Well, for the longest time we have been hearing a lot about McCain’s vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin. The press has been making a big deal about how McCain picked a woman and how much of a maverick they both are. WOO HOO!
Now I live in San Antonio, which is *clap,clap,clap,clap* deep in the heart of Texas, so I have had the great misfortune to hear lots of Republican voters remark about the Vice Presidential pick, first hand. The people I have heard from have ranged from young adult to elderly and from those who only have a High School education to those with Medical Degrees so I got a pretty decent span of age and intelligence in the mix. So here is what I heard from them about Palin:
‘I bet Obama is spitting nails now’ or some variation thereof
‘Do you think she was picked cause she is a woman?’
‘It’s amazing how McCain picked a woman and Obama didn’t’
etc.
Does anyone see a theme here?
Recently, Someone posted that she was disgusted with how the press was mostly posting on how she is a woman. Well, it’s her blog so I was kind. Now I am writing, and here is exactly the answer to her question.
The Press repeatedly reports about Sarah Palin being a woman because that is, by far, the greatest strength she is bringing to the table as a Vice Presidential Nominee!
I mean, what else is she bringing? Education or Experience? That is a big no!
Lets compare educations! First I will compare McCain’s and Obama’s education.
McCain graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He apparently graduated at a low standing despite being more intelligent than most of the students because he would be at odds with his superiors. He also has a lot of real world experience, including an excellent Navy career and quite a few senatorial terms under his belt.
Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School with a J.D. and taught constitutional law for twelve years. He was also a community organizer for three years while he was in college. He also has been a junior U.S. senator for 2 years and a Illinois senator for some years.
Since the lives of those two candidates are so different, and there is a lot to speak of for both of them I will not say that one wins hands down in the education department. My personal opinion is that Obama has an edge, especially when you consider what he studied and learned to prime him to become the President of the U.S. Call me crazy, but I really like the idea of a president who is an expert on constitutional law
Ok, now shall we compare Biden and Palin’s education?
Biden has a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, and over 30 Years as a US Senator.
Palin has a B.S. in Communication-Journalism from the University of Idaho, 8 years as a mayor and 1+ years as governor of Alaska.
Ok, so clearly it’s not her education or her experience.
What about issues? Perhaps her support in certain issues?
Well, she up until recently has professed that people were not significantly responsible for global environmental changes. In direct contrast to McCain, who actually does support that humans are a significant part of global warming.
She also wants to drill in Alaska, again which McCain does not support.
She also thinks that ‘abstinence-only’ programs are the way to combat teenage pregnancy. Both John and Cindy McCain have gone on record as saying that they do not agree.
Now, I am sure that there are issues that McCain and Palin do agree on, but clearly there is a lot of division in the Republican camp! So I doubt that her stance on issues were the reason that she was picked by McCain.
So that leaves her gender. Yep, that is easily the greatest asset she brings to the table as far as being the Vice Presidential nominee. Which is sort of sad really. Of course I don’t blame Palin. Just about any politician who is presented with this opportunity would accept it, even if they think they are unqualified. It’s just too good to pass up! The one to blame is McCain! He is the one who picked a ‘Hockey Mom’ instead of someone who is qualified to do the job, and for the express purpose of using her to get votes then hiding her!
Shame on you, John McCain!

Shelfari