"We must begin to tell our young/ There's a world waiting for you/ This is a quest that's just begun."
—Nina Simone
If I wanted to live in a theocracy, I'd move to Iran. This nomination is McCain's way of patting us all on our little heads and saying, "There you go, honey! Now don't worry your little head about this government stuff."
- Christin R.
I have been obsessed by this announcement since last week when the news came out. I am appalled by the talking heads that keep bashing the same nonsensical blather that she has all this experience and will be great for this country. We need to have women march on Washington before it is too late. I think the most informative news from inside Alaska is coming from http://mudflats.wordpress.com. They seem to know the most and speak about all the truths that are out there. It is a scary time to think that Ms. Palin could potentially be our next VP. I think that it reflects the status this country is in, that we could even think of electing her to national office with such a limited scope of the task at hand. I am pissed off. No Palin/McCain, no way.
-Diana D.
Sara Palin is the antithesis of all that I, as a strong, independent, conscientious women of today, was raised to believe in. While she is entitled to her opinions as they directly relate to herself and her loved ones, I cannot fathom a country that would willingly embrace her as the 2nd in command or the person who chose her as a running mate. McCain's choice as a running mate was a blatant attempt to attract the far right wing supporters that he has been unable to attract, and nothing more. The same contingency that helped elect the current President Bush. This was also an attempt to draw disappointed Hillary supporters based on the mere fact that it was a woman chosen to join him on the ticket. There is no comparison. It took the Republican Party 20 years longer than the Democratic Party to bring a woman into the field, and in doing so have managed to take women back 50 years.
-Anne M., 38, Phoenix, AZ
Never in my memory has there been a more inappropriate or unqualified person running for the office of vice president. If this is John McCain's first executive decision of sorts, we are in a lot of trouble as a nation. I am a 59 year old working class woman, and I can tell you that in no way do I relate to Sarah Palin and her antiquated, self absorbed vision of life. She may be fine as governor of Alaska, though I am not even sure of that; but she clearly has no business being a heartbeat away from the presidency. I have seen much of the Charles Gibson interview, and she proved herself to be arrogant, uniformed, self absorbed, patently ridiculous. She has been caught in lies repeatedly. I can go on and on, but I will not. I have no problem with a woman in office, but it needs to be a qualified, well-rounded, intelligent woman. This country has been through a difficult eight years and we need to regain our dignity and gain the world's respect. We need to be energized, not dragged down. We need tough, competent, intelligent leadership. That is not possible with Sarah Palin.
-Stephanie M., Yonkers, NY
After watching her first interview with "Charlie" Gibson (she must have said that 25 times, in a very condescending tone each time), she is obviously totally unprepared to address any National issues. Apparently McCain's advisors were unable to cram that knowledge into her head fast enough. She didn't have a clue what the Bush doctrine was. She's ready to invade anywhere she perceives a possible threat. The very idea that she will be available for interviews only after the journalists promise to treat her with proper "respect and deference" is ludicrous! You earn respect and women should be treated the same as men - isn't that what we've been fighting for forever?
-Diane R., 62, North Olmsted, OH
Ms. Palin's mind is so closed there is no possibility she can represent my views on any of the important issues facing our country. In fact she has already done an excellent job of deflecting national dialogue away from the war in Iraq, economy, energy crisis, and the environment.
-Pam K., 58, Zachary, LA
I am 49 years old and have discussed this with a number of peers. We old feminists just roll our eyes that anyone would think we would vote for the "Anti-Hillary" as we have dubbed Palin.
-Linda B., CO
Sarah does not represent me and I disagree with nearly everything she stands for. I have voted against her twice for mayor, once for Lt Gov, once for Gov and even for the hospital board. She should NOT be in a position of power.
- Betsy W., 55, Wasilla, AK
Palin is a gimmick sent out to energize the Republican extremists who swarmed the polls and ignorantly gave George Bush two election victories. She is the gun-toting hockey mom sent to shine a blinding light over the party's own distaste for McCain, once the most moderate Republican but now a puppet for the conservative base. She is protected and coddled by her "handlers", a direct imitation of the similarly invisible and unreachable current President. She has no business being anywhere near the second highest office in the land. The McCain camp cries "sexism!" anytime her views or qualifications are questioned, but it is more sexist (in reverse mode) to elect such an extreme and unqualified woman to high office, merely because she *is* a woman. I don't think even the hardest of the hard core Hillary backers are falling for this ruse. I too would love to see a woman elected to high office, but I want her to be legitimately qualified and legitimately vetted and legitimately chosen for her supreme knowledge of democratic government. Not because she is folksy, trash-talking arm-candy for a foundering candidate.
-Sue U., 42, Milwaukee, WI
I am an active retired professional and mother of 3 grown children who is working on a political campaign for the first time in my life. Why? Because the issues are so clear i.e. global warming, abortion, international policy, distribution of health care and education, not necessarily in that order. Sarah Palin is relatively uneducated and inexperienced. She has no significant international experience and exhibits personality traits of grudge-holding and vindictiveness which have been well-documented by many workers in her state. She is a pretty Christmas package with very questionable contents.
-Caroline M., 72, WA
