My wife thinks Palin may swing the election for McCain.

[Kablooie]

She's totally for Obama like me, but worries that Palin may sink him.

My wife is a stay at home mom, homemaker and from her perspective Palin
seems very appealing.

She said her instinctive response was to feel a strong indentity
connection with Palin and an urge to support her.

Palin has the image of being a nice, normal mom who was given this
huge opportunity. The sort of thing that would be very exciting if
it happened to one of her friends.

My wife has a mind and knows this is nonsense and once you begin to
think about it, Palin would be a horrible choice, but she said the
emotional pull was very strong and she fears that many voters would
not think past their first visceral response.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. We need to get the word out. Palin doesn't even believe in abortion for rape opr incest. How's that

warm fuzzy feeling now? :puke:

[KittyWampus]

77. Normal Moms that hate polar bears.

[Cha]

94. And loves war and destruction to

our Environment..her husband works for Foreign OIL for crissakes.

Polar Bears are warm and fuzzy..palin is all about killing the animals and loving john mccain's ad infinitum WAR.

[marshall]

84. Somebody needs to tell Geraldine Ferarro to shut the hell up!

She has given more then the perfunctory praise to the Palin pick and has suggested Hillary voters may have their heads turned.

[Catch22Dem]

2. "Palin has the image of being a nice, normal mom"

That ain't gonna resonate with enough voters to make a shit difference.

[NewJeffCT]

24. you'd be surprised - it works here in Connecticut

Jodi Rell has been a wildly popular Republican governor here in CT, and is known for her straightforward plainspoken down-to-earth style.

[still_one]

3. That all depends. If women want a woman VP who is against women's rights, then she is right /nt

[ejpoeta]

51. that's the thing though. there are some women who aren't that concerned

maybe think that roe v wade isn't in jeopardy. that scares me. beyond the woman's ideas about things.... i try to imagine this woman who has never been outside of alaska politics or life (as far as i know) with her finger on the button dealing with iran or russia.... what does she know about these things? what does she know about the world? what has she done?

[mucifer]

4. I TOTALLY agree.

This is very scary.

[WeDidIt]

5. mainly because half the people I was with believed it until I explained the situation to them

[TwilightGardener]

14. Heh.

[Pisces]

6. I'm a woman and a mom and I felt utter disgust as well as complete confidence Obama will win.

Women have brains, not just vagina's. No way , no how is this woman qualified. I would have been nervous with Kay Bailey Hutchinson as a VP pick. But Sarah Palin is a complete joke.

[yourguide]

13. I concur

Kay Bailey would cause me quite a bit of concern.

[fortyfeetunder]

58. I agree with Pisces --

I knew who Palin was before the announcement and my first reaction when hearing the announcement was :wtf:

Palin, had no clue what a Veep did and now she wants to be one?

She struck me then and now as someone who is intellectually shallow and misinformed.

I can think of several Republican women who would have fit the bill and given a credible run for the White House. Condoleeza Rice, Congresswomen Roz-Lehtinen, Hutchinson, Governor Whitman, or even Elizabeth Dole were more credible and qualified candidates.

OTOH, if America votes McCain/Palin in for the next four years, the world will have two more reasons to hate and ignore us.

[Cosmocat]

59. oh, my roz-lehtinen ...

MAN, I don't like her, but THAT would have been a great out of the box pick - LATINO woman ...

[fortyfeetunder]

85. Yeah think of the potential...

Had McCain picked Roz-Lehtinen, I would wager Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Texas and California would have been wrapped up for the General election.

[Arrowhead2k1]

7. That's why we have a campaign to expose her for what she really is.

A poor choice for leading the causes of women.

[JeanGrey]

8. YES What I've been saying! But if he republicans are stupid

and don't suspend their convention with Gustav coming it will hurt them. If McCain was smart he'd suspend.

[azmouse]

9. I'm a homemaker and my visceral response

was to nearly throw up at the thought of this nasty RW woman being a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

I don't see Palin as 'nice or normal'. I detested her immediately.

[Kablooie]

39. And you're a contributer to DU so more involved in thinking politics than most.

My wife normally doesn't think too much about politics on a day to day basis.

