John McCain's Inside Passage to the White House
By Bonnie Chernin Rogoff (09/02/08)
If John McCain hoped for an off-season cruise in November, he just may get it if recent polling data is correct. Zogby International reported that since he announced Sarah Palin as his V.P. running mate, John McCain is now leading Barack Obama 47% to 45%. A previous Gallup poll taken before the announcement had Obama leading McCain 49% to 41%. Note: This polling data appeared in a Wikipedia article early on Sunday, August 31. Curiously, the poll results were later deleted even though the data was correct.
When I first heard that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was McCain’s choice, I was surprised because I didn’t know who she was. The more I read, the more there is to like. When I saw her picture, I knew two things would happen: 1) There would be much buzz about her beauty and 2) There would be questions as to whether she can steal away enough disgruntled female Hillary supporters to vote for McCain now that a woman was on the ticket.
Any feminist for Hillary would never vote for a “hot babe” (as Palin has been designated on a variety of media channels). A radical feminist would fetch a man’s slippers rather than vote for a seriously pro-life, Christian woman with traditional ideals who has her babies, totes a gun and supports the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. Who cares about Hillary supporters since they are all liberals? Shouldn’t we be more concerned about uniting the conservative base on social issues? We should only focus on the women’s vote as it pertains to GOP women.
I am thrilled about Gov. Palin as McCain’s choice as it pertains to her character and values. She is pro-life and walks the walk, having chosen to give birth to her Down’s syndrome baby at age 44 rather than choose abortion. Her life choice will be denigrated by some in the mainstream media in the weeks ahead.
Yesterday, Rudy Giuliani appeared on Face the Nation. Comparing Obama’s experience to Palin’s, Giuliani said: "He's never run a city, he's never run a state, he's never run a business, he's never administered a payroll, he's never led people in crisis.” Nevertheless, it is Palin’s experience that will be exploited by the Democrats.
As for Barack Obama, his lack of experience is beside the point. What is troubling is that he lacks a moral compass. Here is a man who supports everything bad and wrong, from infanticide to gay marriage to euthanasia. His biggest regret is that he didn’t vote to kill Terri Schiavo. He supports the murder of babies that survive abortion. Experience would never change that. Americans should never want or need that.
In Barack Obama’s speech I heard arrogance and contempt, especially in his attack on Senator McCain’s commitment to locating bin Laden. Others find Obama’s engaging manner and phony charm an intoxicating combination. His oratory skills are seen in both statesmen and tyrants. While reaching out to his entranced crowds, their reaching back blindly has prompted Rush Limbaugh to wryly call Obama the “messiah.” To have faith in Obama you must believe but not think and that is not the way to elect a president.
The Democrats’ platform has been about energy and conservation as America’s most serious issue, and that drastic cuts in the military budget are necessary to focus on issues at home. What can be better than a governor from a state where energy is a frontline issue? Palin’s experience on energy exceeds that of the other candidates. She created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office. She chaired the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, strongly supported oil and gas exploration and even passed a tax on oil company profits as governor. With McCain’s military experiences well documented and Palin’s eldest son being deployed to Iraq, one can fully expect the new administration to be fully engaged on military affairs. For more information on Palin’s experience see http://gov.state.ak.us/bio.html.
Palin’s conservative credentials combined with Sen. McCain’s congressional experience makes them a formidable team this election year. Palin is an excellent choice, and any objection by Democrats is without merit.
Copyright 2008 by Bonnie Rogoff. All rights reserved.
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