Sarah Palin: A Sleight of Gender?

"Not again!" I thought to myself this morning, as news trickled out that John McCain was set to pick Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Not again, because too often women are promoted for the wrong reasons, and then blamed when things don't go right.

Don't get me wrong: what I know of Palin (which admittedly isn't much), I kind of like. I don't agree with her politics. But in her two years in Alaska's state house, she's shown herself to be a scrappy reformer, a no-nonsense manager, and a consistent conservative. She's also a mother of five, which in my book is a sterling test of leadership.

Since there are only eight women among our nation's fifty governor's, and only three of them are Republicans, she was certainly someone to watch, a potential comer on the national stage. At 44, she's young, a fresh face, and wildly popular in Alaska. And it was easy to see her appeal during today's Ohio rally, where McCain introduced her as his running mate. She showed herself to be an utterly down-to-earth hockey mom with an independent (one might say maverick) streak. And her shout-outs to Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton for their path-breaking campaigns added a genuine note of grace.

But is she ready to be commander-in-chief?

Unlike Barack Obama, whom McCain has so emphatically condemned as not-ready, Palin hasn't run for or served in the Senate. Nor has she run for president, which would have required her to think through and take positions on critical issues from the war in Iraq to the war on terror, from Iran's nuclear ambitions to the Russian incursion into Georgia, from the emerging power of China to the march of globalization. She hasn't debated tough opponents a dozen or so times or faced aggressive, often downright hostile reporters on a daily basis. Talk about untested. Her slim record undermines one of McCain's most effective arguments against Obama.

Clearly, McCain thinks Palin will help him among women, particularly those disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters who are having so much trouble "getting over it." It just shows how clueless the McCain camp actually is. Unlike Clinton and Ferraro, Palin hasn't been a strong national voice on women's issues. She hasn't been at the barricades, fighting for women's health, equal pay, economic security. And she certainly hasn't had anything to say about the national-security issues that are also important to women across the political spectrum. Does the McCain camp really expect pro-choice Democratic and independent women to be swayed by a sleight-of-gender?

McCain made the decision to double down on his credentials as a take-no-prisoners reformer. But he did so at the expense of the more important qualifications for a running mate.

It's not political to say that John McCain turns 72 today. That he's a cancer survivor. That he spent six years being tortured and abused in a Vietnamese prison camp. Those are the physical realities of his life, and pure and simple, they demanded that he chose a running mate who is ready, really ready. That he put country first. Today, he failed that test.

Worse, when Sarah Palin falls short--and I hope I'm wrong but I think in important ways, such as her debate with Joe Biden, she will--some people will conclude that women can't cut it. That's unfair to Sarah Palin--and it's certainly unfair to the rest of us.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

This post originally appeared on vanityfair.com

Comments

[kem31753]

At first when I heard that Sarah Palin was chosen by John McCain I thought: what is he thinking? Former beauty queen. 2 years as Governor. No economic, national, foreign policy experience, legislative experience. A state populated with more moose and polar bears than people. A budget that could be written on a postage stamp. THIS is the experience a 72 year old Presidential Nominee chooses for the #2 spot - a "heartbeat from the Presidency"? C'mon. He really could die in office and leave her to run the country! Praise the Lord & pass the digitalis!

Now Ms. Palin is a GOP up-and-comer. She's a mom facing a challenge of raising 5 kids, the youngest with Down Syndrome, something that should make her very sympathetic to the plight of the uninsured and underinsured. (Not that the GOP gives a darn about THEM.) In the National Guard, with a son deployed in Iraq, a husband known as "First Dude," all of which is very OK in my book. She's got moxy. I appreciated the shout-outs to sisterhood & Geri & Hillary.

But I can't shake that Dan Quayle feeling. Remember when H.W. explained his VP choice by saying that he reminded people of Robert Redford (which I never, ever saw) and that women would be attracted to him and vote for the ticket. Huh? Does John McCain, and by extension the GOP, think that winning the election will be decided by women voting based on a vagina?

