photo by Mary Knox Merrill/Christian Science Monitor
A lot of discussion today about GOP V.P. candidate Sarah Palin’s speech last night before the Republican National Convention and a nationwide audience. I listened to the speech on KNX 1070 newsradio. Palin was plain spoken and direct. She spent little time talking about policy and issues. Nevertheless, she left an impression: positive for some, negative for others.
Most of Palin’s 40 minute speech was allocated to introducing herself and family members, praising GOP presidential candidate John McCain’s leadership and military record; while throwing verbal jabs at the media and the Democratic ticket, particularly Senator Barack Obama.
Palin gave every indication of being ready to rumble. We will have to see what happens when she goes up against Obama and the Democratic V.P. candidate Senator Joe Biden on the campaign trail and in the upcoming debates.
Oh yes, and there was that interesting off-color remark about hockey moms and pit bulls. Apparently, it was an ad-lib. Palin said, “I love those hockey moms. You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” Hmm, I can’t remember the last time I heard a woman compare herself to a canine as if it were a compliment.
Being a hockey mom must be the new “in” female occupation. The “Sarah” bio was published last April with the title, “Sarah: How a Small Town Girl Turned Alaska’s Political Establishment on Its Ear.” Today, the bio by Kaylene Johnson is ranked number 5 in sales on the Barnes & Noble.com website under the title, “Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska’s Political Establishment Upside Down.” Apparently this paperback version is available.
Over on Amazon, the highest ranking for the “Sarah” book is number 13, but it is temporarily out of stock. The title on this hardcover is “Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska’s Political Establishment on Its Ear.” There are a few of these books for sale by independent dealers from $39-$150 each plus shipping.
I may be out of step with some new trend, but I don’t think being a hockey mom qualifies a person to be Vice-President of the United States. I’m not being sexist. I would say the same thing about a male candidate who boasted of being a Little League baseball coach. That’s nice, if you’re running for a position on the local school board.
Governor of Alaska since 2006, Palin’s political career is thin on experience. Still, I believe it is Palin’s political savvy and knowledge of the country’s issues and problems that will sway voters; not how well she got along with the other hockey moms in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska.
Whatever the outcome in November, Palin has a place in history. She is the first Republican female to be that party’s nominee for Vice-President and only the second woman ever to reach that level. Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman selected for V. P. by a major party when she ran on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale in 1984.
Tonight, Senator McCain wraps up the Republican Convention in Minnesota by accepting his party’s nomination.
