By Gloria Steinem
September 4, 2008
Here’s the good news: Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right wing—the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party—are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this to women—and to many men too—who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley Chisholm, who first took the ‘white-male-only’ sign off the White House, and to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny to win 18 million votes.

But here is even better news: It won’t work. This isn’t the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It’s about making life more fair for women everywhere. It’s not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It’s about baking a new pie.
Selecting Sarah Palin, who was touted all summer by Rush Limbaugh, is no way to attract most women, including die-hard Clinton supporters. Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton . Her down-home, divisive and deceptive speech did nothing to cosmeticize a Republican convention that has more than twice as many male delegates as female, a presidential candidate who is owned and operated by the right wing and a platform that opposes pretty much everything Clinton’s candidacy stood for—and that Barack Obama’s still does. To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, ‘Somebody stole my shoes, so I’ll amputate my legs.‘

This is not to beat up on Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to me. I regret that people say she can’t do the job because she has children in need of care, especially if they wouldn’t say the same about a father. I get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn to compete with Sen. Joe Biden’s 37 years’ experience.

Palin has been honest about what she doesn’t know. When asked last month about the vice presidency, she said, ‘I still can’t answer that question until someone answers for me: What is it exactly that the VP does every day?‘ When asked about Iraq , she said, ‘I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq .‘
She was elected governor largely because the incumbent was unpopular, and she’s won over Alaskans mostly by using unprecedented oil wealth to give a $1,200 rebate to every resident. Now she is being praised by McCain’s campaign as a tax cutter, despite the fact that Alaska has no state income or sales tax. Perhaps McCain has opposed affirmative action for so long that he doesn’t know it’s about inviting more people to meet standards, not lowering them. Or perhaps McCain is following the Bush administration habit, as in the Justice Department, of putting a job candidate’s views on ‘God, guns and gays’ ahead of competence. The difference is that McCain is filling a job one 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency.

So let’s be clear: The culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a belief that women can’t tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions, right down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act.

Cont….

Palin’s value to those patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality. She believes that creationism should be taught in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control but supports government control of women’s wombs; she opposes stem cell research but approves ‘abstinence-only’ programs, which increase unwanted births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions; she tried to use taxpayers’ millions for a state program to shoot wolves from the air but didn’t spend enough money to fix a state school system with the lowest high-school graduation rate in the nation; she runs with a candidate who opposes the Fair Pay Act but supports $500 million in subsidies for a natural gas pipeline across Alaska; she supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, though even McCain has opted for the lesser evil of offshore drilling. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.

I don’t doubt her sincerity. As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn., she doesn’t just support killing animals from helicopters, she does it herself. She doesn’t just talk about increasing the use of fossil fuels but puts a coal-burning power plant in her own small town. She doesn’t just echo McCain’s pledge to criminalize abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, she says that if one of her daughters were impregnated by rape or incest, she should bear the child. She not only opposes reproductive freedom as a human right but implies that it dictates abortion, without saying that it also protects the right to have a child.

So far, the major new McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Of course, for Dobson, ‘women are merely waiting for their husbands to assume leadership,‘ so he may be voting for Palin’s husband.

Being a hope-a-holic, however, I can see two long-term bipartisan gains from this contest.

Republicans may learn they can’t appeal to right-wing patriarchs and most women at the same time. A loss in November could cause the centrist majority of Republicans to take back their party, which was the first to support the Equal Rights Amendment and should be the last to want to invite government into the wombs of women.

And American women, who suffer more because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who know that women can’t be equal outside the home until men are equal in it. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should be, can be and want to be at home for their children.

This could be huge.

Oh for Gods sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We can not get away from this stuff here.

Well yes…  I would hope political issues would resonate on a community forum, given that these issues will ultimately affect our nation, our cities, our towns, and yes, our small communities. 

I have read many political opinions on this forum which I do not necessarily agree with; however, I wholeheartedly support the right of individuals to post these opinions.  This comes down to an issue of respect for our fellow community members, and just as I support your right to post issues of importance to you, I ask that you support my right to post issues of importance to me.
I make no apologies for my post.

