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

[nkhogan]

Women are smarter than this. What McCain and his campaign don't realise is that women are not a monolithic group. some women will be attracted to Palin but many more will be repelled by the choice. Even as a feminist I thought having the right person was the most important thing rather than voting for any woman. I didn't vote for HRC because, although she was a viable candidate in every way, she didn't represent me or my values. Palin even less so.

I tihnk it's a very cynical move by McCain. NARAL and NOW have already issued statements against this choice and warning women about her pro-life record.

[professoramy]

Minutes after the announcement, much was already being made about Palin's choice to give birth to a baby who tested positive with Downs Syndrome in utero. It is appalling to think that her story about this precious child will become her version of McCain's POW looping [loopy] tape. Just as more and more former POWs are coming forward with their distress over McCain's constant allusions to his imprisonment, so there are countless women and men who CHOSE to bring into this world children with difficulties. And many of these proud parents would not dream of taking away choice from anyone else.

[dstar]

Poor Palin. Get the feeling, after all her short, but brilliant work, she's on board for her ovaries and the photo op her sweet little one provides? Not only does the world deserve better, but so does she. That she accepted the trade-off makes one suspicious of her ambitions. The timing is off, the reasons are off. It all lacks substance and has the odor of rove.

[penfan]

A little jealous Dee Dee? To say, "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." shows your ingnorance.

One does not need to be in the position of president to think about these issues and determine a position. She has not debated? Wow, better send her back. What gave your girl Hillary the experience to represent people in a state that she never lived? NOTHING!

Hopefully no one will judge all women based upon her performance. It would make you look bad.

Perhaps you are upset that McCain had the courage to make a suprise decision.

[LibDrummer]

Since when is making a "surprise decision" a good thing? This is a horrible selction and it speaks to the heart of the fact that John McCain just does not get it!

[mama mac]

Pretty sure Dee Dee wasn't in the tank for McCain and thus would not be upset by his decision.

[sleek]

Surprise decision? Desperate is more like it, everyone else said no.

[SUNRAI]

Surprise? You think that makes it a good decision? It reeks of lack of judgment and does this woman really have the capacity to be the next POTUS? No one even knows if she's traveled or if she even owns a passport for that matter...

[tuttlemsm]

"One does not need to be in the position of president to think about these issues and determine a position."

But Palin doesn't think! She doesn't think about Iraq--- she said so! She doesn't know what the Vice President even does in a day--- she said so!

[jhw22]

Exactly right, Dee Dee, every word.

I am absolutely offended that he thinks women are so shallow as to think he cares about women with this move. He is mocking women. He is belittling Hillary's campaign by suggesting that she only had support from women because she wears a bra. Any woman who was pro-Hillary and falls for this wasn't in it for the right reasons to begin with.

Jennifer

[AnnieinOR]

Former Republican Congressman and host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough said, "If John McCain's campaign thinks he can get Hillary Clinton voters by choosing Palin it is condescending and insulting to women and it is a terrible political faux pax."

[Waltb31]

So sad that McCain is so clueless and out of touch

[myna]

"She's also a mother of five, which in my book is a sterling test of leadership­."

I patently disagree with this statement; furthermore, I find it irresponsible of Palin. Of course, we know she doesn't care about the environment, so why not keep popping out more babies to increase her carbon footprint even more. A mother of five might make a good "manager" but it means squat in this context. Nada. No way. No how. No Palin.

[lisakaz2]

And who actually raises these kids? Nanny? Servants? Who?

[pinkfirefly8]

There are others more deserving of my pity, but can't help but feel sorry for McCain making such a blunderous decision.

[pithy]

Just one more woman being used, abused and sacrificed for a man's ambitions.

[SUNRAI]

Exactly

[Dunelm]

I just read an e-mail from a female friend, and I quote: "As a woman, I feel insulted by this choice." I am a woman, too, and feel the same way. And, as the editorial implies, it is John McCain now who apparently is more interested in getting elected than he is in the good of his country.

[Vige]

I totally agree with you and your friend.

