I'm Voting for McCain... And Yes, I Wrote the Us Weekly Cover Story

"Shame on you for writing that article! Shame on you!!!"

"I'm calling you because what you wrote is so politically slanderous. I'm shocked that a woman would do that. You are a disgrace to your gender and your country."

"Yeah, great story. You and your freak publisher. Just quit writing those kinds of stories. It's stupid, it's demeaning. People aren't as stupid as you think they are. Get a different job."

These bon mots are just a sampling of the messages recently left on my home answering machine. Seven others simply hung up. I didn't receive this many phone calls on my birthday. But everyone has a birthday; I was the only one to have a byline on the much-scrutinized Us Weekly story about Sarah Palin. That was me who explained the Alaska governor's grandma predicament, outlined her poor judgment traveling while having contractions with her fifth child and detailed her political controversies. And the whole experience left me reaching for my bottle of extra-strength Tylenol and wishing I had a flask in my office. Call it the latest side effects of being a John McCain supporter.

It's true. I am the Elisabeth Hasselbeck of Us Weekly. During our spirited office debates, it's up to me (along with the office's outnumbered Republicans -- hey, it's New York City) to defend the old man from Arizona, while the Democrats cheer for Barack Obama like he's a Jonas Brother. For months, I've touted McCain's vast experience and his economic policies without a trace of postmodern irony. (The credit -- or, uh, blame -- mostly lies with my parents, the only conservative Jews in Detroit). My take on his VP pick? "I think she's fascinating!" I chirped to my editor in chief early on September 1. "She's a mother of five and she hunts!"

A few hours later, Palin announced that her 17-year-old daughter was knocked up. All I could do was shake my head and sigh at the realization that the original "mom under attack" angle was going to change into a far-more tantalizing story -- and rightfully so. Rule No. 1 when running for the second-most important position in the free world: Never allow yourself to draw comparisons to the Spears family. The day only grew more frustrating as the revelations trickled into my inbox: The vetting process was rushed... Palin got her passport last year... wait, she called her former opponent what?! Oy.

The facts were out there, and there was no way to sugar-coat them. All I could do was address the relevant issues -- and, most importantly, remember the readers' needs. We're a magazine that thrives on babies, intriguing women and scandals. For this particular week, our potential vice president just happened to fit the bill. (Sorry, Angelina).

As I typed away in my cramped Manhattan office, I never expected the article to become a Fox News rallying cry (the jeers were all the more perplexing given that so few people had even read the piece beforehand). Nonetheless, despite the baby-mama dramas -- and the stinging phone calls -- I still feel that McCain would make the best president. And, no, I'm not ashamed of myself. Beep.

Comments

[JonRaymond]

Of course the people who proliferate Palin scandals will vote for McCain. They work for him.

[Burica2012]

I can't believe a women whom writes for a "major" publication would agree with a VP that wants to ban books; doesn't that stand in stark contrast to your profession? Thats sort of like an abortion doctor for McCain/Palin, sort of.

[Bademus]

Well it's true and there are LOTS of negatives that come with Palin and to overlook them because she is a woman is to do a grave disservice to our country. For me I bought several copies and will be dropping them off in salon and Dr. office waiting rooms.

[JonBFertippton]

If you are thinking of leaving the USA if McCain wins, think about leaving North America altogether. The economic disaster that Bush has caused will only worsen under McCain. The American dollar is almost worthless now because of the enormous debt Bush has built up to finance his war and his tax cuts for the wealthy. Bush has already damaged Canada and Mexico. He destroyed the logging industry in British Columbia, for instance - he and his GOP cronies. The Canadian and Mexican economies and currencies will not be able to withstand the economic meltdown that will follow from new military adventures by the trigger-happy McCain/Pallin duo. That 50% of Americans are still willing to prevent adults like Obama and Biden from taking over the White House does not fill foreign onlookers with confidence on the intelligence or sanity of the American populace. Lord help us all and - get your passports ready.

[goosie29]

Whatever!!

[jimgilliamv2]

Palin shows that women can be just as stupid as Bush, Limbaugh, Hannity, Dobson, Rove, and a long list of other Republicans. Everybody should see the movie IOUSA if they want to understand the biggest issue in America that people are not talking about.

[sanang]

I can't imagine a woman voting for McCain/Palin when Palin is against abortion in the case of RAPE or INCEST. As a woman I cannot imagine carrying a baby for NINE months and that baby being a reminder of a horrible nightmare. If McCain and Palin are elected I will get out my passport, I've just about had it with these radical right wingers.

[stayinsouth1981]

They do not care what your needs are. If they think a life, any life is precious, then you have to abide. Get used to it.

[AProudRepublican]

Good can always come out of bad. I don't think one would ever regret "having" a child (adoption is always an option) as much as "aborting" one. People fail to bring up how so many women experience immense grief, guilt and anxiety years later after aborting a child. In so many cases, it becomes a source of great emotional pain for these women... much more so than what they would have endured in carrying a child to term for 9 months... reminders of where that child came from or not.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-371392/Abortion-trauma-years.html

[wolfgangmo]

Hey, give her a break.

The GOP have been a 2 issue party since before she was born. It's all she knows.

[mcarrera]

I left the country last December. Good luck to you all

[wolfgangmo]

We are looking at ways to relocate our medical practice to Canada. A buddy of mine with 2 Ph.D.'s , an L.Lc. and a ton of experience in high level resource management has moved to London. Others I know are jumping ship for saner waters.

The top thinkers and producers in this country who have not been co-opted by big corporations are leaving. Our top innovators. Main street. Not all are leaving, but it seems to me that the ones who are the leaders.

