I haven't yet blogged about Sarah Palin because, frankly, all the predictable things to say have been said. Some are decrying her lack of executive experience, foreign policy credentials, and are suggesting that her pick was little more than a naked ploy to win over disaffected Hillary supporters. Others think she is a "game changer", and a clever play to the evangelical base of the Republican party, themselves uncertain about McCain's fudamentalist credentials. These people adore her hard-line support of creationist teaching, the pro-life movement, and abstinence education in schools.
Well, life is a funny thing. Today, Palin announced that her 17 year old unmarried daughter Bristol is 5 months pregnant. Now let me be clear on this: I don't believe that the bedroom antics of Palin's daughter should be used as campaign fodder for political gain by anyone. But as an item of news released by Palin herself, Bristol's pregnancy should draw attention to the unquestionable absurdity and laughable folly of "abstinence-only education". In fact, a U.S. government report in 2007 supported the notion that abstinence-only sex ed just doesn't work.
By the by, Obama has already released a statement about this story, stating unequivocally that all candidates' children should be "off limits". Agreed.
8 comments:
Palin has multiple bizarre beliefs, including the idea that creationism should be taught in schools. You can quote all the reports you like about the ineffectiveness of abstinence-only sex ed, the causes of global warming etc., but it can't alter her opinions if she doesn't believe in science.
I don't think this revelation about her daughter will change the election much, nor should it. I am actually one the few liberal-minded people who think she was a very clever choice for McCain. Its difficult to find a candidate who will please the bible-thumping hardcore Republican base without scaring moderate voters. Palin seems to fit the bill. Democrats underestimate her at their peril.
Palin is a former member of the Alaska Independence Party, a secessionist organization. How can she plead allegiance to the American Flag? She is a TRAITRESS!!!!
MD - Well, the Republican's can't have everything their way. When Biden was selected, they said no-one really votes for the VP anyways, so Biden's wealth of experience doesn't count for much. Suddenly, they're not so nihilistic about Palin's contribution to the GOP ticket. She's a "game-changer". Funny how that works.
In any case, I don't think that Palin's ultra right wing agenda will stay hidden. She's been a nobody up to now, but her record will be subject to the bright light of a presidential campaign before long. So while she'll undoubtedly rally the right wing nutjobs, I'm not sure she'll do much to win over moderates. Any any left-over Hillary supporters who vote for the GOP just because of Palin will be demonstrating how truly shallow they are, as Palin stands for the very things Clinton was campaigning against.
Anon - To be honest, I think the whole concept of questioning a candidate's patriotism is abhorrent, and uniquely American. But isn't it curious how much attention was paid to Obama's "lapel-pin", and how he was viciously portrayed as un-American by the right wing blowhards (and abetted, I might add, by the mainstream media who perpetuated this ridiculous story)? I wonder if Palin's AIP association will be as unnecessarily scrutinized...
Well, it appears to me that Harper has ushered in a new era of questioning patriotism here in Canada.
So I don't think it is a unique US phenomenon any longer . . . sadly
Joseph - I guess I did forget about the Conservatives' accusations that the Liberals were siding with the Taliban. That was one of the many lowlights of the current government. I doubt, however, that even the Connies would have the balls to use that line of attack during a general election campaign. I could be wrong...
She's a bookburner as well....and frankly, a freak.
Nice cartoon actually. So my question is, why do american politicians get to have such hysterically funny scandals.
And why are Canadians so boring on these subjects?
Aurelia - It's a good question. I think the problem lies with American insistence that their politicians be "faith-based". The Republicans tend to be particularly adept at getting on their high horse and preaching about "family values", which makes it more of a spectacle when it eventually gets revealed that - surprise! - they're as human as the rest of us.
I'd also like to think that as Canadians, aside from not mixing religion and politics, we simply don't care as much about the personal shenanigans of our politicians...Maxime Bernier notwithstanding! :)
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