I guess I'm the typical woman the McCain campaign must have thought would be attracted to Sarah Palin's candidacy, since I am 65, worked for years in the corporate world and was a single mother of three. However, I am also a feminist, an environmentalist, a pro-choice believer in the separation of church and state, anti-gun, pro animal, and profoundly disturbed by this woman who is so blatantly working against everything I have fought for my whole life. Palin does NOT speak for me, and I am doing everything in my power to help elect Obama.
-Lola S., 65, St. Augustine, FL
I sincerely believe that if Sarah Palin were to be elected, it would set the women's movement back a hundred years—not to mention our civilization.
-Elaine S., 65, Roseland, FL
As in "McCain is Pale-in comparison?" "Bush with heels and lip gloss?" Exactly who will be running the country? Palin's the ultimate flip flopper, as in today I'm in favor of and will vote for this bill, but tomorrow I say, it's bad. She sounds like a teenager with less knowledge and common sense than many of those. Sarah Palin wants more power than Cheney - as Biden said, the most dangerous veep ever?
"Thanks, but no thanks!"
-Diana M., 70 yrs old and proud of it, Miami, FL
I am against Sarah Palin’s values. One must live how they preach!
M. G., Delray Beach, FL
I am furious that the Republican Party would think for even one second that I would cast my "female vote" for Sarah Palin. Why would I even think to vote for anyone, male OR female, who opposes almost every simgle cause/belief that I hold dear? She is completely underqualified! Seeing her elected with McCain would make me feel embarrassed to be an American and a woman... I am through cutting her any slack simply because she's a woman.... I wouldn't support any candidate who has that ridiculous track record! Whether or not the candidate is male or female, our Vice President must be intelligent, experienced, and wise.... and Sarah Palin hasn't shown me any of these qualities.
-Laura H. Miami, FL
The selection of Sarah Palin as the Republican Vice Presidental Nominee is an insult to the women of this country. I speak to her qualifications for the second-highest office in this country. She is a cute woman, fun to watch run up the gangplank with such theatrics, presents a charming photo op with her baby strapped to her chest, and certainly makes the old man's heart beat faster. But none of these qualifications are needed as vice president. Many watching this charade would think her selection a joke, but the possible outcome is too serious. There are many women who have accomplished much, are well educated, well spoken, and would have been a welcome addition to the ticket. It is preposterous to envision Mrs. Palin's succeeding to the presidency. Intelligent, serious women who love this country are appalled and chagrinned that such a travesty could be foist upon them. Mrs. Palin's appeal to the hockey moms is understandable, but the game which she would enter if the McCain/Palin ticket were to prevail is too dangerous to imagine.
-J. M., 71, Florida
Sarah Palin does not represent the majority of women as her views are a direct opposite to all that women have worked so hard to achieve. If you read "The Handmaid's Tale" you would find several answers as to why Ms Palin has accepted the position of VP. By accepting the position on the GOP ticket despite her astonishing lack of qualifications, Palin signaled that she was prepared to be used - on the basis of her sex alone - in exchange for the promise of status and power. Surely a majority of women have not decided to abdicate all they have achieved in exchange for being used? I know that this woman has not!
-Julia H., 65, Florida/Texas Native
I am glad to see so many of my feelings reflected in these posts. I believe they are echoing the feelings of the majority of the women in this country. We have worked our whole lives to NOT be like Palin, we have worked to be educated, respectful and well-spoken. What a woman in her position should be representing are the values set forth by the last 30 years of women before us. As a gen-xer, it is my mother's generation that paved the way for women to have what we have today, including Palin. We have reaped most of the rewards that our foremothers fought for all their lives. She more than anyone should realize this and act accordingly. She is only where she is because of our mothers/women fighting men like McCain. She is not appropriate for the job, and most of us women out here "like her" (professional, career minded) actually are quite offended at her nomination. The general rule of thumb is to handle your life with "dignity and grace" - she does neither. I am quite sick of her repeated, canned speeches and how she plays the military card with her son. She responds to hecklers who give her the opportunity to speak of her son, but yet keeps quiet at shouts of real violence. It surprised me to see, in her video, that she appeared to support Obama before being selected as McCains running mate. McCain's obvious view of the ERA, according to news reports regarding women in combat, only reinforces his demeaning oppression of women. He overlooked many, many qualified women, and we should all be insulted, but not surprised, that this is what McCain believes represents the United States.
-Kescia, Palm Harbor, FL
There is little I can say that others haven't already said. I never, ever want to say anything bad about another woman but I fear so much for our country, our Constitution and our daughters and sons, that I have to say: this woman is not acceptable to me as the vice-presidential candidate. What can I mention? the girls who will lose their rights to choose their best health options; the loss of privacy; environmental problems; so much more; and the wolves - who will speak for them? I also don't want McCain as president. We have a choice of quality in Barack Obama and we should, we must pick him.
-Bonnie A., Miami, FL
I don't think Palin has a good grasp of international issues. Alaska politics are not the same as US politics. She tends to put forth a very scripted, nonspontaneous persona. In an international confrontation, I think she would tend to display a kick-ass & take-names-later attitude. Haven't we gotten ourselves into one hell of a mess with this mentality for the past eight years? We need a more diplomatic, cool-headed approach & new ideas to face the current international & economic issues in America & abroad.
-Sincerely in need of change, Donna E., Florida
Being a woman does not qualify one to be second-in-command of this great country; neither does being physically attractive and/or comfortable in front of a camera. Palin's other qualifications do not impress this woman.
-Diane T., Tallahassee, FL
She is totally unprepared to be #2 of the world's greatest superpower, much less #1 if the worst happens.
-Maria O., 57, Miami, FL