Prejudice is ugly and ignorant. It has no place anywhere, particularly in journalism. Yet, when I read the words written by black Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell in the Sunday paper, I was both amazed at what she wrote and disgusted by it.
Mitchell wrote the very words that – had they been written about Senator Barack Obama – would have been cause for a columnist’s termination. She wrote, “Palin’s on the ticket because she’s a woman.” As I recall, Geraldine Ferraro was roundly called a racist when she mentioned that Senator Obama surge in politics was helped because he is black.
Is one statement more biased, more prejudiced, than the other? More offensive? In one sentence Mitchell attempts to displace the experience of this impressive woman from Alaska with what can only be labeled raw sexism.
But that’s not all Mitchell writes about Governor Palin. She also adds that the Palin choice feels “sleazy” to her. Sleazy? Really?
Governor Sarah Palin has thirteen years of experience in elected office. During that time she took on big oil companies and lowered the property taxes of residents. She went up against the “old boys club” and broke up decades of corruption. She vetoed a bill that would have denied civil unions and rights to gay and lesbian couples. She won the hearts and votes of Alaskans and enjoys a better than 80% approval rating. She was doing much of this while candidate Obama was away from the Senate and running for office. And Mitchell has the ignorance to write “it is her gender McCain’s after, not her brains.” That’s sexism. Raw sexism. The kind of words that would cause crowds of angry protestors in front of the paper had they been written about a candidate’s race. It is an argument that should never be brought against someone. It is the kind of sexism I had hoped we were getting beyond. Mitchell’s column sadly shows we are not.
Mitchell writes, “I thought McCain was the fighter, the maverick, the guy who could clean up Washington….suddenly, he needs a running mate who has held office for only two years to get the job done?” The answer to that is: no. What John McCain reached out for is someone who has the same ideals as he, someone ready to take on Washington and bring real change to the way it works, someone from the outside who, alongside him, can bring freshness to the way things are done in Washington.
Here is a Governor who has worked her way up, has been a union member and who is married to a union man. The very narrative of her life impressive. To write that Governor Sarah Palin is only on the ticket because she’s a woman – and to reach out to a fellow Obama supporter, Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz – to try and make the case that women won’t support her just doesn’t wash. For Mitchell to call a qualified candidate a “political stunt” because the candidate is a woman is offensive…and bigoted.
There are scores of people who have worked with and volunteered with and parented with and benefited from Sarah Palin who will attest to her character, her fight against corruption, and her concern for the people. Compare her background with that of Senator Barack Obama.
What do we know about Obama other than what he wants us to know? Washington Post Columnist Charles Krauthammer calls him “the Great Gatsby” of politics, a man who alone describes his past. Where is the paper trail? Where are his accomplishments? In Chicago, there are people working to keep records of Obama’s work with unrepentent terrorist/professor Bill Ayers out of the mainstream media. There are political operatives attempting to sue an individual who paid for a commercial describing Senator Obama’s ties to convicted realtor Tony Rezko and the failed developments he put into Obama’s Illinois district. And then there’s the black separatist Anti-American minister with whom Obama prayed for twenty years. What led him to these people and what led these people to him?
Governor Palin’s past is an open record of which she can be proud. For Mitchell to say Palin is only on the ticket because she’s a woman is not only untrue – it is truly the kind of sexist sleaze that should never see print.
Lee says:
If Sarah Palin, former mayor of a town of 9,780 people, were Samuel Palin, former mayor of a town of 9,780 people, there would be no V.P. candidate Palin. To say so is not sexist -- it is objective truth.
Senator McCain apparently thought he was choosing the only Alaska Republican not indicted on multiple felony corruption charges; but in light of Palin's sleazy Troopergate scandal, we may have to change "not indicted" to "not YET indicted". The other shoe hasn't dropped yet, and McCain's blatant pander is blowing up in his face already.
Now it turns out that Palin's teenage daughter got knocked up -- apparently under Palin's own roof. The GOP base must be wretching.
Moreover, the sleazy smears above on Senator Obama ignore the fact that he has passed muster in the eyes of over 18 million primary voters all across the country. He has a record that has been subjected to years of scrutiny, and he has passed with flying colors. Some people can't stand the fact that a black American is well-regarded by millions of patriots; some people are racists.
If Mary Laney is on medication, she should get off of it. If Mary Laney is not on medication, she should get on it.
GeraldD says:
Any woman who is accomplished enough to gain the state house in a state wide election is a worthy adversary. One who had the courage to take on the political corruption she saw in her own party is to both be commended and applauded. To those Obama supporters who dismiss her based on the fact that she is a woman do so at the peril of incurring the wrath of women everywhere.
Even though she is not on the TOP of the ticket, GOVERNOR Palin certainly has more executive experience than Senator Obama. She has more Commander in Chief experience than Senator Obama as well.
She ran the Alaska National Guard for 2 years. Obama was a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago and made a speech at the Democratic convention.
She took on corrupt party officials and won. Obama voted PRESENT. Obama didn't even have the courage to confront his RACIST PREACHER for goodness sake. Governor Palin has more political courage in her little finger than Obama has in his entire body.
Obama played the sexist card against Ferraro, AND he played it against Hillary Clinton and got away with it. He will not be so lucky in doing so against Governor Palin. The women of America are slowly recognizing Senator Obama for who and what he truly is, a SEXIST.
