John McCain ’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate was the latest twist in an election year that has had no shortage of surprises — especially after Palin announced in the midst of the Republican National Convention that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant.
Inside the Tent talked to four women in St. Paul — a Democrat, an independent, and two Republicans — about Palin’s impact on the GOP ticket . What impact do you think Palin will have? Submit your answer in the comments section.
Sandra Ross: “Some of the Hillary supporters, they’re aren’t convinced yet, but they’re leaning toward her because they feel a woman should be in a strong leadership position.”
Barbara Patchen: “I know two people who are considering the McCain ticket just because of (Palin), but personally I’m mystified.”
Amy Sawyer: “For me it’s more about the person and the issues than gender. But she seems like she would be friendly and brings energy to that ticket.”
Tiesha Powell:”She’s a superwoman to me … I’m working too, trying to prove myself, and Sarah just says, “this can be done.”
Inside the Tent has more than 40 delegates and other attendees in Denver and St. Paul, equipped with video cameras to capture the conventions from the ground up.
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I can’t imagine what would cause a female HRC supporter to even consider voting McCain/Palin because of Sarah Palin’s addition to the ticket. Palin and Clinton are polar opposites on every issue. Would someone who supported HRC and her policies/values who now supports McCain/Palin explain how that could be?
- Posted by Cindy NorrisAll we saw last night was that she could read a script and perform on demand. Where was the substance? What will she actually do for America? What changes will she actually make and what does she actually bring to the table? No one knows this yet.
Hillary has earned respect over years of service, she had the experience and the goals that made her a viable choice. Palin hasn’t been out for even a week and we are supposed to just take McCain’s word that she has the experience and the character to be in the White House? He won’t even let her talk to the press by herself. People that are jumping on her bandwagon don’t know her they know the spin that the McCain camp has put out there.
It is exciting that women are playing a part in this election but shouldn’t it be about substance over style?
- Posted by nellieI’m an Australian (so really have no say in the U.S. elections). However, for those Americans saying the rest of the world is laughing at McCain because of his VP running mate decision actually have it wrong. I personally feel it was a stroke of genius. Another thing Obama loyalists say is that Palin is “unknown”…. but Obama was unknown as well until just a few months ago.
- Posted by MattSounds like realmerv needs to take their own advice…”do research and stop posting stupid comments”. Obama has way more experience than Palin. If realmerv would have done their research they would have found that Obama served as a State Senator for 6 years AND then moved on to become a U.S. Senator. Not only was he in the State Senate for six years, but he also taught as a professor, and he is a civil rights lawyer. He also has been running a campaign for over 18 months and dealing with harsh criticism just like your precious Palin. Realmerv makes the comment that Governor’s, not Senator’s are the one’s who have the real experience….newsflash…McCain is a SENATOR. It’s pretty sad when the VP, with a lot less experience is more interesting that the Prez candidate that they are running with. As a women, I am offended that McCain thinks you can trade one vagina for another and no one will notice. There might be some femocrats out there that would vote for McCain/Palin, but Clinton supporters support Clinton, not her vagina. I find it interesting that Palin chose to use the words ” Bristol made the DECISION to keep the baby”, uh…not really folks. When it comes to Palin’s platform there is no decision…you have the baby regardless. Maybe Palin will think about those words that she chose to use and realize that the right to a decision is important. For anyone out there saying that her daughters pregnancy is a private, family affair, you really need to think about that. Palin beleives that abstinence only is the way to go in our public schools. She is trying to have us buy in that this works…um yeah…this is why her daughter ended up pregnant. Palin should have talked to her daughter about using some birth control. I do not think Palin is the right woman for the job. It appears that she has a lot of drama in her life and maybe should take care of her family rather than a country. I find Palin to be contradicting…on the one hand she wants to be VP and be progessive, and then on the other she wants us pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen…oh…just like McCain.
- Posted by KimJohn McCain tends to “shoot from the hip” we know that. He first courted the evangelicals with Pator Hague, ooops. Now he again makes an error in judgment choosing Gov Palin, we all know this. A big issue with Sarah Palin is that her and her husband support the separation of Alaska from the United States! That is a fact! How could John McCain pick such an unpatriotic individual to be a VP of the United State. I would think being patriotic would be a prerequisite! In two week Gov. Palin will be jettisoned from the ticket. The Republican base can put up with a lot, but if you are shown to be unpatriotic you’re out, no if ands or buts!
- Posted by EdWhat in the world is wrong with you people? Women can’t be
politicians/executives/rulers because they have children?