When asked why the common response I get is that they have kids and they want those kids growing up in a better place. What happened to England in the 70's is starting to happen here. The smart money is getting out of town.

The rest seem to be supporting McCain/Bush for 08.

[JayInDallas]

What amazes me is that a smart, educated woman such as yourself would look at the actual pillar issues of each candidate and still determine that McCain is your candidate. The dearth of details in the McCain platform allow for a measure of assumptions that are more like projections. You can fill in the blanks with something that serves your best interest, believing that is probably what his intention is, but the undeniability of his ties to big oil, his voting record, his lack of consistency and continual compromise of his integrity for the sake of his winning the presidency make him little more than George W. Bush Jr. Is this a case of the devil you know? Are you so far beyond the pale that belief in change is not possible? Too grown up to dream? There may be hope for you yet...

[exhale09]

Sara Palin CHOSE to accept being selected to be the Republican VP candidate. She did this knowing her 17 year old daughter was pregnant and unmarried. Knowing that gossip mongers would plaster the story in their magizines. Then she complains about the gossip.
Bristol was told her mother was the VP pick, just hours before it was announced to the national public. Bristol literally had hours to absorb this, and realize she would now become the Gossip topic world wide.
Bristol was then paraded on the National stage just a few hours later, by her mother, "hiding" her pregnacy with a big blanket, while she carried her mother's 5 month old baby as Sara took the public spotlight.

Nice Sara. Ambition makes for strange judgement calls.

[MarkFinelli]

Great Article!

Sarah Palin is America's Margaret Thatcher..­..

Mark Finelli
Sole WTC 9.11 Survivor to Enlist in the Marines and Fight in Iraq

[Ajita]

Thats right..go get those Iraqi's who attacked us on 9/11. Do you see the irony of your statement?

[Phillie]

Mr Finelli, aside from this Palin debacle would you mind if I pose a question? When you enlisted did you feel Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11 and if so, do you still believe so? I ask this with huge respect for it is not many who stand up and are physically moved to arms. I am simply interested as a 'by-stander' what your motives were. Or did you enlist simply to fight 'The War On Terror' and were sent to Iraq instead of Afghanistan? Forgive my forthrightness in asking, your comment under your name simply made me curious.

Again, with respect, Phillie, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

[Provit2me]

I was raised a military brat and was also in the military and you proved me right again. Why are so many of our military people "not all that smart".... Just once, prove me wrong.... is it because they are so young? So, hard headed they need someone else to think for them? So, uneducated? It makes me sad.... and to think they are the ones voting Rep. They want to put themselves in harms way - makes them a man/ woman - patriodic. Stay, home, get educated and run for office and make a difference with your life..Sad, just sad.

[bkovitz]

Margaret Thatcher is an educated, highly intelligent, and extraordinarily knowledgeable person. Sarah Palin is not.

Margaret Thatcher has a master's degree in crystallography, was a member of the British Association of Scientific Workers, and did commercial research in chemistry before her political career took off. In office, she dealt for years with complex matters of economic and foreign policy. Many disagreed with her policies, but there was no doubt that she knew the facts and the issues. Sarah Palin thinks that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were funded by taxpayers, thinks Iraq launched the 9/11 attacks, and thinks creationism is scientifically on a par with evolution.

Comparing these two does a great injustice to one of the great world leaders of the 20th century.

[hairball68]

cheer for obama like he's a jonas brother? well i suppose that beats the chants of '4 more years! 4 more years!' i seem to remember from well, 4 years ago. what a strange criticism from someone supporting war, more war, torture, incompetence, the erosion of the middle class, the loss of blue collar jobs, and a pack of politicians who have perfected the art of lying and stealing.

[davism97]

Whether McCain would make the best president (I humbly disagree) is not the issue. You have to consider all of the other people will be gaining power WITH McCain. Democrats aren't against McCain. We're against all of the criminal Republicans who will retain power if he's elected.

[fraserseth]

Is it suddenly unique to be a conservative because they're in the minority now? If that's not postmodern I don't know what is.

[egal]

No, I'm against McCain. Of course, I'm not a Democrat, just a Veteran, and he has betrayed soldiers and Veterans in ways even Bush can't claim.

Every step of the way, with no support for us and no shame about denying us even pay increases that matched inflation, let alone enough to ensure that the 85% of soldiers with families who have to use food stamps can care for their families on their own.

And now he has turned into a mouthpiece for a Bush administration he claimed to hate but supported almost 100% of the time, even going more extremely in the wrong on the issues that have marked their biggest treachery to the nation and its laws and citizens.

It's hard to believe in the patriotism of those who put the president before the Constitution, their political future before the military, and their moral imperatives before what is best for--or at least representative of--the people.

[elizaW]

You have nothing to worry about. McCain will put together a very strong, smart, capable uncorrupted team.

[eggman]

Palin's not a good start. Not knowledgable on domestic or foreign affairs, she's racked up a major conflict-o­f-interest scandal in her first term, and her convention speech contained several factual mis-statements about her own record.

McCain is a long way from being uncorrupted or smart himself.

[qdog112]

I pray you are not serious.

[Paprikapink]

Okay, I admit I only read the top six comments -- but not one of them was relevant to the topic of the post. She mentions that she is pro-McCain as an incidental, to illustrate that she is not a "liberal media," knee-jerk, Republican-basher: she "bashed" Palin because she had no choice. Palin is just that bashable; even thoes who want to like her and be her fans are in trouble. She's got so much baggage (all full of dirty laundry) Palin's becoming a liability to everyone connected with her. I think this author deserves plaudits for telling it like it is even in the face of hostile, delusional readers. I'm sure she came here for a little relief, to write for thoughtful, realistic readers...­and this is the reception she gets? Sheesh.