Moosing Sarah -- Time for the Dems to Leash the Pitbull

It seems forever since the Democrats completed their triumphant Convention in Denver with its Obama/Biden/Clinton/Kennedy unity ticket and its intoxicating sense of take-it-to-the-finish line momentum. What happened? Not Sarah Palin. How could a small-time Alaska mayor and first term Governor derail the Obama freight train? No it was not Sarah Palin but the extraordinary reaction to McCain's wildly irresponsible decision to make her his running mate that seems to have paralyzed the Party.

Something about Palin scrambled the otherwise steady nerves of the Obama campaign. As if they were believing everything she was saying. Assuming that the Republican base was the country and hence thinking her success at her Convention there would be replicated nationally. (Did you see the face of that convention? Is that really the face of America?) Afraid to be accused of sexism (ironic after how it disposed of Hillary); or of unwarranted anger (Obama sometimes seems like Governor Dukakis, unwilling to rise to the bait even when it would be politically smart to do so).

Why is it so hard simply to tell the truth about Palin? Yes she is a successful and politically smart woman to be admired for that reason. But she is also a typical Republican values hypocrite preaching choice for women - except when it comes to pregnancy; preaching that family should be kept out of the political searchlight - except when it is useful to parade her own family on center stage; preaching against earmarks - except when it help her career to solicit them for Alaska; preaching about America first - except that she actually has made a career out of putting Palin first, Alaska second and America last (check out her Alaska secessionist husband).

She is a successful and politically smart woman, but she is also a right wing extremist who tried to delete books she didn't approve of from the town library where she was mayor and tried to fire the librarian when that didn't work; who is a creationist and, like the current occupant of the White House, who has little use for science, whether it is the science of evolution or the science of global warming; who never had a passport until last year when she visited her National Guard troops in Kuwait. Otherwise a stranger to the world in which America must make its way.

She is a successful and politically smart woman, but she is not merely pro-life, she is a no-exceptions-never-mind-rape-or-incest pro-lifer who thinks woman have no right to participate in decisions about what happens to their bodies if they become pregnant.

What the Democratic leadership has yet to figure out is that the real gender bias in the Palin appointment is the patronizing attitude that assumes what would and should be savaged and ridiculed in a man must be condoned or even welcomed in a woman.

Dukakis was skewered by twisted stories about rapists and released prisoners because he wanted to appear reasonable. War hero Kerry got swift-boated by men who never served in the military. Is Obama now going to let himself get moosed by a parochial Alaskan know-nothing because she's a woman?

Time to get mad. At Palin. At McCain. At the Bushes (yes both of them). Gender equality means women can't hide their biases and dogmatism behind gender.

Speaking of men, it is not really Palin but McCain who is the perpetrator we need to criticize. It is McCain who cynically chose a far right wing ideologue who shares the worst biases of the current administration in Washington and made her his running mate in a "campaign against Washington."

In other words, it is not the pit-bull in lipstick but the man who unleashed her who bears the responsibility. Michael Vick went to prison for turning his pit-bulls loose on others. I'm not recommending putting McCain in jail, just keeping him and his snarling (or is that a smile?) running mate out of the White House. Your move, Senator Obama.

Read more analysis from HuffPost bloggers on John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin

Comments

[mezz1962]

Barack Obama Finally admits the truth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BobGQTMhxf8

[nton]

nobody cares about the issues in this land of short attention spans - if they did the Enquirer would be out of business and everyone would be watching PBS instead of Fox for their news. We want the dirt and nothing but the dirt - fabricate it if you have to. (Lipstick was the lead story on NBC nightly news tonight.) Time to give them what they want - perhaps Michelle should challenge Sarah to a bake-off? Forget Cindy we already know she can't cook after stealing those recipes...

[1grape]

You know how Sarah Palin is being touted as an "earmark reformer"? Well, sure - she took American taxpayer money and re-formed it into Alaskan money.

[Quietswami]

Time for the Democrats to take action! Otherwise if you would rather sit back and reminensce about the Vietnam War; ridiculed about your patriotism; be persuaded that "the surge" was the answer to terrorism; and fed high-school shenanigans in place of issue - driven campaign - then please enjoy the ride! You've got 4 or possibly 8 years of the same to come!
Where is Biden? Shouldn't he be the face-off to the Palin factor? Let him loose so Obama can re-focus on the issues! The Reps no their game and they play it well! Unfortunately, they also know it works!

[Ave-Gabrielle]

HBOs Bill Maher called the Democratic party weak and other words relating to weak that start with a p and end with a 's' and its vulgar and I can't write them down. The Dems are frozen over this Palin pick? Why not go out or down as warriors. Not punks. Let's call a spade a spade and a duck if it quacks. IF the Dems are this scared over a chick from Alaska who has a newborn--then the Dems need to just back out now. Let's call September "November" and hand over the reigns. OR, say, you know what--we are NOT going to let this woman or MAN dog us, lie on us, insult us, ridicule our records, smear us, and, we take it because we don't want to appear MEAN to the chick. OUR country and it's LIFE are on the lines and since Sarah came out swinging, there are always ways to cut somebody down with words in a nice tone of voice. I do it all the time to people, and, I smile as I correct them, then insult them when needed, and, even if I am in a losing battle--when I know I'm right I stand up and STATE MY CASE and if I need to go low, I say it with a smile. Always works for me. Democrats? STAND UP! IF ONLY FOR YOUR OWN REPUTATIONS!

