8th of October – An Open Letter to Supporters of Sarah Palin

Two of my favourite movies are Dave and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  In each, an American citizen, through only-in-the-movies machinations, become President and Senator respectively.  I have watched these films countless times, and am always moved and often inspired.  These are stories about regular people who are met with and succeed against extraordinary challenges and circumstances.  They are also – and now this is important – movies.  If either situation were played out in real life, I would be outraged at my disenfranchisement and astounded by the abject arrogance and corruption in my government.

I mention these films, for as it seems to me, to be successful in American politics in recent years, one need not be learned, savvy or experienced.  One must be a regular person.  I find it interesting that for arguablely the most important position(s) in the world, we have decided that skill and proven-records are far less important than an intangible likeability and relate-ability.  We have twice elected the worst leader in our nation’s history based on our desire to share an unbeer with him, though all logic, reason and yes, patriotism should prevented such an outcome.

When McCain chose Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate, I thought it was the gaffe I had been expecting from his campaign.  His yelp moment, as it were.  I am gutted now to know that this choice has actually helped him. 

Governor Palin has warned us that things are about to get messy (about to?) and informed us of her sartorial approach to campaigning  (heels on, check; gloves off, check).  Well, I too am wearing heels, and as I am inside and it is not yet winter, I am also not wearing gloves,  so I am prepared to write a blog entry and run for national office.

Here is what I will not do in my little note below:

1.      I will not condemn her because of her home life.  I have long held that even such public figures as international-stage politicians should be allowed an aspect of privacy when it comes to their person dealings.  I do not know what pain a teenage pregnancy may have caused Palin and her family; I was not there to see the anguish and despair when the family learned that it had become an unfavourable statistic and I do not know anything about Palin and her husband’s parenting style or the circumstances that led to a teenage pregnancy.  It is similar to the Hilary/Bill stand-by-your-man period.  I can’t imagine something as painful as infidelity being played out on the international stage, and while I don’t believe I could ever trust a man who did that to me, I have not been married and have not had to make such compromises or choices to stay.*

2.      I will not support her on the basis of her “having it all”.  Having it all is a personal choice.  When I have children, I think that I will choose to balance family and career.  Others may want to be able to stay at home and raise their family, but are unable to financially.  Others still may be happy to be full time moms – or have no children at all.  The corner stone of feminism is that we can make a choice.  We shouldn’t look-down on people who have made different choices, nor should we think that merely having a career and family is having it all.  There are too many individual factors involved.  It is a silly point on which to choose a candidate.

3.      I will not condemn Palin for allowing her family to be scrutinized publically.  True, it would be a temporarily easier road for her family if the press wasn’t what the press is, but it is the way of the beast.  You want to be VP, you have to accept the invasion into your private life.  If you don’t want to be VP, you say no and stay in obscurity.  Again – it’s a choice.

4.      I will not say that she is an unworthy candidate because she is a hunter.  I may be a non-leather wearing vegetarian, but it is a choice I have made.  If I were face to face with Palin or another hunter, I would be willing and able to discuss the issues if the other party so wished, but I do accept that there are places in the country and the world where the killing of another is considered fun for the whole family.  For all I know, she is a subsistence hunter and only eats meat she has killed and skinned herself.  I doubt this, but sadly, being a hunter does not disqualify you from higher office.

5.      Attempt to sway anyone who actually has the same opinions on issues as she does.  That’s a lost cause.  If you have considered the various sides in a thoughtful, meaningful way and have decided that you should have the right to take life as you see fit, prevent people who are in loving, committed relationships from having the same rights and privileges other people, that unless a woman’s life is in danger she should raise a child, regardless of her means and ability – or force someone to carry a baby to term that has been conceived by rape so that every day for nearly a year one must be brutally confronted by the proof of such a destructive attack, believe that the FBI has or should have international jurisdiction, that there should be no additional punishment for hate-crimes, that stem-cell research should be abolished, that creationism should be taught alongside evolution as a valid theory, that people are not mostly responsible for the current ecological crisis, believe that the polar bear and beluga whales are not endangered animals and that the US government should be sued to remove them from protection, believe that the handgun ban should be overturned, that Iraq is the biggest threat to US security and believe that faith-based programs are sufficient to aid social ills and that government programs are unnecessary and wasteful, well then enjoy your candidate.  You are perfect for each other.

