Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[planet planet]

I would be highly insulted if I were a Hillary supporter by the insinuation that somehow adding Palin to the ticket would garner my vote. Actually, I'm insulted even though I'm not a Hillary supporter.

[Radbird]

I would be highly insulted if I were a Hillary supporter by the insinuation that somehow adding Palin to the ticket would garner my vote. Actually, I'm insulted even though I'm not a Hillary supporter.

My wife and sisters all feel the same way. Not as Hillary supporters, but as women - they are turned off by what they consider an obvious attempt by the Republicans to steal some female votes from the Dems.

[UK]

I would be highly insulted if I were a Hillary supporter by the insinuation that somehow adding Palin to the ticket would garner my vote. Actually, I'm insulted even though I'm not a Hillary supporter.

I'm surprised the media has not pressed this issue as obviously with the poss. tragedy in the Gulf, I can understand, but we'll wait and see.

I'm biased, but I can't see how her being selected isn't insulting towards women.

I do have a question, if McCain selected a more qualified woman (which he should've done, IMO), would you still feel insulted?

[BW23]

I still don't buy that Palin was chosen to steal Hillary votes. Those two couldn't be more different. I mean, if you were for Hillary, you were probably for what she stood for, not that she was a woman. And if you were for what she stood for, then you won't like Palin.

[ghostrunner]

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, says McCain's choice of a running mate speaks volumes about his decision-making ability. "He has chosen somebody who has zero, zero experience in foreign policy. I mean, I am sure [Palin] is a terrific person. I am not attacking her. I think John McCain's judgment is once again put at issue because he has chosen somebody who clearly does not meet the national security threshold, who is not ready to be president tomorrow," he said.

McCain better get out in front of this. I can't believe anyone gives this argument the time of day. I'm not saying Palin's "qualified," but Obama has virtually nothing on her in this area, and he'll be President from day one. Voting on some bills relating to foreign policy doesn't do a whole lot for me. I think he'll do fine, but his resume is thin.

In all fairness, the argument's being made because it can be--she's largely unknown to the wider public, although she evidently had been on the radar screen of Republican activists such as Ross Douthat at The Atlantic. I think Obama has acquitted himself well in public, and in overseeing his campaign--Palin will have to do the same. She'll have to get up to speed in a hurry.

One more thing: note that the Palin pick is presented as a reflection on McCain's judgment.

That's fair. But had McCain chosen say, Mitt Romney, Obama's people can also go forward with the out of touch party of billionaires angle. Also, choosing Palin got McCain a lot of press (and discussion here) the day after Obama's convention speech. Her "unknownness" is an asset of sorts, unless there's some embarrassing stuff to be uncovered.

Therefore, I don't think it's just about picking up Hillary voters. I find it odd that choosing a female running mate is somehow insulting to women. Seems like it should be considered a good thing no matter the motivation. Did people fault Mondale for doing it?

[planet planet]

I do have a question, if McCain selected a more qualified woman (which he should've done, IMO), would you still feel insulted?

Absolutely not. I have no problem with picking a VP candidate who would shore up a demographic. It's only insulting when it insinuates Hillary supporters were solely backing her due to her gender. If being a female is that important that it would dictate how you cast your ballot, you'd think you would have feminist leanings. Sarah Palin is no feminist.

Edit: Ghost, it has nothing to do with her being a woman and everything to do with her politics. Sure, most females would like to see a female president sooner than later, but choosing the best candidate trumps that for me.

[UK]

I find it odd that choosing a female running mate is somehow insulting to women. Seems like it should be considered a good thing no matter the motivation.

It's basically saying that women are shallow by being unable to look at a candidate beyond her gender and not intelligent to think for themselves, this doesn't apply to the woman that share Palin's views (who would've likely voted conservative regardless). With the campaign strategy as far driving a wedge between Clinton supporters and Obama as well as last Friday's announcement and her speech, it appears to me at least, that she's there b/c she is a woman.

[UK]

I do have a question, if McCain selected a more qualified woman (which he should've done, IMO), would you still feel insulted?

Absolutely not. I have no problem with picking a VP candidate who would shore up a demographic. It's only insulting when it insinuates Hillary supporters were solely backing her due to her gender. If being a female is that important that it would dictate how you cast your ballot, you'd think you would have feminist leanings. Sarah Palin is no feminist.

Agreed and as a sidenote, it does put Hillary in an interesting position as far as whether or not to address it. The safest route would not to address it all, the safer route would be to say, "Palin does not have the voting to suggest she is for equality towards women", the least safe to say would be to say, "it's an insult to suggest that the 18 million who supported me only did b/c of my gender!".

I'm hoping for the least safe b/c it does deserve further questioning but I think she'll just be critical of Palin based on her experience and beliefs and leave it at that.

[ghostrunner]

Okay, but given her extremely wide support amongst conservatives, I think there is more at play than the fact that she's a woman. From what I'm reading, conservatives universally find her to be a breath of fresh air and perhaps more honorable than some of the current leadership and those who were running in the primaries. In choosing her, I think McCain gets some conservative voters off the couch, if not Democrats from the other side. Every conservative radio show host that had been giving him crap the last few months seems to be on board and pushing the ticket now.

[planet planet]

On another note, is it possible for the Republican party to now take on the mantra of change? This is also what the Palin nomination was supposed to do. The most compelling thing the Dems could leverage to encourage high voter turnout (which would only benefite the Dems) is the similar political leanings of McCain to the Bush administration. I think the GOP felt they were losing on this issue of change, so they decided if you can't beat them, join them.