Spring Break
Leaders and mayors
Just because one gets paid doesn't make them more important
Lara Oliver
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: Opinion
Like many Americans these past two weeks, I've spent much of my time either hearing, seeing or watching Sarah Palin somewhere in the media. Whether it was Tina Fey's dead-on impersonation on Saturday Night Live, Palin's various "town hall" speeches or her interview with Charlie Gibson on ABC, it's pretty much "Palinmania" in America recently.
Much like a lot of America, I went "who?" when Palin was chosen as McCain's vice presidential pick for the 2008 election; so it seems this current over-saturation of all things Palin was necessary for us to get to know the candidate better.
Yet, in the midst of the current "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant that seems to be the qualification for vice president, what have we really gotten to know about Mrs. Palin?
I could go on for pages on how McCain's pick is a desperate attempt by an out-of-touch old man whose own "ditch-bed-ridden-wife-for-young-pretty-millionaire" marriage doesn't represent the family values his party preaches.
Or what about choosing Palin as a lazy maneuver to win over Clinton supporters who use the "I want a woman in the White House no matter what she supports" logic. I mean, Palin represents the very worst in bureaucracy and nepotism in politics.
I think I got a pretty good idea of Sarah Palin's character when she spoke at the Republican National Convention. Regarding Obama's much-lauded community service-- "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."
Now, disregarding the fact that Palin has a grand total of only one extra year in office compared to Obama, during which I'm sure she had many important meetings with the Russians next door, I really have to wonder why her speech-writers and indeed Mrs. Palin herself, would allow themselves to be seen as such "negative nancies" regarding community service.
This current election has been driven a lot by the need for change in the White House, a certain H-word I won't write because even I'm starting to get sick of it and the idea that the next person in office is going to have an atlas-sized responsibility on their back to help clean up America, and put us back in good favor with the rest of the world. Seems to me that if I were a Republican, the party that has overwhelmingly been in favor of hands-off government and communities taking care of themselves with the help of ... community organizers, I wouldn't insult a potentially large portion of supporters like that.
Much like a lot of America, I went "who?" when Palin was chosen as McCain's vice presidential pick for the 2008 election; so it seems this current over-saturation of all things Palin was necessary for us to get to know the candidate better.
Yet, in the midst of the current "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant that seems to be the qualification for vice president, what have we really gotten to know about Mrs. Palin?
I could go on for pages on how McCain's pick is a desperate attempt by an out-of-touch old man whose own "ditch-bed-ridden-wife-for-young-pretty-millionaire" marriage doesn't represent the family values his party preaches.
Or what about choosing Palin as a lazy maneuver to win over Clinton supporters who use the "I want a woman in the White House no matter what she supports" logic. I mean, Palin represents the very worst in bureaucracy and nepotism in politics.
I think I got a pretty good idea of Sarah Palin's character when she spoke at the Republican National Convention. Regarding Obama's much-lauded community service-- "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."
Now, disregarding the fact that Palin has a grand total of only one extra year in office compared to Obama, during which I'm sure she had many important meetings with the Russians next door, I really have to wonder why her speech-writers and indeed Mrs. Palin herself, would allow themselves to be seen as such "negative nancies" regarding community service.
This current election has been driven a lot by the need for change in the White House, a certain H-word I won't write because even I'm starting to get sick of it and the idea that the next person in office is going to have an atlas-sized responsibility on their back to help clean up America, and put us back in good favor with the rest of the world. Seems to me that if I were a Republican, the party that has overwhelmingly been in favor of hands-off government and communities taking care of themselves with the help of ... community organizers, I wouldn't insult a potentially large portion of supporters like that.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Edward
posted 9/19/08 @ 1:57 PM EST
Inspite of my reservations on Palin, the last sentence of the article made me think about the whole "Community Organizer vs Governor/Mayor" thing. Here are some points that Obama supporters tend to overlook or downright ignore. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 9/19/08 @ 3:37 PM EST
Opinion pieces are great especially when the writers don't bother to reasearch the piece before they spout off information. Did it flash by your mind to actually look to see if her comment was prehaps a response to the Obama campaign's attack on her experience. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 9/19/08 @ 3:47 PM EST
you know what's even more disgusting than your lack of honesty or drive in researching the matter... is your obvious sexism and yeah I will go so far as to say you are sexist. (Continued…)
no one
posted 9/19/08 @ 4:32 PM EST
I applaud your article Laura, I think it was great.
As for the person that posted above me, I dont think the writer is coming across saying that Obama does no wrong. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 9/19/08 @ 9:30 PM EST
I will say perhaps i was a bit harsh with the sexist statement that comes from the fact that i don't believe it would be the same had Governer Palin been a demcratic vp choice. (Continued…)
jimbo327
posted 9/22/08 @ 12:25 PM EST
Tale of the Tape: Sarah Palin vs. Barack Obama
Don't forget, by the way, that they're running for different positions
Sarah Palin (SP)
Barack Obama (BHO)
Office being sought
SP Vice President
BHO President of the United States and Leader of the Free World
Full name
SP Sarah Louise Heath Palin
BHO Barack Hussein Obama II
Nickname
SP Sarah Barracuda
BHO Barry Obama; "The One"
Public opinion
SP Smoking hot in a "naughty librarian" sort of way
BHO May be The Messiah
Age
SP 44
BHO 48
Children
SP 5: two sons, three daughters
BHO 2: two daughters
Religion/Church attendance
SP Evangelical Christian; attends Juneau Christian Center when in Juneau and grew up attending Wasilla Assembly of God
BHO Attended Trinity United Church of Christ for 20 years, a "black liberation theology" church formerly led by Rev. (Continued…)
Kyle
posted 9/22/08 @ 12:55 PM EST
Wait a second...isn't this the same person who said last semester that John McCain made the "infamous 'Byah!'"? What's that? Older white person? Probably John McCain. (Continued…)
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