The antithesis of a feminist candidate.

[icarus]

I break with most feminists on some key issues, but I'm still a feminist.

I've been baffled at the choice of Palin. Her experience consists of being mayor of a town of 9,000 and governor of a state that has fewer residents than many cities (at 670,000 Alaska's entire population is little more than the population of Seattle).

Obviously she's just on the ticket because she's a woman -- but why her?

I looked on Wikipedia and there are certainly female Republican senators. There's Kay Bailey Hutchison who according to Peggy Noonan (former speech writer for Reagan and conservative commentator) was one of the top contenders. There are women Republicans in the House. Palin is certainly a conservative, but as rabidfan mentioned, there are plenty conservative women out there. Yes, true.

They picked Palin for her looks, sure, because she's young. They want to get rid of the "old wrinkly guy" label McCain got saddled with among young voters after Paris Hilton's reply to his campaign ad ("then that old wrinkly guy used me in his campaign ad, so I guess I'm running for president!").

But I've come to the conclusion they picked Palin because of her lack of Washington experience: she's a symbol, a throwaway. After the election, she will be a total newbie, dependent on them for her political contacts.

They won't have to contend with a (Republican) woman with real power, with her own agenda, and her own constituency.

They want a woman they can put away in bubblewrap when the election is over.



ETA: Making Light is taking apart Palin's "community organizers" crack. Yeah, I bet she doesn't like the community organizers since they almost got her recalled by the city council for firing the librarian who refused to ban books as Palin wanted. Community organizers. Because heaven forfend that we have a democracy.

Comments

[titti]

Hutchinson would have been a great choice, but she said weeks ago that she wasn't interested in becoming VP and would not accept the nomination.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

According to Peggy Noonan, the Hutchison camp was disappointed at the choice. I think she probably has the inside scoop since the standard practice is to say, "Oh, no, I don't want it." A few weeks ago would have been about the time Hutchison was told that it wasn't going to be her. Palin also expressed doubt about the whole idea of being the VP nominee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=006axc2aELE).

[titti]

It could possibly be. I won't argue that, because I simply don't know either way. However, I think picking someone from TX would have been a bad tactical choice no matter how much I like her.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

mecurtin points out that Hutchison's pro-choice stance probably nixed her. I buy that.

But there are tons of experienced women in the House with strong pro-life voting records (Jean Schmidt, Marilyn Musgrave, Mary Bono Mack who has ten years of experience), so that alone doesn't explain Palin.