[sink]

While incredibly admirable, I don't personally consider "mother of 5" to be a direct, unchallenged qualification for the post powerful position in the world.

[SherryIndianapolis]

There is no way anyone will ever convince me that this was the absolute best choice for the Republican party this election cycle.

Absolutely no way....

If I were a female surrogate in the party, I would wholeheartedly refuse to condone this foolishness.

I am a Democrat through and through, but KBH or CR or even CF or ANYONE would have seemed a more thoughtful choice and I would have at least given a bit of begrudging respect to McCain for taking this campaign seriously.

He and his campaign are just a joke-period.

[stsw531]

Unbelievable that McCain would pick this person as his VP. She brings nothing to the ticket but her gender.... so let's not pretend she was chosen for any other reason. He chose her for political reasons: to firm up his evangelical base, that we all know was dicey, and to hopefully draw some of the moderate/independent female vote (although her extreme views on choice and creationism will likely turn off that voting bloc). This proves that McCain is not focusing on what is best for America, but what is best for him -- to win an election, without regard for whether or not this running mate could effectively SERVE the nation's interests. I've had it with McCain. There is no way that I would consider voting for him now under any circumstances. He's a slut for votes.

[riona]

Unfortunately, I know many disgruntled HRC supporters, mostly seniors, who are so mad that she is not the nominee that they will vote for McCain just to spite the Democrats. They don't even like McCain, they are just so mad that Hillary lost. I'm not sure if this Palin woman will have an effect on them. They are not intellectual, and will see a nice successful woman on the stage with McCain, it might make them feel better about their new choice.

Many of these women will not vote with their heads, like many other Americans. They will act emotionally. They will not rationally sit down and ponder whether or not it is scary that the Republican VP nominee advocates violating the First Amendment by teaching religion in schools, via creationism. They will not ponder the fact that she is up close and personal with Big Oil. They aren't sympathetic about polar bears. Even worse, McCain already had many of these votes anyway, but if he wins, with the Christian Right now on board, Sarah Palin will get the credit. Maybe he isn't so dumb, but frighteningly screwd.

[JonW]

Sounds like the Repub party chiefs have decided not to waste Romney this time in a loosing cause and so have written off this election. However, the VP choice is an insult to the many qualified Repub women.
The selection of this woman with no applicable experience to back up an elderly presidentional
candidate with health issues is insulting to the American electorate and shows what the party leaders think of this country! But then again they and the Supremes gave us Bush and Cheney and look what
followed. Disaster, big time!!

[goldnchyl]

Its an insult to ALL women

[linzy]

In another blog I came across the comment that McCain was pandering to those women who were still focused on Senator Clinton. Luckily the majority have gotten past this issue. What amazes me is that not only is McCain pandering to the women voters but his is also pandering, in the first definition of the word, Governor Palin. As a woman I find both meanings of the word in play and both equally intolerable. If I were Gov. Palin I'd feel a little "used." If it doesn't bother her that this is what is happening, then this is just one more example of why she should not be the next V.P. Her inexperience is vast, her qualifications are next to nil, and her voting record, stand on women's rights to choose, her firm beliefs in creationism, and her ostric view of the environmental crises are difficult enough to get a handle on, but please, allowing yourself to be used is just off the mark.

[PrimaDonna526]

I can't imagine a woman wanted to align herself with McCain. Earlier this year he voted against the equal pay for women legislature. Does this mean for her that it's okay for a woman Gov. or VP to be paid less than man??? What is going to take for Americans to wake up?? This country is headed down the wrong road under McCain.

[Poststep]

Supposedly, her first pick for president would have been Pat Buchanan.

[goldnchyl]

that's the point, prima. this particular woman agrees with McSame on all those issues

[GaiusLucilius]

Down the McDreain.

[chillingaz]

DeeDee, you are so right in what you said. It is an insult to all of the qualified republican women who should have been picked ahead of Mrs. Palin.

