Monday, September 01, 2008

Miss Perception


Oh John, Oh Sarah!

I'm beginning to wonder whether John McCain wasn't having another "senior moment" when he chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate. McCain, never one to get caught up in trivial detail - such as Sunni versus Shiite or whether he's got five homes or seven - didn't seem to notice that Saint Sarah, hockey mom of America, has a few stains on her apron.

It seems that, so long as the woman is a political opponent, Mrs. Palin will laugh heartily enough when someone calls that other woman a "bitch", or a "cancer" or just plain fat. As the Huffington Post reports, the Repug veep nominee did just that during a talk show appearance earlier this year that the Anchorage Daily News called, "plain and simple one of the most unprofessional, childish and inexcusable performances I've ever seen from a politician."

"Early on in the conversation before Palin started to crack up, Lester referred to Sen. Green as a jealous woman and a cancer. Palin, who knows full well Lyda Green is a cancer survivor, didn't do what any decent person would do, say, "Bob, that's going too far."
But as the conversation moved on, Lester intensified his attack on Green.

Lester questioned Green's motherhood, asking Palin if the senator cares about her own kids. Palin laughs.

Then Lester clearly sets the stage for what he is about to say by warning his large audience and Palin. He says, "Governor you can't say this but I will, Lyda Green is a cancer and a b----." Palin laughs for the second time.

What were teenage boys thinking when they heard the governor laugh at someone being called a b----? How about the teenage girls who look up to Palin. What did they think when they heard her laugh?

But there is more. Lester then describes Green's chair as big and cushy. A clear reference to the senator's weight. Palin laughs a third time. She's just having a grand old time.

Palin was clearly enjoying every second of Lester's vicious attack on her political rival."

Mrs. Governor Palin later released a statement. "The Governor called Senator Green to explain that she does not condone name-calling in any way and apologized if there was a perception that the comment was attributed to the Governor."

It's sort of like how Mrs. Palin addresses the "perception" that two dozen phone calls from her governor's office to urge the commissioner of Public Security to fire trooper Wooten might be an attempt to twist arms, just because Wooten was in a custody battle with Palin's sister.

It doesn't take too many incidents like this before a real perception emerges and, in the case of this Repug, it's a perception that comes with its own odour.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't even follow American politics but it sure has been fun watching the Left try and discredit this woman since McCain announced her as his running mate. "She had sex with a moose!", "Her baby isn't her own!", "She's a Nasty Bitch!". Whatever...

I guess Oprah sent out the Memo that this woman must be belittled. At all costs.

The Mound of Sound said...

Oh please. She's getting off pretty lightly compared to what she'd have if she fell afoul of the Repug smear machines. Nobody, but nobody gets into the really degeno stuff like a Republican. It's been their stock in trade since Reagan and the uber-right licks it up.

Anonymous said...

The Left attack Mcain and Palin and the right attack Biden and Obama...where's the news? I've never fully understood the on going debate and arguements from Canadians about American politics. We dont vote for nor do we have any control over who is or who is not elected. It does affect us, but, if you follow that logic then why would Canada not want anything but a Republican President? If one was to believe the Liberal arguement then, the last 10 years has seen economic growth unprecidented in Canada's histroy...and...through the last 8 years the US has had a Rep president. I get the interest but, it just seems to me that the Canadian Left and Right spend alot of time smearing US Presidential and VP candidates..for fun?? I would like to see Obama win...I think a President who can inspire and make the voters feel passionate about their country and they're country's well being is a far greater asset then a candidate with 30 years under his belt in the Senate...but thats just me. For the first time in a long time, both Republicans and Democrats have good honest people as candidates, and, I understand the smear jobs from the US partisans, but, I dont understand the attacks on any of these four candidates characters from Canadians...policy's yes...not character. billg

Anonymous said...

Hey, that last comment was a good one. Maybe the author of this blog can clear things up and tell us why they took the time in a (supposedly) busy day to link to a story from the past that doesn't even have the person in question, Ms. Palin, saying anything. All the nastiness is attributed to "Lester", whoever that is.

Not only is this a nothing story, as the previous poster points out, it is really a nothing story when you live in Canada. With an election starting right here, how about concentrating on the task at hand?

wilson said...

Obama is against SSM and for restricted abortion.
Obama also wants 2 tier healthcare.

Not much of a parallel with Canadian Libs.
I'm curious why Libs think an Obama win will boost Canadian Libs ???

Beijing York said...

Canadians don't ascribe to an insular approach to world politics. We actually pay attention to election campaigns in other countries than our own.

And I guess as a feminist, I'm only supposed to be outraged by the horrible treatment of women in "evul mooslim" countries but not about the attempts by extreme fundamentalist dominionist Christians to roll back the rights of women to biblical ages.

McCain is an idiot if he thinks women (especially Clinton supporters) are going to be stupid enough to endorse a McCain-Palin ticket just because his running mate is a woman. This move is not breaking the glass ceiling. Given Sara Palin's dominionist inclinations, she is as dangerous a social conservative as Mike Huckabee.

The Mound of Sound said...

Sorry Bill but who becomes POTUS has a significant impact that goes far beyond direct Canada-US trade.

McCain keeps showing wobbly judgment and an aggressive bent that appears to be on autopilot. At his age and with his bouts of cancer, his veep nominee is a critical issue.

