A question for my DU sisters about Palin.

[jillan]

(guys - you can join in if you want)

Does this whole thing about keeping Sarah shielded from the press
REALLY piss you off? And I'm not just talking politically. I'm talking about it from a woman's standpoint. From the standpoint that women and men are equals, and therefore should be treated as such?

Do you really think this hands off treatment of Palin would be allowed if McCain, or Obama for that matter, picked a man that was a newbie to politics and shielded him from the press?

This whole thing bothers me on so many levels.
Not only does it piss me off that this woman could very well end up being VP to a man in his 70's that is in remission from cancer, but
I feel like the McCain camp is allowed to get away with this only because Palin is a woman.
It just seems so chivalrous to protect the little woman.


thoughts?

[sammytko]

1. Yes, it makes me mad, what is worse is that she "allows" it! nt

[Captain Hilts]

2. Enough men have done it, I don't see it as an issue of sex. nt

[jillan]

4. Who else has been this protected? I honestly can't think of anyone.

[JuniperLea]

6. Me either!

I'll anxiously await an answer to that.

[Dervill Crow]

19. Bush has to some extent more than anyone previously.

I suppose Bush being protected could be construed as discrimination on the basis of a cognitive disorder of some sort.

I do agree that it is extremely sexist. I have a hard time figuring out exactly where Palin is coming from because going out and shooting moose and governing (?) a state go against the Paulist principles of a woman's role that most right-wingers adhere to. Talk about buffet Christianity!

[Captain Hilts]

22. President Bush during the 2000 campaign. Reagan for prolonged spells. nt

[demokatgurrl]

50. Yes, Bush set the precedent

which all future repuke candidatew will take advantage of if we don't VOTE THEM THE HELL OUT FOR GOOD!!!

[jillan]

65. Well maybe I am wrong then. I'm just trying to understand why she is getting away with this,

and this was what came to mind.

I didn't follow politics that closely before the election of 2000.
And guess I shouldn't be surprised that Bush was the same way.

[Captain Hilts]

93. And the press played along. Even folks like Frank Rich and Bob Herbert. nt

[PatSeg]

23. Bush

No questions press conferences, invitation only events with free speech zones, wired debates, etc.

[niyad]

17. name one? I mean, even chimpy and darth vader talk to the press occasionally.

[Fresh_Start]

3. Her politics bother me more

I'm already used to the GOP hiding their idiot-children-in-national-office from public criticism

[JuniperLea]

5. It is absolutely sexist, to the extreme!

Not treating her as they would any other candidate of any other sex is freaking on my last nerve! She needs to be fully vetted just like anyone else... and she needs to be treated exactly as a MAN would be in that situation!!!

UGH!!!!

[chat_noir]

31. comment on another blog

This is very amusing. The new Republican feminism wants a woman for her looks and image, but will not allow her to speak. How is the different from the old days?

[JuniperLea]

38. Interesting, isn't it?

They are clearly paying lip service to gender equality by putting her on the ticket (pacify, patronize), but at the same time, portraying a woman as someone who must be sheltered and coddled.

Hush, hush! Keep it down now! Voices carry! (Sorry, I can never resist a rock and roll reference) :)

This sets women back decades, IMHO.

[DURHAM D]

What a surprise.

Misogyny masquerading as feminist concern - again.

[jillan]

18. Well then - what is YOUR answer to why they are being allowed to get away with this?

She could very well end up being our VP.

What do you make of it? Because the whole thing is a bunch of crap to me, and I can't help but wonder if her being a woman is allowing the campaign to get away with it.

I'd be interested to hear what you think the reasons are.

[cosmodem]

58. Just my humble opinion but initally I think the press was

allowing her some time 'to get her feet wet' as they say. But have to agree it has probably gone on long enough. I do not think it had anything to with the fact she was a woman, nor do I think Democrats should push that angle.

[jillan]

102. Welcome to DU!!

I agree with the feet wet part, I think for me today was the last straw where I started asking why?
Why is she allowed to be so protected.

And I agree that dems shouldn't publicly talk about this, that would be wrong.

[cosmodem]

107. Thanks . Hope to see you around.

[SeattleGirl]

7. Couldn't agree with you more, pirhana.

On the one hand, they say Palin is ready to be VP, and even President, if it came to that; on the other hand, they protect her like she's a wilting flower who must be kept away from the big bad people in the media. It stinks to high heaven, and for me, the way she's being treated by her own campaign just reinforces the idea I have that they DON'T think women are equal to men.

[aquamarina]

8. It wouldn't have happened if Barack had picked Hillary.

[blondeatlast]

11. You forgor the :sarcasm: thing. At least I hope you did. nt

[blondeatlast]

9. How INSULTING to us AND to Sarah Palin. She's either an equal or she isn't, but they want it

both ways. Hillary stood toe to toe with the best the Democrats had to offer and proved that she's their equal.

