Nothing chromozonal or diverse about that. Over the last four days I have researched her and her positions and experience and that is my honest assessment irrespective of the other distractions.
HOW THE PALIN PICK TRUMPS OBAMA-BIDEN
Posted on 09/02/2008 10:28:04 AM PDT by quesney
Thanks a lot, John McCain. With his selection of an unknown, two-year female governor as his running mate, he has just ensured that the diversity racket will be an essential component of presidential politics forever more. Had the 44-year-old Sarah Palin, whose greatest political accomplishment before being elected Alaska’s governor in 2006 was serving as mayor of Wasilla (population 9,780), been named Stanley, she would have had exactly zero chance of ending up in the Oval Office in the next four years. But from now on, any presidential ticket that consists solely of white males—no matter their qualifications—will likely be dead in the water.
Of course, Democrats have been playing the identity-politics game to the hilt this election cycle; it’s what they do. And it will be amusing to watch them twist themselves into knots to avoid criticizing the Palin pick for what it is: a diversity ploy. As short-term political strategy, the Palin selection has diabolical appeal. Prevented from stating the obvious—Palin was chosen because she was a woman—the Democrats will instead have to seize on her lack of experience. They are right to do so, but then they have to explain why Barack Obama is so much more qualified for the top of the ticket, let alone the number two spot.
Washington Republicans have hardly kept themselves free of race- and gender-based decision making: one can think of many cabinet members and judicial nominations made on these grounds. But now they’ve gone all the way and introduced irrelevant chromosome considerations into the presidential race—the most important political choice in the land. And they have lost any standing to criticize Democrats for playing the race and gender cards.
Palin herself drew on hackneyed feminist bromides at her first rally as vice presidential nominee, quoting no less an establishment diversocrat than Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s run had “left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America,” Palin said in Dayton, Ohio, yesterday. “It turns out that the women of America aren’t finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.”
I thought that conservatives scoffed at the idea that American society systematically blocks accomplished women from advancement. But within less than an hour of the vice-presidential announcement yesterday morning, the diversity epidemic had spread rapidly in the Republican political machinery, including among analysts for whom I have only the highest respect. Talk-show host Laura Ingraham enthused about Palin’s identity profile: “A lot of women are calling in excited,” Ingraham said. “The women of America will see that she might be the first woman vice president.” Palin’s identity-based advantages go beyond gender, in Ingraham’s view: “Palin has an Eskimo husband, a Down’s Syndrome son, an Iraq-bound son.” CNBC host Larry Kudlow echoed Ingraham’s assessment: “This is a breakthrough for the stodgy Republican party.”
Republican operatives are also promoting the inevitable family bathos. A Republican consultant on National Public Radio pushed the fact that Palin had declared her Down’s syndrome son “perfection.” Other pundits noted that “she loves her family.” Many people—including Democrats—feel the same about their own families. Palin’s motherly dedication is admirable—though with a 4-month-old infant, and a disabled one at that, to care for, this may not be the best time to audition for the second-toughest job in the world. But her maternal feelings are irrelevant to her executive acumen and knowledge of economic and geopolitical issues. Palin may have those attributes in spades, but if so, let’s hear about them, not her domestic relations.
Presidential politics, and especially vice-presidential selections, have always been driven by sectionalism, poll-driven voter segmentation and demographics, and economic stratification. But race and gender are different than whether someone comes from a Sun Belt state or can appeal to disaffected auto workers. Race and gender are almost never a valid job qualification. Yet they have taken over in field after field—whether in the hiring of lawyers and selection of judges, in the choice of books and art to which students will be exposed from the moment that they step into a classroom, in the composition of police and fire departments, or in the selection of corporate boards. This tendency must be fought, not capitulated to.
True, Palin brings traditional political strengths—such as gun enthusiasm and a pro-life record—to the ticket. Her fight against self-dealing in Alaskan politics counters the inside-the-Beltway corruption that damaged the Republicans in the 2006 elections. And her stance on drilling for Alaskan oil admirably bolsters the Republican Party platform on energy issues. But admit it, fellow conservatives: none of these attributes pushed her over the top. Your enthusiasm for her is driven in large measure by the fact that the McCain camp has beaten the Democrats at their own game, and in so doing, driven Obama’s moment of glory off the wires.
