McCain’s Motives: Why Sara Palin?
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The 2008 Presidential election is one for the history books, the year of firsts. The democratic nominees at least, bore the distinct flavor of revolution. They were young, hip, and above all, the first of their kind. But where did McCain fall in this race of radicals? This year’s election is as much about groundbreaking candidates as it is about the economy and the war in Iraq. As we watch the race unfold modern historians are poised to record either a continuation of the norm or America’s first black president. With uniqueness being the undertone of this race how can McCain, your traditional old white republican, hope to compete…Well, he can pick a female running mate and that’s just what he did.
Sara Palin, a first term governor of Alaska, was chosen this Friday by McCain or at least his political advisers, to stand beside this aging candidate in the race for the White House. Not necessarily chosen for having sound political views, nor for an impressive political background, no her gender is what put her name on the ballet. She is the ‘wow’ factor McCain’s champagne so obviously lacked. With this attractive woman at his side, he can stand against Obama and declare he too is pushing the boarders of the norm.
His motives are rather simple in origin. He need a to associate himself with a new, breaking from tradition to entice young voters. But beyond that this was a ploy, poorly executed however, to gain Hillary Clinton supporter’s votes. Both Clinton and Palin are women, isn’t that enough? Isn’t that what her supporters wanted, to see a woman in a top job? In this he was wrong. It was not her gender that excited voters, but her experience and her capability, two things Palin lacks. She is a naïve beginner and a vicious political jungle. She may turn out to have good views and integrity, but with out the understanding and experience to back her up, she won’t last a minute in this predatory world.
Now the question is why her in particular? There are a plethora of perfectly capable and seasoned republican women who would ultimately boost McCain’s political views and also give him that edge that is at the center of this election. Why not choose someone who would fill in his weaker spots and would be a qualified leader in the invent that she was need as Commander in Chief?
Whatever his reasoning we, the people of America, have our candidates, a black man and a seasoned senator vs. an aging republican and an inexperienced women. We must wait and see which revolutionary pair takes the cake and the presidency too.
By: Landis Grenville
September 4th, 2008 at 4:22 am
“He need a to associate” Can you please proof read your articles before you publish them… Thanks!
Palin is a strong conservative whereas McCain lacked support from the true conservatives. Palin also has a strong background on energy reform and actually has a son leaving for the Iraq war on Sept 11th.
I think these are more logical reasons for the selection but I am sure some of what this article mentioned did play a role. Its just amazing the above was not mentioned.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:13 am
I second the proofing comment above.
First, it seems rather presumptious to try and anticipate the motives of a presidential candidate beyond the obvious, but if you must go there… Second, it is probably not fair to spend too many keystrokes rebutting these comments since time (a whole week) has passed and women are indeed being swayed by the intelligence, toughness and poise demonstrated by Sarah Palin. Sorry to have to beat this to death, but here’s my Top 10:
1. BEST PERSON (who happens to be a woman) for the job;
2. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) - she is fresh, rugged, tough and independent - most Americans worth their salt or with any knowledge of history identify and look up to people that actually walk the flippin walk unapologetically, regardless of gender. No prep-school, fluffy-fluff, measure-every-word, bubble gum, Hollywood, mamby-pamby, Dancing-With-The-Stars, Can-I-Cry-On-Oprah slop is going to slip through the lipstick of Sarah Palin;
3. ENERGY EXPERIENCE: she has more real, hands-on energy experience than anyone in the race. She also talks very straight and walks the walk here - say “natural gas” and please can we do more than just talk about it;
4. REAL FAMILY: she is from and part of an unfabricated middle class, working family and clearly embraces the messy and joyous business of raising her family. That might resonate with a couple of people out there. Oh, and isn’t husband Todd in the Steel Workers Union? Aren’t there a couple of those in say, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and some other states? Plus, I predict that the McCain/Palin ticket will absolutely own the snowmobiler vote, hands-down.