She's the one we may have to deal with should McCain win in November.

Anonymous said...

How about this article? Another politican wearing their religion on their sleeve....Roman Catholic no doubt.

What Does "Feminists for Life" Tell Us About Palin?
Tuesday 02 September 2008

»
by: Marcy Bloom, RH Reality Check


Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, speaking in February. Palin is a member of the anti-choice group Feminists for Life. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Bloomberg)
What a public relations boon for any organization. The Feminists for Life home page currently reads: "FFL Member nominated for Vice President of the United States ... According to the Anchorage Daily News published August 6, 2006, 'Palin said last month that no woman should have to choose between her career, education, and her child - she's a member [since 2006] of a pro-woman but anti-abortion group called Feminists for Life ... [Palin stated] I believe in the strength and power of women, and the potential of every human life.'"

What does this affiliation say about Palin? What is Feminists for Life? FFL's slogan is "Refuse to Choose: Women Deserve Better than Abortion." Co-opting genuine woman-focused language and values, and wrapping it in a false blanket of "woman-centered solutions" and alleged loving concern for women, FFL cleverly uses a "pro-woman, pro-life philosophy" and completely manipulates the feminist terminology of empowerment. Their web site speaks out on numerous issues of concern to women, such as violence against women, honor killings, coercive sterilization, literacy, child care, sex trafficking, and female genital mutilation. They support deceptive anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers as real solutions for women, with the centerpiece of their work being that abortion is exploitive, coercive, and always wrong and harmful, for any and all women everywhere, in every circumstance.

In 2002, while running for the office of lieutenant governor in Alaska, Palin wrote to the Alaska Right to Life Board and stated that she was as "pro-life as any candidate can be" and has "adamantly supported our cause since I first understood, as a child, the atrocity of abortion." She does not view rape and incest to be valid exceptions to her stance; the only exception that she supports is if the life of the woman is in danger. How very noble of the governor to care about women so deeply.

Of course, she shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe vs. Wade (although she has never flip-flopped on the issue, as he has) and she is a dangerous ideologue. She is also against gay marriage.

When discussing a ballot measure that would deny benefits to gay couples, she stated: "I believe that honoring the family structure is that important," obviously oblivious to the fact that her definition of family is incredibly narrow and that the diversity of all types of families should be celebrated. She is a self-described hockey mom, mother of five, is in favor of capital punishment, does not believe that global warming is human-made, is a long-time member of the National Rifle Association, and supports the teaching of both creationism and evolution in public schools. As would be expected, Sarah Palin also opposes medically accurate sexuality education programs and stated in 2006 that "she would fund [only] 'abstinence-until-marriage' education" (Juneau Empire, 9/20/06).

This belief now presumably has had an enormous impact on Palin's family per an announcement on Labor Day that her 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant, will keep the child, and marry the father. The Palins further stated: "Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media [to] respect our daughter and Levi's privacy, as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

I could not agree more that these are extraordinarily private and personal family issues that should not destroy the life and future of Bristol or her fiancé. This family needs to be left alone as they work through the impact of Bristol's pregnancy and how this will change her life. How good-and right- it is that Bristol has the support and love of her family and that Bristol made the decision on her own to keep her baby, as did her 44 year-old-mom with all five of her children. No one should judge this family, Bristol's sexual activity, or pregnancy, as this is what true choice is all about. Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs in the world, and motherhood is an aspect of Palin's résumé that prepares her for leadership (although not to be the vice-presidential nominee). I cannot help but wonder that if Bristol and her boyfriend had been exposed to a different type of discussion around sexual activity-medically accurate sexuality education - could this pregnancy have been avoided?

Bristol has made her choice - and all choices regarding unintended pregnancy need to be respected, honored, and supported, whatever they are. Women are moral and ethical decision-makers and they know when then are ready-or not- to bring a new life into this world. But that is not the stance of Sarah Palin. As a staunch religious conservative specifically selected to mobilize the religious right and close the gender gap-John McCain is trailing Barack Obama by 12 points among women, according to Emily's List - Sarah Palin is completely out of touch with the realities of the lives of women and families. As quoted in the August 31st Women's E-News, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood of America, declared: "The last thing women need is a president - and a vice-president who are prepared to turn back the clock and repeal the protections of Roe vs. Wade." Yes, that is a frightening and chilling thought.

"Can You Cross Out 'Hillary" and Write in 'Sarah'?" queries Kate Zernike in Sunday's New York Times. For me, the answer is clear and transparent. NO. We undeniably need to keep fighting racism, sexism, homophobia, and a vast array of inequalities in the US. We absolutely need more diversity and far many more smart, perceptive, and well-informed women in leadership roles for the good of the country and the world. But not this anti-choice, pro-gun, and inexperienced woman governor.

To the Republicans I say - do not ever pander to me and don't you dare insult my intelligence. Do not give us a candidate who opposes everything that enhances the lives, health, and opportunities for women and children. But that is what you just did and shame on you.

Cheers, A. Morris

Anonymous said...

I stand corrected....Palin is a Pentecostal..... This woman is dangerous.

You can find the article "Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview" at this site. She addressed a graduating class with absolutely skewed comments. Cheers, A. Morris

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3067,Palins-Church-May-Have-Shaped-Controversial-Worldview,Nico-Pitney-and-Sam-Stein-Huffington-Post