Yes, but listing to some of the latest lies from the Obama Biden camp, and the visceral “loose cannon” reaction to Palin, has made my final decision for me.

Yes, they are lies, 10 minuets of Internet search turned up the truth, from reliable sources…NOT Gloria Steinem, who clearly has an axe to grind. The funny thing, for my wife and I, is watching the Democrats, who CLAIM to be all about “woman’s rights” work so hard to run down, two prominent women, first it was Hillary Clinton, and then Sara Palin… What is really getting too me, is all the out right lying that is going on. Blatant lies, that are easily researched, that will only backfire.

Just so you know, I am partial to much of the Democrat agenda…But all this “Hatred of successful women” has turned my stomach

I mean really?? She has kids, and somehow, that is supposed to disqualify her from public office??

Tell that to Obama…He has kids too…...

And as for her being unqualified, I must call BS on that too, She has served much more time as an elected official than Obama has…and don’t run down her Governorship, many MANY, US Presidents have came from the ranks of Governors,  for example Bill Clinton did…

Heck, I just turned on the news, and Obama referred to Palin as a “Pig” way to go! I can see just how presidential you really are now bud..

In case you have forgotten, the “lipstick on a pig” phrase was originally used by Mr. McCain himself.  This exact same phrase was used in reference to Hillary Clinton’s healthcare plan, which she presented as a remake of President Clinton’s plan.  McCain’s exact comment was “I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.“
Does that mean that McCain was specifically calling Hillary a pig…?  No
Does that mean Obama was calling Palin a pig….?  No
It’s a common phrase, used in reference to previous legislation which has been updated, in what appears to be a more “glamorous” way. 

If you would like to share some of these so-called “lies” (with adaquate research) I would be interested to hear what cases you are making.  I can assure you, on the campaign trail, any and all evidence of misrepresntation will be revealed. 

And for the record, I definitely have no hatred of women.  I am about to finish a degree in Sociology with a concentration (minor) in Women’s Studies—- and I am an avid and proud feminist.  I voted for Hillary in the primaries—not because of her sex but because of her policies and successful leadership history.  My issues with Palin have nothing to do with her sex or gender—rather, I do not support her policies.  Her daughter’s pregnancy, the fact she has children, her beauty-queen history… none of that is relevant to me.  I focus on candidates, not images.
That said, I can commend Palin on her abilities as a public speaker and otherwise “likable” candidate.  I do see her as a strong and successful woman—but not the right candidate for the job and not the candidate who supports my positions. 

Thanks for your feedback.

I have been a long time supporter of John McCain but that was before Palin, NO LONGER.  Both McCain and Palin have lied too much:
McCain about lobbist, all his top advisers are lobbist (if you don’t believe, Google each of his top advisers)
Palin has lied daily about her support for the bridge to no where.
Palin has lied daily about selling the state plane on ebay.

We have been lied to by Bush/Cheney/Rove now we are being lied to by McCain/Palin/Rove.  Do you want our country to be run by liers????

fromtheslide - 10 September 2008 02:11 PM

We have been lied to by Bush/Cheney/Rove now we are being lied to by McCain/Palin/Rove.  Do you want our country to be run by liers????

This country has been run by liars since the Johnson administration. The problem with American politics is that you can’t just have beliefs and clearly state them because there are too many people out there that will either attack the beliefs or, if the belief is concrete, attack you personally. The electoral process has come down to the practice of choosing the lesser of two evils and then praying that the person elected doesn’t get what they want. Look no further than the current administration for a very good example of that.

Leesha…...I can tell we’re gonna have fun on this forum. Just like old times, right kiddo? LOL

CHICO!!! :P

heyyyy you ! how are ya!?
yeah, this forum seems like fun.  Please let the rest of these people know that I’m really not this horrible feminazi they probably think ;)

I’m pretty nice guys… really :)

OK, y’all I can vouch for her. She’s not a horrible feminazi….she’s actually a really nice one LOL

OH, and, she’s sharp as a tack, too, so if you want to have a battle of wits with her, you better come loaded for bear…or maybe moose :)

And keep in mind that I’m saying all this nice stuff about her even though she disagrees with me on practically every political issue, so that should tell ya something.

Chico, You tooks the words right out of my mouth.  The lesser of two evils. Perfect call.  Just my opinion and I’m not for or against any of them but I think McCain will win by a landslide.  Appointing Palin as his VP will just seal the deal.

Maybe we ought to send aliciaring out to the dump on highwat 52 to see if she can get her kitty litter across the ole goal line! HA HA.  Sounds like she just might be able to do it! HA HA.

OMG!!! This Gloria gal really has an axe to grind (as said by another post). 

“She believes that creationism should be taught in public schools” - specifically Palin said in 2006 “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.“  Ole lefty Gloria would have you believe that her way should be taught but another’s shouldn’t.  Gloria, isn’t that censorship?  Hitler started there.

“She opposes gun control but supports government control of women’s wombs” - what, exactly, do these two issues have to do with one another?  Is there a problem with allowing the Constitution to stand (2nd Amendment) and to question the legislative capacity of The Supreme Court with regard to Roe v Wade?  The High Court is to interpret law, not make it.

“She opposes stem cell research” - this is a blatant lie, plain and simple, i won’t sugar-coat it.  Palin (and McCain) oppose fetal farming, or the creation of embyros for the sole purpose of destruction through research.  They are in favor of using adult stem-cells.  But baby killer Gloria is right at home farming fetus’, rallying for abortions and, probably, like Obama, would prefer to let a born-alive baby from a botched abortion lay and die…because mommy doesn’t want it.

So, Gloria, my friend, you may be better served to take a little pill to control the emotions.  Maybe realize that there are dozens of issues more important to the security, prosperity and well-being of this great country than whether Palin is pro-life.  And be careful what you list as faults of the GOP candidates…you don’t even want to get into a debate about that…Obama/Biden offer more inconsistencies, gaffes, poor judgement, questionable relationships, etc than any candidates in recent memory.  And qualifications?  Obama isn’t qualified to sniff my butt.

And another thing…first off I’m pro-choice as is our friend Gloria…abortion is not a matter of a woman’s right over her womb (as Gloria put it), it is a matter of women (and men) being responsible for their actions whether intentional or unintentional.  Either way, a life is created and it’s demise should not be taken lightly.  But, even as pro-choice, I’m voting for McCain/Palin for so many other reasons.  I’m also not voting for Obama/Biden for ole so many reasons.

Andy J - 10 September 2008 10:05 AM

Yes, but listing to some of the latest lies from the Obama Biden camp, and the visceral “loose cannon” reaction to Palin, has made my final decision for me.

Yes, they are lies, 10 minuets of Internet search turned up the truth, from reliable
Heck, I just turned on the news, and Obama referred to Palin as a “Pig” way to go! I can see just how presidential you really are now bud..

Oh, please!  Obama NEVER said this!  Sean Hannity tried to attribute the slur to Obama, but Hannity’s not known for faithfully sticking to the truth.

This is not about gender.  It’s about the distinct possibility, even probability, that a 72 year old man with recurring cancer may die in office and we’ll be confronted with the prospect of a President without the vaguest notion of what the “Bush Doctrine” is.  I mean, don’t they have newspapers up in Alaska?  Surely they have radios.  But on the other hand, most AM stations talk programs feature folks like Sean Hannityl.

Think about it:  Sara Palin confronting Putin confident she knows all about Russia because she can see it (on a clear day) out there across the Bering Strait.

So let me get this straight….someone deeply rooted in Washington politics-as-usual is the better choice between 2 campaigns running on “change” than is someone who has no idea what the “Bush Doctrine” is? Maybe, just maybe, this lady might actually have the stones to stand up to Putin and all these other would-be dictators around the world if for no other reason than she doesn’t know any better. Sometimes ignorance is bliss ;)

Palin would “stand up to Putin and other would-be dictators” because she doesn’t know any better and this is a good idea!!!!!! Someone please, please tell me that I misread this.