5. MORALS AND VALUES: she doesn’t believe in killing our own citizens, she keeps and loves her child regardless of the consequences, she proudly supports her own children regardless of their mistakes, she abhors corruption and seeks justice, she is bold and self-reliant yet knows she is a servant, she can shoot a gun, she can kill a moose, she can tough it out in the toughest state in our country, she doesn’t doubt that God is out there and watching and she loves her husband. Dare I say a CHANGE from the current DC Beltway oatmeal that gives way to HOPE for a different future for my kids?
6. SHE’S A WOMAN: Duuuhhh. With all due respect, she absolutely will wreck any hope of Obama winning the female vote. She WILL get an
Alaskan freezer boatload of women voters that are ticked about Hillary. She will get an even larger female vote than Hillary could have because far more women in the world relate to Sarah Palin than Hillary Clinton. Whether feminists want to admit it or not, in the quiet depths of their hearts, they know that Palin is a real woman who is secure in her womanhood and not traveling with the world’s largest block on her shoulder. She is the billboard for the True American Woman. As for experience, Hillary’s claim to fame is a failed attempt at a socialist healthcare system and having the misfortune of being married to one of history’s epic female chauvinists. She is also the most attractive candidate in the race, which given our media and culture will possibly garner a few extra male votes as well. Just a hunch. NBC will also have to get a good looking woman to play her on Saturday Night Live. Have you seen the Obama guy???
7. GREAT SPEAKER: With less than a week to prep, a hosed-up teleprompter and prolific pressure, Palin delivered the freshest and best delivered speech since the Reagan days. Obama is a great communicator as well, but Palin’s words and delivery are undeniably his equal. She got higher ratings than Obama as I recall. The highlight of this campaign is still to come though, that is the night she gives Mr. Biden a silky warm and elegant Alaska smack-down in the VP debates;
8. GREAT MANAGER: She’s a working mom with five kids, same husband, a hyper-focused, hands-on multi-tasking, Blackberry slinging, eBay auction authority. I bet she cooks and does laundry as well…
9. SHE IS A WINNER: she has excelled at every level of every competition she has competed from basketball to beauty pageants to PTAs to City Councils to Commissions to the Governorship. From what I have seen, she does not lose. Real competitors will not allow themselves to lose and work backwards from a vision of already achieved success. They acknowledge and overcome fear, and by their presence, remove that fear and inspire greatness from others;
10. SHE IS A LEADER: (See Above) but she has also been in front leading since she was a young girl. Not griping about the raw deal she got for being born a girl, but leading. Leading EVERYTHING she gets involved with. She wants the ball at the buzzer; she can obviously make the hard decisions. To say she lacks leadership experience is simply fishing without bait. Without a doubt, should the need arise, Sarah Palin has the experience, character and God-given grace be a great President.
These motives and more just solidified my vote for John McCain as one of the most brilliant politicians of our generation.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Hypocrites…..is the word for McCain /Palin
Sarah Palin is a fraud…how can you be against big oil and want to find new option for energy when your family owns a GAS STATION…DUH?
How can John McCain be against Washington lobbyists when they are all running his campaign?
How can you understand the needs and hardships of middle class America when your family worth is more than a 100million dollars and cant remeber how many damn house you have…. Talk about elitism…..
How can Mcain tell me his going to run a different type of campaign then hire the same ruthless, jackass republican thugs who tired to destroy his reputation when he ran against Bush back in 2000
How can you tell me sarah Palin is some kind of goody two- shoe nice Christain lady when she vindictively pullied some Watergate type crap to get state trooper brother-in-law fired. This is the same stuff that has the justice department all screwed up right now. We know all about this state trooper but what kind of asshole was sister? It takes two in marriage.
We just had a big oil, big business, ass kissing president in the White House and look where it got us…two wars, house forclosures higher than anytime sense the great depression, higher unemployment, and highest gas prices in history…. and you tell me you replublicans and right leaning ass holes want more of this crap…..you’re all hypocrites you say you want change but you dont you want to live in a state of denial and dellusion. So, when you put a old cantankerous, war mongering, filthly rich, adultreous fool and that right wing moose eating, vindictive liar and mother of five in the White House…God help us all.
but remember I told you so….It’s going to be FUCKED UP BUT you got what you VOTED for.