sarah palin

I know that there are many people out there rejoicing at McCain's decision to tap Sarah Palin as VP. So let me say up front: I am not one of them. I think that it is pandering of the worst kind. There are many, many qualified pro-life Republic women out there. She isn't one of them. A rising star? Possibly. Someone I would be comfortable seeing lead the United States should a 72 year-old cancer survivor die in office? Definitely not.

I am happy to see a woman on the ticket-- just as I am thrilled to see racial diversity. New narratives are important. That said, I am not voting on narratives. I am voting on issues, voting on directions. I am voting on the nation I see before me and the one I hope to see in four years. That the McCain campaign seems to truly believe that I would pick a pretty working mom because she reminds me of my own struggles or of my mother's balancing acts just proves how much he underestimates women. Might it work? I don't know. Whether it works or not, I find this particular choice insulting. On Thursday, I saw the best of American politics, today I believe that I am seeing the worst.

Reports that John McCain met Gov. Palin only once before offering her the post further fuel my disappointment in this pick. Hey, let's put a woman in there. Doesn't really matter which one. The voters will never notice that she is an anti-choice, anti-LGBT, anti-environmentalist former (very) small town mayor with 20 months of real experience. Don't worry, they'll be so overwhelmed by her winning smile that they'll forget that she is in the middle of her own ethics scandals. National security? Ha. Economic and healthcare solutions? Ha. Foreign policy? Ha. But look at those cute kids and the hunky 'First Dude.' Now that's what's really important.

Hey John, I don't vote for a candidate based on her anatomy.