[azmouse]

47. There are still 2 months til the election.

That is almost an eternity in politics. So much is going to happen between then and now.
Her reaction is just to a first impression. As more comes out about Palin I'm sure that positive impression your wife had will fade and common sense will return.

BTW... tell her to get a DU account and get active in politics. It's good for her and your children.

[dana_b]

48. exactly.

your point is what I think most of us fear. We must get active in pointing out her faults. Obama is wise in poo-poing her and we need to do the dirty work.

[book_worm]

10. Not from what I've heard. People are floored by this selection, and not in a good way

[mnhtnbb]

11. Does your wife know the TX to AK plane ride with ruptured membranes

and 5th baby story?

Make sure she knows that story. You can find plenty of threads on DU discussing it. Any woman
who has ever been pregnant will confirm what horrendously poor judgment was shown with that decision--unless of course she really wasn't pregnant, as some allege.

[Kablooie]

41. My wife doesn't have to be convinced but if others felt the same thing, they might.

[TwilightGardener]

12. Sorry, not buying it. I'm a mom, and I know that squeezing out children

in no way makes me prepared to be President of the United States. If women react to her favorably, then I am ashamed of women--it proves they don't think with their heads, they're just emotional creatures.

[woolldog]

22. actually I have faith in women to see past this obvious gimmick.

More faith in women to see through this than I have in men.

[nxylas]

53. You have more faith in the electorate than I do

Remember the fucktards who voted for Bush because "they'd like to have a beer with him"? They're gonna love Palin.

http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/yee_haw_my_vote_cancels_out

[Kablooie]

Expected. If you contribute to DU, you are already more aware of real politics than most.

[RichGirl]

15. Does your wife have any feeling at all for...

...women like Kay Bailey Hutchison who have worked very hard in the republican party, who actually has the qualifications to be president and were passed over by someone who is younger, prettier and has relatively no experience to be president.

[Kablooie]

66. She generally is unaware of political players. Just the ones the media throws in front of her.

[True_Blue]

97. Palin does not deserve to be VP and especially not President

It's sickening to see Palin benefiting from Hillary and all of her supporters' hard work, especially since she is against absolutely everything Hillary has spent her entire life fighting so hard for.

[npincus]

16. he selection is an insult to women and a step backward from what HRC accomplished

[AlCzervik]

17. Palin is a stay at home Mom? I am a Mom and i feel 0 connection to her at all.

[1corona4u]

18. I doubt it would help him win the election, however,

I'm also sure there will be some that vote that way. But there are probably more women, such as myself, who would NEVER give up what we have in Obama/Biden, for something far more damaging, and risky as the other side. People need to remember this is not just about the election, but the long term effects of it. Such as which supreme court judges who get appointed.

I would caution your wife to really think about the long term consequences, not the short term emotions. Seriously.

[Kdillard]

19. Which is exactly why these next few weeks must not be about Palin

but must be about the issues and how terrible McCain will be for the country. I agree with your wife about how she will play so she must not be underestimated.

[Island Blue]

20. What?

"Palin has the image of being a nice, normal mom who was given this huge opportunity. The sort of thing that would be very exciting if it happened to one of her friends.

This is the vice-presidency of the United States we're talking about here. It's not like Palin went down to the Zippy Mart and bought a lottery ticket and won - that would be "exciting if it happened to one of her friends". Her getting the "huge opportunity" to play vice-president is insane. I think my head might explode.

[TwilightGardener]

23. I know--I had the same reaction when I read that--

it's like, "Yayyy! I won! I've got to call all my girlfriends and get some new outfits! I'm going to Washington! Yayy!!"

[Kablooie]

32. She was shocked that the choice illicited these kinds of feelings in her too.

Like I said, it was just a first wave of impression that hit her.
The problem is that if it hit her, it hit other people too and with
some, (idiots of course, but still voters) it might help change their minds.

[Iris]

63. well, I guess to be fair, if some men vote for Bush b/c they'd like to have a beer with him, then

certainly some women would have similar feelings about someone they fell is "like them."

However, I may or may not stay home with kids one day, but if I do, you can be damn sure I'd be very selective about whom I'd sit down and have a cup of coffee with and I'd weed out Palin in a New York minute.