The McCain campaign is intensely sexist for this; yet they claim "sexism"" as a defense.

[JuniperLea]

40. Hear, hear!

Their claims of sexism is much like their bellowing about Obama connections to Fannie and Freddie... projections.

[MuseRider]

10. Furious.

I wondered at first why she would allow that kind of head patting from "the BIG boys" but then I remembered who she is and what she actually thinks about women and it makes perfect sense for her to enjoy her special place. :puke:

[gateley]

12. The press is getting fed up (with links!)

(I'll be back with links) AND McCain is finally going to speak to them for the first time in about a month. So, their controlling her (and his) access is coming around to bite them, which is good.

You are so right -- if their VP pick was anyone other than Palin, this wouldn't have been tolerated this long. Can you imagine a campaign coming out and saying that they were going to essentially 'protect' the VP candidate unless the press showed respect and deference if it WEREN'T a woman?

She's being treated differently lest they be charged with sexism, when in fact it's the McCain who is engaging in the sexism big time. Essentially saying 'she needs special treatment because she's a woman' - how much more sexist could that be?

I still wonder if they would have tried to keep McCain out of view somewhat, since he's been saying some really dumb fucking stuff lately. (Lately?)

LINKS:

CNN pulls cameras from Palin's photo op
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, on Tuesday banned reporters from her first meetings with world leaders, allowing access only to photographers and a television crew.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080923/ap_on_el_pr/palin_leaders

CNN, which was providing the television coverage for news organizations, decided to pull its TV crew, effectively denying Palin the high visibility she had sought.

****************************

More from ABC News> Even Fox News objected to McCain Camps attempt to shield Palin from media
However today the McCain campaign told media covering Palin's trip to New York that they would allow only one editorial person inside.

Then the campaign scaled back further, saying it will only allow a camera and no editorial presence.

The networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox fiercely objected to the McCain campaign's apparent effort to try to shield Palin from questions. Networks voted today to not use any video coming out of Palin's meeting as a protest.

Palin has not held a news conference since being selected as McCain's running-mate, nor taken questions from her traveling press corps, frustrating journalists assigned to cover Palin for the election. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/mccain-palin-ca.html

*************************
John McCain to hold first press conference as nominee (NOTE: I didn't realize it would be his FIRST press conference!)
John McCain will take a few questions from reporters Tuesday afternoon in Michigan — the first time he's had a press conference with traveling media in nearly six weeks, since August 13. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/23/john-mccain-to-hold-first-press-conference-as-nominee/

[niyad]

39. and he had the nerve to imply that it is obama hiding from the press--wasn't it just before the

wall street mess that he was whining about "why is obama hiding from the press? when was the last time HE had a press conference?" the reporter pointed out that obama had been talking to the press that very morning, in fact.

[ORDem]

57. If the press had *any* backbone at all they would simply not show up in the first place. n/t

[gateley]

74. True, but it since they're actually for-profit companies and their

success (and job) relies on ratings/advertising dollars, it was still ballsy to take a stand.

We don't have a 'press' anymore. Sigh.

[Number23]

103. Did you read the pool report??

If this doesn't seal this foolish woman's and her contemptible party's fate, I don't know what will.

From the report:

"Palin, her legs crossed and at one point patting her heart, was leaning in eagerly and smiling. Karzai, wearing his traditional clothes but without his trademark karakul hat, was also grinning while discussing the child. His remarks were unintelligible as the noise from the clicking cameras drowned them out.
This was the only exchange that was heard:

“What is his name?,” Palin asked.
“Mirwais,” Karzai responded. “Mirwais, which means, ‘The Light of the House.’”
“Oh nice,” Palin responded.
“He is the only one we have,” remarked Karzai.

At this point, the pool was hustled out the room and down to the hotel lobby. Pool was in the room for a grand total of 29 seconds."

This was all the could report on the Repub VP's first time EVER meeting with a foreign head of state. And it's a foreign head of state in a country where American and allied troops are getting their behinds blown up every day. THIS is all of the coverage the world press is allowed to get. Un-f*cking believable....

[DevonRex]

13. I agree with everything you said. She should be treated like every

other candidate, male or female. There are only 2 choices here: She's either so unqualified that she can't be trusted to talk or she's a weak little woman who can't stand up to questions like a man. Both are horrible choices and both degrade women.

[niyad]

14. everything about her and the campaign bothers me. first was the insult of choosing her,

as if, having noticed that people will actually vote for a woman, wrinkles and co. just assumed that we would all vote for ANY woman. we know that the real reason she is being shielded is because she is even more of an idiot than wrinkles, and they don't want that made obvious (although the gibson interview was a good start).

[Captain Hilts]

41. Choosing her was a complete INSULT. Agreed. nt

[CakeGrrl]

15. It's an unfunny joke. Any woman who truly wants to see a woman in power

and who isn't snowjobbed by rimless glasses and high heels and big hair and "OMG, she's just like my cousin!" brainwashing would be at least suspicious that she's being kept under wraps.