Now some questions for her supporters:

1.      You or a loved one has just been diagnosed with cancer.  You are amongst the minority of fortunate Americans that have adequate health insurance.  You have your choice of doctors.  Do you choose a highly rated, board certified oncologist, or do you decide to go to an intern from a barely accredited medical school for your care plan and treatment?

2.      Your car is making those strange clanking noises again, and there is a that nagging burning-rubber aroma when you hit 55.  Do you go to a trained mechanic, or do you get your neighbour’s kid, who is taking shop class, to poke around?

3.      You are happily employed in a company for 20 years.  You have a superlative record and have steadily moved up the ladder due to your diligence, long-hours, consistent job-training and development.  You are strong, fair and well respected and have, with the compromises and sacrifices that are part of the succeeding in the American Dream, managed to balance home and career.  Your boss has retired.  They have tapped you for the position.  You have earned it.  Your company’s owner has a son who has just graduated from business school.  He is 26 and his total corporate experience is an internship and learning at his parent’s knee.  He is a smart person.  He has potential and great ideas, but little in the intangibles that make a great leader.  He doesn’t really understand how business works outside of B-school models.  He doesn’t have the most developed people skills, and has a tendency to speak firmly about situations he does not fully understand.  He also has a habit of picking up only bits and pieces of the issues prior to making hard and fast decisions.  In fact, while he may be a great leader with a decade of focused and legitimate experience under his belt, he is at present untested and green.  He is given your promotion.  You now answer to him.  And you’re ok with this?

If – and only if you answered intern, neighbour kid and sure should you think Palin is ready to the task.  If you answered bco, qualified mechanic and uh-uh, and yet still think being a mayor of a town of less than 6,000 (as of 2007) and a state smaller than 16 US cities, who has absolutely no national or international political experience, then please explain your reasoning.  I am curious.

If you do send reasons why you support Governor Palin for Vice President, some issues I’d prefer not be the cornerstones of your argument, as they are meaningless and only take focus away from an actual argument:

1.      The liberal media elite.  This myth has less truth in it than The Iliad.  If you are still under the misconception that all media is out to get the right then I suggest you purchase a radio and tune into your local talk stations.  Also, there’s a little thing called Fox Network.  You may have heard of it. 

2.      Obama is a terrorist, unproven and hangs with unsavoury people, so there.  Really?  Really?!?  If I were a political advisor for either party I’d be a bit wary of this gambit.  Truth is, the unsavoury are as drawn to power as the “good”.  Everyone in politics – at any level – and in most businesses will at some point in their career meet or be associated such characters.  McCain has been in the senate an awfully long time (especially for a “Washington outsider”).  Does he really want people to get inquisitive about the names in his rolodex?  Speaking of which – does Palin?  Some interesting things take place in Alaska – some big money things.  You think everyone she has broken bread with is squeaky?  Also, McCain might be able to use the experience card – but a supporter of Palin should accept the fact that evoking it is very pot vs. kettle.

3.      Yea!  A Woman in Power!  Yea!  I find the choice of Palin and the idea that I should be proud she is so close to power because she and I both have two x-chromosomes profoundly offensive.  I supported Hilary.  Not because she was a woman, but because she is a serious, intelligent politician who understands how the system works, is able to make difficult but necessary choices, and has a vision for how to fix the Nation’s problems – problems that have infested the world at large.  I did not support her because she is a girl.  I am offended by the idea that one woman is the same as another – and please read the subtext – that is what Team McCain was saying when they chose this untested, inexperienced and ill-informed person to be his running mate.  Get me a dame – any dame will do.  And my god, it worked.  There are capable Republican women out there that could have been chosen.  I can think of one, Elizabeth Dole.

