Feminists Have No Pal In Palin

Sep
2008

Here’s my political two cents, as a woman, a feminist and a lesbian: Sarah Palin even near the White House will be a feminist disaster. I believe she is the greatest threat to the women’s movement in the past 30 years. On the surface, you would think we should support a woman who is vying for the second highest position in the country–one with the potential to become President. My argument doesn’t even have to do with her extreme right wing politics or poor judgment (I’ll save that for another post).

On the surface, as feminists we should want a woman to break the glass ceiling of the executive branch. That’s true, but in Palin’s case there is a huge problem. The woman is a laughingstock. I am not going to say stupid, because she isn’t. In fact, from all I have read, she is cunning, cut-throat and manipulative. However, she is not educated, particularly in matters of state. That is a huge problem. The last thing we as women should want in the oval office is a highly visible, highly incompetent woman.

The first woman who will fill an executive role in this country will be under extreme scrutiny from everyone…men, of course, but women also, who tend to judge other women very harshly. It is my opinion that our first female veep or president should be exceptional…someone beyond reproach, with impeccable credentials and well versed in both foreign and domestic issues (Hillary anyone?). In all, someone that is not likely to make serious blunders.

The worst possible scenario as the first woman on board is someone like Palin, who so far appears to be, well, a hockey mom. I have absolutely nothing against hockey moms. It’s just that I don’t know any that would make a good president. Including Palin. The danger is that her incompetence will set the stage for negative opinion of women to serve in the executive office in the future. Comments like, “See, we elected a woman and now look at how she is screwing things up. We should never elect a woman again.” My fear is that this sentiment will send women back to the stone age politically.

And that is my two cents!

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Author: Pat Cheney
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Posted in Current Events, Feminism, Lesbian, Politics, Rant, Social awareness, Women, feminists, vote

Comments

4 Responses to Feminists Have No Pal In Palin

AMEN to that, sister. This lady scares the bejeezus outta me.

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by Rhonda on October 1st, 2008 at 3:45 am

I can’t even stand to look at the woman. It’s a damn shame that this is the closest a woman has gotten to the oval office and she’s just not what we need.

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by goldstardyke on October 1st, 2008 at 9:15 pm

Agreed! I could not have said it better myself!

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by Renee on October 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm

While I applaud putting someone that looks like my tina fey fantasy into the White House, you need a little more than a rockin’ set of legs to lead the country (or do you?).

I’ve seen her in person already, and she’s not as dumb as she is portrayed. Look at old interviews of her on Charlie Rose, etc. and you’ll see that her “relatability” and dumb country act, is likely more a schtick than reality. Granted, she’s not as informed on national issues - but she’s been in the game for 5 weeks on the national stage…and like her or not, she may have looked a little less than informed - but she was seen across the board as holding her own against a veteran of decades in the Senate. Like Obama v. McCain, that takes some talent. My problem is that she was clearly “scripted,” and rehearsed and I liked her better when she was more on her own.

The ideas she has that are stupid to me, are many of the republican ideas in general. For example, there is no coming “victory” in Iraq, she takes a pro-life stance, and her religious beliefs seem to interfere with her logic. Man or woman, those ideas are just silly.

I believe, which most disagree on, that you don’t have to agree with me to be a feminist….you don’t have to be liberal, or for the same ideas I am for. I respect that she’s clearly had the savvy to get where she is. Whether I vote for her or not, I understand that being a woman in the spotlight subjects her to many inequalities that her male counterparts never have to face. Look at that interview with Katie Couric. When interviewing others, Couric is smiling, creepily flirty, and almost likeable…with Palin, she looked hostile, angry. It was the same with Clinton and the media…and it’s a shame.

If you are looking for a great female candidate, I agree that Hillary had it all. Unfortunately a less seasoned, admittedly likeable, less qualified candidate with better language skills has replaced her. I don’t like either choice I’ve been given.

So, while I think both choices suck this year to be honest, I’m choosing not to rail on Palin too much. I’m not a species that eats their own….and feminism is inclusive of diversity to me.

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by Jul on October 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pm