Of course, those who just "think it's neat" that she's on the ticket and who don't even care what her lack of experience really means in terms of affecting the way the country is run and cannot think forward to what that might mean to them personally are probably not questionting any attempts to limit her appearances and are just excited to see when she'll be on TV again.

:grr:

The GOP, who care not for women's rights, are exploiting her gender to hide behind false sexism outrage so they can avoid having their empty suit candidate exposed for what she is. It's a testament to the ridiculous complacency of many voters that they can't see beyond that and don't demand any more from her than some scripted campaign appearances.

[Lucky 13]

16. Palin's a woman?

She's not a woman. She's a lunatic, fanatical, blood-thirsty, power-hungry, vendictive, imbecilic, religious zealot. She does not merit the title of "woman". Ergo, I am not offended by that aspect.

Have you seen her field even the PLANTED questions from an audience? Her answers don't even fucking make sense! It SOUNDS like she's faking it. She sounds like when you were in grade school and you had a book report due, but you hadn't actually read the book. You throw out the names of the characters and general themes you skimmed off of Cliffs Notes, but everyone can tell you are bullshitting.

Keeping her under wraps is the best thing the McCain campaign can do strategically. IF she fields questions, it will become obvious to even the most ridiculous fundie that she is a certifiable moron. That won't win her any confidence from independants and will make women angry at how stupid she is in comparison to many other QUALIFIED female politicians.

I can't wait for the VP debate. I predict she is utterly vapid.

[ellacott]

20. It bothers me that they are using sexism to hide her incompetence

When she was first introduced as his running mate Carville was on CNN and talked about her thin resume that included the fact that she only had a passport for on year. The Rep woman he was dabating went off and claimed that Carville was being sexist. He was surprised and kindly told the woman that he had supported a woman in the primary and this had nothing to do with sexism.

Whenever he went back to her being unqualified the woman went off about him beig sexist.

They've played this game well and it bothers me because they are actually minimizing real situations of sexism in this society.

[uppityperson]

26. I agree and that seems like what the OP is asking also.

Using her sexism to promote her AND to hide her incompetence. I dislike her for many reasons, and resent being told it is just because I am sexist. I think she is incompetent irregardless of her being female.

[ellacott]

47. I wish we could have some strong female surrogates that would challenge this myth

[grace0418]

21. Every single thing about Sarah Palin pisses me the hell off. This is no different.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

[Neecy]

24. Hillary moved us ahead

And Palin is moving us back decades. If female candidates for high office now have to be treated as delicate petals who can't be asked questions by those mean ol' sexist reporters we'll never see a woman actually elected in my lifetime. You bet it's pissing me off.

[TwilightGardener]

25. They're trying to sneak the Princess onto the throne before anyone

realizes what a shallow, ignorant, unqualified nutjob she is.

[vaberella]

27. There is so much about Palin that annoys me...I wrote a manifesto back in August on it.

When it comes to this issue...I haven't coined a name for this. It would be reverse sexism or this weird sexism where she's the strong woman and can protect her cub from a Polar Bear to someone whos definitely there for sure and anything anyone says or does can be labeled as sexism because of her sexuality.

It's a joke. It's insulting. But what irks me the most is the fact that she's turned into this by other women who are part of McCain's party and she herself participates in the same sexuality game.

You can question her but be nice because she's not that smart so we don't want to hurt her feelings is what I'm getting. She can play with the boys but the boys can't play with her. If you see what I mean this turns into a joke.

It makes women into a joke. What unnerves me the most is the GOP game that includes Palin. Since Palin's introduction into the game of politics. McCain's team has thrown other women in our faces. From Fiorina, who was there but not with so much presence. Then we have Nancy Pfot. who's very attractive and also used as a political pundit since the elimination of Gramm. It's like this sort of subliminal message that not only we have a Veep choice (who's willing to play the game of the prop) we also have several other women who are smart and successful mothers and wage earners on our team.

Obama has always had women, I'm just noticing the sudden influx of women on the political scene and air who are related to Palin. All of them or most have defended McCain well, none more so than Nancy Pfot. However, Palin is playing her role well.

I would love to see Rachel Maddow take on Palin if Palin is so intelligent. Maddow would pwn her. As compared to Michelle Obama who would probably stump a few of Maddow's positions. This is when you see sexuality and superficial looks surpass intelligence and accomplimishment.

It works negatively even to feminist women because they become at war with the "pretty" feminist other than the successful feminist who earned her place.

