McCain’s Shocking Pick of Governor Palin as Veep

Okay – here’s my thoughts:

I think McCain’s pick for VP is a silly one. IMHO it shows a Hail Mary pass desperation to add “newness” and “sex appeal” to his campaign that’s in serious need of juice after the amazing Democratic Convention.

I loved the energy and gumption in Palin’s speech in Ohio as she accepted his nod. She’s a gutsy gal and there’s everything to like about that. She’s no doubt an intelligent woman and a whistleblower who’s fought corruption in her state. However – this is a woman who has held a state office for 20 months now (governor of Alaska since December of 2006). Before that she was the mayor of Wasilla Alaska a hamlet with a population of under 8,000 people. She has no national or federal experience. I thought as she was speaking – I wonder how many times she’s even visited Washington, DC?

IMHO, McCain’s pick underestimates the intelligence of American women voters. The reason women wanted Hillary as President is because they said over and over she was the most qualified person for the job. They said she was “the candidate of a lifetime.” Her supporters said she had the best experience and that was the most important reason to support Hillary’s candidacy.

McCain expects women to switch in a heartbeat to vote for him because he’s chosen a woman.  Unfortunately Palin is pretty much the opposite of Hillary when it come to her points of view and experience.  She admits she’s not interested in the Iraq war.  She asked a CNN interviewer last month, “What really IS the job of Vice President?” She even called Clinton a “bitch” about a year ago and McCain just laughed.

What? Does McCain think women voters are stupid?

True, Palin isn’t up for the Presidency – she’s only up for the VP slot. But you’ve got a woman with no experience in national and international politics. And McCain is willing to put her just a heartbeat away from the Presidency and he just turned 72 today and has fought cancer four times.  Can you imagine this self-professed hockey mom across the table negotiating with Putin of Russia or Ahmidinejad of Iran.  It seems irresponsible and lacking in good judgement. That’s not country first – that’s politics first.

If McCain wanted to pick a woman I think Kay Bailey Hutchinson the Senator from Texas would be one possible better choice.  And, I’m sure there were other Republican woman that McCain could’ve selected that would leave Americans feeling more confident if God-forbid anything happened to him.

I guess McCain thinks as long as he picks a woman that women will simply jump to vote for her no matter what her experience level or qualifications. Oh, Palin is currently under investigation for abuse of power in her state. Nice.

all the best,

Denise Michaels
Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

PS: The state of Alaska has a population of 626,000 people. That’s less than half the population of the Las Vegas area where I live. Sheesh! I like our mayor, Oscar Goodman – but would I vote for him as President or VP?

PSS:  Visit me online at http://www.MentoringwithDenise.com or follow me on Twitter as DeniseMM.