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For only the second time in American history, a woman will appear on a major party's presidential ticket, seeking the second highest office in America. Regardless of political party or ideology, I hope we all acknowledge the significance of this moment in history and welcome one more big crack in the glass ceiling. ?
Immediately after McCain introduced Gov. Sarah Palin to the country, the Obama campaign took the gloves off, saying that McCain had put an inexperienced woman "a heartbeat away from the presidency." I never thought I'd see the day that Barack Obama would question another person's experience, but I guess if you live long enough, anything is possible. ??
Obama surrogates, liberal bloggers and the mainstream media filled the airwaves and blogosphere with hateful lies, attacking Palin and her children. They suggested that Palin's baby boy with Down syndrome was illegitimate and attacked her pregnant, seventeen-year-old daughter, suggesting that it reflected poorly upon the Governor's character. ??
If that wasn't enough, the sexists came out of the closet questioning whether Palin would have enough time to care for her children as vice president. Could somebody tell me the last time a man was asked that question?
What the Obama campaign and the mainstream media forgot to mention was the fact that Palin is an extremely competent woman with remarkable achievements and more executive experience than McCain, Obama and Joe Biden put together. ??
Prior to the governorship, Palin served as ethics commissioner and chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. She resigned from her post after learning of unethical and illegal behavior on the part of Alaskan Republican leaders, including the former state attorney general and the state GOP chairman. She then proceeded to expose the corruption, forcing the men to leave office. Name an instance where Obama or Biden have displayed such courage.
Upon becoming Alaska's first female governor, Palin immediately rolled up her sleeves and went to work. She sold the governor's private jet and fired the gourmet chef. She took on big oil, special interests, lobbyists and the good ol' boy network that had dominated Alaska politics for years. She signed major ethics reform into law and appointed both Democrats and Independents to serve in her administration. Time after time, she has vetoed wasteful spending and criticized unnecessary earmark spending by Congress. ??
McCain, for his part, has long been known as the maverick of the Senate. Time and time again he has fought the forces of corruption in Washington, from big oil to big tobacco. He does what he believes is right even if its politically unpopular. The examples are numerous: his support for the "surge" strategy in Iraq, his support of campaign finance reform, his adamant opposition to wasteful earmark spending and his support of comprehensive immigration reform.
Much has been made of the fact that this election is about "change." Nearly every American wants to see changes in government and both candidates have promised to deliver. Yet only one of the presidential tickets has a record to back up their rhetoric.
To prove that he was serious about reform, McCain selected another maverick to round out his ticket, a Washington outsider known for putting principle before partisanship. Obama, on the other hand, tapped Biden, a "politics as usual," Washington insider who represents the problem, not the solution. Is that the kind of "change" we're supposed to believe in? ??
Obama and Biden just don't get it. They seem to think that changing Washington means fighting a handful of "evil" Republicans and implementing old liberal policies that never have and never will work, including higher taxes on business and industry, bigger government with more regulation and more spending.
Quite frankly, I don't think that's the kind of change the American people have in mind. Change means fighting for the people, not the special intersts; change means having the courage to stand up for what is right, even if it isn't popular; and change means putting your country first, even if it means taking on your own party. ??
This November, Americans will choose between a courageous hero who shot missiles at the enemy in Vietnam and a community organizer who shot staples into a telephone pole in Chicago. The record speaks for itself, making your choice in this election pretty simple: you can either hope for change or vote for change. The choice is yours.
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