[jillan]

32. " She can play with the boys but the boys can't play with her"

Well said!
I wish I would have thought of that line in my op :)

[vaberella]

36. Oh thanks. You can add it if you want. Below was my mini manifesto on Palin.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6808980

[DangerousRhythm]

28. Absolutely. I have been LIVID at everything I hear about this woman.

She's an embarrassment to me as a woman and I would HOPE she'd be just as embarrassing to others. The way they shield her from the press is disgusting. There are so many levels of revulsion, as far as I'm concerned, I don't even know if I could honestly list everything that bugs me about her and how she's treated by everyone. She blasted onto the scene claiming to be as tough as a pitbull and what has she done? She's hid from the press and has DEMANDED deference. DEFERENCE! Who the hell does she think she is? If anyone on our team actually came right out and demanded deference like they have for her, we'd be a laughingstock.

Everything about her completely revolts me, her stances, her covering for her inadequacies, her supporters' cries of sexism while wearing "I'm voting for the hot chick!" buttons, the way they have her going through Foreign Policy Boot Camp like some quasi-Eliza Doolittle nightmare, posing her with foreign leaders today so she can point to a picture and say "See? I've met heads of state too!". The excuses made for their behavior by them and some in the press, the blatant hypocrisy of so many. She's a walking disaster and nobody wants to acknowledge it in a serious fashion. Nobody with a big enough voice wants to put it on the line and call it like it is, probably for fear of losing their jobs or losing credibility with half the country.

So let's continue with this charade of a wonderful, competent pitbull of a hockey mom who can balance a budget while balancing her Down Syndrome baby on her knee, while handling her teenage children's issues and handling Ahmadinejad at the same time, pumping breast milk while overseeing the pumping of oil from ANWR, all the while getting prayed over by her pastor, because in today's world we really need protection from witchcraft. This isn't a fucking Enjoli perfume commercial, Sarah, this is our nation's future in peril and YOU are the problem. The problem with multitasking is that quite often, none of the jobs you are doing get done very well or efficiently. Is this what these people think we really need right now, or ever?

Honestly, it's disgusting to me. I still haven't been able to find the words to describe how I feel, although this is a start.

[medicswife]

34. Kudos on your post! Well said! nt

[DangerousRhythm]

62. Thanks, yours too...

I agree that the reinforcement of her as a weak woman who should be sheltered is most definitely infuriating!

[medicswife]

71. Did you hear what the Georgian President said about her?

He said she was "Interactive and amicable". Oh boy. You know what else? I have watched her body language and her facial expressions and she truly is a master of using sex appeal to her advantage. That's another thing that really pisses me off. It reinforces that negative "slept her way to the top" mentality.

[DangerousRhythm]

80. Interactive and amicable? WTF does that even mean?

She nodded and smiled? I mean isn't that essentially what he's saying?

Wow.

I agree also about the body language. It's disgusting.

[jillan]

44. Next time, I'll ask you to write the op for me :) Excellent rant!!

[DangerousRhythm]

61. Thanks! There are more than a few great rants here actually!

I like how we're all basically on the same page about Palin. :D

[No Elephants]

73. Triple what DangerousRhythm said.

[BklynChick]

29. what bothers me is the bigger picture. they just picked a woman to incite women's rage and maybe

pick up disaffected hillary supporters and other angry women. so they put up this totally inexperienced unprepared woman as a TOKEN, and then shield her from everything because she obviously is in over her head. that's what enrages me.

the sexism is in the pick in the first place; the way she is being treated is secondary.

Both send a shitty message to women and girls everywhere!

[beac]

30. It INFURIATES me as a woman, an American and a world citizen. n/t

[medicswife]

33. Saint Sarah's hiding behind her halo and it's not going to

last forever. I think you're right, Pirhana, the media is getting pissed off. And I think that Americans are starting to see through the crap. I read this short blurb on CNN this afternoon about her meeting with Karzai and then the President of Columbia. It was pretty interesting, but only to the degree of access that CNN was allowed. Less than HALF a minute inside during each meeting. What a joke. Here's the link to that if anyone wants to read it.... http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

But, to your point, YES, I am very angry because I know that myself and most of the women I know would refuse to be sheltered like that. I mean, heck. I even sought out reporters when my husband's first deployment was extended from a year to 15 months. I did an interview with PBS back then. I know that any woman worth her salt would not allow herself to be treated like that. The coddling of Sarah serves to reinforce some people's opinion that women are generally weak.

[beachmom]

35. Yep. The McCain campaign ("the ole' boys' network") is sexist.

I don't like Palin at all, but if she had started meeting with the press from the beginning, she would be getting better at it by now. So even if she wasn't completely up for it, she should have still done it. Since she hasn't, now it will be even harder for her. They blew it, and they belittled her more than any other liberal blogger did, because they basically announced that she was too incompetent to talk to the press.

[jillan]

42. They did blow it, but what I wanna know is why are they being allowed to get away with it?

What else am I suppose to think?

[TheDoorbellRang]

37. It's just more proof that the Grand Old Poopies are totally clueless

about women and treating them as equals. They're taking women back 30-40 years with their antics.

