Colorado Women Come Out For McCain-Palin

A bloodcurdling roar rises from the throng of women, as if they were a herd of elephants scenting Democratic lion in the bush, when one of their number stands to ask Senator John McCain, "When are you going to take the gloves off?" It's been a good town hall meeting for McCain, so once again this Rocky Mountain afternoon his timing is perfect. Pausing on the tiniest chuckle, he replies, "How about Tuesday night?" Then he launches into his usual answer to any question about the tenor of the presidential race, averring his respect for Senator Obama and for Senator Clinton (in case there are any Hillary supporters in the room). "Americans want a respectful campaign," McCain concludes, as he always does. Not only are the women having none of this niceness. As the day unfolds, they're not going to have to wait for the second presidential debate next Tuesday in Nashville. Within hours, Sarah Palin delivers blows to Joe Biden. At certain moments, she toys with her gloves; but she never takes them off.

Denver's McCain town hall meeting is a women-only event to which invitations have gone out to Hillary supporters and undecided voters. The women with whom I speak are already McCain's, however. A few have brought a wavering friend, a recalcitrant mother or daughter. Eager determination rules--to the extent that the overflowing crowd moves into the press compound, despite the best efforts of the Secret Service to contain the surge. Now we're all packed in. At least most women have chairs, unlike at the Emily's List event in the same Denver Sheraton Hotel just a month before during the Democratic Convention. The Democratic women had stood for several hours in a cavernous, gloomy basement ballroom at the Sheraton. The Republican women enjoy padded chairs in a well-lit ballroom upstairs. I'm not sure how to interpret the contrast, but one thing I do know: few, if any, of her Colorado supporters who came to the Emily's List tea in order to see Hillary Clinton are here again today for John McCain.

The significant contrast is with the Michelle Obama rally the day before at Farrand Field on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. While the students pressed against the fence at the back of the press area, the reserved space before the podium was full of older women and young mothers who arranged their strollers into a baby pen. They were mostly white, middle class and very well-educated. The women at the McCain town hall in Denver are also mostly white (this is Colorado, after all). But as a group they are less educated--fewer professors and more hairdressers--and represent a wider economic spectrum, from local socialites to security guards. This difference perfectly illustrates the polling data. What is new is the way opinion, now fixed, mirrors the opposition. Surveying fifty or so women at each event, I hear "the economy" and "the environment" (this is Colorado) as number-one election issues from each group.

In Denver, more than in Boulder--where the assumption seems to be that the choice of Obama is so obvious that it precludes explanation--the women characterize their choice of John McCain. Jo Ann says, "Obama is in it for himself. McCain is in it to try to help the country." Suzanne says that as a country "we have made a lot of bad choices," so now we need a leader to help us "start to believe again in ourselves." Suzanne goes on to say, "We need to change this environment of 'what's in it for me now.'" Of course, these two women could just as easily be talking about Senator Obama. They don't appreciate the irony because this close to the end of the race the two sides are entrenched, unable to see clearly the opposition.

Leaving the town hall meeting, which like the Boulder rally has its share of screaming infants, and which even for McCain is unusually sentimental (a woman gives McCain a ribbon that had belonged to? that she had made in honor of? her uncle, who had raised the flag on Iwo Jima), I finally find a Hillary supporter. There are always one or two at every McCain event. Here is Pat, taking a "Democrat for McCain" bumper sticker. She supported Senator Clinton until her campaign "did a few things I didn't like." But what she really wants to tell me is that she's always been a Democrat, even though she voted for Ike while her husband voted for Adlai. This is the second time recently that an older Coloradan has mentioned Adlai. At a business women's roundtable in Colorado Springs, hosted by Governors Ritter of Colorado and Sebelius of Kansas for Obama, Dottie Harmon, at one time the local president of the League of Women Voters and a Democrat, talked to me about her worries on the subject of Senator Obama's election. "Americans fear really intelligent men," Dottie said. "Remember what happened to Adlai Stevenson."

