The Irony of Sarah Palin's Extreme Conservatism
Yes, Governor Sarah Palin has added a dash of excitement to the Republican ticket, a party which has no history of reaching out to women. Let's remember what this party stands for: the appointment of Justices who are determined to overturn Roe v. Wade.
In past elections, it was difficult to get voters to focus on the importance of Supreme Court appointments. It seemed too far off, too hypothetical. That has changed in 2008. We're not talking about the distant future, we are talking now. Senator McCain has told the world that the justices he would appoint would be in the mold of Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. He has made that promise not only to the far right; he has made it to the nation.
How likely is it that the next President will have the opportunity to fill vacancies? Very. Justice Stevens is 88 years old. Justice Ginsberg is 75 and has had bouts of ill health. Justice Breyer is 70, and Justice Souter, 68, has expressed a desire to return to his native New Hampshire. All four justices have been strong supporters of a woman's right to choose. They also have been in the minority on a host of decisions regarding civil rights and equal pay. The one which affected women most directly was Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. That 5-4 decision denied Lily Ledbetter, a supervisor on the factory floor, the right to sue for pay discrimination because she had not filed her case within 180 days. She found out she had been paid less than her male counterparts, after 20 years.
If you think that the McCain/Palin ticket has suddenly become a friend to women, just look at the make-up of the Democratic and Republican conventions. The Democratic convention, for the first time in history, had more female delegates than male, 51-49%, following a steady climb to gender equality.
The Republican convention break down was over 60% male. They moved in the opposite direction; fewer women than in 2004 and 2000.
Red state feminism may be exciting, even interesting, but it does not speak to average women, whether they are stay-at-home moms or working-moms or neither. If they take away Reproductive Choice, they will have taken away the most important decision a woman has to make: when and whether to have a child. Throughout history, women have struggled to free themselves from those who would dictate that decision, instead of acknowledging that women have the moral sense to make that decision themselves.
Wouldn't it be ironic if the McCain/Palin appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court thrust us back in time to the dark days when women had no choice.
Madeleine M. Kunin is the former Governor of Vermont and was the state's first woman governor. She served as Ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and was on the three-person panel that chose Al Gore to be Clinton's VP. She is the author of Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead from Chelsea Green Publishing.
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What I always find fascinating when the discussion of women's rights is brought up, is that there is no mention of the fact that the woman Roe V. Wade is built on has since renounced her agreement with this law. I read her fascinating biography years back and was shocked to learn this fact.
Just so you know, there are numerous "feminists" who happen to agree with Palin, myself being one of them. I'm tired of Democrats claiming their viewpoint is the only feminist one out there. Give me a break! What an insult to our intelligence, our personal belief systems, and the right to have freedom of expression and independent thought as an American citizen.
It's refreshing to hear Palin refer to the idea of creating a culture of life vs. death.
I, for one, am sick of women blindly choosing multiple abortions just because they can't stop sleeping around, use birth control, or consider adoption or single parenting. I would be very interested to read statistics of how many women who abort their unborn baby have been raped vs. those who are just using it as another form of birth control.
I'm sure it tilts very heavily towards the latter.
Yes, responsibility takes discipline and sacrifice. I suffered when I chose my adoption, but I can also say I'm happy that my child is making another family who couldn't have their own child very happy. He's happy too. That's what mattered to me.
Two best essays on HuffPost this week---Madeline and Bernie! Vermont common sense ROCKS!!!
War is a big MONEY MAKER for Republicans' corporations! Easy money, tax money poured out of USTreasury directly into their pockets.
Now, PALIN SAYS SHE WANTS WAR WITH RUSSIA. isn't that "conservative"?
there's EVERYTHING TO LIKE about war for republicans!
Palin's ready to start our WAR WITH RUSSIA to keep that money pouring in.
Republicans are out to BANKRUPT everybody except themselves.
NO THANKS! No more years for that CORRUPT BUNCH.
Sarah Palin is George W. Bush... with lipstick.
Excellent one-liner!!!!!!!! Awesome, dude!!
Tell ya what!! Palin is GREAT compared to Stretch Pelosi
You're right, of course. Too bad so many American women, according to all the polls, are so dumb as to flock to Palin like lemmings. I should think all American feminists would be deeply embarrassed by the sheer stupidity of both Palin AND these female dolts. This is Armageddon for feminism, for women's most basic rights. Let's hope a majority of white women wake up and smell the back alley abortionists, before they have to drive their daughters to them.
I personally am skeptical about this rush of white women to Republicans, but who knows. What I do know is that my mom's best friend, around 1965, when they were still teenagers in high school, suddenly disappeared for about three months. No one knew what happened to her--she was just gone. Then she returned, finally telling my mom years later that she had given birth at one of those "homes for wayward girls" to a baby who she barely saw and who was immediately given up for adoption. It's very sad how easily people forget the sufferings and struggles of those who came before us and feel the need to legislate their very narrow views of "morality" onto the rest of us.