Senator Obama played the RACE card against Bill Clinton and got away with it. Bill Clinton was correct when he accused Obama of playing the RACE Card. Obama will not be so lucky in playing the SEXIST card against Governor Palin. AMERICA's WOMEN, not necessarily just DEMOCRATIC WOMEN or HILLARY WOMEN are going to be watching very very closely to how Senator Obama and his surrogates treat Governor Palin. The DNC had better take heed.
Dan Kelley says:
Years of scrutiny? Come off it! Obama was totally unknown to most Americans less than one year ago. He got to the US Senate on a free pass. How hard was it really to beat Alan Keyes in an election?
The Alaska troopergate scandal seems to be a smoke screen. The officer that was threatened with being terminated was an embarrassment to his badge and used his taser to abuse people.
The gutter politics and smears issued by Obama's fringe supporters on the lunatic left amply demonstrate that Governor Palin worries the unqualified Democratic nominee.
Allen Hoban says:
Unsurprisingly, "Lee" plays the Obama melody: attack, lie, mangle the truth, lie a bit more, attack on a personal basis, add a few snarky bits, then end up with a rousing chorus of nasty smear.
I love the public face of the Obama campaign for change!
The Great Uniter ain't Uniting.
Emmi says:
Thanks to the sexism and race-baiting that the DNC, Senator Obama and his surrogates, and the MSMedia have perpetrated- this democrat is now a DemMcCrat- I'll be pulling the lever for McCain.
Think I'm alone? Head on over to http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net for a little eye opener. WE say- NO DEAL, Obama. http://justsaynodeal.com is another goodie.
Obama Omlette says:
Lee, if you aren't sitting down at this moment, you should be. If aren't standing right now, you should be.
Nadhmi Auchi & Tony Rezko are two names you will become more familiar with these next 9 weeks for their involvement with Barak Obama's inexperienced rise to political karma.
Kate says:
I am a proud Obama supporter, and a Democrat, but I cannot believe some of the sexist hogwash I have been hearing over Sarah Palin. I do NOT think she was chosen just because she's a woman, I do NOT think that her having young children has any bearing on her being qualified to handle the role of VP. I think her background makes her a very qualified and exciting choice.
Pat Hickey says:
Kate,
Senator Obama is very well served by support from a person of your genuine goodness.
Well done!
Pat Hickey
Gimme a break says:
If Hillary had won the democratic nomination, do you really think Palin would have been picked? John McCain would have found a suitable black VP candidate to try to win disgruntled Obama supporters. It's not sexist, indeed it's not even a commentary on Palin at all, to call John McCain out for an incredibly transparent act of pandering. In fact, I think it's more revealing of the McCain camp's cynical and belittling view of women to believe that a significant portion of Hillary's supporters were more interested in her gender than her politics.
Olivier says:
Do you really believe your 13 years in office statement ?
I live in a town of 6000 people, the mayor has been mayor for longer than Sarah Palin was mayor, he is a great guy, yet I am not quite sure I would have picked him as a VP. At least, I read the village meeting minutes and the agenda ahead of time, I doubt McCain ever read any of the Wasilla council meeting minutes.
It is really sad to see the GOP defending what is a bad VP pick, rather than admitting it was a poor attempt to fracture the democratic vote by trying to appeal to Hillary supporter. It's even sadder to think that McCain, for which we all had some respect before, ever thought this would work. Denial is the first stage, Call me when you get to the next stage.
What about Barack says:
How dare the Republicans pick a candidate in an attempt to win the election! Has McCain no consideration of how this pick could damage the Obama campaign? What about Barack? Now he has not been the center of attention for 4 days.
Michelle is going to be pissed.
thebrese says:
Energy and Debt. Those are the key issues facing our country, but you don't hear much about them in the media. Palin's experience in the areas of energy development and debt reduction compliments McCain's considerable background in international, military, and legislative matters. And yes, it helps that she's a woman. I was a Hillary voter, who is pro-choice and pro-gay rights. But Palin were a man, I'd still vote for her because I see Energy and Debt as the key issues. Energy and Debt. It has been pointed out ad nauseum that Obama has no executive experience. He has never even so much as ran a hot dog stand. Obviously, it's not important to those who voted for Obama. I speculate that the real motivator is an emotional one: that due to his race, they get a sense of personal affirmation if he wins. But you can vote for someone for any reason you wish. Even it be that person's gender or race. Yes, there's a double standard with the sexist attacks against women candidates being okay but if one dares suggest that a big part of the reason why Obama is a candidate at all is his race, you hear screams. But the truth is the truth. And truth is, Energy and Debt are the key issues facing our country. That's why I support McCain and Palin.
Dean says:
From Lee 9/1/08 - "If Sarah Palin, former mayor of a town of 9,780 people, were Samuel Palin, former mayor of a town of 9,780 people, there would be no V.P. candidate Palin. To say so is not sexist -- it is objective truth." You are probably right Lee. But....if Senator Obama, with not even one term in the United State Senate, and a do nothing career in the Illinois State Senate, voting 'present' over 150 times, were white, there would be no Presidential Candidate Obama. To say so is not racist...it is objective truth.
Pat Hickey says:
Mary Mitchell is the Cynthia McKinney of journalism - the hamster has long been off of her wheel; nevertheless, there seems to be a place for her.
The Sun Times is populated with similar talents.
http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/0...