[TexanJane]

You make a very good point on the getting elected v.good of the country issue.

[sleek]

Just proves that this has ALWAYS been about McCain's ambition. It is only about HIM AS PRESIDENT. He doesn't really care about the American people, he just wants to a president - at the countries expense.

[LibDrummer]

The word is TOKEN !

[GaiusLucilius]

As a young female voter carefully watching this election, I feel insulted too.

[FanofPaine]

You know, I feel insulted too. I may not have agreed with Hillary's tactics during the primary, but I never doubted that she really cared about women's issues. Gov. Palin is just Rush fricking Limbaugh who happens to be a woman.

[Angelus2007]

I don't think McCain expects pro-choice democratic women to vote for him. He wants pro-life social conservative democratic women. Like many in rural PA and OH. Not all women who are democrats are pro-choice, many are, but many are pro-life, they are democrats because of other reasons. My fiance is one of those. She is a democrat, voted for Hillary, and Kerry in 04, and Gore on 2000. But she is pro-life, carry's a concealed weapon, and feels women have a harder time than men, and even black men have an advantage over women. She isn't racist in the least, but felt the arguments that Obama overcame alot because he black, but not mentioning what Hillary had to, made her mad. She said, and it is true, that if Obama and Hillary were running for office in 1916, he could vote for himself even though black but Hillary couldn't vote for herself. She likes Palin, whether she will vote for Obama or not remains to be seen, she was on the fence before. That is her choice to make.

McCain is trying to pull off many voters who voted for Hillary because she is a women more than that she is Hillary Clinton. Mccain wants social conservative working mothers who can identify with Palin that can't identify with a black man who went to Harvard, or a life long male senator in Biden or a man who was POW in a war a generation ago.

[TruepatriotinRI]

I believe that all women are pro-life, it is possible to be both pro-life and pro-choice. However, it is an oxymoron to say that you are pro-life and pro-war. By the way, you really should proof read before you post.

[davidly]

Nothing you've stated effectively refutes the point Angelus2007 made, with a nice economical use of comas, I might add; that's something I could work on. And while we're at it, proofread is one word.

[YellerDawg]

Proofread is one word, Dr. Grammar.

[Angelus2007]

I appologize for using the general term pro-life, I am talking about anti-abortion women. I also mentioned nothing about pro-war. I am talking about women who may be against Iraq, and feel the economy needs help, but at the same time disagree with Obama on issues like abortion, evolution/­creationis­m, and gun control. These voters are torn. Their social consience has them agreeing with McCain, but their minds says vote Obama. They have to decide whether to vote with their heart or their head. Ultimately they would like a candidate like a democrat Travis Childers, democratic views on the economy and the war, but conservative social views such as abortion and gun control.

Remember that the people bashing Palin, and saying that this is an insane move from McCain here on HuffPo made their mind up long ago and who his running mate is won't make a difference. But many people in American don't fall on the left or the right like readers here. Those people will make the difference in this election, not what you or I, or the far right do. It is the people who have a foot on both sides of the aisle, the need to choose to go left or right, and Palin makes it just a little harder to go left for some of those people.

[nkhogan]

I take your point on board. But what does your fiancee think of a married woman with five children, the youngest of whom is four months old and who has downs syndrome, running for VP? If she's a social conservative, surely she'd object to that--working class women have to work to support their families, but Palin already has a job. She doesn't need to take on the rigorous challenges of the campaign. I seriously wonder if she knows what she's just gotten herself into and how it will absorb all her time and energy 24/7 for at least the next two months. Is that fair to a four month old baby? Is her husband going to quit his job? Someone needs to be the carer??? And where is the social support network that will help her do this? Will her mom step in? There is no public government support available for her really. Will she start now championing more government provided or gvt funding of day care? Just wondering. I'm sympathetic. But I'm not sure how many conservative women will really identify with Sarah making this choice---I know many of them and they are shaking their heads.

[lisakaz2]

Just a guess: she got servants.