With a Democratic majority in the congress would McCain be able to get the votes to appoint the supreme court judges that he wanted?
If some of the spineless leaders for the Democrats remain in power in congress -- YES, McSame will be able to get the votes to appoint radical right wing judges. Look at what little Pelosi and her counterparts have done with a Democratic majority to bring Bush to account for all the messes he has gotten us into. Without new strong "change" leadership in congress it will be more of the same regardless of which candidate wins. They are all just as culpable as the other.
John McCain's choice of Sara Palin as a running mate is sexism at its ugliest! Instead of choosing any one of thousands of eminently more qualified candidates for vice president, John McCain finds this babe in the back woods, dragges her out, parades her around the country for his dog and pony show. John McCain is using Sara Palin for her gender, her looks, and her persona, for his own political gain and for no other reason. If that isn't sexism at its worst, I don't know what is.
Scied, you are so right. And I agree with you socialism is the way.
The last time I read the constitution it stated that there are only two requirements for president and vice president. The person must be a U.S. Citizen and have resided in the United States for the previous 14 years. The second requirement is that the person have attained the age of 35. Your requirements for experience is unconstitutional. This government was not formed with the intention of life time politicians maintaining control. Palin has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined. She is not a life time politician, which in my opinion also makes her more qualified to be vice president. It doesn't matter that there are more people qualified than Palin. There are plenty of people that are more qualified than Obama and yet he is your nominee. You're not going to vote for McCain or Palin so who McCain picks as a running mate is of no concern to you. Liberals had a chance to put a woman in the White House and they passed on that chance. Now you want to criticize McCain for capitalizing on your choice. If we don't pick a woman we get accused of being sexist. When we do pick a woman we get accused of being sexist. Let's face it. Palin scares you libs and you will do anything to sink her. Even if it calls for telling of lies, many of which have been debunked. You made your pick. We made ours. Live with it.
Palin will sink herself. Your lack of critical thought and judgment is apparent. Wisdom, not executive experience, should be the criteria for leadership. Anyone can learn to delegate, that's what advisers are for.
...with apologies to Jeff Foxworthy.
If you believe in Abstinence Only Sex Education even though both yourself and your daughter became pregnant before marriage…you might be Sarah Palin.
If you say you were against the Bridge from Nowhere when in fact, you were for it and eagerly used the funds for Alaskan pork barrel projects….
If you fire a librarian for refusing to allow you to ban books….you might be Sarah Palin.
If you campaign on the virtues of being in the PTA and being a Hockey Mom even as your two oldest children are, in real time, acting out in very self-destructive ways….you might be Sarah Palin.
If you think that praying can change one’s predisposition to be gay…you might be Sarah Palin.
If you refuse to grant interviews until the media is properly deferential…you might be Sarah Palin.
If one of your notable qualifications to be Vice President is that you can field dress a moose or shoot wolves from helicopters…you might be Sarah Palin.
If you try to ride the political coattails of previous female candidates such as Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro even though your ideology is diametrically opposed to theirs….yo
When you campaign on the basis of cutting out earmarks and yet you lobbied for and received earmarks to improving recreational halibut fishing, studying the mating habits of crabs, and the DNA of harbor seals….you might be Sarah Palin.
Sexism at it's worst is when women use their power to oppress and disenfranchise other women from self liberty and free will. Having an American woman do her best to cut out reproductive freedom for her peers is just as sexist as when women in small villages in Africa perform clitorectomies (AKA: female genital mutilation,) on their own daughters. It perpetuates a really mean, misogynist cycle. Women all over the world have their hands full trying to cast off the wet blankets, (read: burquas) of patriarchy. It's mindboggling that they would do such damage to each other as well, but they do.
If you believe that there are 57 states in the union you might be Barack Obama.
If you believe the presidency is from 8 to 10 years you might be Barack Obama.
If you have a wife who has never been proud of her country you might be Barack Obama.
If you had a pastor for 20 years who preached racism and hate you might be Barack Obama.
If your former pastor was just busted for having an affair you might be Barack Obama.
If you serve on a board of directors with a known unrepentant terrorist you might be Barack Obama.
If you do business with a man who funnels money to the PLO you might be Barack Obama.
If you took a sweetheart land deal from a convicted felon you might be Barack Obama.
If you consistently flip flop on your issues to draw more independent voters you might be Barack Obama.
If you vote against military funding that even Joe Biden said would result in deaths of our troops you might be Barack Obama.
If you refuse to debate John McCain in a town hall meeting because you're afraid of being asked tough questions you might be Barack Obama.
If you have no record of any meaningful legislation passed while serving as senator because you're too busy running for president you might be Barack Obama.
If the majority of your votes as state legislature were "present" you might be Barack Obama.
If you are truth challenged you might be torrrep.
Don't forget the other issues by which Palin is anti-feminist. She is against the equal pay for equal work bill. She does not support affordable health care for everyone. And she supports abstinence-only education in schools.
