Sarah Palin: the mum who's running for vice president

The US media and blogosphere is calling Sarah Palin a "brilliant" pick for John McCain's running mate, yet it all smells a bit too cynical.

* Young - TICK

* Female - TICK

* A mum (of five) - TICK

* An outsider - TICK

* Hunts and shoots - TICK

* Against abortion and same-sex marriage - TICK

* Has mixed-race credentials (her husband is Yup-ik Eskimo) - TICK

She is less a running mate, more a collection of polling qualities.

The idea, naturally, is that she'll appeal to all those women who wanted Hillary Clinton, that she answers the Democrat's "change" agenda because of the reforms she's enacted in Alaska as governor. And as our School Gate blogger Sarah Ebner points out, her bios also say she's good at basketball; so the Democrats have their basketball player, the Republicans now have theirs.

Yet the most unappetising thing about her is that she shores up McCain's appeal to the religious right, because of her anti-abortion stance, and to its most reactionary supporters. "See, we're not sexist or racist," it telegraphs - "we have a WOMAN VP candidate who has an ethnic husband. See. See!"

It's no secret that the Republican party has gone from a party that advocates a small government that stays out of Americans' personal lives to a party that meddles only when it suits them - to enact tax breaks for the wealthiest, to chip away at abortion rights through any means available, to make sure that gays and lesbians know for darn sure that the government disapproves of who they are.

So far none of the coverage I've seen has remarked on the fact that she'll now be running for VP after having a baby with Down's Syndrome five months ago. I'm sure reputable commentators don't want to seem sexist by asking if you can help run the country with an infant, much less one with special needs, along with four other children. I'm certainly not intimating that. But I do think we're entering an era when we all recognise that there is no such thing as "having it all".

We all ooh and ahh over Nicola Horlick and her five children and superwoman career, but read an interview with her and you know that her day is only 24 hours long like everyone else's and something's gotta give somewhere.

You can anticipate what comes next in the media onslaught: the pictures of Sarah and children around the hearth, the heartfelt statements about always trying to be there to tuck them in, the cooing in magazines and newspaper that yes, she DOES do it. She's the mother who's always there and the capable legislator and the loving wife. She's everything to all people. At least the Republicans hope so.

Comments

[Harding Dies]

Most importantly she has more executive experience than either Biden or Obama, has more military experience - remember she's Commander-in-Chief of Alaska's National Guard, has actually worked for a living - as a commercial fisherman, and won contentious elections - Obama had his competition eliminated from the elections, when he didn't have the Chicago Democrat machine getting him elected. Remember, their motto is "Vote Early, Vote Often".

And appealing to a larger base of voters isn't bad, it's passing laws and regulations that pander to small minorities that's so wrong - but you in the UK know all about that with uncontrolled fear of anything that might 'offend' Muslims.

[Harding Dies]

Most importantly she has more executive experience than either Biden or Obama, has more military experience - remember she's Commander-in-Chief of Alaska's National Guard, has actually worked for a living - as a commercial fisherman, and won contentious elections - Obama had his competition eliminated from the elections, when he didn't have the Chicago Democrat machine getting him elected. Remember, their motto is "Vote Early, Vote Often".

And appealing to a larger base of voters isn't bad, it's passing laws and regulations that pander to small minorities that's so wrong - but you in the UK know all about that with uncontrolled fear of anything that might 'offend' Muslims.

[Brooke]

Yes, "a mother needs to rest after giving birth" and maybe pick up a little welfare, just to make sure she gets PLENTY of rest! The catty-ness is unbelievable!

[Esther]

Ooops....the URL didn't show so here it is
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/local_idiot_to_post_comment_on

[Esther]

Kevin Gets
Please click on the link..............you sound like you have a wonderful sense of humour!

[Ted]

Dear Author,

You are a complete idiot. Not a partial idiot, a complete idiot.

[Jo]

There is a lot of rubbish on this thread - why do we have to go into the fact she is/isn't attractive?. From what I have read about her and what people have said Palin seems like a good choice for the republican running mate and not just a load of ticked boxes, we shall see how she handles the next couple of months and then we will see how good/bad she is. However, I don't agree with any of her stances so I wouldn't vote for her and I hope Obama wins as I think he will be more likey to change America for the better. I do think that Howze was unfair to Palin in her article and the way it was written cam across as bitchy.

[David]

Well it certainly looks as though the US, once again, is going to get the president it really deserves.

[KM]

Love the Dan Quayle story, Kim.

David - you have just convinced me that we need as many pregnant women in power as possible. We have to do something to replace all those drunken men.

[EFG]

Hey Kim,
Yeah-- I guess the long-disproved theory of spontaneous generation should be put back in the science books. Yeah, that's REALLY intellectual. Let's get ourselves an empty box-- maybe if we shake it just the right way for long enough, Dawkins will come forth.

[Helen]

The Empress of Austria, Maria Therese, did rule a country while being pregnant. In the labour market, lots of women conjugate pregnandy and work. Pregnancy does not make women mentally incapacitated.

[Lucy]

?!!!!

Yes, nursing a baby is *exactly* the same as being drunk, David...

[David]

Dear Mr, Mrs or MS Mikko Takala

I have no bias against women at all. I was making the point that you might, actually, realistically end up with a heavily pregnant president, or even a nursing mother. DO you honestly think this is a great idea?

I really don't, but that doesn't mean I hate women. I wouldn't give the job to a drunk man (but you did that several times already, so, nuff said)

[Kim]

I am inevitably reminded of the speech Dan Quayle used to make whenever anyone questioned his lack of experience, which was to compare himself to John Kennedy and his lack of experience. Right up to the point where Lloyd Bentsen did his famous, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy" riposte.