[asjr]

43. She opened the door to sexism when

she called herself a hockey Mom. Everyone wants a hockey mom for VP. That would take care of us until the end of time. I am irate about it because the McCain/Palin duo seems to think the women of this country are stupid.

[appleannie1]

45. I think it has more to do with her stupidity on issues than it has to do with her gender.

Bottom line is she is not qualified to be dogcatcher. Where the gender comes in is that the only reason she was picked IS that she is a woman and they thought they could win over all of Hillary women. What they did not realize is that most women are smart enough to see through their tactics. Yes, we want women in high office but only if they are intelligent and are suited for the job. The last thing we need is a lacky that will make it seem that only men are qualified to hold high office and set about proving it by making bad decisions.

[eshfemme]

46. YES! It fucking pisses me off!

The whole "damsel in distress" thing pisses me off. I'm not butch or overly girly-- I'm just a woman but I still have to deal with the default attitude that guys seem to have that all women are just waiting for a white knight. Being an Asian woman, other feminine stereotypes get in the way too.

This is akin to my pet peeve of how women can manipulate men by just crying. Just the fact that a woman is a woman can be used against men in an argument just makes it so fucking frustrating to me because I'd rather win on my own intelligence rather than those types of cheap tactics.

I also fucking hate idolizing someone-- I'm not someone who gushes over celebrities and makes them inhumanly godlike so I deplore the whole making Palin a vessel of womanly heights that so many Palin fanatics seem to do. I grew up knowing that my mom (and dad) were flawed flawed human beings so maybe this is why I find that way of thinking so juvenile and I am nonplussed by the whole idolizing of moms in general.

This is not to trivialize the problem of gender coding we have in our society but people don't realize that the gender roles that are forced on people is just as much a problem for men as it is for women. People don't realize that misogyny cuts both ways. It's "gay" for a guy to defend a woman in front of "the guys" if they're on a chauvinistic riff and it's being "a girl" for women to be unable to bear it and needing a good cry. So yeah, this whole thing with Palin is a huge problem.

[Disturbed]

49. What about her political & religeous views?

Outlawing Abortion, even in cases of Rape &/or Incest.

Against any form of Birth Control.

Abstinence Only Programs in Public Schools.

Creation Education in Public Schools.

For overturning Rove v Wade

Extending US Occupation Iraq Indefinatly.

Believes that Homosexuals can be cured through prayer.



We don't know what her views are on the following:

Keeping Top end tax cuts

Privatization of Social Security

Unraveling employer based health care,

Maintaining the Cuban embargo.

More tax breaks for Big Business

Illegal Spying on Americans

In favor of Busholini Policy of Torture

Against new GI Bill

In favor of Offshore oil drilling

Big Tax Breaks for Oil Corps

Denying Habeous Corpus

[CitizenPatriot]

48. furious at the Pornographic Myth of Pallin

She is a Hollywood vessel of nothing, riding on her "charm" and "looks" with not even the remotest sense of personal responsibility. If I were her, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night for worrying about everything I don't know. Of course, I wouldn't have accepted the job. And I currently have visited way more countries than she has. I also have read history and am aware that the constitution is not the same thing as the pledge of allegiance.

She behaves in such a princess fashion; she is stupid and doesn't care to learn, she is a general tool of the patriarchy. She is worse than pornography, to me. She is, in fact, the most pornographic image I've seen in a long time-- selling motherhood, moose-killing, oil baroness and VP to all. She can do it, so can you. She's selling the Patriarchal Myth of equality, with no feminine soul and no humanity allowed.

Yes, she enrages me.

She is smug in her superiority instead of rallying around her sisters in compassion.

She is not a lover of others, she is a hoarder of power and a reptilian monster of greed and ignorance, masquerading as a beauty queen.

She's clearly not a warm and good parent. She's again subscribing to the subservient role of the woman as the producer of heir and spare and then in return for her duty, she gets shielded and protected from the world.

She will be used by men for generations as the "why can't you be like her?" the sweet, pretty, mommy to all Vice President who somehow never gained a pound when she got pregnant.

I am not against beautiful women nor am I some bitter feminist, as we are somehow portrayed by the fearful simpletons. I am angry, though and I am a woman:-) Scary, I know. I can also be sweet and loving if I am so inclined. I am not right now.

I am not cutting her down for being attractive (namely because I don't find her attractive). I'm cutting her down for selling her soul out. Beauty comes from the inside and she does not have beauty. but she's still being shoved down our throats as the "hot one". More soulless pornographic myths no real woman could ever "live up to" and no real man would want her to try.

She is sex as weapon to get control of your minds, the government and women's rights for generations. I resent being told constantly that she is hot. A woman who sold us all out is hot? A woman with no brains is hot? A woman who sells out her own kids is hot? Since when did we have so little expectation for beauty? and since when were we so quick to determine someone's value based on their looks- as if not studying of the subject were called for first. And just why do men feel compelled to say this anyway? Get over it. I'm so not interested in your judgment of a woman based on her first glance looks. As if we are all supposed to care?

