My longtime respect for John McCain as an ethical, independent voice has been withering for weeks and now has dropped like a rock into the sea. This photo, posted on the McCain website, is a graphic depiction of the lie perpetrated by McCain in selecting Sarah Palin as his nominee for vice-president of the United States. It should have read "Country Last," for that is precisely where he has put this nation.
Thursday evening we witnessed a stunning and inspiring address by Obama calling on this nation to live out its highest values at home and abroad. Whether one opposed or supported him it seemed clear that we could have a presidential campaign focused on the big issues of our time, with quality candidates dedicated to a fair and thoughtful dialogue about our nation's future.
And then, after playing a childish media game of hide and seek, Sarah Palin was dropped with a THUD into the heart of the 2008 election. In only a matter of hours the Internet was alive with satirical lampoons and cheesecake photographs (some undoubtedly doctored, but still...). I'll concede she's got better legs than Joe Biden, but unless she can work that into the vice presidential debate on national security I don't see it as something that will turn a blue state red.
We will now spend weeks making comments like the preceding paragraph and who knows what will surface. The significance and dignity of the process is now in serious question. It is not Sarah Palin's fault. I am sure she is a capable person with a compelling story.
This is John McCain's fault. He has been dismissive of the breadth and diversity of American women by assuming that nominating a person with the right body parts will compel millions of females to blindly vote for her, despite vast differences in values and policies. "I am a Vagina American," they declare on Jon Stewart's Daily Show.
It's a great day for comedians, but it is a national tragedy for this country and for my granddaughter. Ashley seemingly has to grow up in a society governed by the cynical and the desperate, people whose lust for power betrays us all.
John McCain suffered unimaginable pain and loss during his five years as a Vietnam POW. I've stopped caring. He no longer gets a pass. What he has done these past few weeks, and especially yesterday, cannot be tolerated. Our nation is so much better than this. So much better.
This is one of the best posts I have read on Palin. I voted for Hillary and now support Obama. McCain is pandering to women and it is insulting to all.
ReplyDeleteYup! I agree. He lost my respect too. What a horrible decision. Another of his terrible decisions. I have no idea what he could have been thinking of. If he thinks we Hillary fans would vote for an extremely conservative beauty queen with 20 months in office as an Alaskan governor and a mayor of a small community, he's got to be a sick man. But I guess he's really trying to make brownie points with the super conservative religious right.
ReplyDeletePlus, she's under investigation for trying to get her sister's ex husband fired. Not a very bright thing to do. Lord only knows what kind of mess she could get the country in if she were to become president.
She says she doesn't even know what a vice president does. Bright woman, huh? She also says she's been so busy governing that she hasn't followed the war.
As a mother with two sons involved in this war over oil, I really don't appreciate that remark.
OMG!!! Are you all F-ing crazy???? Did you actually listen to Obama's speech??? He focused more on ridiculing Bush and McCain then he did on his actual plans for our country!! I personally care more about what our future president can do for our country then how good his skills are at putting others down to make him feel better. I think McCain's choice of Palin is a respectable one and tactful. I think a woman VP is a good balance for a male president. On the religious aspect of it how could any true christian vote for someone that is proabortion and for gay marriage??? I have been pregnant 2 times and being a nurse have access to ultrasound machines at all times. At 5 wks (when most people find out they are pregnant) I saw my little peanut--a living being. How could anyone kill a child regardless of how the child was conceived (ie rape)??? If we could have a democratic president with morals then maybe I would consider swaying that direction. Until then it's republican all the way!!!! Go McCain!!!!
ReplyDeleteMargie's Musings, you say Palin doesn't know anything about being vice-president, what exactly do you think Obama knows about being our president? Duh!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Palin has been governor 20 months and before that was the mayor of a very small town.
ReplyDeleteObama, on the other hand has legislative experience in the Illinois state legislature as well as a couple of years in congress. He is also a teacher of constitutional law and has had a lot of experience in politics when he was doing neighborhood organization work.
Palin, on the other hand, was a beauty queen.
I have trouble giving much credibility to someone who signs himself "Anonymous".
I don't care to have credibility from a Democrat! I have a family to worry about and politics is something that people take seriously and sometimes to much so, so I will continue to be anonymous!
ReplyDeleteAs for "beauty queen" that was 24 years ago and there's nothing wrong with winning a beauty pageant at the age of 20! She's a grown woman now at age 44 with a family that's not perfect like I'm sure your is, and probably has no plans of entering another beauty pageant in the near future. I can't even believe that's an issue! I understand that everyones morals rank differently and that's why there are two parties. To me it is important to have a president that supports Christian issues, because to me that is what is going to hold our country together in the long run. Not to mention I'm all for anyone that wants to drill for oil within our own country so we don't have to rely on the middle east. I hope that the democrats see that even someone who lives in Alaska wants to drill there. We have to do something! I need to get back to work so I'm done with this for good. I'd really like to shake everyone that is for Obama and ask if they are crazy but I know that won't do any good, so I will just stick to my beliefs and morals and pray for the best.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYou say that you support the party that will do something about your "Christian" values. Just out of curiousity, in the 8 years that Bush has been in office, whom I'm assuming you voted for twice, we have entered a war that has to use your own words, "killed a child" for countless American families. And for what? So that gas prices could climb to $4.00 a gallon, which in turn caused an economic recession resulting in one of the worst economies in years and a debt that your children and your children's children will be paying off for decades.
I understand your stand on abortion, but if you voted for Bush based on abortion and gay marriage - I'm curious. Exactly what has been done to represent you? Roe vs. Wade remains in place and it remains a hot button topic for this election. Why? Because every singe year the politicians drag the hot button topics back out again so that they can mobilize voters to come and vote for them. Then, once in office, they do basically nothing to move the issue forward because they know they'd be upsetting at least half the country.
Abortion is a serious issue, but you're being manipulated with it. You're doing exactly what they tell you and thinking exactly the way they tell you to.
I, personally try to vote on the issues that I think a president actually has a chance to solve. And on these issues, I tend to side with Obama. McCain is a good man, but he's desperate and it's showing. It's sort of sad, really. Years ago, I would've voted for McCain over a democrat. But now this is a man who is seeing his last opportunity to be president, and doing whatever it takes to get elected.
It's disappointing.
-Brian
P.S.
I always find it interesting when someone won't add their name to the post. You'll put down other people for the things they believe, but you won't even sign your name to your own beliefs - I think that's more telling about you than anyone else.
Anonymous Christian have you heard of separation of church and state? Thomas Jefferson wasn't even a Christian and he did pretty well for our country. It surprises me that such a good Christian as yourself would make fun of other people by saying things like "Duh" when they disagree with you. I wonder what Jesus would do? Not that.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, anonymous, I have been a lifelong Republican. I do, however, vote for the man and for their stand on the issues. I did not vote for Bush either time. I did not approve of his politics from day one.
ReplyDeleteI also did not approve of his response to 9/11, which he used as an excuse to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. Let's face it... for their oil. Their plan was in place before 9/11 they just didn't know how they were going to sell it to the American people. 9/11 was the perfect excuse. Especially after they created the big lie to do it.
Also,I did not appreciate the way his machine
called hundreds, possibly thousands, of voters in South Carolina the night before the primary election to tell them that McCain had a black baby. That cost McCain the primary and Bush's people knew that it would. After that stunt, I wouldn't have voted for him if he had been the only name on the ballot.
I feel sorry for Sarah Palin. I think she's being played in a major way. I think McCain has succeeded in putting his entire potential presidency on the line by naming her as his running mate. How many true conservatives are going to elect a woman with virtually no political experience who has a 4 month old son and a grand baby on the way by her 17 year old unwed daughter...? Yes, her oldest son is in the military, yes she has experience in the oil industry, yes she has breasts and she's a reasonable public speaker... but by the time you are stepping up to the challenge of becoming the second most powerful politician in today's society, should "president of the PTA" really be one of your pitches for why you're qualified?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she's got a lot of potential in the realm of politics, and I believe she's an extremely hard worker, but my opinions on McCain aside, I hope to God they don't win this election because she will be in way over her head...
I'm all for girl power and gender equality, don't get me wrong, but Sarah Palin is not the right woman for this position. I agree with the title of this blog wholeheartedly... McCain has insulted the general American population with this move by banking on the fact that he will win because he has a young, female running mate.
What really cracks me up is that his entire freaking platform has been based on "pick me because Obama has no experience"... Palin has even less political experience than Obama... smart move.
As far as Christian values go... careful there Anonymous, there are as many expressions of Christianity as there are expressions to put someone down. The Christ I believe in taught LOVE and FORGIVENESS and COMMUNITY. The way you're writing sure sounds like bigoted hatred of anyone who thinks differently than you. Guess I must have missed that scripture... you know, the one where Jesus said "and you should hate everyone who is different than you, because you are the only one who matters, and you are the only one who really understands what my teachings mean, and you are perfect because you're a right wing conservative American Christian" I'll have to read my bible more closely.
GRANTaMUSEd, well written. I applaud your expression of the first amendment.
It takes a controversial subject to really bring out discussion;)
ReplyDeleteFor myself I like the fact that Sarah is down to earth. If you read everything about her she isn't afraid to get in and get a job done even if it goes against the status quo. Since I consider myself a bit of a maverick when it comes to doing a job, I know that those decisions for change aren't always popular but sometimes it is the only way to get the job done. Usually for the better:)
I've wished we could get someone who was not a life time politician/lawyer and this is about as close as it gets.
She will have more insight into oil drilling in Alaska than the other candidates, she will have a personal interest in the war with a son there (in spite of her previous comments). She also will be learning a lot about the world of disabilities with a disabled child. Unfortunately as VP the child will probably be with nanny's much of the time.
Personally I haven't felt there was much of a choice between Obama & McCain. They both are lacking in the depth we would all like to see for President.
At least one thing Sarah does is shake up the election a bit. I'm sure she will be drilled more on her comments as she goes along. Just think how it would be if one of us was suddenly put into the spotlight like she has been.
The other alternative McCain could have done is choose a democrat for his VP. Now THAT would have been a real shake up. Perhaps then the country could get more done than just follow party lines and as a result NOTHING gets done. It could lead the way to a commitment to cooperation of parties!