How is this anti feminist? I keep hearing of women not getting equal pay. Yet i have YET to have heard the name of one single company not paying women equally. Liberals want equal pay for women regardless of whether they have served the same amount of time at a company or not. Of course she supports affordable health care. She just doesn't support taking my money to pay for YOUR responsibility. I would rather se abstinence only than teaching kids that it's ok to run around and have all the sex they want and if they get pregnant tell them they can always get an abortion. There is nothing anti feminist about Palin. The one who is anti feminist is you.
Lilly Ledbetter
http://www
http://en.
You are so right!!!!!
Where's her tax returns? For the past four years as governor?
Where is Obama's? Where is Biden's?
On the website.
JKoos, LAUGHABLE if it wasn't soooo reminiscent of Karl Rove or Josef Goebbels!
Teddy Roosevelt was pro-Union, pro National health-care, pro-Environment. And that is just how radically he does not resemble the policy positions of the current joke of a candidate. How about on EXPERIENCE?
Prior to being VP he:
1. Attended Harvard Law
2. Read voraciously and understood the world beyond the grove of trees outside his window
3. Travelled extensively
4. Wrote more bills than any other legislator as a New York Assemblyman
5. Served in the U.S. civil service commission under Harrison and Cleveland
6. Served as president of the NYC board of police commisioners
7. Served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under McKinley. The Secretary was so inactive in his duties that Roosevelt essentially ran the Navy department.
8. Led the Roughriders in Cuba, awarded Medal of Honor (belatedly)
9. Governor of New York
Furthermore, said "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Hardly the tack taken by the current administration, or the potential Republican successors.
AND he was a rabid racist.
A more ludicrous comparison has probably never been made.
Here is some homework for you, compare Obama to Lincoln. Tell us all how closely they equate. Or are you incapable of applying your standards equivalently without bias?
Abortion is the wedge issue that Republicans feed off of. They will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER, overturn Roe v Wade. It's just too good an issue for them to run on. Besides, if they really ever tried to get it overturned, I would hope, as a man, that women from around the country would riot in the streets. That is not something the Repubs want to see. They would rather trot it out every four years to bring the authoritarian, fasistic, wing of the party to the polls. No, I fear endless, perpetual war if a Republican gets elected president. And John McCain has already announced his support for such a policy. Fear not, women, your right to choose will remain. Your sons and daughters? They may well be conscripted against their will to battle Russians in Georgia because after all, we're all Georgians now, right?
Actually yes we will. Fortunately you don't get to make that decision. Roe vs. Wade is legalized murder and it will be overturned. Go ahead and riot. I could care less.
All of your bluster demonstrates how little you care.
Collateral damage is a euphemism for indiscriminate murder. War should be overturned.
Vietnam vet and proud of it
Who am I?
I am under 45 years old,
I love the outdoors,
I hunt,
I am a Republican reformer,
I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,
I have many children,
I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor's office.
Have you ever heard of me before now?
I am Teddy Roosevelt.
Who am I?
I'm under 45 years old
I don't believe in global warming,
I approve the pathetic practice of Aerial Hunting,
I am a Republican tool,
I invest "nothing" into education,
I have a litter,
I have hugely under qualified?
Have you head of me before?
I am Sarah Paline
If you are infering that Sarah Palin is another Teddy Roosevelt.
Senator, I served with Teddy Roosevelt, I knew Teddy Roosevelt; Teddy Roosevelt was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Teddy Roosevelt.
HuffPost's Pick
I graduated magna cum laud from Harvard
I was Ass't secretary of the Navy prior to becoming VP
I supported the conservation movement and started the National Parks Program
The books I wrote on naval history and US history became the standard for generations
I travelled extensively in Europe and the Middle East as a young person
I fought big business to benefit the consumer
Sarah Palin, you're no Teddy Roosevelt!
Thanks HuffPost. Also forgot to mention that good ole' Teddy was one of the first US Presidents to push for universal health care. I'm pretty sure that if he came back today the Rep's would brand him an "elitist."
from a psychological perspective, i find the phenomenon of 'Right wing women' quite fascinating.
Let's examine the family which produces them:
Probably coming from a 'Conservative' family tree which has embraced the concept of male domination for many generations. (since the dawn of time...4,0
i think this is an excellent subject for a dissertation, Psychology Grads. go for it!!!
Spot on to explain right-wingers. What about left-wingers? Could you say that their fathers did not worship them, but were instead cowed by the angry mother and that is why some women do not internalize the Father identity? (I am not being sarcastic, I am trying to expand this theory). Perhaps because these daughters are strong themselves? And see some inimical unfairness in the unbalanced sharing of power they observed between Mom and Dad? So they stay single for a long time in hopes of not repeating mistakes? And stick up for the REAL rights of women?
Women like Palin confound me. Is it self-hatred? That instead of loving her feminine side, she pushes it away - and invests her energy trying to be one of the boys? How boring, I say. What a wasted life.....Y
Her religious views are also extreme and outlined here....
http://www
I believe it was the Assemblies of Gawd who were behind Jesus Camp..be scared
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