LETTERS

Madame Vp?

NEWSWEEK

Published Oct 18, 2008

From the magazine issue dated Oct 27, 2008

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Sarah Palin remains a curiosity for readers. "She came out of near obscurity with no real agenda but to win this for the Republicans," one said. Another questioned the choice given other "smart and experienced women." And one gushed of having a new "Jackie Kennedy in the form of Sarah Palin."

Debating the McCain-Palin Ticket
The most important constitutional duty of the vice president is to take over if, God forbid, anything happens to the president. If John McCain thought that in order to win the election he needed a conservative woman as a running mate, there were plenty of smart and experienced Republican women out there he could have chosen ("McCain's Mrs. Right," Sept. 8). His choice of Sarah Palin casts a very dark shadow over his argument that Barack Obama lacks experience. McCain's decision was highly irresponsible; the United States and the world deserve better.

Ronald Steers McKinney
Coyoacan, Mexico

I am worried. yes, Sarah Palin is pretty, scrappy, ambitious and ultraconservative, but does that qualify her to be vice president of the United States? What is one to make of her academic credentials from five different colleges with only an undergrad degree in journalism, and her only international experience a trip outside North America in 2007, as well as no actual Washington experience? If Palin were a man, she'd be laughed off the ticket! American voters, don't kid yourselves.

Carolyn Hornfeld
Geneva, Switzerland

John McCain has every right to choose a running mate as he sees fit, but the person who attains the second-highest office in the world should lead by example, and by the second column of your article, I started having my doubts about Sarah Palin. I don't know about Alaska's legislation, but most anywhere else in the world it's an offense and dangerous to drive while "talking and tapping on a BlackBerry." What a poor example for others.

Adam Manik
Male, Maldives

Not only does Sarah Palin lack expertise in foreign affairs, but she has also had little opportunity to develop an awareness that the United States is but a small part of the planet. The country has less than 5 percent of the world's population, and its mores are based on a religion that is alien to two thirds of the people on the planet.

John R. Dollar
Shepperton, England

If I had a friend with five kids, including a newborn with Down syndrome and an unmarried, pregnant teen, plus a demanding job and legal problems, I wouldn't ask her to so much as bring cookies to a PTA meeting! What was John McCain thinking when he asked Sarah Palin to take on the responsibility of being one heartbeat away from the presidency? I am a feminist and all for breaking glass ceilings, but not at the expense of the family. A parent who stands for family values has to be responsible to this sacred duty first and to career and ambitions later. Your article says Palin "seems to enjoy that role of strung-out supermom." I don't feel safe with that characteristic in someone serving as vice president of my country.

Ximena Tagle
Houston, Texas

Member Comments

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Posted By: TruthForward @ 10/23/2008 2:11:05 PM

Taxes:

-Those making between $250,000 and $400,000 annually will have less than $1,500 increase in their taxes. (These people are not complaining. Joe is not one of these people.)

-Those making more than $3 Million annually will pay only 23%.

This will PAY FOR the tax cuts given to the middle class.
This WILL NOT INCREASE THE DEFICIT!

Calculate your taxcut: http://taxcut.barackobama.com/

...................

McCain has a Santa Clause approach to tax cutting. He wants to make cuts, but has not identified how it will be paid for. This will never pass Congress.

McCAIN'S TAX PLAN (or slogan) WILL WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT!

Get your specific McCain Tax info (if available)
http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/JobsforAmerica/taxes.htm
McCain has slogans not plans.
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Posted By: TruthForward @ 10/23/2008 2:10:55 PM

Palin did not even pay for her child's stroller.
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Posted By: Nins @ 10/23/2008 12:07:03 AM

It turns out that RNC has spent $150,000 on clothes for Sarah Palin. They also spent $100 for a romper and hat for little Trig, which he wore on stage at the GOP convention.

A hundred dollar onesie? (And these people are saying that Obama would be a profligate spender.)

Did you know that the outfit Cindy McCain wore when she appeared at the convention cost $330,000?

The RNC says that later Sarah's clothes will be donated to charity. OK, so some homeless person will get to wear this stuff on the streets of New Orleans. (Maybe this is the RNC's version of "trickle down spending.") But wouldn't the homeless be better served by $150,000 donation to a shelter or a food bank than by designer clothing?

Fifteen years ago, McCain wrote an amendment to tighten the law on using campaign funds for personal items like clothing and stylists. In May of 1993, McCain said this on the Senate floor "The use of campaign funds for items which most Americans would consider to be strictly personal reasons, in my view, erodes public confidence and erodes it significantly."

I guess he forgot what his prior position was. Again.

Just like he forgot that he used to be pro-Choice and pro-gay marriage and pro-immigration reform. He also forgot that he used to be afiliated with ACORN, and with G. Gordon Liddy. If he is lying to cover up what his prior positions have been, shame on him. If he really can't remember, maybe the detractors who claim his mind is aging are correct.

One last thought: is the GOP paying for Bristol Palin's maternity wear?