[Loki]

21. I am a woman who is a life-long Democrat

I am a mother and a wife and this nomination is an insult to my intelligence and an insult to me as a woman. I will not now or ever vote against my best interests as a woman. No way, no how, no McCain or Palin.

[sandnsea]

25. Does your wife want your kids taught creationism?

She's the nutball that shoves that shit into the public schools. I bet she's an abstinence only too. Women like her drive me nuts. There's nothing saintly about being a mother.

[Kablooie]

71. She didn't THINK this. She FELT it.

She rejected the feeling as manipulative crap right away but her point is that the message she got from the media was one that many might not reject.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. only if we keep attacking her ability to mother

a lot of women are tired of being derided as bad mothers because they have ambition

[October]

27. I'm a stay-at-home mom...

(I tell people that I work, but I'm not employed.) I'm also a freelance artist, but I'm not here to post my resume. :)

Anyway, I feel absolutely no connection to this Palin woman. No emotional pull. In fact, the only emotion I feel is disbelief!

[Epiphany4z]

28. I am a stay at home

mom of 5 my youngest is actually my nephew he is special needs due to his birth mothers drug use.

what comes to my mind when I look at this woman who will work against free choice and health care for everyone...is how lucky she was not put in a position to choose between her special needs child and financial ruin.

I was put in a spot where I had to choose...not abortion but my sister had a second child after the one I took in. Our family lost him to adoption because she would not do what needed to do to keep him and I was unable to absorb the cost of another child with issues. It broke my heart...anywa I am just sayin.

[KharmaTrain]

61. May You Be Commended As Well

I saw your response to mine in GD and saw this post as well and applaud you for doing the right thing under what must be some very intense circumstances for you and your family.

It makes me sick to think that she and her cynical handlers will attempt to use her child's handicap as a political chit...and attempting to impress women, like the OP, with the career woman/mom image. From what it appears, it's a smoke screen and a cruel one at that. Here's a woman with a newborn with a major disability...one I would think she should have resigned her office to dedicate full time to this child's best care and comfort. From what I've read she never took any time off...and last week dragged that poor child along with her others on a cross country game that only serves her career...and could (I sure hope not) put this child in the public eye and fishbowl of the beltway in the most critical years of his life. It's beyond sickening to me...and an indication of the type of mother she is...or should I say, isn't.

Yes, she is extremely lucky that she doesn't have to worry about the financial resources to care for that child...and looks like she'll gladly use or pay others who will do the job she should be doing. Sorry I'm so harsh on this, but I think the greatest responsibility of anyone who has a child, mother AND father, is the care and support of that child. I joke with my kids how each has been a 20 year sentence...many years without taking vacations or buying a "toy" or much of anything else...our singular focus on what was best for our children. My wife and I always made sure there was a parent around...and always was at their sides, unconditionally. It sounds like you have the same dedication as well...and I truly admire that you've gone beyond your own to give love and support to your nephew.

This lady is a smokescreen for a party that only values life if its in-utero, but is hellbent on cutting any kind of assistance...healthcare and education once they're born...even moreso if that poor child happens to be born the wrong color or nationality.

Cheers...

:toast:

[MrsT]

29. She strikes me as a underqualified trophy VP chosen by a man with a trophy wife

She was picked because she was a cute female, and McCain thinks Clinton supporters will vote for any cute female, regardless of experience.

[Kablooie]

79. Maybe he wants to surround himself with a harem of cutie pies.

Then we could attack him as Muslim.

[yourguide]

30. Todays Rasmussen poll says otherwise...

Especially among moderate women which is what I expected.

[medicswife]

31. Also a stay at home Mom

I felt no pull to Palin at all. My first thought was that McCain was making a play for the disenchanted Hillary supporters, but that it was likely to fail because she is NO Hillary Clinton. Then I was really confused as more and more information started coming out about her. I now think that McCain may have made a really large blunder because they didn't investigate her thoroughly enough. I'm curious how this is going to play out.

[Kablooie]

36. People that post here are already thinking people. My wife normally doesn't think about politics.

[ravishane]

33. It's a valid worry

If the election were within the week or something. But there is plenty of time.