I can't tell you how absurd I find this culture at times; men I don't know feel free to walk up to me and tell me what they think of my looks, tell me what they think I should be wearing, that I shouldn't smoke because it ruins my looks -- Um, someone needs to clue these guys in that we own these vessels. Not them. I don't give a rat's ass how some man think I should dress or look. And I don't give a rat's ass what you think I should be doing with my uterus, either! How fucking dare these people? Get over yourselves, patriarchal masking as preaching, American values men and the women who serve them. Newsflash, we women do not exist to please you. And therein lay the problem with Palin. She exists as an empty vessel to please the patriarchy and they just eat it up and NOW pay her back for her willingness to sell herself out with Hillary's Mantle???!!!!! I hate this country!

Looking for passport now, applying for visa.

edited to add that this is only my problem with her as a person. I have another dissertation on her policies and her inexperience and her irresponsible judgment.

[jillan]

52. Great rant!!

About Sarah's looks, it's the makeup and the whole glamour look that makes her pretty.

I don't see any beauty coming from within.

Compare her to Michelle Obama. Her personality and the love in her heart shines thru her eyes.
And that alone makes her much more beautiful - and real - than Sarah.

[CitizenPatriot]

55. I could not agree MORE

I love Michelle and Jill- both are beautiful, vibrant and sexy woman who radiate love and smarts.

palin is all lipstick and no pit, though I grant her she's full of bull.

[Lilith Velkor]

51. They did the same thing for Bush, so no.

[jillan]

53. Was Bush this shielded from the press?

I honestly don't remember because it was the election of 2000 that got me actively involved in politics. Before then, I was interested, but only with one eye opened.

Did Bush really tell the press to go away before he was elected in 2000?

[Lilith Velkor]

67. He didn't have to.

They were way too busy gushing about what a likeable guy he was to have a beer with to notice he's a fucking retard.

Palin is a bit more obvious, and the press is less malleable now that Bush has repeatedly screwed the pooch, so this is how the Repubs are rolling.

[hamsterjill]

54. Yes.

It pisses me off. And I think McCain not only is allowed to get away with this because she's a woman, I think he is DOING it because she is a woman.

He picked her for the spot for a purpose, but he doesn't regard her as a legitimate running mate. He darn sure doesn't want her speaking up and messing anything up for him by possibly saying the wrong thing. He basically puts up with her because she has something to offer his campaign by appealing to the religious extremists.

Oh, and just as an added comment, everything about this woman totally pisses me off. She's just plain strange!

[jillan]

56. Compare that to Obama - who picked Biden! Biden who will always

speak his mind - even when you don't want him too :P

Guess that says alot about which candidate is more secure in himself :)

One welcomes an outspoken partner, while the other picks one that is not allowed to speak unless asked.

[hamsterjill]

64. Exactly!!!

Thank goodness that Obama has intelligence and security and has picked someone who he views as an equal. Someone with real knowledge and expertise about what the job of Vice President requires.

McCain picked a fashion statement. And she's already last year's model in my opinion.

[CitizenLeft]

59. yes... all the more reason because she compared herself...

...to Hillary. What a travesty, what bullshit. Can you imagine Hillary Clinton hiding from the press? She can answer any question on any topic with dexterity, even if it's a non-answer!

What a joke, what an embarrassment this woman is.

[DangerousRhythm]

66. The gall of Sarah Palin...

In her very first stump speech, DARING to say she'll break through that highest glass ceiling for Hillary and all women. What a crock! So, her glass ceiling is only vice-presidential? I have to ask, does she not get that Hillary climbed her way up and did battle in the primaries for that historic position of PRESIDENT? She really doesn't think very well, does she? I completely despise her!

[CitizenLeft]

77. so do I.

I still shake with anger when I think of her arrogance. The freakin' nerve of her just... like you said... GALLS.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

60. Completely sexist..A cardboard cut out could fulfill her commitments.

Republican women that have worked hard in their party and are not ex-beauty queens should be pissed as hell.

[DangerousRhythm]

69. Yep, I've said that myself.

Two of the more prominent ones, Olympia Snowe and Kay Bailey Hutchison... it could be that they had the smarts not to want to go down with the S.S. McCain, but if they were truly passed up, wow, how insulting. Both are much more formidable than Caribou Barbie and could whip her ass mentally anytime. What a sham.

[helderheid]

63. This DU sister is checking in and is mad as hell!

:hi:

[jillan]

68. Lol - new group - Mad As Hell Women Against Palin.

:P

[renie408]

70. I hate everything about Sarah Palin. I hate that she is too incompetent to talk to reporters

I hate that she was a goddam beauty queen, I hate that she has no experience...everything about her. They picked this woman who is going to put women back by decades.

[quiet.american]

72. Yep, especially since she's a self-described pit bull who doesn't blink.

Palin is just sheer disgusting.

[seabeyond]

75. everything about her as a woman is offensive. she is the most negative of what a female is

and doesnt have a clue.

bothers me on so many levels too

[tandot]

76. Yes. Especially when I hear right-wingers defend her right to not talk

to the press because they are asking "tough" or "unfair" questions. She has mostly been asked questions that ANY male VP candidate would have been asked.

Just think back about the questions Obama had to deal with on a daily basis in regards to the Muslim smear, his church, or the stupid flag lapel pin. They put him and Michelle through the wringer on a daily basis.

I am so tired of their constant whining about having to answer questions.

She is a utter disgrace to my gender.

[Ewellian]

78. I've been angry at Mccain and the republican

party from the moment she was announced as the VP pick. She is not the most qualified Republican woman. It reminded me of the Harriet Miers pick for the Supreme Court....good thing they had a qualified white guy as a backup for that one.
The Republican Party.... desperately trying to repair that glass ceiling.

[nichomachus]

79. Then we should start referring to Palin as a "girl"

If she's going to be presented as a little girl who needs protection, then she should be referred to as a girl. When she starts acting like a woman, we should refer to her as a woman.

[Fleshdancer]

81. YES

Receiving a position based on your genitals is just as insulting as being denied a position based on your genitals. If Palin is truly ready to be VP, then it's time for her to prove it. This pampered princess nonsense is more fitting for Paris Hilton, not the next Vice President of the United States.

A step backward in Jimmy Choos is still a step backward.

[boston bean]

82. Was Obama available to the press on his world tour? nt

[ehrnst]

83. Conservative Republican Woman Syndrome

First identified in Phyllis Shlafly.

You benefit from all the progress that feminism, and liberal thought has brought you - a place in the workforce, expansion of childcare options, a place at the table.

Then you use all that to keep other women in their place, and tell them they don't really deserve all you have, because you're the exception to the no girls allowed rule, and you can play with the boys.

You apologize for the boys, you pander to them, and you play by their rules.

[Blue_Roses]

84. YES! It's ridiculous!

:mad:

[Klukie]

85. The nomination of Sarah Palin and her acceptance of it...

is an insult to all women. Whenever a woman becomes president her bar will set ten times higher simply because she has a V. She will have perform exceedingly well to put an end to any sexist notions that a woman can't handle such responsibilities. Sarah Palin is not that woman. She is a detriment to the cause. When she fails, she will set that bar even higher. Our cause deserves the best and the brightest, not the most inept. As her shortcomings are revealed, womens equality will take one step back. Sarah Palin really pisses me off!

[Life Long Dem]

86. No it doesn't piss me off.

This is the positive side I see in all of this.

It makes it look like the media retreated from the Palin attacks and had to hide her.

[yardwork]

87. McCain is being shielded from the press, too.

Everything about Palin offends me as a human being. I don't even recognize her as a fellow female.

[noel711]

88. It isn't just this 'protection,' and 'deference...'

It's the whole damn sham of it, the pretence.

We all know why they are doing this: they are afraid she's
gonna say or do something really stupid, and blow the lid off.

But, as a feminist, I am appalled and offended by this continued game.

Most of us did what we were told:

WE worked damn hard for every crumb.

WE remember what our grandmothers and greatgrandmothers did for us:
they scrubbed floors, they waited tables, they took any and all kind of shit
from the male establishment... so WE could go to school, so WE could go to work,
so WE could vote...

WE followed all the steps they gave us,
and jumped thru every single hoop to show the world.
that anything men could do, we would do.

WE studied hard, worked hard for every test, every test,
every degree we earned thru the blood, sweat and tears of
our every last gram of energy.

WE did NOT WANT to be seen as coasting on our 'assets,'
nor did we want a whiff of any impropriety based on any
sexual basis. No funny stuff...

NO ONE paid us any deference, NO ONE sought to 'protect' us from
any examination or explanation. NOR DID WE WANT ANY.

We wanted to success on our talents, our work ethic, our training,
our education, our best efforts..

WE wanted to show that our equality was won fair and square, and that
all our efforts were done in good faith in the 'system.'

And this chickie comes forward, and shows the world that none of what
we have worked for is worth a damn thing.

The tragic thing is that the press is complicit: they willingly go along
with the gamesmanship, to get a little 'access,' which is akin to prostitution.

If they had any testicles, they'd pretend she didn't exist.

[Whisp]

89. instruct her to act like she is of the 'weaker' sex then

scream sexism.

I saw a bit of that during the primaries - where some manipulation was done with tears and any disbelief that they were genuine got you a sexist bigot hateful pig label. Your firends and colleagues can call you 'girl' but damn anyone else to hell if they do.

it's really too bad it has to be played like this.
I can see perhaps why Palin has to because she really is a vacuous dope. unbelieveably so.

but why some other women with some creds play this way, I don't understand.
guess it's a regular repug distraction, that's all. too bad it works.

[grandpappy]

90. Palin

I am a woman who lived through womans rights, Roe versus Wade,
the 70's etc. I am really pissed off that they feel we still
need to be protected. I can protect myself! Can't she? If not
what the hell is she doing running for Vice President? The big
boys can not protect her from the world unless they intend to
let her live her life in a bubble.

[Writer]

91. I think it's more a statement that she's dumb as a doornail than a statement of her being a woman.

She's a walking political liability.

[AspenRose]

92. I wonder if the GOP would have treated Olympia Snowe or KB Hutchinson

or Elizabeth Dole the same way if they had been the VP candidate instead of Palin.

[cags]

94. Yep Palin is no woman. A truly strong woman would not allow McCain to walk her around on a leash

[LynneSin]

95. If Jill Biden and Michelle Obama can do this why can't Sarah

And neither Jill or Michelle are running for office and yet both of them are out there campaigning on their own AND even answering impromptu questions.

It's an insult because the republicans thought I was stupid enough to vote for ovaries only.

[Jennicut]

96. Yup. If you can't be a grown woman then get out of the race already.

Very sexist. The little woman must be protected and coddled. I don't like it one bit.

[nini]

97. Yes, it makes women look weak

We want to be treated equally then she expects special treatment :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

98. she is one giant leap backwards for women......

and I'm pissed about it.

Will have to do a repair job on the reputation of what a real woman means. :mad:

[TooRaLoo]

99. Yes! It's insulting on both fronts (as a Dem and as a woman). nt

[mscuedawg]

100. "Protect the little woman..."

...who could blow your head off with a shot gun... Everything about her makes my female cells burn...

[Madam Mossfern]

101. Yeah

and I bet she doesn't even throw like a girl.

Actually I know someone like Palin. She is quite a bit younger than I am; she didn't come of age before the women's movement and relied on flirting and her looks to get anywhere. She was put in positions of authority but could not think or decide for herself on anything. She was a front for the men, and she loved it. I don't know how many times that I argued with her that she was setting back the women's movement, but she didn't care. She didn't care that there were men making all the decisions for her, putting words into her mouth. I finally had it out with her in a big way and a very important person called me into his office and actually told me not to be mean to her! Holy shit!

Palin's entire candidacy has been an insult to me. One thing though, it made me appreciate Hillary.

[dansolo]

104. Not chivalrous -- it is demeaning

They aren't protecting her, they are protecting the campaign. They know she is completely unqualified, so her selection was a cynical ploy to attract women. The impression that I get is that they feel that women are too stupid to vote on real issues.

[Kind of Blue]

105. No it doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, I find it amusing because

it further demonstrates that she's a ridiculous pick. When she does come out and speaks, aside from her disastrous policy and family life, she's constantly proven a liar. What does piss me off is that we are going through this farce when the country needs the most competent people competing to run the government :mad:, and not a joke of a candidate, male or female.

[paregdem]

106. Shielding In General P*sses Me Off

For anyone running for office, from the President of the United States to local Council, shielding is wrong. It makes one appear weak, uninformed, coddled and unable to stand up for even themselves. The shielded are not leaders, they are marionettes responding to the strings that pull them in different directions.

John McCain has become a marionette (...But others sought to protect McCain, including Oregon's Jeff Grossman. "We all support, I think, drilling in ANWR, and we know that President McCain will eventually come around to our position. But he's not there yet. And so I would say prudence would dictate that we leave the text as it is until our candidate catches up with us a little bit," Grossman said. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94057387

Sarah Palin has always been marionette. Even the National Organization for Women is endorsing Barack Obama & Joe Biden.
NOW chairman Kim Gandy:..."The more women learn about what Sarah Palin stands for, and the fact that as mayor of Wasilla, she required rape victims to pay for the cost of processing the police evidence in their cases, up to $1,200. The fact that she opposes abortion even in the case of a child who's been raped or is a victim of incest. Her positions are so completely out of touch with those of the majority of American women that I think those polls, even if they were right to begin with, I think they'll be swinging back the other way very quickly as women find out what Sarah Palin stands for."
..."NOW does not frequently endorse in a presidential race. This is very unusual for us. And we did wait to see who would be on the ticket. Although Sen. Obama has a wonderful record, we did wait to see because not only was Hillary Clinton considered, but there were some names being tossed out I think not by the Obama campaign, but perhaps by the press. But there were some pretty nerve-racking names that were being tossed out as potential running mates. But, when Joe Biden was named as running mate, we've worked with Joe Biden literally for decades, we know him well, we know he's an advocate, we know he's a supporter, and we know that he'll stand up for women because he's done it."

Sisters and Brothers, do whatever it is that you need to do to help elect Barack Obama & Joe Biden as our next President and Vice President of the USA!!!

:applause: