Beyond The Palin

Okay, I swear this is my last post on McCain/Palin for the week. Well, at least today.

A couple of thoughts:

Numero Uno: John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin does not reflect a deep and abiding respect for women. How do I know? Because when you truly respect women you require of them all of the things you require of men. How sexist of me to say, right?! Please. A McCain senior policy advisor wrote an opinion piece in the WSJ pronouncing that "all women should be proud of Mr. McCain's selection of Ms. Palin as his running mate." That's ludicrous. I'm anything but proud. Sarah Palin, it has come to light, was not even the subject of an FBI background check prior to the announcement of her candidacy. The campaign is heading to Alaska this week to do the due diligence that was done on the male candidates weeks ago. No matter how the rightosphere wants to spin it now, Palin was selected in haste, announced in haste (God forbid the Dems be permitted the long-respected-between-parties convention "bounce"), and (as you can imagine in some corners) will be repented in haste. Sid Palin would not have been selected as the VP candidate on the McCain ticket. And no, morons, it's not sexist to say so.

Numero Dos: Along the lines of poor vetting, let's discuss briefly the issue of Bristol Palin's pregnancy. I know, I know. Barry O says I shouldn't. But permit me just a few thoughts. Why? Because Palin has made her family values a key element of her narrative. And she also slashed funding for services for teen mothers while Mayor. This makes her family's life somewhat relevant, much like people focused on the Bush twins' partying after Bush touted his honorable all-American, decent family. If you make it a reason people should vote for you, it should also be fair game for them to not vote for you. Oh--and PS--I'll happily give the Palin family their privacy at this difficult time. So if/when Palin/McCain get power--can I ask the same of them should I have an unintended pregnancy? Privacy to determine the right path for me and my family? Something tells me not to hold my breath.

Anyway, a few thoughts:
1. Palin's statement has a key element in it that should tell us where she really stands on choice, as in "for me, but not for thee." She said, "Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents." Ladies and gentlemen, Sarah Palin's daughter made a DECISION to have her baby. Call me crazy, but that sounds like CHOICE to me...

2. From Levi Johnston's MySpace page (since removed):
"I'm a f - - -in' redneck" who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes...But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess...Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass...In a relationship...I don't want kids." Hmm...I almost wish they wouldn't make these kids get married; a guy who states on MySpace specifically that he does "not want kids" probably shouldn't be your first choice for son-in-law, even if he is the father of your grandchild. It's a shame because that doesn't sound like it's in anyone's best interests.

3. I'm just going to write this and let it hang out there for you to think about in an honest way. You don't have to tell anyone your answer. But just think about it. What would you say about the following:

WHAT IF IT WERE BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA WHO HAD A TEENAGE, UNWED, PREGNANT DAUGHTER?

Would the National Review/James Dobson/the WSJ and the McCain campaign be stopping the presses to offer "unconditional support" while saluting their "courage" and their "family values"?

I'm just saying.

Numero Tres: John McCain has apparently cancelled an appearance on CNN as punishment for Campbell Brown's "grilling" of McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds on the subject of Palin's foreign policy experience. The "grilling" was apparently seen as "over the line" by the McCain campaign. So no soup for you, Larry King! Emperor McCain is vexed by your channel's insubordination. Let's go to the film so you can see how Tucker just could not answer a specific question regarding Palin's qualifications without resorting to the laughable "commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard" thing, that--hello--every governor can claim. Deval Patrick: Foreign Policy Expert. Mark Sanford: Foreign Policy Expert!



Along the same lines, the McCain campaign has finally admitted what I've always suspected. From the WaPo: "Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain's presidential bid, insisted that the presidential race will be decided more over personalities than issues during an interview with Post editors this morning. "This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates." And, coming back around to the above paragraph: "

Davis demurred when asked when Palin will sit for interviews with major news organizations, pointing out that now would not be the right time given the "combative" attitude the media has seemingly adopted toward Palin."

You see? When the media is not nice to Emperor McCain and his minions, they simply decide they will not speak to the media. Which presidential administration does that sound like? Hmmm... *cough* McSame! *cough* McSame!

Okay. I think I'm done now. Until the next thing comes out, that is.