[mvd]

34. Well so did my mom

She mentioned the visceral connection. She thinks Palin is scary, like I do, but thinks the uneducated voters who supported Hillary might go for her. She also thinks the base might now be riled up.

I disagree. I think Hillary's speech mended a lot of fences (I only supported Hillary because I thought she had a better chance of winning BTW, and thought she went leftward since her IWR vote,) and I think the fundie base is smaller than it was. Polls showed the contest was close more because of party division. Obama will still win, but maybe by 3 points instead of 5-6.

[BurtWorm]

35. Does she think Palin is ready to command the military?

Does she think Palin is ready to meet her would-be counterparts in Europe and Asia?

[Kablooie]

72. As I said, if you THINK, it's crap. But we aren't talking about thinking. Just feeling.

[Left Is Write]

37. I was a full-time, stay-at-home mom and homemaker for eight years.

Even now, I work only part time, usually when my kids are in school. I was raised in a typical suburban environment with a stay-home mother, a working dad, and four siblings.

My first instinctive response to the Palin choice was disgust.

Even if Palin were a "nice, normal mom" with whom I could identify, I would be horrified at the thought that she could be installed in the White House in a heartbeat. I like my "nice, normal mom" friends, but I don't want any of them in the White House!

What makes it worse is that this "nice, normal mom" is against everything I stand for, the rights that decades of women have shed blood, sweat, and tears to fight for.

The only people for whom Palin would be appealing are those who would have voted GOP no matter what.

[Kablooie]

73. McCain has created an image some ignorant people might vote for though. Like Bush.

Unless the image is dismantled before it has a chance to sink in.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

38. Every time women think about Palin, they should also think about the U.S. Supreme Court

America would become a hell on earth if right wing extremism were to turn the U.S. Supreme Court into their wicked playland. Forget about Roe v. Wade, forget about issues of equal pay for equal work, forget about issues of time off work for childcare, or any other progressive issue that should come before the court. Either they would refuse to hear the case, or they would allow Scalia to draft the decision according to his own mentally deranged agenda.

[No Elephants]

40. Not buying it.

[Kablooie]

74. I understand. It IS very expensive. You have to spend ALL your common cents to buy it.

[kwolf68]

42. On the key female issues

Reproductive rights
Education
Health Care
Environment

Palin is so far out of the mainstream of women...The only women who will vote for her are right loonies or idiots who just don't care to know the issues.

[Thrill]

43. My wife. Says exactly the opposite

Thinks women see it for what it is

[AlCzervik]

45. your wife speaks the truth.

:thumbsup:

[Midlodemocrat]

68. Yup.

:thumbsup:

[Pisces]

44. I am convinced Palin is a ruse. She will be stepping down next month to make room for Romney

[Left Is Write]

50. Something is fishy, anyway.

It makes absolutely NO sense that this woman would have been chosen given the sloppy vetting job that was done. We are not up against stupid people, so why make such an apparently bone-headed move? I suppose I'd better renew my supply of tinfoil, but something smells funny about this.

[Kablooie]

75. interesting theory. But why?

[Left Is Write]

46. I also wanted to add that this pick may lose McCain some voters.

My in-laws have been firm in their support of McCain since early in the primaries. They always vote Republican, but I'd say their true leanings are more libertarian.

My father-in-law is an atheist. My mother-in-law believes in God but is mostly non-religious. Religious fundamentalism scares them. The idea that Palin supports teaching Creationism in public schools will undoubtedly horrify them. The idea that McCain is pandering to the religious fundamentalists will piss them off.

They're not going to vote for a Democrat, unfortunately, but they won't want Palin in national office either. They are likely to shift their vote to a libertarian. Any libertarian.

[LuckyLib]

49. Tell your wife to look around the next back to school night at the Moms,

pick out the most attractive professional woman there, and imagine her President of the United States. Limited professional experience, Fox/CNN News reader appearance, ready for the White House. In four months.

Governor of Alaska, (the entire state is smaller in population than 16 large American cities) small town mayor and city councilperson doesn't cut it.
She is simply not qualified. End of discussion.

