The Issues, No. 32 - Sarah Palin

So far I've been staying away from the current presidential race but I feel like I just have to comment on John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate. Before I do comment however, I want to share with you that up until recently I have been pretty much a conservative when it comes to politics and that I have more often than not voted for Republicans. In recent times I have become more and more disillusioned by the Republican Party, mostly because of its alliance with the religious right and its anti-abortion, anti stem cell research, and pro gun stances. So, in the current presidential contest, I have been kind of in the middle but maybe leaning somewhat toward Barack Obama. I think, though, that the Sarah Palin selection may have clinched it for me and that I now will definitely vote for Mr. Obama. Here's why.

I think that John McCain selecting Sarah Palin has many negative connotations. First, I think it is a slap at women. It may appear to be a brilliant choice to select a moose hunting hockey mom Governor but in the end isn't it a slap at Hillary Clinton, the other women of Congress, and women everywhere to select a woman with so little worldly political experience? Second, I think it says that McCain and the Republicans think the Vice President is a do nothing job that just about anyone could do so it can be used solely to provide bling and glitz to garner votes. So, they selected a former beauty queen, who just happens to have a little political experience, to provide the window dressing that McCain sorely needs.

There are other negatives but the final one I want to mention here is that I believe Palin's selection, amounts to disrespect for our founding fathers, the Constitution of the United States, and the American people. Sarah Palin's selection, to me, is one that does not reflect the seriousness of the job for which she has been selected and makes a mockery of politics and the offices of the President and the Vice President. And, I think her selection is also disrespectful to Ms. Palin herself because she is being used, not for her knowledge and experience, but only as a piece of advertisement to draw attention to John McCain.

I have always looked at Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates as people that should be looked up to, who are above the muck and the mundane of life, who can calmly make the decisions required to lead our country based on their knowledge and experience, and whose very presence commands respect and admiration. I'm not sure that, with the selection of Sarah Palin, I have any confidence in John McCain and the Republican Party. They have lost my vote. I'll be interested to see what happens on election day.