Anyway, where was I? I don't really care about the lack of experience - I imagine most of the presidential work is carried out by advisers - though I thought it was hilarious that among her list of achievements, someone here said "drives her own car". Oh dear. Bit desperate, isn't it?

I can only assume that Palin was chosen by McCain to attract those Clinton voters who don't like Obama, especially those stupid enough to vote for a woman just because she's a woman. We had a few of those in 1979, and look where that got us.

The whole presidential race is a circus, and it's just a question of hoping they'll elect the least worst candidate, ie Obama, though, given the level of argument displayed here, I don't suppose they will. (The idea that an Ivy League graduate can believe in creationism should demonstrate exactly how much an Ivy League degree is worth these days.)

[LM]

Hi KM (waves across the internet) -

I was more of a McCain fan before he became a turncoat on oil drilling, though I've never agreed with his Iraq policy (though, having said that, I have to admit the surge worked).

The problem is these issues get so polarised that one isn't allowed a rational, intelligent debate (especially the abortion debate, especially in the US).

There are things I like about Palin and things I understand/respect about her views/lifestyle (having lived so close to the rural American West for so long has given me far more understanding about why Americans value guns, for instance & if I lived in Alaska, I'd want a shotgun too) but ultimately if I had a vote, I'd go for Obama - I respect his intellect and think he has a better chance of initiating change than McCain (and his environmental policy, which is hugely important to me, is more in line with my opinions).

[LM]

Hi KM (waves across the internet) -

I was more of a McCain fan before he became a turncoat on oil drilling, though I've never agreed with his Iraq policy (though, having said that, I have to admit the surge worked).

The problem is these issues get so polarised that one isn't allowed a rational, intelligent debate (especially the abortion debate, especially in the US).

There are things I like about Palin and things I understand/respect about her views/lifestyle (having lived so close to the rural American West for so long has given me far more understanding about why Americans value guns, for instance & if I lived in Alaska, I'd want a shotgun too) but ultimately if I had a vote, I'd go for Obama - I respect his intellect and think he has a better chance of initiating change than McCain (and his environmental policy, which is hugely important to me, is more in line with my opinions).

[David Vinter]

I notice that the majority of those attacking Sarah with great venom very rarely have the courage to sign their names. They seem to have little understanding of the great size and importance of rural America-[ it feeds vast quantities of humans that otherwise would die]. You cannot make any kind of comparison with the UK voting system. After all Margaret Thatcher was a small town girl, and she saw off those Argie generals.

[Mikko Takala]

Madjid, you attack Israel too easily: name me one single democratic Arab state - apart from Iraq, which we soft hearted westerners are working on very hard on your behalf?

No there isn't one so don’t waste your Wikipedia account looking. Face it: Arab nations lost their "occupied territories" to Israel because they picked a fight that they didn't have the guts to finish. So why should Israel give the land back it won back to them? I don't hear the likes of you demanding that Russia hands back Karelia to Finland - and the Finns, unlike the Arabs, didn't start that war; Russia just stole it from them.

I'd give every weapon and muscle to Israel and urge them to sort out the Iranian nuclear nonsense sooner rather than later by bombing the illegal facilities into the ground and if they need a hand we should be by their democratic side - fully armed and with all our nuclear weapons as necessary.

[Ms L Nolland]

I am thrilled at McCain's choice! If the labels were swapped and Palin was Obama's choice, the commentary above would be hugely different. We would be spared at least some of the petty, narrow-minded 'difficulties' which abound above.

How about a bit of honesty at least?

I for one will be voting for this capable feminist politician who also happens to be pro-life and a mother. And for the historical record, all the early feminists were pro-life as well.

[Mikko Takala]

My God. Even in this blog the twisted liberals come out attacking Sarah Palin because "she might get pregnant again and be in charge of the US". Imagine if the GOP had dared say such a thing about a female Democrat contender. You can just here them chanting about "sexism and bigotry". As always the Democrats are muddled and lost - just like the British Labour party.

[ernie]

Lucy (But Jennifer, oh dear, Jennifer, why would you criticise someone for working with a disabled baby?)

This will probably become a big issue in the next few weeks. There are those who prefer the child to be killed rather than allowed to live. Perhaps Ms Howse is one of these ? But to be fair to her, she was obviously so upset when she wrote this piece that she may well have occasion to regret her outburst in the years to come.

Mrs Palin is a magnificent choice, IMNSHO.

God bless America.

Ernie

PD : Nicole - “When did it become immoral to have morals ?”
Precisely, that is the real problem for the Democrats it seems.

[David]

You all realise don't you that Ms Palin may not be finished having babies, and if Mr McCain were to er, pass on (which is not above the realms of possibility for a man his age and health) We could be faced with the possibility of a heavily pregnant woman with no foreign policy experience, leading the free world. I hope she just doesn't go into labour at an inconvenient time or get post-natal depression

[KM]

Well spotted, LM, it wasn't me.

I am sort of hovering somewhere between "Obama was nice until he was successful and now he's cheesy" and "McCain would be all right if we had to have a republican I suppose."

I'm fascinated by what the Palin choice will do to the race.

[Mikko Takala]

Looks like the Democrats have a big fight on their hands. I wouldn't bet against a big McCain win with this lady winning in 2016.

[LM]

Is the KM who posted here the one who usually posts on AM? Didn't sound like her, so I wanted to ask.