Well what about QUEEN ELIZABETH? both I and II? they were both Queens, ruled, and had children, they weren’t effective??? What about Angela Merkle of Germany? Nancy Pelosi has children, she shouldn’t be speaker of the Senate?
just to give you a few short expamples of effective women in power.
Those of you who are so down on a woman as V/P should get your heads out of your rectal cavities and think with your brains. Or have you been told by the men in your lives to let them do the thinking for you? This is what it sounds like.
I assure you that you can’t not control a teenager with raging hormones 24/7, can’t be done, I don’t care how damn
confined you keep them. Chastity belts went out with the Crusaders. These teens can at times be hell bent on making their own decisions, regardless of how they were brought up. PARENTS can not be held accountable for these teens. We have 18 year olds in the military, with their hands on the triggers in the Armed Forces, you can bet they don’t keep their pants zipper.
YOU ALL NEED TO GET A LIFE AND GET YOUR NOSES OUT OF THE PALIN’S PERSONAL BUSINESS. GOV PALIN HAS THE RIGHT TO BE NOMINATED V/P IF SO SELECTED. I was for McCain initially and then he got the balls to make a decent selection.
What we will see now is the WDC cronies and good ole boys, network get a good dose of cleaning up their acts. They have had their hands in too many pork pies for so many years. They are on NOTICE NOW TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACTS. lol
Palin is strong and has the guts to do the job. LORD, I can’t wait to see the housekeeping get started. lol, lol
McCain/Palin 08
- Posted by Amy WalkerFrom the comments I’ve read so far, most of the negative comments about Sarah Palin are due to her beliefs, which the last time I checked, are the beliefs of the Republican party. To attack her personally for those beliefs is pointless. Obviously if you don’t agree with her beliefs, you are not a Republican. Millions of men and women share those same beliefs. Also, since it takes two incomes to support a typical household these days, there are many men in this country who are pitching in and helping to raise their kids, unlike the past when women took care of the house and kids and men simply earned an income. Sarah Palin’s kids have a great example to follow. Her desire to bring about change and her strong convictions to stand up for what she believes will surely have a trickle down effect on her family. I’m sure that if she didn’t have a family who supported her, then she would not have been able to achieve what she already has and she would not have accepted the offer to be Vice President. I personally admire the strength and leadership that she has shown.
- Posted by RitaWhat kind of woman sacrifices the reputation of her 17 year old daughter on the altar of personal ambition? What kind of man chooses a woman with no foreign policy credentials to be one melanoma away from the presidency? In both cases, there is a serious lack of good judgement.
- Posted by EleanorI am not buying the whole Hillary voters being persuaded to vote for Mccain/Palin just because there is a woman VP on the ticket. This is just what the GOP wants everyone to think. Its just a ploy. Women are not as shallow as the Republicans are trying to make them out to be. Most women I have been talking to are actually offended when asked if this will help them decide their candidate.
Not only is Palin not a very good choice when it comes to experience with foreign policy and management of large systems she was also a poor strategic choice that is going to backfire on the Republicans.
You can stop digging guys your hole is already deep enough.
- Posted by natheyaI think its degrading to say women just want to vote for the same sex, regardless of policy directly affecting womens rights. That same logic would conclude that Biden would attract Older, white males to obama, because people vote for whatever is physically similar to themselves.
- Posted by mattI stayed home with my children for 7 years. Guess what now I have to rebuild my credits to be receive SS disability if something happens to me. So I guess our Moto is stay home be a good mom and if you get sick your out of luck.
- Posted by Mary AnnSarah Palin is a Dominionist - i.e. someone who believes that the United States should become a theocratic state - a Christian version of Iran. Ever see the Dominionist flag - a white cross in a blue field, surrounded by red and white stripes? That’s what evangelical Christians fervently want: an end to freedom as we know it. A Biblical Republic would be at war 100% of the time. “Heretics”, “adulterers”, and “witches” (i.e. feminists) would be publicly stoned to death. Imagine the Dark Ages, but with 21st century weapons. This is why Dobson, Robertson, et al support her so fervently. McCain is old and has had recurrent cancer and other ailments. His death in office would allow the evangelicals to pull off the coup they so desperately desire. All of the “emergency” rules they need to suspend the Constitution and arrest dissidents are already in place. All that is needed is a catalyst, i.e. another “terrorist” attack. These are the stakes in this election. Secular government or religious tyranny. Freedom or slavery. Forget about Palin’s sordid personal life. It’s what she believes that should worry us.
- Posted by Mike