[Dan1967]

Why isn't the mainstream TV media reporting that Sarah Palin was the director of a 527 group that was organized by Ted Stevens, the U.S. Senator from Alaska who is facing criminal charges? Read below for an excerpt from the article in the Washington Post:

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin began building clout in her state's political circles in part by serving as a director of an independent political group organized by the now embattled Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens."

and the Link to the full article is here:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/palin_was_a_director_of_embatt.html

I don't want 4 more years of Bush and Cheney.

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND LETS GET A DEMOCRAT WIN IN NOVEMBER!

[NetProphet]

That goes DITTO for me!...

AND why isn't the media reporting on her and her husband's attendance & membership in the Alaska Successionist movement? It seems that out-does the "I'm -finally-proud-to-be-an-American" line of Michelle Obama that the MSM ran and ran and ran !

[Rawkcuf]

If the Republicans could see fit to attempt to impeach
Clinton for a very private matter, the Republicans are going
to have to take some probing into the Palin family's
sexual proclivities.

[clearbeacon]

I disagree that we should ignore Palin. She is a force that must be dealt with. However, we need to just HARSHLY shut down the petty silliness and redirect the conversation to the issues where she is weak and hypocritical. That is where we will get her, but we cannot go softly. She was the one that made the "Pitt Bull" statement, let's use that to our advantage. If that is the way she defines herself, then it would be "sexist" to fight her like she's Benji!

I do agree, however, that we need to get back on point! She has become a "magnificent distraction" and for that I give her credit, but she and Mc Cain who we need to redirect to stand for all of the things that have left this country in a shambles and we need to keep reminding them and the country that this is so. The truth is the way.

[CarmanK]

That would be Hillary the Repugs would be skewering. Then they would have an African American male and a pugnacious woman. Double the distraction to voters.
Let's get the ball rolling, WIN THIS THING. Obama you need to rally your base, we're mad and you need to make us glad. I am a Tom Friedman-4th of July person. Lead us out from under the shroud of 9/11. You are our new man from HOPE!!! Let's make it happen.

Hillary go after Palin, she is a light weight. And Joe, you said you were going to make it hell for them with the truth, stoke the fires.!!! Eight is enough, I am in the middle class and I am tired of carrying water for the top 1% wealthy of this country.

[dcazal01]

Hillary and Bill told us that Obama was a bad choice but we would not listen. He is so bad than now the republicans have better chances in congress, his selection is dragging down the democratic party as a whole.

[brashier]

Great post. Thanks for all the specifics.

[amabo1]

Remembering Jay Carney saying re: the Interview that he thought McCain had been "body snatched." Yes, he has been. And if he can be manipulated this thoroughly in the running of his campaign, what confidence could the American people have that he would actually be in charge of the government if he were president.

[Las Vegas Jim]

McBush cannot win this election. Only Obama can lose it. It is so cute that Obama, Biden and the usual Dems are so civil and "hands off" by not fairly blasting Palin as an "empty dress." That plan of taking the civil discourse strategy did not work for Dukakis or Kerry. It would be so tragic for our wonderful USA if we had four more years of McBush only because the Dems threw in the towel!

[meshach]

Excellent article Jamie -- but the answer is YES -- they think we are stupid -- look at the recent polls -- so someone isn't too bright upstairs. Incredible! Obama will win in the end.

[tdterry1999]

i think it's funny the way a white lady have the dem's on the ropes.Obama didn't see this coming at him.wait till she's starts giving interviews .then you all will be crying.GO GET THEM Sarah Palin,YOU ARE THE GREAT ONE ,

[TJ Franklin]

Do you happen to mean the "interviews" that she's still being "groomed" for after 2 weeks? If she's such a "pitbull" and so ready to lead the country, then put her out on the stump alone. If she can't face ABC, CBS, and NBC, what in the nine flavors of hell is she going to do when the Russians or the Iranians come knocking? Is she going to cry foul and call them sexists because they questioned her?

Your pitbull hockey-mom is just a cockerspaniel in her kid's hockey jersey.

[retiredico]

Just a F.Y,I .... On 07/06/08 I ,along with millions of other unemployed, received a notice that we were eligible to apply for "Emergency Unemployment Compensation." Public law 110-252 became effective July 6th 2008. (G.Bush signed the bill !) EUC provides up to 13 weeks of unemployment compensation.If you meet certian criteria.#1 established a regular claim on or after May7.2006; #2 have exhausted all rights to regular benifits; #3 are currently unemployed. Imagine my excitment.....!
Followed the instructions to claim my weeks .(.3 claim forms =12 wks. one wk is held back )..... Everyone received AFTER the date I was to file. Was a phone number to call if you were having a problem My problem was the dates I was receiving them ....and from the begining the phone number was constantly busy ! Received no money..needless to say! Have been unemployed since June 9th 2006. Has anyone out there had this same experience ? Or is it only because I am a Democrate...living in Florida ? OR JUST ANOTHER OF G.W.B.s GOOF UPS.?
ANOTHER OF G.W.B.s GOOF UP