As a registered Republican who voted for George Bush in the last two elections, I cannot wait until the November elections to vote against the McCain/Palin ticket—and to vote for the best and brightest candidate this country has to offer: Mr. Barack Obama! I will NOT vote for John McCain in November, especially because of his choice of Sarah Palin as his Vice-President candidate. After carefully listening to her, my opinion is that she is a narrow-minded, homophobic, undiplomatic, overly ambitious, ignorant woman, who is not worthy, or in any way qualified for this position. She frightens me, and I am deeply disturbed and insulted as a women that she was chosen as a vice-presidential candidate. Of all the intelligent and qualified women in this county, why would we, as women, want to be represented by her?
-Janice A., 55, Carson City, NV
With McCain as old as he is, with the health problems he has, and the immense stress inherent with the office of president of this country, the possibility of Sarah Palin becoming president is very real should the McCain/Palin ticket win the election in November. Palin’s high energy certainly counterbalances McCain’s more somber, vapid demeanor, which may be a key reason she was chosen as well as her ability to attract the ultraconservative religious right. Unfortunately, Alaskan friends I have spoken with consider Palin a loose cannon, intolerant and at times vindictive... While I would love to see a woman in one of our highest political offices, I want it to be because she is very highly qualified to lead our nation and not just because she is female who can attract specific constituencies. We should expect excellent qualifications and sagacious foresight of all the candidates no matter what exterior characteristics they happen to have been born with. Unrealistic? I hope not.
-Adrienne L., Dayton, NV
This candidate is an insult to the struggles of women to close the gap in equal rights.
-Melissa S., Carson City, NV
As a woman and mother, Sarah Palin does not represent my beliefs. I would love a woman as President or V.P., but Sarah Palin is not the one. We need to move forward. With Sarah, we would be moving backwards.
-Debbie N., 47, Henderson, NV
Gov. Palin’s choice as VP candidate represents a move backward 40 years in the fight for women’s equality. She was not chosen for her qualifications, she was chosen to help a older, white, establishment, insider male to further his cause and agenda. She was not chosen for her experience, she was chosen in an attempt to manipulate voters by capitalizing on their true interest in a viable female candidate. She does not support women’s issues in any way, and yet she is being touted as a candidate who should appeal to women. She’s the worst kind of token candidate. If elected, she will set back the cause of gender equity in the US for decades.
-Gale S. Las Vegas, NV
I feel that Sarah Palin is a horrible choice for VP. She has neither the knowledge nor experience for that position. Just because she was a mayor in some small Alaskan town and governor of that same state, she just can't cut it as administrator. We don't need someone with a pretty face, we need someone with genuine experience, not a wannabe. She fails miserably in world affairs and wouldn't have a clue how to handle an all-out war. McCain is also a poor choice for a country leader. Let Palin remain in Alaska.. Wake up America, we don't need the likes of Sarah Palin or her running mate McCain.
-Virginia D, 72., Nevada
First, to support Sarah Palin and John McCain is to place our nation, and consequently the world, at enormous risk by having a person completely lacking in the knowledge, habits of mind, and experience necessary to be the leader of the most powerful nation in the world a heartbeat away from the presidency... Second, to support Sarah Palin would be to support intolerance and hypocrisy. Just one example is that she is anti-choice and she is against gay marriage. Why force babies to be born to mothers who cannot care for them, while at the same time preventing those prevent babies from being adopted by (gay) married couples who would love and care for them. Third, to support Sarah Palin is to say that ego is a highest American value. To support her is to say it is commendable to pursue personal glory despite the effects that pursuit may have on your own children. Her oldest son and daughter are showing the effects of their mother's glory-seeking already; her youngest son must be suffering it now.
-Sarah M., Carson City, NV
She doesn’t represent the best of what women can be. In watching videos or interviews on her, I have still to hear her depart from her “scripted talking points.” She has this reflex, when she doesn’t know the answer, to go around and around pulling her talking points under one “Umbrella.” Which then leads you to say, “What the heck did she just say?” She then compensates when she finds herself pressed against the wall for a specific answer, to a cutesy “I’ll get back to you.” No to Palin—I’ve worked and raised three beautiful children, now all married. We have two beautiful daughters, both of whom have chosen different paths. One with a PHD, teaching at the University level, and the other, University educated, a full-time mother with 6 young kids. They both have spunk, heart and a fierce resolve to make a difference in the world during their lifetime. Palin sends us way back.
-Muni C., 59, Las Vegas, NV
With all of the choices that McCain had to choose from in order to have a sellable candidate to be his running mate, he chose this woman. There are far more qualified women active in Congress, that perhaps even know what the Bush Doctrine is. I am a registered Democrat. I am excited for the CHANGE that Obama and Biden will bring to our country. I am proud to be part of history this November. It is an honor to vote and that is never lost on me. I am fearful that our strong, intelligent and independent female voting public will be swayed by the media and McCain’s negative ads and that they will fall for the ruse and vote for this ridiculous pair.
Even though I am a Democrat, I was compelled by Sarah Palin and I was extremely interested in hearing what she had to say. Even though she wouldn’t have my vote, in a strange way, I wanted to be proud of her. But every time that I have seen her speak, I am always hoping for something brilliant to be said and I am not only disappointed, but as a woman, I am embarrassed with her answers or more accurately, her non answers.
-Deborah W., Nevada Department of Education, Carson City, NV