Now that all that is out of the way, here are some of the reasons why I just can’t believe Sarah Palin is the Vice Presidential Candidate for a major party:

1.      As mentioned above, she has been governor of the 47th state in terms of population for less than one term, and mayor of a town of 5,469 people prior.  My company has more people than Wasilla, AK.

2.      She didn’t have a passport until last year.  Sorry, but this matters.  She was not some person unable, due to financial constraints, to travel, she chose not to do so.  You cannot be an effective Vice President of the United States of America without some insight into other cultures.  Her apathy to experiencing the world outside her nation makes me question her commitment and understanding of the complex geo-economical and political landscape into which she will be thrust.

3.      Of course, none of the candidates have been President or VP before, and there will be a learning curve, but the other three come to the office with essential knowledge so that they can jump right in.  What does she actually bring to the table?  How long will it take her to understand the basics needed to even grasp the issues she will be charged to manage?

4.      Intelligent, informed people cannot possibly believe in creationism.  Sorry – that is non-negotiable.

5.      Joe Sixpack?  This is a pejorative term and people shouldn’t be cheering her for using it.  There are other “folksy” phrases she could have chosen to speak about the working class population – but Joe Sixpack?  And how exactly does she speak for him?  Is he in a Union – or did he used to be until the factory closed down?  Is he concerned about foreclosure?  How he will heat his house?  Educate his children?  What exactly does she say when she speaks for Mr. Sixpack?  Which proposals supported by the Republican ticket will improve his life and the life of his family?  Tell me.  I am very interested in hearing which GOP initiatives will improve the average American’s life more than those put forth by Senators Obama and Biden.

6.      She supports limiting our rights and turning back every clock she can find on hard fought for and necessary laws of our great nation – the fabric of our great nation.

I love the United States.  I am proud to have been raised there and I understand our impact on the global stage and why we have to be so careful in our domestic and foreign policy planning as our mistakes can – and are- spinning the world off its axis.  

I believe that the offices of the President and Vice President should be treated with grave respect and that the people in those positions should be exceptional.   I believe that believing that Sarah Palin is the right choice for Vice President is deeply unpatriotic – yup – you read that correctly.  How can you profess to love this country and to care for its development, its future and its people and not want the best people available to steward it?  You can admire Palin for what she has accomplished if she inspires something within you.   There are many people I admire whom I do not think should hold executive office.  She is just the wrong person for the job.  She does not have the necessary skills to succeed.  She will not be effective.  She will damage us – and though it seems hard to believe that our reputation could get worse –it will.  She and McCain will make the world a more treacherous place. 

Respect yourself and your country enough to be able to separate a likeable woman, if that is what she is to you, with a leader.   These are serious times.  These are dangerous times, and much of the danger was created by our own bad choices.  It is our duty to fix what we can with expediency.

She is able to steer us to better days?  She is not even prepped to answer questions in an interview.  So, she either has no opinion on issues at hand, she is afraid to speak outside guidelines set by the campaign, or the campaign doesn’t see the point in prepping her in the least as policy is not what she’s there for.  If they don’t trust her with talking points, how can we be expected to have faith her to be a solid Vice President?

* I will point out a fun little historical fact though: there were two key arguments in the suffrage movement.  The first was that women deserved the right to vote based on the fact that men and women are equal and should both be entitled to the same rights.  While this was the motivation of the second movement, the argument of the second team was that as women could clean house and mend socks, so too would they be able to tidy up the nation.  There was also a bit of a wink and a smile, to hint that by being good wives and daughters, they would agree with and support their husband’s and father’s ideals, and so by granting a woman’s right to vote, men may actually be get a second say.  It was the argument needed to expand support for suffrage, but still I have often wondered if the ends did justify the means.  If we had won the right in later years based on equality, would women now be better off vs. living in a country where such a keystone of freedom was won based on Victorian concepts of a woman’s place?