So I'm thinking about Ike and Adlai at the Biden-Palin debate watch party hosted by the Republican Women of Arapahoe County at a South Denver restaurant a few hours later. In that election, I was only a grade schooler, but my friends and I chanted "I Like Ike!" for a season. My parents and their friends, the parents of all my classmates, were for Eisenhower. Mine was an Eisenhower world, with one exception--a beloved teacher whose preference for Stevenson made her suddenly seem as strange and rare as a circus freak. This insularity has taken root again among Colorado Republicans. Here at the debate watch party the merry band can't conceive of a President Obama. That would be just too strange and rare, too absurd. These Republicans dismiss Obama and Biden both, out of hand. As the evening progresses, volunteers are enlisted, phone banking is set up, canvasses are briefly mentioned ("it's just hanging flyers on doorknobs," a county organizer says). The local Republicans are gearing up, doing what they've always done so successfully, but seemingly oblivious to the massive voter outreach the Obama Campaign has been waging all summer in Colorado.

As a writer for The Huffington Post, I have a precarious toe-hold on the rungs of my barstool among this large and raucous but wary crowd. Bo Cottrell, the husband of the evening's hostess, informs me that if I misrepresent those present, "I'll hunt you down wherever you are and kill you." He's smiling, so I don't take him too seriously and tell him to get in line behind more than a few Democrats. Republican antipathy to the press is visceral and hot; since I began interviewing McCain supporters in June, I've grown accustomed to it. This sense of betrayal, coupled with a belief that the fourth estate doesn't get them, colors these Denver Republicans' reactions to the televised debate.

Tonight, however, Sarah Palin gives them reason to hope. Earlier in the afternoon, interviewing McCain supporters at the Sheraton, I asked about Palin and heard some hesitation. "We'll see after the debate tonight," Paula said. "I think she [Palin] was intimidated by Katie Couric. She is better on the offense." After the debate, the enthusiasm is back. "She's terrific!" If I hear this once, I hear it a hundred times. "She represents the American woman--better than any Democratic candidate ever has." "She represents the American family." "She lives the life, she walks the walk." A few revelers are more specific. One gentleman (I couldn't catch his name above the din) says, "Her sister owns a gas station. So maybe she [Palin] understands what I'm going through." Bob, who is working for three of the down ballot candidates in Colorado and is philosophical about their chances, is nevertheless completely sold on Sarah Palin. "Take your favorite aunt, and your mother and your sisters--distill the best of them, and that's Sarah Palin."

The Denver Republicans boo Biden when he ties McCain to the "economic policy of the last eight years." They cheer Palin when she talks about the money worries parents share during their children's soccer games, when she says we have to take "personal responsibility" for getting ourselves in debt. Palin's defines patriotism--"government get out of the way"--to a lot of Arapahoe clapping. "Unless you're pleased with the way government has been running anything recently," Palin says, to hooting. I feel like I'm in a sports bar, watching the crowd tick off the score for the home team.

Does Joe Biden point to Exxon/Mobil as the bad guy one too many times? Does his proffer of Obama "giving an interview with The Wall Street Journal" as an example of Obama's mastery of the financial crisis fall flat? Is Biden a smidge sour? Is this sourness a sign of age--and more importantly, age versus youth? What goes around comes around. In this debate, youth versus age works to the Republicans' advantage. Palin is more can-do, more optimistic. She chides Biden for turning his talking points to the past, for "looking backwards and pointing fingers." Biden has those talking points, but he's like the boring speaker at a Chamber of Commerce dinner one must attend. He's a bit of a fear monger as well, on the economy, on China, on health care ("twenty million of you will be dropped"). Palin is ever so charming as she knocks Biden down. "Senator Biden, I respected you when you called him [Obama] out on that."

"Your wife being a teacher for thirty years," Palin says to Biden, "God bless her." Then Palin goes on, "I come from a house full of school teachers." She gives a shout-out to her brother's third graders before saying that "we need flexibility in No Child Left Behind." Finally, she manages to work in the fact that her children (and the attentive viewer will think of Obama's young children) attend public schools. This is the folksiness and downhome-heartedness that Palin's supporters love in her. If the Colorado Republicans at the Arapahoe party realize that this Sarah Palin is merely a political persona, they don't seem to care. They have been waiting too long for such a voice.

Earlier at the McCain town hall meeting, I spoke for awhile with Cindy, who at first, like the Arapahoe Republicans, was reluctant to talk. She had been burned by a local reporter who had written her up as a McCain supporter and called her a "starry-eyed fool." "I'm well-educated," Cindy said to me. "I've lived abroad, in several countries. I'm not a fool." She told me about growing up in South Dakota and beginning her political life as a McGovern volunteer. Still wary of me, and slightly accusing, she said, "Mainstreet America is grossly under-represented by the mainstream media. So this one voice doesn't have a voice. They [Mainstreet and MSM] don't think the same things. They have different values. Are we on Mainstreet losing our freedom of speech, our freedom of ideas?" I didn't have an answer for Cindy, but after months on the campaign trail, I know whereof she speaks. Likely most of the media will call the vice-presidential debate for Joe Biden. But Sarah Palin is that voice small town America has been yearning for, and her voice's reach, beyond the current election, has yet to be measured.

Comments

[TurnToTheLeft]

Mayhill were you ever threatened by Obama supporters after you reported his private "bitter" comments which were twisted out of context? NO. Yet these Colorado "Mainstreet" republicans threatened you to your face. (Bo Cottrell, the husband of the evening's hostess, informs me that if I misrepresent those present, "I'll hunt you down wherever you are and kill you.") I read all of your columns because I want insight into communities I cannot understand because I am an arugula-eating, San Francisco, gay, liberal democrat. So, thank you for the insular view you give. However, i question your objectivity because you have never turned your searing gaze directly at McCain or Palin who have made huge gaffs and incited crowds to almost violent levels with their racist rhetoric. Do you see none of this? Do you hear none of this? Because you certainly report none of this.

[StillMadMatt]

Sarah Palin has done more to denigrate the office of VP than DICK Cheney. Almost. And shes not even in the Office.

[joeyfoto]

What are these women in Colorado thinking? The nomination of Sarah Palin is an insult to woman; an embarrassment to the Republican Party and a stain on John McCain's already tarnished reputation. If the McCain campaign seriously sought a female VP, there are literally tens of thousands of American women in government and business who are vastly more qualified than Sarah Palin, since she knows, literally, NOTHING.

For a first and most obvious choice, how about Kay Bailey Hutchinson? She's a red-state-­Republican­-senator with an exemplary legislative record that includes demonstrable willingness to work across the aisle. If anyone seeks evidenced of that, look at the Hepatitis C legislation that Senator Hutchinson enthusiastically co-sponsored with Senator Kennedy. Had John McCain done the responsible thing and nominated a qualified VP candidate, his campaign would be in far less disarray than it is today.

Governor Palin is so unpalatable to most Americans that those who flogged her nomination are either totally out of touch with the spirit of the American people or they never wanted McCain to win in the first place. Sara Palin's only qualification is her ability to shore up the bigot-base of the GOP. That was never going to win the presidency for Senator McCain, but it would insure that the lunatic fringe of the party turns out to vote down-ticket to keep the dumbest and most backward members of congress in their seats --- now that's a great contribution.

[joeyfoto]

Just register everyone you know with an IQ above room temperature to vote. we don't have to convince everybody but we do need to win this election. This country has been run for far too long by the bottom of the class that can relate to the folks on Main Street. Call me an elitist. I worked hard enough in school to take pride in that, but I grew up on a cattle ranch and my father drove a milk truck and I never heard, in my home, that there was any survival value in being ignorant.

If eight years of George Bush has not convinced these people there is not point in talking to them at all. If Sarah Palin inspires them, God knows what calamity these Republican thieves might bring to America in the next four years. These people are like a guy who has been shot in the guts asking the person who shot them for help because they're too dumb or too scared to know that there is nothing he can do but watch him bleed to death. Maybe Sarah will wink at them before their jobs die.

[thecanadian]

WOMAN AGAINST PALIN. Now this is "The Power of Community"

http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com/ A group of 40 Alaskan Women got together on Sept 4th to send emails to their friends all across the U.S. It has evolved into this.

170,000 people REPEAT 170,000 have signed the Petition!
See their voice - Add your voice. Sign the Petition

http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com/

[Profjpr]

Palin came to California, my state, and women were in a tizzy over her. She reminds me of a circus performer that incites crowds and attracts the curious. Other than that... she's worthless as a politician.

[joeyfoto]

Yes. Sarah Palin is like a circus performer. Just because a contortionist can do those things and a clown can put on that make-up, doesn't mean that I want to watch. If I want to see freaks, I'll go straight to the side-show for the bearded-lady and the two-headed cow.

[reasonshouldrule]

I think Ms. Fowler must represent the conservative side of things for Huffpost, and that's a good thing for balance. But my question is this: Doesn't it give you pause when confronted with the hostility for the media that McCain and Palin constantly show? That alone would make me distrust a candidate even if I didn't disagree with everything on their agenda.

[mcjorich]

I wonder women can be pleased with Palin's vacuous performance. I do not admire her fidgety winking nor with her never-ending store of lies. I personally find her offensive.

Anyone paying attention to the financial crisis? This woman is running with a man who voted against equal pay for women, and told his wife she was an over made-up cu*t. So my question is: How could anyone vote for this pair that seem to have no personal ethics, standards or understanding of the words. Palin/Bush similarities: their abysmal folksy stupidity and blind adherence to failed policies. Do we think Palin noticed when Biden said the prologue is the story (sic.). Maybe she didn't understand. It went by quickly and she ignores what she doesn't know or doesn't understand.

By the way, the answer to the question: Is the surge working? NO, it isn't. Ask the 5000 dead Americans, and the 500,000 plus dead Iraqis, do we think any of them wouldn't change places and opt out of the surge? Gary Shandling: "this administration is waiting for Bin Laden to die from laughter" because he engineered bankrupting the US , thus destroying this country, whenever anyone dies or we spend another $10B in Iraq.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must have more common sense than to be taken in once again by fear, loathing, lying and race baiting.
And that's the View from My Trailer Park.
Thank you.
MJ Richards

[cmarmonhalm]

This from the woman who was so shocked at Obama's comments at the San Francisco fundraiser? You madam are an elitist and no friend of mine.

[Debbie1996]

Wow - I was actually at the townhall and I have to disagree with a couple points - local socialites to hairdressers - hmmm me thinks you come from Boulder. I am a finance executive - I recognized several accountants, lawyers and business owners that I know personally. I am sure there might be a few folks there without a college degree - but you see, you sound a bit elitist when you make comments like that and pretty presumptuous that those moms with children in tow, must not be educated. And if you were in the Sheraton garage when leaving - you would have spotted the Hillary bumper stickers - there's no question that they were there.

[joeyfoto]

I don't care if they all had Ph.D.'s. Anyone who claims to have supported Hillary Clinton and now supports Sarah Palin needs more than a master's degree, they need an education. There is no possible principled connection between the two candidates in either policy or professional qualifications. Pardon my pun, but they are polar opposites. If you support both of them because they're women, you are an insult to the intelligence of women voters.

[maying]

if americans are truly fearful of intelligent people then why do we keep on insisting that we are the greatest country. how can we be great if we fear intelligence??

[deb123]

Palin is a product of equality and believes she can play with the big guys -- and "gals." That would all be well and good if she had the smarts to back it up. Her self-confidence is astounding for how little she knows. It's not that she's dumb -- she just has no depth of knowledge or sense of history or anything other than sound bites. Surely the women of Colorado can see through her routine. I always looked upon the women of the west as the future -- smart, capable and reasonable. I still believe they are.

[lola85]

I completely agree. As a woman of the west, I support Obama/Biden and will vote for them in November. I am hopeful that women east and west, north and south will awaken to the ticket that is in their best interests.

Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive

[UCSD101]

Great video from Alaska - watching Debate

I wish I could have watched the debate with these Alaskans.

http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/alaskans-react-to-the-debatewith-boos-and-laughter/

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008

[VOTER]

Great video. Thanks.

[RaraAvis17]

Boy, that was refreshing! Thanks for the link! I sent that to ALL my friends and family.

[TheGeicoCaveman]

JUST RELEASED BY McCAIN INSIDER


***Watch how McCain and Cindy lie about not going negative ***


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k9IZ1LRC0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZf05ijVFtc&feature=related


And a FREE BONUS The 2006 vetting of Sarah Palin


http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

[desertbloom]

How can any woman who truly cares about the environment vote for McCain and Palin?

[lola85]

How can women who truly care about CHOICE vote for them?

Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive