I'm Just Sayin': Choice of Sarah Palin is an Insult to Women Voters

John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate is a searing insult to women.

Clearly, Palin was chosen in hopes of attracting women voters. There is virtually no other explanation for picking a right-wing leader of a state with a population of fewer than 680,000 people.

The decision argues that McCain has such a low opinion of women voters that they would overlook education, abortion, foreign policy, civil rights, health care, family leave and more simply to vote for a candidate with two x chromosomes.

As Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said: "I know Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton."

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

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Comments

[LittleLiberal]

Well said, Phil. This choice, plus the timing of the announcement, shows to me that the Republicans are running scared and getting desperate. Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

[kellylark]

I agree. I am an ardent Hillary supporter (though I never threatened to vote for McCain, but maybe not vote at all) and I find this choice an outrageous insult. It is so wrong and so outrageous on so many levels that it has energized me to ACTIVELY support Obama, not just show up and vote for him.

To PumaAnn, it's time to tell you that you are just plain wrong now.

[progressiveinga]

Me too, kl. I supported Hillary through and through, and just sent my first donation to Obama/Biden. This choice is offensive. I would have had more respect for the GOP if they picked someone who was at least minimally qualified - still wouldn't have voted for McWalnuts, though. But Palin? I think He's really threatened by competence and experience and didn't want anyone to overshadow him. Gross.

[dadw5boys]

Mc Cain picked this dear woman because she has a disabled child !!!!!!!

Her being a woman was an after thought.

Too many other women he could have choosen.

Mc Cain is playing the SYMPATHY CARD !

A POW and a Lady with a Disabled Child.

Mc Cain is beyond contempt he is truely a sick man !!!!!!!!!

[BannedFromCommenting]

Do remember not voting at all is a vote for McCain.
Think about it. 3 voters.. 1 Obama 1 McCain, and you choose not to vote at all. Then what happens.
Rather than 1/3rd chance of McCain winning, its now closer to 1/2. thats a HUGE difference.

Though you say you will now vote... think about other Hillary supporters who said they would rather not vote.

If you dont vote, whats the point of being in this country at all? Go to a dictatorship! (Not saying this AT YOU specifically, just making a point)

WE HAVE TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE!! NOT TO IS AN INSULT TO ALL SUFFRAGISTS WHO FOUGHT HARD TO REGAIN OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.. (women could vote from 1776 till 1807, though by then it was narrowed to New Jersey state only)

[booksquire2]

Puma Ann,

We're sorry about your divorce. Truly. But we don't want to pay for it.

Democrats did nothing to disrespect Hillary. She lost by a very tiny margin and largely because of a very poorly organized campaign. She did not lose to a biracial man because she is a woman. Be serious. This country has no history of discriminating against women in favor of black men. Don't take my word for it, check around.

Please pull yourself together Puma Ann, and don't allow yourself to be duped into voting against everything I am sure you've ever believed in or stood for. Think about the Supreme Court. Think about healthcare, education. Think about war and how this country is tired of it. Think about our economy. We can't afford another term of Republican Error. Give us a chance Puma Ann. Give yourself one too.

Say it with me, PumaAnn, just like Hillary taught us: No McCain, No Way No HOW!!! (and no Pulin either)

Uou elect Barack-Biden and very likely we'll see lots of Hillary again. Hopefully even on the Supreme Court.

[protagonia]

PumaAnn is OC - Operation Chaos. Rush Limbaugh's traitorous scheme to disrupt our ability to honestly vote for whow we choose.

[bknott]

Maybe McCain has a direct line to PUMA headquarters, who are insisting that McCain will now win.

I have a feeling that PUMAs are loud, but few. I sincerely hope that the number of Democrats who are insane enough to vote for a candidate because his running mate has gender similarities to Clinton are small. Or they can thank themselves when McCain appoints another conservative justice to the Supreme Court. When Roe v Wade is overturned, I'll be blaming the PUMAs.

[UltraClassic]

McCain is about to beat the democrats at their own game. I see panic in the crowd.

[KillTheMessenger]

I see poorly executed trolling. You used to be better at this.

[protagonia]

Like the Luftwaffe at the end of WWII. My father said that his patrol would gather downed pilots and bring them in for processing. He told me they were just scared kids in adult flight suits. All the others had been shot down already.

He would give them chocolate and coffee while they spoke in broken English. They were glad it was over for them. They wanted to go to school and play soccer.

