Presidential Hopefuls: August 2008 Archives

Since I posted the information distributed by the John McCain campaign that contained quotations from women who support the selection, I thought it would be good to also post some other women's reactions.

Dr. Andrea McGuire, former candidate for lieutenant governor:

Hillary Clinton's Iowa co-chair, Dr. Andrea McGuire didn't know who Palin was, but she wasn't alone. Though she's on board with Barack Obama, McGuire's curiosity had her "Googling" like a Republican.

"I applaud them for increasing the amount of women running for vice president, but that's about all I can do," McGuire said.

McGuire says her excitement faded when she realized Palin holds the same values as John McCain. ...

"It's great that she's a lot like me. Has a kid and is a mom and wife, but that's not who we vote for when we vote for president and vice president. We vote for the person who'll do the best for the country," McGuire said.

Quotes courtesy WHO-TV via MSNBC. McGuire supported Sen. Hillary Clinton during the Iowa caucus.

Kim Gandy, chair of the National Organization for Women's PAC:

"Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest...

"What McCain does not understand is that women supported Hillary Clinton not just because she was a woman, but because she was a champion on their issues. They will surely not find Sarah Palin to be an advocate for women.

"Finally, as the chair of NOW's Political Action Committee, I am frequently asked whether NOW supports women candidates just because they are women. This gives me an opportunity to once again answer that question with an emphatic 'No.' We recognize the importance of having women's rights supporters at every level but, like Sarah Palin, not every woman supports women's rights."

Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List:

"How ironic that, on his 72nd birthday, McCain has raised the question of whether his running mate is prepared to be Commander in Chief and lead the country. Governor Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe V. Wade, they both want to continue the failed economic policies of the Bush administration and they both offer more of the same that has led this country down the wrong path. McCain clearly sees the power of women voters in this election but has just as clearly failed to support any of the issues that they care about. His choice for vice president only reinforces that failure."

The following three statements from Iowa Republican women were distributed by Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign in conjunction with the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Mary Kramer, former ambassador to Barbados and the eastern Caribbean and former president of the Iowa Senate:

"Governor Palin has always answered the call to serve, and done so for the right reasons. She has demonstrated executive leadership in every office she's held and actually has a record of getting results to back it up."

Sandy Greiner, retiring member of the Iowa House of Representatives:

"Women who have been in politics a lot longer than I were fixed to televisions and moved to tears upon seeing that Governor Palin had been chosen to be our vice presidential nominee. The excitement here is incredible and it is because her selection signifies real change for the Republican Party and for the United States."

Carmine Boal, retiring member of the Iowa House of Representatives:

"Governor Palin is known as a maverick in her own right and is a perfect fit to help lead the real campaign for change in Washington. In her home state of Alaska, she has battled corruption, stood up to lobbyists, even turned away pork spending from Congress. Governor Palin is the best choice to help Senator McCain fight the same old politics that have divided our nation."

During the Iowa caucuses, Boal supported Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee while Greiner supported former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson. I'm not sure if Kramer made an endorsement during the caucuses.

For the past 18 months the nation has had opportunity to discuss and confront a myriad of issues: Infrastructure deficiencies, the Iraq war, treatment of veterans, energy independence, government corruption, the continued conflict in Afghanistan, education, the national deficit, immigration, health care and, yes, even society's perception of race and gender. Conversations on these topics, however vital they may be to the nation, do not easily lend themselves to the marketing jargon and quick quips that have become the hallmarks of today's Republican Party.

It should come as no surprise then, when even the most staunch within the GOP are finding it difficult to be inspired by the party's candidate for our nation's highest office, that Arizona Sen. John McCain would reach out and tap an individual with a personal story loud enough to drown out the collapse of interstate bridges.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a former beauty queen, sports journalist, city councilor and mayor, is the mother of five children. She has three daughters: Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, and Piper, 7. She also has two sons. Her eldest son, Track, joined the Army last fall. Her youngest son, Trig, was born this past April and has Down Syndrome.

As Iowans saw when Rep. Janet Petersen took time off this spring to give birth to her son, conservatives aren't always tickled when a female public servant takes time away from her duties to give birth. In Palin's case, however, there was a reason to celebrate the otherwise termed "dereliction of duty." While speaking with Michael Baggot of LifeSiteNews.com, Palin described her newborn as a "gift."

"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

I've no doubt she and her entire family have been and will be blessed by their new member. I've also no doubt that her choice to carry this child to term played heavily in the vice-presidential selection process -- something that saddens me and should sadden us all.

Standing alone McCain had little hope of winning the emotional support and excitement of social conservatives. Standing with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, McCain's own short-comings would have been highlighted. While Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty definitely brought a strong anti-abortion stance to the ticket, but he, like McCain, lacked the ability to pull the heart strings of social conservatives and make them want to support McCain. Palin, as a woman with a compelling personal story, can provide McCain what no other individual could. Even at the cost of lowering the national conversation once again into divisive politics... even while publicly proclaiming his desire for armed conflict to continue for 100 years... McCain has gladly and gleefully grasped Palin's "pro-life" credentials as a last resort to motivate the previous supporters of Pres. George W. Bush to head to the polls in November.

Looking past November and at Palin's record in relation to government corruption, however, it's difficult to know the role she will play if she and McCain meet with success in the general election. In many ways, she is the true maverick, having bucked Alaska GOP leaders to take on incumbent and fellow Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski in a heated primary. Then rising above the monetary to defeat former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in the general election to become not only Alaska's first female governor, but the youngest governor in the state's history.

She has built her administration on the foundation of old-time GOP values such as fiscal responsibility and limited government. While Republicans in the beltway have dived further under the covers with their big oil partners, her administration is noted for seeking independence from such interests. While Republicans in the beltway are linked to lobbyists like Jack Abramoff, Palin sold a jet purchased on a state government credit account on eBay for $2.7 million.

Although she is currently embroiled in a legislative probe as to whether she abused the power of her gubernatorial office -- a probe not expected to be completed until after the November general election, it's worth noting that McCain, in his lust to entice social conservatives, may have neglected to consider the ramifications of bringing someone so well known for unearthing government corruption into a White House so recently vacated by the Bush administration.

This article is also cross-posted on Iowa Independent.