McCain Chooses Sarah Palin for VP, Votes Against Women's Rights

Posted by Tracy O'Neill 08/29/2008 4:04 PM

Tags: palin speech, mccain, mccain running mate, sarah palin vice president, sarah palin, palin

There’s been a whole hullabaloo about Mr. McCain choosing a woman, Sarah Palin, as his VP, and yes, this would be impressive if it weren’t a transparently political maneuver. McCain has repeatedly shut down women’s rights efforts. He voted against birth control coverage by health insurance companies, against sex ed for teenagers in 2006, and has repeatedly stated that he wishes to make abortion illegal.

According to the McCain website:

John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned.

In 2007, the New York Times published an interview with McCain as follows:

Q: "What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions about using contraceptives? Or should it be Bush's policy, which is just abstinence?"

McCain: (Long pause) "Ahhh. I think I support the president's policy."

Q: "So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?"

McCain: (Long pause) "You've stumped me."

So it must have been completely sincere when McCain dropped the whole bit about being “especially proud to say in the week we celebrate the anniversary of women’s suffrage, a devoted wife and mother of five… Governor Sarah Palin.” Or maybe, if the presumptive republican nominee were asked whether choosing Palin was a political ploy or not, it would resemble his attempts to weasel his way out of answering questions on his birth control voting record.

Comments

Anonymous says,

Okay, this is really pi*sing me off! The Dems, in all of their wisdom, decry this selection as pandering when they all but cheated their own female candidate out of the nomination. And stop lumping all women together with a list of women's issues we all have to support! Men don't have to put up with this garbage!
Finally, Obama supporters trumpeting the 'inexperience' call are showing their ignorance. Who is at the top of their ticket??? Give me a break! Posted 08/29/2008 4:28 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Ha! John McCain, what a tool! Posted 08/29/2008 5:25 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Well, not to mention the non-sequitur between women's suffrage and Palin's being "a devoted wife and mother of five" -- it's as if he's saying, it's nice that women have the vote and all, but obviously their most important roles in life are as devotees to men and nuturers of children. Posted 08/29/2008 5:30 PMReply

Anonymous says,

a political move made for political reasons?! gasp!!! the only thing more shocking would be picking an african-american, but no one's done that, right? Posted 08/29/2008 5:40 PMReply

Anonymous says,

"Thumbs Down On McCain's Choice for Vice President Says."

The choice of the the Governor of Alaskaâ��s Governor will be detrimental to wildlife across America.

â��While the former Governor of Alaska, Tony Knowles, vetoed a bill that would have allowed aerial wolf hunting in Alaska, the present Governor and vice Presidential choice of John McCain, Sarah Palin, said she supports aerial wolf hunting, she is a life-long member of the NRA (National Rifle Association) and a hunter, and has not protected the polar bears. If she is in the Whitehouse, along with McCain, our wildlife will be in peril even more than they are now based on her beliefs and policies as Governor. Defenders of Animals has sent out a warning alert to its members.

Direct quote from Governor Palin:
"I am a lifetime member of the NRA, I support our Constitutional right to bear arms and am a proponent of gun safety programs for Alaska's youthâ�¦.I have always strongly supported the personal use of fish and game by Alaskans. I grew up hunting and fishing in Alaska, and I am proud to raise my children with this same uniquely Alaskan heritage. â�¦ Anti-hunting groups who oppose hunting and fishing rights will be the winners if we allow them to pit us against ourselvesâ�¦.As an Alaskan with strong beliefs on this issue, I am confident in my ability to build consensus among diverse user groups and reconcile the many competing interests in a manner.â�� Posted 08/31/2008 01:22 AMReply

Anonymous says,

An undernoted aspect to the VEEP choices: McCain and Palin both have sons deployed in the military. This could very well help neutralize criticism that McCain is too pro-war, or that Bush/Cheney were always willing to spend the lives of "other people's children", but not their own.
Fortunately for the dems, Joe Biden also has a son deployed in the military.
On the Palin choice itself, I like what the Boston Globe said -- "Women are baffled." Myself I find it almost impossible to believe in the sanity of someone who thinks a rape victim should be required by law to carry the pregnancy to term and give birth to her rapist's child.
But Palin does. Posted 08/31/2008 06:03 AMReply