[jerrygordon]

Over lunch, I listened to about a dozen CSPAN callers, all men, talking about how this pick would bring disaffected Hillary supporters straight to John McCain. Each caller held the condescending belief that women held no actual political beliefs. They felt certain that abortion rights, universal health care, and a middle class first agenda would be tossed aside in favor of a gender based decision. The only thing I find sadder than their uneducated view is the fact that John McCain apparently agrees with them.

[roald]

Too bad for the Republicans that most women are not stupid.

[seanwhit]

I am a middle class white man who actually voted for Bush last time and this pick scares the hell out of me. The first obligation of a presidential candidate picking a running mate is to pick someone able to be commander and chief in thier absence. This has nothing to do with her gender but her utter lack of experience; at least Obama had the judgement to admit his lack of foreign experience and pick someone who could deal with a complex foreign agenda. Thanks for thinking of our future McCain! I hope America understands how irresponsible and dangerous this is.

[CaptainObvious]

"Which suggests that McCain has such a low opinion of women voters that they would overlook education, abortion, foreign policy, civil rights, health care, family leave and more simply to vote for a candidate with two x chromosomes."

Sadly, many of them will. Most Hillary supporters are true democrats and they have already given their support to Obama, even before the reich-wing propaganda machine tried to inject the "disgruntled Hillary supporter" narrative.

But sadly, some will not be able to get over their own bigotry, even though they know it would be for the greater good. Trying to convince these people that African-Americans and people of other races are our equals is like trying to convince them that God doesn't exist: it's just not going to happen. These are beliefs they are taught by their elders as children.

The selection of Palin gives these individuals an excuse not to vote for Obama, which they will cheerfully pick up and use to convince themselves that they're not bigoted.

[FullChat]

This is one of the stupidest decisions McCain has made.

The chance of McCain living for 8 more years isn't that good. He's 72, and five and a half years of that life has to be like dog years - he must be the equivalent of 107 by now! He's a cancer survivor. He is a very high energy person. His successor? President Palin?

President Biden? I can believe that.
President Palin? Doesn't have the same ring.

McCain just threw away his best attack - experience. If Palin passes the CinC test, Obama would ace it by comparison.

If he wants Hillary voters, I think he's misjudged them. Palin will mean less to them that Roe vs. Wade. The HillRaisers weren't in it for women - they were in it for Hillary Clinton. They will find out that Palin's policies are nothing like Hillary's - or Obamas, and come back into the Democratic fold by election time.

[Appalled]

OMG. Does he really think we're that dumb?

Yes, we'd love a woman president. A QUALIFIED woman president. This is truly appalling.

[Freesia2]

Oh it's clearly a move that shows he views women as sheep that can be herded. And some of them can - not the real Hillary supporters, but the PUMA types for McCain, who apparently never listened to a word Hillary actually said and aren't listening still.

Which may lead to a very bizarre scene. Who better to send out as a surrogate for Obama who can more or less dismantle Palin's credibility? Why Hillary Clinton of course. Which means that the PUMAs may have the discomforting experience of trying to bravely cheer for the woman on the ticket they support out of revenge - as she's being leveled by the woman they actually do admire. Enter the Twilight Zone.

I'll bring the popcorn.

[Df7702]

Thats a paradox for sure

[booksquire2]

Glad to see you get it Phil. Let's hope women do too. How do you think McCain's headline charge, that Barack is inexperienced and has no foreign policy experience balance with this pick? The possibility that McCain's health is seriously challenged over the next four years is a fairly high one. Is he saying that if something happens to him, this country should be comfortable with this young lady at its helm?

Every mayor of a major city oversees more than 680,000 people. Are they all qualified to be VP's too? I think McCain's choice is not only offensive to women but reckless and irresponsible to the American people. It's not about winning McCain. It's about truly being in a position to lead when you do. First you place yourself at a very dangerous age on the Republican ticket, then as your possible replacement you pick an inexperienced, relatively underaccomplished baby. If the Dems fall for this and hold the door open for the Reckless Repubs to enter the White House again...then they deserve everything they've got coming every year for four years thereafter...

[ceti]

Quoting Schultz, who has done her best to keep out progressive Democrats, is a stretch.

[ProgressivesSaveTheWorld]

mCcain picks Cruella De Vil ! How transparently ignorant. So much for his judgment. Maybe the repubs really do want a woman president.

[Jaid]

John McCain is desperate to feel like a celebrity! I wonder if he will introduce his VP selection as a C**t and a trollop?

[Freesia2]

Miss Buffalo Chip

[AshevilleVoice]

Can you say Geraldine Ferraro?

[Uju]

I can do better and say Geraldine Quayle.