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Sarah Palin. Governor of Alaska. 2008 Vice Presidental nominee. A virtual unknown thrust into the national spotlight.
I have come to the conclusion that the Palin popularity explosion will be short lived. From her speech at the convention, through her first campaign appearances, I have been throughly underwhelmed.
Why did McCain pick Palin? Going after disenfranchised Hillary Clinton supporters? Obviously.
Attempting to energize a listless Republican base? If anyone watched the convention, she had a positive effect on the delegates.
However, being a newcomer to the national stage did not stop her from engaging in attacks on Obama. In her position, I understand that she is supposed to be the "attack dog" on the ticket. Ridiculing Obama's past as a community organizer? Does she realize what a "community organizer actually does? If she lived in an urbanized area, with low employment rates, failing schools, and high crime rates, she would know that these organizers play an important role in the everyday lives of low income citizens that need all the help they can get. The attacks sound great to the conventioneers, but her speech was not inclusive of all Americans.
One of the beautiful things about America is the ability to state your opinion. Michelle Obama's "For the first time, I am proud of my country" statement has been a Republican rallying cry. Palin seized upon that by stating" I have always been proud to be an American". Oops! Did she pander to the "America, love it or leave it" crowd? I think so. However, as Americans, there have been many different cultures that have been assimilated into this"melting pot". Without giving a history lesson here, need I remind anyone of the history of Black people in the United States of America? Can anyone say, with a straight face, that Blacks have been treated on a par with other groups in this country? I think not. Therefore, the fact that her husband could become a presidential nominee in this country shows that there has been progress made. Not everything that has been said needs a response, but Palin sound bites will make for great TV ads.
Now, for the Republican double standard. Sarah Palin can toss verbal grenades anytime she wants. If the grenades are returned, what's going to happen? Will it be the gender card? Have we already heard that Joe Biden better be careful at the Vice Presidental debate? He will be accused of going after a woman, not Gov. Palin, the Vice Presidental candidate. Wow.
Family. I agree that candidates families, especially children, should be off limits. Saying that, when a 17 year old young lady becomes pregnant in the inner city, what is the response of most conservatives? Will anyone agree the responses won't be positive in nature? Did I see a group hug on stage with the Palin family at the convention? I'm not criticizing parenting skills, I'm only saying that some are looking at that situation with a sanitized point of view.
The media. Is Palin naive enough to think that the media is going to leave her alone? She was picked at the last possible moment by the McCain camp, and very little was known about her. Like it or not, the media is here to stay, and they have a job to do. She may have been vetted by McCain, but as a public figure, it is open season until the feeding frenzy has been satiated. If she has nothing to hide, all the stones should be overturned soon, and the frenzy will end.
Democrats have nothing to fear. Obama is running on the original platform of change. McCain has been countering what Obama has been doing by jumping on the change bandwagon. Palin is a Category 3 hurricane that will turn into a brief thunderstorm by November. You bring up Rev. Wright, I bring up Troopergate, Alaska style. By the way, in America, everyone is entitled to due process, even allegedly abusive Alaska State Troopers, that just happen to be the ex-brother in law of the current Governor of Alaska. Everyone can continue to throw mud, or we can finally get down to the issues and decide. Until next time.
JD
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