Anonymous says,

The choice of Palin as a VP is ridiculous and, given their stated intent to break through Clinton's 18 million cracks, absolutely insulting to women across the country. You can't just throw any inexperienced idiot in the VP slot just because they have a vagina then justify it with women's lib. Hillary Clinton supporters are NOT going to be fooled into voting for her just because the two have similar physical attributes. Their views and values are completely different so trying to pass off Palin as the next Clinton is just plain insulting. Posted 09/02/2008 5:17 PMReply

Anonymous says,

We didn't choose hilary b/c she just wasn't the right pick for the president...not because she wasn't the "right woman." And I CERTAINLY would not pick sarah palin as a vice president to because of her conservative views on woman's rights. Palin is against a woman's right to abortion even in cases of rape and incest. That kind of stuff may fly in Alaska, but not where I live. Guns may be okay for hunting in Alaska, but not in my city. No, I would say that she's not getting my vote! Now, if you want to talk about Palin as a woman or as a mother aside from politics, she definitely has no clue in parenting by putting her poor child through this embarrassment. My family would come first, even if that meant turning down an opportunity to run as Vice President to protect my pregnant underage child from media. That doesn't make a good impression on me at least. Posted 09/03/2008 6:39 PMReply

Anonymous says,

I feel as though she has her own agenda...did she plan her last pregnancy in her early-40s when women are aware they are at a higher risk for a child with a birth defect. After having 4 children already, why put yourself and a baby at risk, while also serving in a demanding role as a Governor. And, now having a 3 month old baby and a 17 yr old daughter that's 5 months pregnant and desiring to take on the VP role - makes me wonder how much she truly embraces 'family values', or is it all about her. A 17-yr that is pregnant and put in the media spotlight - what is that doing to that child? I can only imagine how it is affecting her. Too bad her Mom has allowed her to be put in such a situation.
One last thing...for such a christian, I was disappointed listening to her sarcasm and degrading comments about Obama during her acceptance speech last night. I've yet to hear Obama say anything negative about Palin. His character impresses me way more than hers. Posted 09/04/2008 9:13 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Please check out this website: Ben Smiths Blog: The Anti Palin e-mail-Politico.com From someone who Knows her in Alaska. According to this , she is more of a Great white than a barracuda!!! Posted 09/05/2008 9:30 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Good Sarah Palin Jokes !!

Introducing: My Fair Lady ~ Sarah Palin !!

Music: Isn't she lovely...da..daa..da..

President Pimpin' Mac 'Daddy' Cain & Sarah Palin: Now elected 'cause they look so good lookin' together !!

My Fair Lady Sarah Palin: Oh... Mr President .. I'm bored.. I wanna go out and shoot some wild polar bears....
Mr President Mac 'Daddy' Cain: I'll be right with you darlin' [fixing his tie /clearing his throat and breaks into a smile] sure we can have those polar bears off that 'threatened species' list - just as sure as you can say John McCain is the most powerful man on this earth ~ you little pit-bull.. you.. gimme some lipstick..

Lady Sarah Palin: John - they're saying - I had an affair -
Mac 'Daddy' Cain: Don't you worry sugar buns - I'm gonna go out and take care of that confounded press ~ I am workin' for you and don't you forget it !!

My Fair Lady Sarah: And John-ny ~ they said that I did somethin' wrong to that trooper !!
Pimp 'Daddy' McCain: My darlin' we can take care of anything you like. Lipstick Lipstick Nose rub xx

Lady Sarah McCain: Ooooh!
[And Sarah went back to filing her nails and dreaming of the day she'll be President - of course she really luvs Old John/Pimp Daddy McCain!!] Posted 09/07/2008 9:11 PMReply