Obama didn't just fall off of a turnip truck. The man has state government experience and time in the Senate. Plus real community work.
Plus work in constitutional law. And an amazing absorption of what Americans are thinking, living.

[Bluenorthwest]

52. If you are not making this crap up...

get a divorce.

Sorry bud, but I think you are a liar. If not, your wife is an imbicile.

[Kablooie]

76. At least I don't have a rubber ducky as my icon. Buster.

[RadicalTexan]

54. Fuck that. I'm a feminist, and I wasn't even for Hillary - no way will I support this candidate!!!!

The idea that women are "emotional" voters is offensive. I'll be a hell of a lot more "emotional" when I'm forced to carry a baby to term that was a result of my being raped.

[Imagevision]

55. Hillary and Bill should be pointed at Palin...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

56. My was was a Hillary supporter and still not 100% sure about Obama...

And she thinks McCain is out of his freaking mind.

[kennetha]

57. for what it's worth

So does mine.

But I wrote that on another thread and got brutally attacked.

But hey, that's life here on DU.

[thewiseguy]

60. Considering your previous posts I think they were right to question your motives.

I can make up stories about what my wife or husband said.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[thewiseguy]

64. No. Screw you for making posts like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4753636&mesg_id=4753636

We dont forget.

[AtomicKitten]

83. wow

That post makes my blood run cold.

[redqueen]

90. Some don't forget.

The rest get ... tricked.

[AlCzervik]

69. well that's it then, your wife and the op's wife think Palin will be a winner, guess we should

all just give up now right?

[WinkyDink]

65. Your wife, eh? Sorry.

[Yavin4]

67. Women Voters Are Not That Shallow

They won't vote for a woman just because she's a mom like me. It just doesn't work like that.

It's actually harder for a woman to get other women to support them politically.

[Kablooie]

80. Well, male voters ARE that shallow. How many voted for Bush because he was a nice old boy?

[TheDonkey]

70. it's a risk and that is why Democrats need to come out forcefully against Palin.

explain to America that she is dangerous and extremist who is not ready to lead and does not represent the change America needs.

[Imagevision]

78. nah! I'll put my money on Obama/Biden right up till they win...

[Kablooie]

82. I'll match that and raise you ten.

[Bucky]

81. Another reason why DU attacks on how she mothers her child are bum steers

Obama's strategy includes not needlessly alienating voters who might swing either way. It would be idiotic to approach an election any other way. Apparently many DUers don't agree with Obama or me on this.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

86. I think that for every person who feels the way your wife does there are more

who think it demonstrates reckless, irresponsible judgement.

[blue_onyx]

87. I don't think she will have that big of an effect.

I just talked to someone today who doesn't follow politics ...doesn't even vote. She talked about disappointing it was to see Palin's positions on things like abortion and gay rights. So I think as time goes on, people will get over the fact that a woman is running for VP and focus on her positions. Especially after the VP debate, I think her favorability rating will go down.

[windbreeze]

88. Not buying into that meme...sorry...n/t

[redqueen]

89. Something smells

[and-justice-for-all]

91. I doubt it...

come debates it will be like watching a shark feeding frenzy. poor Palin, she does not have a chance at standing up to Biden, she will be destroyed in the debates.

[Sparkly]

92. A "nice, normal mom" a step away from being leader of the free world?!?

This isn't a pageant or a sweepstakes!! It's the vice presidency!! Who on earth wants someone whose best credentials are being a "nice, normal mom?!"

I'm sure most of us think there are better picks than any of our friends!! Exciting if they win the lottery, but frightening if they win the vice presidency!

I can't fathom this way of thinking.

[Cha]

93. Maybe she should read some of the info

out on palin and forget about fiction.

[True_Blue]

95. I'm afraid Palin will set women back 20 years

McCain's choice of Palin as VP, shows what he thinks of Hillary's supporters and women in general.

[Meshuga]

96. You have to remember that this is a honeymoon phase

Once all the negatives come out I am sure stay at home women will see that they cannot identify with her. Especially when they learn about Palin's positions on the issues.

[Coexist]

98. so get her on the city council - but for fucks sake - a heartbeat away from taking on Putin??!