The nomination of Sarah Palin is an insult to every American woman. How dare the Republican party assume that simply because she is a woman, that women will overlook her catastrophic lack of experience, lack of education, right wing moralist outlook on the world that will set us back decades. This is a woman who espouses family values, yet willingly puts her 17 year old daughter up for public ridicule and endangered her unborn infant by taking not one, but two flights after her water broke, deliberately not going to the hospital. This is a woman who opposes abortion, yet cut funding for homes for unwed mothers. This is a woman who claims to be a patriot yet campaigned to have Alaska secede from the US. This is a woman who says she supports Israel, yet was an ardent supporter of Pat Buchanan. This is a farce of a ticket and I’m appalled that anyone could take it seriously.
Robin Smalley, 52, Los Angeles, CA
Dear Friends:
I am against Sarah Palin for Vice President because she does not have the experience to lead the country in the event that John McCain cannot. She has no experience in foreign affairs. She has also insulted all of us, men and women, who work for non-profit organizations by belittling the work of community organizers during her Weds. night convention speech. It shows her lack of understanding of the realities of the poor and marginalized in our American cities – she doesn’t understand us well enough to lead us.
Susan A., 51
Hillary and Obama supporter,
North Andover, MA
I do not support Palin or McCain because as a woman living in this country, I am first and foremost a human being. And as a human being, call me crazy, but I believe that every person has a right to health care, shelter, clean water, and an education. I believe it is every citizen's as well as the government's responsibility to ensure this. I also believe that as humans, we are part of this world, we are not THE world, and therefore do not have the right to destroy the lives of other peoples or even living creatures or their environments. Palin's and McCain's terrible records with animals, the environment, and policies for the majority of Americans is precisely why, as a woman in this country, I do not support these candidates.
Katy L., Colorado
I am the mother of 3 daughters. When I was their ages (late teens and early 20's), abortion was illegal, career options were only barely beginning to open for women, discrimination was rampant in the workplace, sexual harassment was common (and not yet recognized as a cause of action), and yet we felt our future was bright. We marched, litigated, educated and somehow the country changed and became better for ourselves and all our daughters.
Ironically the nomination of Sarah Palin is a major step backward. While a woman, she in anathema to all the issues we care about as women - choice and control of our bodies, education, true equality, a healthier and safer world for all. That John McCain would select her as his running mate is the worst political pandering.
And so I say: Not in my name or the name of my daughters or for women in general. We want candidates and we want women in high positions - but please, not anti-feminist.
Mimi S., Jamesville, 58, NY
Ms. Palin is an embarrassment to women (frankly to me!) She does not represent my values and does not even come close to by beliefs of family and embracing all opions and cultures. It is scary to see that our political system can choose a person for the vice persidental position who does not embrace diversity of opinions and would place someone on the ticket simply as a mechanism to distract our fragile more vunerable Americans. How dare the GOP assume that by placing “a women” on the ticket that women who supported Clinton would be sawed over to the republician party. We are not idiots and we do not choose a candidate simple on the merit of gender. I am disgusted and am even more turned off by John McCain and his judgment.
Sarina Rodriques, 39, Los Angeles, CA
Laboratory Manager
Mother of Laila and Jared( has been challenged with a rare Medabolic condition)
Wife
And actively involved in advocating for better access to healthcare for all Americans