With all this talk about Sarah Palin redefining feminism and people who don't support her candidacy being sexist, I think we could use a little clarification.
Women's progress at work and in government is critically important. We are not, after all, living in the Dark Ages. But, and this is a VERY IMPORTANT BUT, consider the following scenario.
You're about to board a plane and a flight attendant says, "Today as part of our responsiveness to customers program you may choose Mr. Jones here as co-pilot. He will fly the airplane should something go wrong with the pilot, who isn't at his best today. Mr. Jones has been a pilot for twenty years and has an impeccable record. He is, however, a man. Because you support the advancement of women in the workplace, we also have a woman here who is willing to fly your plane. She is not a pilot but she didn't blink when asked to do this and for the past week a team of experts has been talking to her a lot about how to fly."
Who would you choose? If you chose Pilot Jones, would that be sexist? Or would you simply not be a complete idiot?
Apply this to Sarah Palin. She has not spent time in Washington as a senator or a congresswoman. She has spent most of her life in Alaska. From her interview with Charlie Gibson, it is clear that she is proud of not blinking about making decisions that affect millions of lives. And she is uninformed about the workings of the U.S. government.
Personally I'd have nothing against Sarah running for a seat in the House or Senate. It's a reasonable next step. And were she blocked from this path because of her gender, disparaged and demeaned in the press, I'd be miffed for sure. That would be sexist.
But just because I'd like to go to NASA and tell them that by November I want to be an astronaut, doesn't mean they should hand over the space shuttle.
There is far too much at stake to put someone completely inexperienced in the ways of Washington and the world so close to the presidency. There's no excuse for it, really. John McCain should know that. That's not sexist; it's simply common sense.
Dr. Reardon also blogs at bardscove.
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Dr. Reardons analogy not only bashes Palin, but Obama at the same time.
So I ask you, do you know who is flying your airplane?
than someone that makes a decision on a whim???
I like to think I am an educated female voter...an
Her performanc
Plain and simple. If Sarah Palin was a MAN....we would not even be talking about her right now..since she would not be on the McCain ticket. He nominated her for one reason: She-is-a-W
Won't get fooled again!
"You can dress your child like a pilot, but you'd have to be crazy to let them fly the plane."
It delivers the message about Palin's lack of qualificat
Kathleen, Palin didn't know about the "Bush Doctrine" of preemptive war. She brags that her state is closest to Russia, she thinks we should invade if they continue to press in Georgia, and she admitted on national television that she is completely unaware that the United States has set the PRECEDENT of INVASION PRIOR TO PROVOCATIO
If the United States were to invade Russia, is she not aware that our troops would most likely be being stationed in and DEPLOYED FROM her own state of Alaska? If she didn't know this, and she isn't thinking about it, SHE ISN'T FIT TO BE GOVERNOR, LET ALONE VICE PRESIDENT.
Obama-Bide
As it turns out, Charlie Gibson is more qualified to be vice president than Sarah Palin. I'M more qualified than Sarah Palin, as are the majority of the people I know. I have never been more devastated by any candidate'
I am holding onto the hope that the rest of the Independen
Thank you, Charlie Gibson. You deserve an award in journalism
So what if he was 894th in a class of 899 at the Academy, and set the vrecord for the most demerits ever! He knew that his family pull would get him through.
So what if he knolws nothing of economics!
So what if his personally
Does anyone really expect McCain and Palin to do the jobs thaat we are expected to elect them for? Heck (if you will please pardon my rough language) no! They are only meant to be puppets -- managed by the same masters that pull little Dubya's strings.
And, for that, they are eminently qualified!
The proof is in the public record; he sponsored 820 laws in Illinois, authored 152 bills, and co-sponsor
He also played a major role in the state's first earned-inc
Obama was an Illinois State Senator for 8 years 1996-2004. Chairman, Health and Human Services Committee.
Constituti
Obama; United States Senator 2004-prese
Obama Education: Columbia University B.A. Political Science with specializa
In one interview Obama chose to compare his running of a Presidenti
I wish I COULD vote for Obama...bu
What have we learned about George W. Bush over eight years? Bush intellectu
Where did Bush take the country? Into a stupid war, historic national debt, historic personal debt, historic foreight trade deficits, incompeten
This is the time to find someone who is competent and will appoint competent people to deal with the problems. Bill Clinton was competent and appointed competent people. His economic team was smart and knew its purpose. His was a successful administra
Does anyone think that Barack Obama is not competent or will not appoint the most competent people? This is a no brainer.
Hint to Republican
Also, the last time I checked, individual