Posted on 09/04/2008 6:54:57 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob
I wasn’t going to talk about presidential politics for a long while, especially since my prediction last year ago of a Giuliani / Hillary Clinton race, with America’s Mayor winning narrowly. Wow, did I miss the mark on that one.
Wednesday of this week I got a call from a young woman who said she was a pollster for the Democratic Party of North Carolina. After a little back and forth, I was satisfied that this was a real poll, and I answered her questions.
The fact that she didn’t ask any demographic questions at the end raised doubts about the legitimacy of the call. A pollster should ask questions about whether I voted in past elections and which ones, to determine whether I’m a likely voter. She should have asked my age, education, and income level, among other questions which allow calculation of how representative the responders to a poll are, as a group. But that’s not what I came to talk about.
The lady’s money question was, “If the election were held today, would you vote for Barack Obama or John McCain?” I said, “Neither one. I have good reasons for opposing both of them. Different reasons, of course.” She was puzzled, and after a pause, said, “Well, who WOULD you vote for?” I said, “Governor Sarah Palin. But to get her I have to vote for McCain.”
About two months ago, I read a fairly thorough biography of Sarah Palin. I’ve been discussing on the Net with other political junkies which candidates might be not just an ordinary, but extraordinary choice for McCain’s Vice President. In the semi-privacy of those on-line discussions, I said I’d favor Gov. Palin as the best choice. I never put that in my column. The odds were so long I thought I’d just embarrass myself. Again.
I’m not going to describe any details of her remarkable career. If you’re interested, that’s all available on the Net. While you’re looking that up, look up the background of a gentleman who was elected back in the 30s. The highest and most responsible position he held before becoming President was two years as Governor of New York. His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
What is both unprecedented and pathetic in this election is the level of just plain garbage being directed at Governor Palin and her family, especially on the Net. Going back to my days as a Professor for night school students, I’m a firm believer in the see-it-for-yourself theory of learning as opposed to the here’s-how-it-is theory.
When you hear any criticism or question about Sarah Palin, ask yourself these two questions: First, was a question asked that hasn’t been, wouldn’t be, asked of male candidates for the same office? Example: What about the ankle-biters on the Net and even some people who pretend to be reporters, who ask whether it is wrong for her to run for Vice President while having five children?
When was the last time any male candidate with children was asked that question? I’ll wait while you think on it. Yep, the answer is never. That means questions like this are bigoted against women as candidates, especially women running for high office.
Secondly, is this a question being asked of a Republican / conservative candidate that hasn’t been, wouldn’t be, asked of a Democrat / liberal candidate for the same office? If you want an apples with apples comparison, look at questions raised today with Sarah Palin, and recall whether the same questions were asked of the only other woman who ran for Vice President, Geraldine Ferarro in 1984.
You’ll probably have to look that up. Being a political junkie, I remember that campaign. Heck, I was there when a woman was nominated for President at a major party convention. That was Margaret Chase Smith. In the Republican Convention in 1964, in San Francisco. (Yes, I’m older than dirt.)
If you see a question like that, it is not bigoted against women, it is only bigoted against Republicans and conservatives.
I think by using those comparative methods, you’ll identify a great amount of bigotry in the coverage of Governor Palin. If so, you can rightly conclude that these sort of personal attacks are the last refuge of people who want to attack, but have no real issues to raise. The great English Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher made that observation, long ago. She was right.
Because this election is going to be the journalistic equivalent of a tornado in a trailer park, I hope these suggestions will help you cut through the flying debris in 2008.
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About the Author: John Armor practiced law in the US Supreme Court for 33 years. He now lives in Highlands, NC, and is working on a book on Thomas Paine. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
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So, I sent it to my list immediately, and post it now on Free Republic.
Let me know what you think.
John / Billybob
2012 Palin vs Clinton
Imagine that?
The main stream media hasn’t figured out that Palin is a windfall for them that sets up something bigger that Ali vs Frazier, US vs USSR Olympic Hockey etc.
A battle that guarrantees a woman president.
A collision of cultures that pits two able and strong woman in a bare knuckle no holds barred fight.
How awesome is that?
Palin is a grand slam walk off homerun, game, set and match.
