disgraced. The disgrace is found in the way the McCain campaign is abusing and exploiting feminism, the way Palin is feeding into the "macho" overdrive that has bound our nation for centuries, particularly in the last eight years. Does John McCain really think that women are weak and naive enough to blindly follow his running mate simply because she too is a woman? Or can he possibly see that we possess strong minds, hearts, experiences and values that are capable of supporting real change?
-Chris H., 31, Lancaster, PA
First, I'm a Democrat and was a Hillary Clinton supporter. Now backing Obama. I did not support Hillary simply because she's a woman. The choice of Palin is insulting to me. The only thing we have in common is that we both breathe. We OWE something to generations yet born. Where's the economy in all this?
-Ferne H., 63, Dunedin, FL
–Linda S., 68, Morristown, NJ
As a wife, mother, grandmother and educator, I was appalled at John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin for VP. Did he really think that the women of America were not smart enough to see through this ploy to attract women voters? What an insult! Gov Palin stands for everything that I am against. Not only do I want real change in America but I want it for my daughter and granddaughter along with the males in my life.
–Margaret E., 58, New Berlin, WI
The Republican nomination of Sarah Palin is a transparent, cynical and unpatriotic attempt to pander to what is worst in all of us. Women in America are better than this. We care about the future of this country and the future of our daughters, and because we do, the Republican ticket will be defeated this fall.
-Laura H., 46, Tyler Hill, PA
We have moved far beyond the point where the selection of anyone in a skirt is a step forward. To select Sarah Palin as bait to those who supported the thoughtful, accomplished, intelligent Hillary Rodham Clinton is a cynical move very insulting to the citizens of this country.
-Sarah S., San Diego, CA
As Sarah Palin has been unquestioningly welcomed in the mind of hard-core Republicans as the offensive "pittbull in lipstick," while the delegates in the audience of the Republican National Convention sport buttons that refer to her as "the hot chick" and laud her ability to play basketball, I as a woman, both a wife and mother, feel disgraced. The disgrace is found in the way the McCain campaign is abusing and exploiting feminism, the way Palin is feeding into the "macho" overdrive that has bound our nation for centuries, particularly in the last eight years. Does John McCain really think that women are weak and naive enough to blindly follow his running mate simply because she too is a woman? Or can he possibly see that we possess strong minds, hearts, experiences and values that are capable of supporting real change?
-Chris H., 31, Lancaster, PA
First, I'm a Democrat and was a Hillary Clinton supporter. Now backing Obama. I did not support Hillary simply because she's a woman. The choice of Palin is insulting to me. The only thing we have in common is that we both breathe. We OWE something to generations yet born. Where's the economy in all this?
-Ferne H., 63, Dunedin, FL
