There is plenty to criticize in Palin without even MENTIONING her gender

[ruggerson]

Total lack of experience.

Ethics issues.

Way to the right of the American mainstream on a whole host of issues.

Not ready for prime time.

Sure, you can focus on the gender aspect and dissect how insulting this is to women, but it's a two edged sword than can end up cutting you severely.

Far better to criticize her in a completely gender neutral fashion.

[tekisui]

1. She is Big Oil.

[XemaSab]

2. Word

n/t

[JCMach1]

3. Gender was PRECISELY the reason they picked her...

The pick reeks of tokenism.

[Solon]

7. Of course it does, but the fact of the matter is that we shouldn't be acting like freepers...

when criticizing her. Why stoop to that level?

[Egnever]

11. Because its her reason for being on the ticket

For christs sakes you act like its the only thing we are atacking her for. Its one of many.

[Solon]

15. OK, so I guess, when it comes to certain things...

there is no difference between freepers and DUers. I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed. There are plenty of things to criticize Palin on that doesn't involve attacking her based on her gender or whether she's a good mom or not. Frankly I find all this to be just a bunch of bullshit, attack her on her lack of experience, her horrible record on the environment, on choice, etc. but for fuck's sake, leave your sexist tendencies hidden, so the rest of us are spared from that bullshit.

[JCMach1]

19. Solon, it was legitimate when the media questioned Edwards

about Elizabeth's illness and his plans to run. The same is true here.

What is not welcome is putting that argument into truly sexist terms that some have done today.

It is legitimate to question her commitment to her family over this. And yes, maybe she can give a proper answer. She should most definitely be asked, regardless and that's not sexist.

What is even more disturbing is that they have nominated a global warming denier, a lady who never saw an oil well she didn't like, and a creationist, knuckle-dragging, member of the Talibornagain. She even tipped her hat to the fundies with the use of the term 'servant' in her speech today. She didn't mean servant of the people. She was referring to the fact that God would guide her as a politician. So yes, she scares the hell out of me at many levels.

[Solon]

20. I didn't find the questions about Edwards legitimate either...

Bullshit is bullshit, period. I don't tolerate it, especially when its simply a thin cover over someone's woman hating tendencies. I frankly find all those posters to be disgusting misogynistic assholes.

[JCMach1]

21. There was the same tone here in the primaries... it shouldn't be such a shock

...sigh...

[Solon]

22. Its not a shock, but I won't ignore it either...

DU is full of all sorts of people, people who are sexist, racist, homophobic, etc. and I call them all out, none of them belong here, period, if they can't stop with this bullshit, they should leave the board and go somewhere else where such posts are tolerated more.

[JCMach1]

24. One of the reasons I skipped most of the primaries here...

however, I understand the urge to call out someone who is anti-planet, anti-woman, anti-gay, and who knows what else (seeing as how no one bothered to properly investigate her)... she is disgusting and 100% against almost everything I believe

Now I am just cringing, but in a few days there may even be a few expletives around my house when she gives her speech. However, for the sake of my daughters I won't use the B word! :)

[Solon]

25. See, that's exactly the thing, its perfectly valid to call her out on all of those...

But for crying out loud, there's a thread right now that's questioning her choice to have a child at her age, and there were a few others questioning why she isn't a stay at home mother. In the first thread mentioned, most DUers seem to think it has gone way to far, in the other, earlier threads, however, it seems too many of them have a 1950s mentality.

[JCMach1]

26. Her hypocrisy is palpable and that's fresh blood to the political masses.

We live in a crude age...

[Solon]

28. Yes, but it doesn't help when DUers are acting like hypocrites themselves...

That's the problem, you can call out Palin's hypocrisy stating on the issues, without looking like an asshole in the process. That's all that's needed.

[JCMach1]

29. All that said, today was an enjoyable day!

I saw the replay of Obama's speech (live was too early for me). I absolutely burst out laughing when I heard who McCain had picked. And, watching an interview with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison as she tried explain McCAin's pick and deal with the royal diss she had been handed was priceless.

Even DUer's making royal patooties out of themselves couldn't spoil that. Besides, it's my freakin' weekend!

Also, was good to see my old friend Solon again :bounce:

[Solon]

31. Yeah, it is pretty good...

Generally speaking, I find McCain's pick to be mystifying for him but a bonus for Obama, couldn't have picked a more idiotic choice as a running mate. I think, possibly he may have thrown the election. Eh screw this, I think I'll just watch Iron Man and stay off DU for a while.

Good to see you too! I've been avoiding GD: P for a while now, for good reason it seems. :hi:

[cliffordu]

35. sexist SEXIST sexist

sexist SEXsexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST IST sexistsexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST SEXIST sexsexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST ist SEXISTsexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST sexist SEXIST


AD INFINITUM.

[TheDonkey]

33. HUH??????

how is saying it is insulting to women and all Americans by hihglighting the fact that McCain's selection of her was a highly political gimmick. THAT IS REALITY. HE AND THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

[Solon]

36. Of course she's a token, and there's no problem in pointing that out...

and McCain has insulted women because of his choice, however, that is not what I'm objecting to. I wasn't talking about that.