Republican strategists openly hope that Palin will attract disaffected Hillary Clinton voters, who believe that they had a right to a woman in the White House. There are, alas, many women who are pathetic enough to put gender above politics, for whom a candidate’s stand on substantive issues matters less than her reproductive plumbing. But just because such voters are out there doesn’t mean that the GOP can cater to them without permanently compromising its principles.
The process has already begun. On Saturday, Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes wrote in the Wall Street Journal: “As a 44-year-old woman Mrs. Palin brings desperately needed diversity to the Republican ticket.” Wow. So now gender (and even age?!) diversity is not just needed, but “desperately” needed. Republicans might as well hire Eleanor Smeal and Jesse Jackson as party chairmen (oops! I mean “chairpeople”).
Ironically, Barack Obama stood up to the diversity imperative in selecting Joe Biden as his running mate. And his nomination speech last Thursday was notable for the minimal use he made of the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and for his barely noticeable allusion to his race. It was too much to hope for that the diversity agenda would recede into the background of his own candidacy—his supporters and the media will never allow that to happen. Nevertheless, it’s a sad day when Republicans decide to match the Democratic predilection for chromosomal consciousness, since there will be no turning back.
Heather Mac Donald is a contributing editor of City Journal and the John M. Olin Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Her latest book, coauthored with Victor Davis Hanson and Steven Malanga
I salute McDonald's intellectual honesty and ideological purity -- its the most honest assessment I've seen of the compromise the GOP has clearly made in its pursuit of victory.
But I'd ask Ms. McDonald to consider the very real possibility that the ends may justify the means here and that Palin (a libertarian Federalist if I ever saw one) and her very example may be instrumental in doing away with diversity and affirmative action.
Only Nixon could go to China...
...And exactly how much better off would we be if McCain hadn't picked Palin and more likely lost?
Not good if we lost..
I guess Heather wanted another old white guy on the ticket. Ms Palin seems to have quite a few accomplishments in her young life. No rich husband to back her political aspirations; no political family dynasty to pave the way. Just good old fashioned hard work.
The media, and both sides of it, I might add, are GUILTY of always stating the NEGATIVE side of any issue. Good news does not sell well, bad news does.
Sarah Palin, no matter what your perspective, is a huge positive for America and the GOP. And the GOP must win in November, if we are to keep our Republic in tact, which includes staunch protection of our Constitution and a return to the rule of law in America.
She is essentially correct, but IF is for children and old people. Which one is she?..............
Yes. People like that. They can spew all the garbage they can. They are very afraid of her.
Who cares whether she’s female or not. It’s about her views and beliefs.
Experience counts too...she has more than Barry O.
Ms. McDonald needs a chill pill pronto.
Whether Heather is correct or not will be determined by Palin’s actions and performance over the next 60+ days.
We will see, I have confidence she will fare well, and prove McDonald wrong.
Or perhaps if she were the son of someone named Stanley (Stanley Ann Dunham).
Nothing chromozonal or diverse about that. Over the last four days I have researched her and her positions and experience and that is my honest assessment irrespective of the other distractions.
I should have added: And then over the following 4+ years.
McDonald just sounds like yet another moron to me.
How were we ever going to win running againt a messiah and the entire MSM, though?
Plus the Republican party has been asleep for a few years now and only just woke up when McCain picked Sarah.
Heather McDonald may be "one of the best free-market-oriented journalists" around (though I don't know how much competition she has for that title), but the article is all-negative spin.
Attacking Palin as having been a small-town mayor is a page from the Obama campaign. How often does a small-town mayor becomes governor of a state? What does that say about Palin's quality?
For McDonald to skip over Palin's record as governor, and to attack her small-town roots, negates whatever legitimate point McDonald may have on her mind.
Agreed. But, Sarah Palin gives me hope for the future.
If the ‘progressives’ do win in Nov. they will find it difficult if not impossible to carry out their agenda. The government does not produce anything. In order to ‘give’ someone something they must first take it from someone else. Good luck!
McCain's chief responsibility to the Republican Party... to get elected. I don't see the selection of Sarah Palin as a gross error in strategy. The Democrats have been feeding identity politics for decades. It ain't going to last 1 day longer because of anything McCain does.
