Posted by
hwalker on Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:06:58 PM
For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last week or so, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin will be accompianing John McCain on the 2008 republican ticket. The "Maverick" is back with a surprising move, and possibly his most brilliant move yet. Ms. Palin successfully reformed the notoriously corrupt Alaskan government, invited in big oil companies and in the same move levied a windfall tax, managed the Alaskan national guard, wooed the Alaskan frontier, birthed and raised five children, all without mussing her 'do. Not to mention she could still win a wet t-shirt contest hands down!
In spite of this tremendous resume, there are those who would poo-poo her lack of experience, question her ability to parent, investigate her ethical record and pin her with the term "cowboy." It is no coincidence that they all happen to be democrats.
It is true that Governor Palin has only held that title for two years. It is also true that previous political experience includes mayor of a small suburb of Achorage and time with the PTA. But, if there is anything this election has taught us, its that "experience" is no longer a badge of honor. "Experience" seems to be what got us into this mess in the first place. Inexperience, or distance from Washington politics, is the undergirding of Barrack Obama's success. John McCain ostensibly sealed his nomination through his reputation for bucking Washington politics. Either way, not having been corrupted by the status quo is the name of the game this election season. So Governor Palin's lack of "experience" is no detriment to her. To the contrary, it is part of her appeal. At least she has governed something, which is already more than the democratic nominee can say.
Palin's ability to parent has somehow come into the lime-light recently as well. She has a 17-year old daughter who is pregnant out of wed-lock. This not only reflects badly on the moral platform of the republican party, but also raises the question "where was Sarah when her daughter was having unprotected sex?" Let's be honest people: The moral plank in the republican platform has long been rotting. Palin's pregnant daughter can do no more damage to said plank post the Spitzer-hooker debacle in early May. Further, any one who has had a teenage daughter knows it does not matter how present the parent, the only way to keep the girl from doing exactly what she pleases is to send her to a nunnery. A child's actions only reflect on the parent to a certain degree. What Governor Palin should be held accountable for, however, is her response to her daughter's pregnancy.
Now, to address this "cowboy" business. Palin is the governor of Alaska. She hunts moose, for crying out loud. She appeals to the conservative christian base of the Republican party because she is adamantly pro-life and anti gay-marriage. Even so, one of her more brilliant acts as governor was to veto a bill banning the extension of benefits to partners of homosexuals. She levied taxes on big oil companies. Her record is not entirely perfect when it comes to aligning with the Republican party. What her actions are, consistantly, is good for the people of Alaska. Palin is a classic, small "r" republican. She believes in paticipatory democracy that directly reflects, and answers to, the voice of the people despite party affiliations. Classic republicanism values civic virtue, intense community ties, and strong families. George Bush, or the current in-house "cowboy" wouldn't know civic virtue if it left a flaming pile of caribou dung on his doorstep. So she hunts moose. Don't hold it against her as backwoods. Chalk it up to her being in tune with the people she represents as Governor of the Last Frontier.
Governor Palin's gender, lack of experience, youth and conservative christian values all shed light on why selecting her as a running mate was a brilliant political move on the part of the McCain camp. Her evident committment to the interests of the people of Alaska sheds light on why she would be excellent in the position.
And to those of you who are tempted to liken her to Dan Quayle, I say this: Dan Quayle never would have made as far as runner-up in a beauty pagent, in Alaska or any other state, so give it up!