[SjIowa]

This is the most absurd proposal I have ever heard. Obama is a Constitutional scholar with foreign policy experience. Joe Biden has the qualifications in spades. Like both Obama & Biden, HRC has a clear indication how to get things accomplished in Washington. All three have law degrees and tremendous public service records. Alaska is a tiny state- not California or Texas. What does Palin bring to the table other than her gender and religion? Is this what passes for presidential qualifications? From what I understand she holds a bachelors degree in Journalism? Geez, I have a bacelor's degree in English Lit and am working on a MLS in Library Science. I'm female, I've been a soccer mom and a PTA president. I've even been paying attention to the war in Iraq. Maybe I should run in 2012. I think I have a shot!

[sink]

Only on the Republican ticket...

[Centaur]

If anyone was watching CNN about an hour ago and saw Bay Buchanan trying to defend Palin, it was quite comical after Cambell Brown read off some e-mails from women. Brown read off a couple of them(one was apparently from a republican and a NRA member) and those women said that they felt it was an insult to them that McCain picked Palin. Gergen was also part of that panel and he questioned McCain's judgement for picking her. It looks to me that this election will turn out just like the one in 1984 when Ferraro was on the ticket with Mondale. The difference, of course, will be that this time it's the republican ticket that's going to get crushed.

[slc20]

I couldn't agree more, DeeDee.

Talk about a "token" candidate. It is embarrassing (as a female) that this 1 and a half year governor is considered the top woman for the job. It makes us all look bad. There are many republican women who have served this country and deserve to be in the VP slot. Palin is not one of them.

[comm-man]

A heartbeat away from President of the United States of America (leader of the free world)...

For the Democrats, Joe Biden. Experienced in foreign and domestic policy. Seasoned and poised. Incorruptible-- tested repeatedly and severely by life. A "regular joe".

For the Republicans, Gov. Sarah Palin, a candidate currently under legislative investigation, with less domestic and foreign policy experience than 1988's Dan Quayle.

McCain has back tracked on his claim he would select "the best qualified candidate".

The choice of Joe Biden, demonstrates good judgment. Senator McCain's choice, not so much.

Barak wants to be challenged by his VP; McCain (like GHW Bush (41), seems to prefer his own council. At his age (72 years old) and with his health history, it is reasonable to argue, rather than bold, McCain's decisions is reckless.

Too harsh? Consider, 8 years ago my friend Richard, age 38 died of melanoma. At the time of his death, tumors were everywhere in his spine and hips. A gruesome result, even though just two years prior, he was given a clean bill of health, with no trace of the melanoma cancer which was excised from his left arm in 1998.

Senator McCain is gambling the future of the USA on his overzealous desire to be POTUS,

Obama-Biden vs. McCain-Palin... Now, which ticket for President of the United States makes you feel safer?

As an independent voter, I have voted for both parties. Including, both Bush's, I know ;-( And, both of the Clintons.

[lisakaz2]

Dee Dee, is Sarah Palin some sorta wunderkind as a speaker or campaigner? Her positions don't seem very fresh and, with the exception of her age and gender, I don't see why she's significant.

[lmmb]

Ms. Myers, you are so right in this paragraph:

"Worse, when Sarah Palin falls short--and I hope I'm wrong but I think in important ways, such as her debate with Joe Biden, she will--some people will conclude that women can't cut it. That's unfair to Sarah Palin--and it's certainly unfair to the rest of us."

Some people are heralding this as a historic nomination ... but really the choice of Palin reverses all of the progress that HRC achieved. Already the sexist labels are flying: beauty queen, stupid, inexperienced, delusional ... even on this site, Jane Smiley attacked Palin's motherhood. She's already been reduced to the usual driveling anti-female slights ... and we're back to square one.

Couldn't McCain at least have picked a female candidate with some substantial background and a more polished pedigree? If Palin really were a feminist, she would have seen that her shortcomings would do a profound disservice to the cause of female politicians ... and declined the nomination.

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

I guess Katherine Harris was busy.

[goldnchyl]

"Couldn't McCain at least have picked a female candidate with some substantial background and a more polished pedigree?"

none of those choices were as easy on the eyes. we know that mccain likes the pageant girls