No doubt she is an AA pick. Whether it was wise remains to be seen. She certainly has juiced up many in the base. So that cannot be underestimated.
The rest of the “short list” wasn’t looking too good, except Eric Cantor, so the problem was with McCain’s list
Without Sarah - our chances of McCain choosing a CONSERVATIVE would be zero!!
Whatever reason he chose for doing it - I'm okay with that. The fact that he beat the RATS at their own game is a plus for me, too.
Obama's 'moment of glory' is in his own mind & the minds of the RATS who chose him.
Welcome to the world, Ms. Heather.. Palin got herself elected governor and she has performed competently. Whats your problem if there are other motives involved here?
Maybe Heather need to take a break and get her hair done, or something.
The GOP has needed new blood since Reagan retired. Heather is an idiot.
“I guess Heather wanted another old white guy on the ticket.”
Nothing wrong with that of course, if the “old white guy” is the best person for the job.
That said, I think Gov. Palin is a fine choice.
She sounds like just another bitter Romney fan. Somebody call a Waahmbulance.
I just LOVE the page and the analysis of the two tickets. You've done a marvelous job on this. I have forwarded the link to my list and hope you'll enjoy an increase in your hit count.
Regards,
TS
Ironically, Barack Obama stood up to the diversity imperative in selecting Joe Biden as his running mate.
I’d say that was stretching it a bit.
McCain made his choice for whatever reasons,
I think it was a good one.
Diversity/feminism had nothing to do with a
qualified person, as we have seen time and again
in the republican party.
Of course, the fact that Palin’s executive experience dwarfs the combined Democrat ticket is bushed aside to be critical of her just because she's a woman. Did Heather McDonald assume that John McCain would somehow squander his ‘maverick’ image and pick some long term crony to fill up the ticket?
If she did, then as a forecaster of what's to happen in financial markets, she's been damn lucky. For she completely ignored the industry she's speaking of here - this is a campaign for the White House, of course, but also one of the ambiguous viewpoint of change. The Democrats set aside every qualified person in their party to bring forth their messiah of change who's just neglected at any point to actually do anything, aside from the normal grafting of a Chicago politician and career government drone.
This attack is just as empty as every liberal one, not based upon Palin’s pretty deep resume for someone slightly older than myself, but simply because she's a woman. The telling point of all of this is right there in the article - Heather does not appreciate a pro-life woman running for office. I'm sure that Victor Davis Hansen was one of the first to tell her how awesome the article would be in print.
I’ve seen horses make bette piles than this.
My desire in this is to get that word, the truth, out to as many people as possible about Sarah and her story, positions, and values, so they can weather the disgusting attacks the partisan leftist press is leveling against this good woman and her family.
We let the Left and their cohorts in the media get away with hypocrisy. We should challenge them at every turn.
Does the author realize that a few short months ago Bill Clinton was saying Barack Obama would not be where he is except for the fact that he is black?
They are such hypocrites.
” How often does a small-town mayor becomes governor of a state?”
More often than a 2nd rate actor and son of a nazi Austrian!
Maybe this writer is otherwise a swell person, but the article is dreck: A painful contortion to twist the story into “She's inexperienced compared to Obambi.”
I like to do with her what I did with McCain, Obama, Hillary and Biden. I ignore who the person is and look at their record of accomplishment, their response to challenges and failures, and their position on important issues, mostly involving the responsibilitis of the federal government as it relates to citizens and other countries.
Based on that method, she is at the top of the list, and WAY ahead of the second place finisher.
Her only negative, for me personally, is that she is female. It concerns my wife as well. But it is handily trumped by the positives.
But all that said, of all the people who were on the short list for this VP slot, using my method above she still is at the top of the list.
What amazes me about ths piece is that this woman seems to miss a very large factoid. That being that McCain is actually a betrayal of conservative principles, by adding Palin to the ticket he has returned some of it that his nomination takes. The fact that Palin is a woman is the least important issue. I would have felt the same if he had picked a man.
I only pray that McCain(and it will take a lot of prayer) that McCain will revisit(if he wins or doesn’t win) some of his most liberal policies such as immigration, free speech, and cap and trade.
Nothin’ wrong with capitalizing on useful idiots.
Great post, Jeff.
Does anyone have the link for Sara Palin’s speech on Friday? I was sure I had saved them but... (:
>>”But admit it, fellow conservatives: none of these attributes pushed her over the top. Your enthusiasm for her is driven in large measure by the fact that the McCain camp has beaten the Democrats at their own game, and in so doing, driven Obama’s moment of glory off the wires.” <<
The article is wrong. If you replace “enthusiasm for her...” with “enthusiasm for McCain...” you would accurately reflect my opinion regarding McCain on this choice.
My enthusiasm for her is based on what I have learned about her core beliefs and how well she seems to stand by them. And what I see is what I expect from a VERY powerful leader.
And I haven’t felt/believed this way since Reagan ran in 1980.
What! Heather McDonald, I am stunned at your reaction. Count to ten, please.
What is more, is she was picked not just because she is a woman, but because she is a relatively young and good looking woman. If Palin had a Body Mass Index of 30, her chances similarly would have been nil.
I think there is a second-wife vibe in McCain's selection of Palin that the target woman voters have picked up on. McCain, 72, picked a Veep as if he was picking a second wife (must be accomplished, 40'ish and attractive). I think the target woman voters are reacting negatively to it.
Had Barack Obama... been named Barry O'Brien with red hair freckles and pale skin..He would have exactly zero chance of beating Hillary.
Besides she's the only real conservative running on either ticket. I now get to vote for somebody, instead of having to vote against Obama. And because I'm voting for Palin, the wrinkly old RINO dude gets my vote too.
Contrary to Ms McDonald's assumptions and guesses, my firm belief is that I don't think McCain "caved in" to anyone or anything. The ONE thing that stands out about Palin is how much she is the political maverick, like McCain; even as a maverick in the GOP, like McCain. If she has one quality that dominates in her profile, I think that is it.
As far as: "Ironically, Barack Obama stood up to the diversity imperative in selecting Joe Biden as his running mate." Ms McDonald is missing a few political antennae; she has it backwards. Biden was the "sexist" choice, with Obama trying to get back some of the good ole "white male" vote that Hillary beat him at in the primaries, because almost as many white females went for Obama as for Hillary to begin with. He did not want to "alienate white males" further by picking Hillary (a consensus first choice)
Hmm, the article doesn’t exactly point out how Palin is bad compared to others.
She is as good as (if not better than some of) the other VP potentials. Yeah. But how is picking her because of her gender going to kill us all? Keeping in mind that is the very last determining factor: the advantage in the PRESIDENTIAL RACE, versus choosing someone else as good but won’t have the same potential as her to gain more votes.
Race and gender should, of course, always be one of the last things considered. But when it comes down to the end when the choices are equally good, McCain has to choose someone who will bring in even more votes, ie. the democrats who haven’t lost their brains, while firing up the base too.
It’s like buying stuff. First you weed out the really bad ones. Then more bad ones. Then you compare the remaining good ones and finally choose the one that you think will give you the best value.
I think it was just good coincidence, and McCain was wise to pick it up.
Besides, McCain has often reached to the other aisle, so I don’t really see why the support of some democrats is going to change that much, since that’s how he is already anyway...
Do you also post at The Daily KOS?
And defeat the incumbent governor of her own party in the primary and a former governor of the opposing party in the gubernatorial election? Yup, they leave out some of the most salient facts in Gov. Palin's life story.
Nonsense. McCain picked Palin because she is a maverick like he is. In case you hadn't noticed, McCain's wife, Cindy, is very attractive as well.
“Had the 44-year-old Sarah Palin, whose greatest political accomplishment before being elected Alaska’s governor in 2006 was serving as mayor of Wasilla (population 9,780), been named Stanley, she would have had exactly zero chance of ending up in the Oval Office in the next four years.”
This is an exceptionally vapid and meaningless statement. It is like saying “Before Heather McDonald graduated from college her biggest academic accomplishment was graduating from college.” Well duh! If John McCain’s name was Joe Bavlitz, he wouldn’t be here either. And your point Ms. McDonald is what? You want us to vote for an evil marxist baby killer? Take your head out of your ash Ms. McDonald.
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