[Tempest]

4. Check out this web site, there's a lot of scandal involving her

http://www.andrewhalcro.com

[Solon]

5. Exactly, no need to get personal at all...

Her policy positions alone are enough for me to think she shouldn't be Vice-President, why people feel the need to question her because of her gender is something I will never understand.

[Egnever]

6. fuck that she was chosen for her gender

what a bunch of wusses

[JCMach1]

8. Exactly right...

[Overseas]

9. A cute fundie guy with Alaska only experience would be scary too. //nt

[C_U_L8R]

10. I think we've said all that can be said about Palin

Lets talk about last night

[BeyondGeography]

12. Blame McCain, he made the choice based on gender

[Blaukraut]

13. She was picked BECAUSE of her gender, so we need to

address that. I agree that she can be attacked freely on all the issues, but it also needs to be pointed out what an insult it is to all women to choose someone solely on the basis of two X chromosomes, yet otherwise clearly unqualified, in an attempt to cull the female Hillary voters.

[bigwillq]

14. Agree, however she was only picked

because she was a woman. She is being exploited by her own party. I hope American's do not fall for this.

[Stern21]

16. True. We also have a reason to question McCain on his decision-making

capabilities. There is no way in hell this woman ought to be in line for the Presidency. A small-town mayor-beauty queen-2 year governor? Thanks, but no thanks, John.

[ruggerson]

17. Agreed

her total lack of experience is what should be attacked.

She makes Dan Quayle look like a wise old codger.

[kestrel91316]

18. She is fundamentally unqualified, and wrong on ALL the issues.

She thinks that because the is a former beauty queen, former TV sportscaster, former mayor of a fishing village, and a hockey mom to 5 kids, people are gonna be SO dazzled they won't notice.

Perhaps the Republicans will be so busy checkin' out her bustline they won't notice, but you and I will and have.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

23. No one is criticizing Palin's gender.

I haven't read any posts that condemn Palin for being a woman.

What I've seen here is not criticism of Palin, but instead it's criticism of John McCain for playing the gender card and for cynically exploiting the fact that she's female just to try to get votes. Does anyone think John McCain chose Palin because he wants to advance a feminist agenda? McCain has played the POW card and now he's playing the gender card. His campaign is all symbol and no substance.

[ruggerson]

37. I guess you missed

"fuck that, break the bitch" and "slut" etc.

McCain's pick of this person is an insult to ALL of us, men and women, because she is totally devoid of qualifications to serve one heartbeat away from the presidency.

Of course McCain threw a hail mary pass, and she got the gig because he needed to shake things up. But that is so evident, we don't need to drill it into people's heads. And harping on her gender can backfire.

Better, imho, to ridicule him for finding a Veep even worse and less qualified than Dan Quayle.

I assure there will be some extremely embarrassing moments for the McCain campaign in the next few months because of this.

She is bound to blunder and make outrageous gaffes, because she is brand new to the national spotlight and the press will soon make it a point to play "Gotcha Sarah," right after the novely factor subsides.

[nam78_two]

27. She has a horrible environmental record even by Repuke standards.nt

[RamboLiberal]

30. Giggled while radio host called opponent "cancer" and "bitch"

H'mm no wonder McSame chose her. Remember when he stood there and said nothing at a town hall when a questioner asked how to "defeat the bitch"?

The most likely outcome is that the investigation will show that her administration - largely dominated by fellow Wasillans, as well as her husband who is known to give the long stare to those who criticise her - has been incompetent, and Palin's snarky side will emerge.

Palin may use words like "golly" and phrases like, "bless your heart", but she can be tough on her adversaries, of whom she has a few here. She giggled loudly on air when the hosts of a local radio talkshow called one of those adversaries - state Senate president Lyda Green - a "cancer" and a "bitch". Green is a cancer survivor.

In an email, she also called another one of her enemies, Andrew Halcro, who ran against her in 2006, a "dumbass".

Once again, small stuff, and those of you in the Lower 48 and the rest of the world will likely think so, too. But it's taken some of the shine off of Palin's veneer here in Alaska. For an outsider with such little experience, running with a 72-year-old man who has had cancer, Palin will need to shine more brightly than the northern star.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/29/johnmccain.uselections2008

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. Did McCain pick her for any good reason?

Besides her gender?

[Kool Kitty]

34. C'mon-

you know he chose her for her VAST foreign policy experience.

[yardwork]

38. As a woman I am totally insulted that McCain thinks any muff will do.

McCain is sexist. I'm pointing it out. And will continue to do so.

I'm really ticked off about this. Don't underestimate the anger many women feel today. I mean ANGER.

[ruggerson]

40. McCain disrespected women long before this

and you have every right to be angry.

But the Democratic leadership would do well to focus on how unqualified she is rather than emphasize the tokenism.

[BlueIdaho]

39. Amen!

This person will make the rabid right happy - but that's about the end of it.