[vickylee]

Your friend needs to study her history. Men had the vote In 1916, yes, but with the Jim Crow South, no black man could even have dreamed of running a national campaign, and if they lived in the South, they likely could not have voted despite being male. Let's quit rank-ordering the oppressions of race and gender, and just be glad that, finally, both a woman and an African-American vied for the Democratic nomination. The McCain-Palin ticket is an insulting stunt.

[MegWe]

I live in rural PA, and believe me the women I know are totally miffed by this choice. McCain is toast.

[Louee]

Dee Dee, what was genuine about her "shout outs"? She has nothing in common with Hillary except she's a woman. Is that enough for you? It's not for me. I happen to think pro-lifers like her should be shunned by democrats, no matter how "down to earth" they are. What are you thinking?

[SOFOROBAMA]

If Hillary Clinton supporters fall for this sham, then it's a pretty sad statement on her supporters. I was not a supporter but I have a ton of respect for what Hillary has accomplished in her life and if she had won, she would have had my support because we agree on the issues that are important and I would have had no doubt she could have been Commander in Chief. I can't even imagine what the Republicans and McCain are thinking. Sure it's a stunning development and the timing of the announcement and the announcement itself has taken over the news from what was a brilliant speech last night. But once we get past the conventions, it's a tactic that can't possibly succeed with anyone that is an independent thinker.

[YellerDawg]

Most of us moved on long ago. Not all Clintonistas are dead-enders. No sentient being, female or male, will fall for this. No way. Now how. No McCain or Palin.

[videlicet]

I was initially wowed by the lack of judgment on this choice -- but now I am unsure, since it is a bad idea to underestimate these people. They have seen from the small effect of their negative ads that they can't win with the angles they're taking now, and their tactics are already getting worn out and ineffective: so they have decided to double the stakes. So they're switching to Reform and abortion, gun rights, the meat and potatoes of conservatism. They sold us Bush much the same way, and they will certain do all they can to use Palin to fire up the conservative base and triangulate the female/blue collar vote (using Hillary same tactics, but this time her positive ones). The Obama team will have to be careful not to get caught on a sexist slip that will corner them to putting out fires instead of hammering the big issues - national security, energy, and the economy - that neither McCain nor Palin have any good answers to.

[freshnotbitter]

Dee Dee, when you attack Palin it sounds like you are afraid of real change. Apparently from what I can figure out you wanted McSame to pick an old, white, male, establishment figure for Veep because such a person would be ready to be commander in chief even if it meant the old inside Washington politics as usual. Now I am beginning to doubt whether dems are really intending to change Washington or if it is all a ruse.

Actually Obama needed the establishment guy to deflect the "inexperienced" charge and McSame needed to erase the McSame label. Each did what he had to do with his pick. (Actually, Obama should have joined forces with Hillary's people at an earlier stage but that is another story, right?)

Dems should concentrate on the top of the ticket.

Nobody is mentioning that Palin vetoed legislation that would have outlawed giving state benefits to same sex couples, effectively granting such benefits to gay couples over the wishes of her own legislature.

I read it in Wikipedia. I guess such things are not to be mentioned since they affect real people, God forbid. The CNN types are more concerned about "experience" of the candidates because that protects the insiders.

[FanofPaine]

The problem I have is that we are made to believe that Obama's "lack of experience" is worse than Gov. Palin's when Senator Obama has more experience than Gov. Palin. And what about all those other experienced Republican women? I've seen just a few of them thrown out just on these blogs. He could have picked a woman, a highly qualified woman, and made it come off better than a bad attempt at pandering. He could have went for the complete knock-out punch on this, but we're to believe that Gov. Palin is ready to stare down Putin or Ahmadinejad when they say Barack Obama can't? Seriously?

Sure, it's change, but not the good kind.

[MiddleRed]

"Afraid of real change"?!?!? Another creationist, anti-choice, anti-gay republican in the white house? Another person tied to big oil? Sorry, that hot air isn't the wind of change.

[SherryIndianapolis]

How about just picking an ACTUAL, QUALIFIED REPUBLICAN WOMAN?

Now for real, who can't handle change?

[elcojonu]

Have kids, be a leader.