"And I am especially proud to say in the week we celebrate the anniversary of women's suffrage [that she is] a devoted, a devoted wife and mother of five."
—John McCain introducing Sarah Palin
"If this doesn't resonate with every woman in America, I'll eat my hat."
—Alaska delegate Bill Noll on Sarah Palin
Dear Bill, get ready to eat your hat. —The Eds.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Women say NO – Part 24
I share your dismay over Sarah Palin's nomination for Vice President. Her views are alien to the majority of women, and her lack of experience on the national scene is frightening. McCain, for whatever reason, has galvinized the women to vote against his ticket, rather than for it, and certainly has pushed the Independents to vote for Obama. I question her ethics as well as her knowledge and understanding of the United States as a whole, as compared to her small town and underpopulated state. If it weren't so serious, it would be amusing. I'm looking forward to her debate with Joe Biden; it should be a wake-up call to those who think her nomination is just what the country needs.
-Sandra L., Maryland
Ms. Palin is poorly informed, poorly prepared, biased, and not in touch with millions of other women who must survive in this nation. She has no concept of scientific fact nor, apparently, the capability or desire to learn such. She must not and cannot be placed into the position of No. 2 in the White House. She and her backers are a danger to not only the women of this country, but the women and men of the world.
-Kathy U., North Las Vegas, NV
I am 70 years old and live in Olympia, WA. I thought I'd never live to see the day when a woman chosen to be the VP candidate has such archaic beliefs. Please! The GOP must have been out of their minds to choose her. You can be sure I'll vote for Obama!
-Marge P., 70, Olympia, WA
I do not support Sarah Palin on the Republican ticket. I appreciate the fact she is a woman and I would love more women in political offices—the higher the office the better. However, I don't agree with most of what Sarah Palin stands for; if she were a man with this platform I wouldn't look twice. I will not change my mind simply because we are of the same gender.
-Stefanie E., 37, Mentor, OH
Picking Ms. Palin as the vice presidential nominee is truly frightening to me. I am a mother of two young girls and I can't imagine what would happen if someone such as Ms. Palin was to obtain a political office as important as being second in command of this country. She is far from being a person who would inspire women of any age in promoting women's issues or rights. Her extreme views are not only frightening but also far from mainstream opinion. It is blatantly obvious that Senator McCain didn't pick Ms. Palin because of her experience. Ms. Palin's public comments and interviews so far have been an embarrassment to this country. He picked her for purely political reasons. We may never be told exactly why, but if it was to get women's votes he is completely off base. If Palin was picked to cater to the far extreme right then that shows that McCain is not a "maverick." He is just another Republican politician falling in line and doing what his party says instead of what is best for this country.
-Christina M., Colorado
I totally agree that she's not qualified. Every time I hear her talk I feel that she is just bashing Obama and doesn't have any real knowledge of politics or plain common sense. Anyway, she definitely shouldn't be VP, wish I could vote though. Good luck in keeping her out of office!
-Grace S., 15, Seattle
I am a woman, and I say no to Sarah Palin (and John McCain). I am very concerned with all environmental issues including global warming. How can McCain, who claims to be concerned with global warming and supposedly wants to come up with a plan to decrease emissions, choose a vice-presidential candidate who does not believe that global warming is caused by human activities AND place her in charge of energy affairs? I also support a woman's right to choose and I'm greatly concerned for the welfare of young girls and women if Roe vs. Wade is overturned. The last thing we need is a return of the dark days of back alley abortions and wire hangers. Taking away the right to legal abortion will not stop women from seeking them, It will only result in serious injury and death to countless women and children. I thought Bush was a nightmare, but in my opinion Sarah Palin is far worse. I will be voting for Obama, hoping that the cultural climate in this country will begin to shift from fear and control to one of hope and freedom.
-Laura C.
I am strongly against Sarah Palin in any nationally elected office. I believe many of her views are scary, but especially her views on abortion are a huge step backwards from the work that we and our mothers and grandmothers have worked for, for women’s rights! MY mother almost died in 1947 when she had to wait to have the then required number of doctors certify that she needed an abortion. I was two years old; she was so sick from the toxemia that had started in her body, she was unable to even hold me on her lap for quite awhile.
-Janette H., 63, Lake Elsinore, CA
I am against Sarah Palin because she does not reflect family values (left a special needs infant after 3 days to go back to work? pregnant teen daughter—obviously a lack of attention to her own family led to this crisis. Note to Sarah: sex ed. and birth control would have prevented the pregnancy); because her educational and business experience are weak (BA in Journalism? 5 years to complete? Sportscaster?); because her leadership and governmental experiences are weak (less than 2 years as Governor for the 4th smallest state by population in the US); and because she does not speak for mainstream women of America—and she certainly does not represent my values.
-Laura J., 48, Jeffersonville, IN