What's A Security Mom To Do?
DENVER -- In selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain makes plain that he'll attempt to pluck disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters -- and, more broadly, swing voting women -- from the clutches of the Democratic Party.
But Palin's appeal to this block is questionable. She's strongly pro life and pro gun, backs the teaching of creationism in public schools to boot, and she hasn't a lick of foreign policy experience.
So what's a 'security mom' to do?
A Pew Center for the People and the Press survey released last month shows Barack Obama leading McCain overall among women, 51% to 37%, but drill down into the numbers and some points of weakness for Obama shine through.
Among white women, they're tied 43% to 43%, and among married women Obama has just a modest four percentage point advantage.
So the numbers show some vulnerability for the Dem nom. But Palin's draw for these women, who don't forget sent Bush back to the White House in 2004 over Kerry in large measure because they believed he could better manage the nation's security matters, is uncertain.
Palin, a mother of five, is strongly pro life, a position that's sure to please the GOP base, but won't be a draw for former Clinton supporters. She's an avid sportswoman and lifelong member of the NRA. Indy suburban moms, concerned for the safety of their children, won't necessarily cross over to the GOP on that issue. And she has said that she's open to teaching creationism in public schools.
These views are slam dunks for conservatives who have been reluctant to back the more moderate McCain, but for moms concerned about rising gas prices, health care and college costs, they provide little solace.
Palin is, of course, only the second woman to run on a major party ticket. So for that alone, she'll garner a great deal of attention. She could also force Obama's campaign to rethink the nature of their attacks moving forward, and she could prompt rival VPer, Joe Biden, to temper his sometimes-combative style when they debate.
But Palin poses a challenge to McCain's team, in that she detracts from the GOPer's core attack against his Dem rival, that Obama doesn't have the foreign policy experience necessary to run the country. So is McCain stepping on his own message by nominating a political novice as his veep?
Note that Pew's poll showed Obama has maintained a solid lead among Indy women, who favor Obama over McCain by 47%-to-36%. Four years ago, John Kerry and President Bush were tied among independent women, 45% each, and, eight years ago, Bush led over Al Gore among this group, 52% to 39%.
Palin's appeal to this group could help McCain, or she could remind female voters, much as Clinton did at the Democratic convention this week, that their policy values are more in line with the all-male Democratic duo.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
I think you mean pro-life, as she only supports abortion when the mother's life is at risk.
She's pro LIFE not pro choice!
Another anti-Science, anti-Woman conservative.
Obama/Biden: BRINGING COMPETENCE BACK TO THE WH.
But at least she doesn't objectify herself or her body.
www.parentdish.com/photos/alaska-governor-sarah-palin/690775
Doh!
This is an embarrassment. She is shockingly unqualified. And McSideKick's picking her just b/c she is a woman is blatant sexism.
mcbush effectively withdrew his nomination for president today. barack hit a home run last night and mccain committed political suicide. this pms case for a vp isnt qualified to launder my jockstrap let alone meet with world leaders. i will happily vote barack/biden this year.
This is really a terrible pick. this woman is the female ted stevens and will probalby be under indictement before this race wraps up. she is anti choice, anti gay, and believes that her warped version of the bible should be taught as a substitute for science in school to all religions. she beleieves the earth is flat and was somehow imaginarily created by an invisible friend 2000 years ago. mcdepends will probably kick the bucket in his first term and this is the last person we want representing america.
The last couple of these comments reek of George Soros money.
Hey, activists: you can probably make more money selling your pot than campaigning for B.H.O.
www.parentdish.com/photos/alaska-governor-sarah-palin/690775
THIS PHOTO IS A PRANK! Come on. Learn how to read already.
Oops wrong link...try this http://kodiakkonfidential.blogspot.com/2007/12/sarah-in-vogue.html
I can't believe the media is going along with this ridiculous meme from Obama:
"But Palin poses a challenge to McCain's team, in that she detracts from the GOPer's core attack against his Dem rival, that Obama doesn't have the foreign policy experience necessary to run the country. So is McCain stepping on his own message by nominating a political novice as his veep?"
L.M.F.A.O.!!!!!
IS BARACK OBAMA RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT????
Or is the msm now predicting that John McCain is going to die in office???
Obama doesn't have the experience necessary to run the country.
JOHN McCAIN does.
Yes, Sarah Palin's experience is about the same as Obama's, maybe even a bit more than Obama's.
But OBAMA IS RUNNING FOR ***PRESIDENT***!!!!
btw, do all Democrats think that the only issue Clinton's supporters vote on is abortion?
No, actually most of us vote on being respected. We weren't.
Sarah Palin is a wonderful American role model and I promise, you are going to fall in love.
Oh my GOD...I did not know that McCain is so much insane. Doesn't he know that one of the duties of VP is to run the country when something happens to the president. A month ago she said in an interview that she doesn't know what are the duties of a VP..... RUNNING A COUNTRY....ha ha ha....what a joke. I think we should test McCain for Alzhiemer.
Obama's worst nightmare has just come to pass.
From now on at news conferences, after he makes his latest vacuous Hopenchange (TM) pronouncement, male MSM'ers will tell him, "Uhhh, I'm sorry, but could you repeat what you just said? I just can't concentrate, cause I've been thinking about Sarah Palin all day."
Palins experience troubles me as much as the Obama lack of experience however they are running for different positions. Palin will have plenty of time to learn about Washington and gain some experience as VP hopefully before anything happens to McCain. Obama would be President from DAY ONE unlike Palin. She is the safer choice.
Correction,
Palin's father was a science teacher,and she DOES NOT favor MANDATING Creationism be taught along with Evolution in public schools.
All she favors is the right to DISCUS Creationism as a posssible alternative theory in the classroom and let students come to their own conclusion.
Correction,
Palin's father was a science teacher,and she DOES NOT favor MANDATING Creationism be taught along with Evolution in public schools.
All she favors is the right to DISCUS Creationism as a posssible alternative theory in the classroom and let students come to their own conclusion.
What if the Republicans win the white house,John ends up on the bucket list,Sarah becomes president and picks a female VP;the good old boys end up picking shards from the glass ceiling out there boxers;and Women would run the country.Just a thought.