She will inspire:
1) The youth
2) The normal people who are sick of career politicians
3) She will attract Reagan Democrats
4) She will attract a higher % of the women vote for the ticket
5) She will get votes accross party lines
In short, she’ll get the “family” vote
The PUMA ladies last night were so happy with Palin...one of them said that in 2012 it should be Hillary/Palin ticket! And she wrote this seriously!
Even Palin's supporters have yet to ask the right question about her family. The question isn't "how could she possibly run for VP and abandon all those family responsibilities"? The real question is how deep is her patriotism that when her country called she accepted the potential costs to her family in order to help save us from a racist President?
When that call came, she was one of the few who knew her own capabilities and what an asset she would be for McCain. She also knew what a disaster Obama would be.
She made the hard decision that her country needed her.
You’ve written a very fair and astute analysis. I did a little research on her background when I first heard her mentioned as a possibile running mate about a month or so ago.
Back then I was excited because she is pro-drilling in ANWR and was fighting to have keep polar bears off the endangered species list. In short, she was taking on the ever hyperventilating enviro-Nazis and Nancy Pelosi (but I repeat myself) I wanted her for that reason alone. But after more of her story is out and I’ve had some time to see her in action, I want this ‘breath of fresh air’ for the woman she is and all that she is fighting for. There is so much I can identify with in her. Heck, if by some chance they lose, I may move to Alaska! Sarah-cuda is my kind of candidate.
Good summary!
I have a son who is taking a political science class and the teacher is an obvious liberal. I will make it a point to tell him to remember your two questions to ask when the teacher criticizes McCain or Palin.
Sen. Smith was a woman 30 or 40 years ahead of her time. She and Sarah Palin would see eye-to-eye, IMHO.
McCain shored up his conservative base with this selection. And, the fact that the MSM + lib pundits don't like her is a ringing endorsement, IMHO.
That is my hope also. The middle class often doesn't have a forum to speak truth to power. Palin has the opportunity to be blunt to the liberals and their hack lap dogs in the media. I hope she sticks it to them and doesn't let off until she is out of office in her second Presidency in January of 2025.
She is “authentic” which is very unusual in politics, people will actually rally to vote for her.
As we always expect of you, well done, my friend.
John / Billybob
I want to make this clear as I can. I will not be voting for McCain.
I will now (last week) be voting for Palin.
What an interesting vision of the future. No wonder the MSM is going nonlinear on this.
.
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Here’s how I’ve been bumping Palin/Obama threads.
Sung to the tune of “Oh! Susanna, don’t you cry for me.”
“Oh, no Bama, please don’t lie to me... for I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee.”
I come from Minnesota with my laptop on my knee;
I’m goin’ to Free Republic my true love for to see.
It rained all night the day I left,
the weather it was dry;
The sun so hot I froze to death,
Obama don’t you lie.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I come from Minnesota,
with my laptop on my knee.
I had a dream the other night,
When everything was still;
I thought I saw Obama dear,
A-coming for The Hill.
The smearing lie was in Duluth,
The tear was in his eye,
Said I, I’m coming for the truth
Obama don’t you lie.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I’m off to Free Republic,
with my laptop on my knee.
I fight in my pajamas,
It’s plain for all to see.
I aim to be the next Buckhead;
The media all hate me.
I fell in love with Sarah
When my sister bit a moose.
The Guvnor’s family ate it up
And then they set it loose.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I’m off to Free Republic,
with my laptop on my knee.
She loves her sons, she likes her guns,
and Trigonometry.
The media will jump the shark
When Juan makes history.
Well, JimRob knows she’ll pave the trolls
So controversially,
And Berg will knock Obama down
With friends of Hillary.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee.
I soon will be in Hawaii,
And then I’ll look all ‘round,
And when I find his birth record,
I’ll fall upon the ground.
But if I do not find it,
This Freeper’ll surely die,
And when I’m dead and buried,
Obama don’t you lie.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you cry for me;
I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2073903/posts?page=6#6
How many Americans are there across the country who have a personal relationship with their town's mayor or former mayor, small towns and large, and in cities with populations from a couple of thousand to hundreds of thousands? If they do not personally know their mayor, they can usually at least name him or her, and at least have some understanding of the impact of how the administration of that office has an impact on their persoinal and individual lives. There must be thousands, hundreds of thousands, probably millions.
How many of them do you suppose have a similar personal contact or working relationship with a local *community organizer?*
When I think of a community organizer I am reminded of Al Sharpton - he organized the tawana brawley hoax.
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