of VP is fair game. It's also fair to look at her record as mayor and Governor.
But criticizing her family or the fact that she is running for VP when she has so many children to care for only alienates working women in this country. Remarks that demean her as some sort of Barbi Doll or stewardess serve little purpose. Her religious background may be fair to question, but it also reminds voters of Reverend Wright (who I feel was trashed unfairly by the media).
Now realize that I'm not blaming Obama here. I think his campaign has been fair toward Gov Palin. His "lipstick on a pig" comment has been blown way out of proportion.
I'm blaming many Democrats who seem to enjoy ridiculing this woman and are hurting Obama's chances to win what may be a close election. For example:
The Politico reports the South Carolina Democratic Chair, Carol Fowler, stated that Sarah Palin's "primary qualification seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion.”http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2008/09/sc-dem-chair-says-palin-only-qualified.htmlAnd many Democrats appear to be upset that she is a avid hunter. The Democratic Party has always tried to portray itself as a friend of sportsmen and hunters. Why are we alienating another block of voters?
And by concentrating on the Palin decoy, we are ignoring the facts about McCain. We could for example point out that he is no friend of gun owners. In fact, the Gun Owners of America gave him a F- rating in 2004 and 2006:
http://www.gunowners.org/mccaintb.htmThe NRA gave him a C+ rating in 2004:
Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2004, the National Rifle Association assigned Senator McCain a grade of C+ (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).http://www.savage-productions.com/McCain_NRA_Rating.htmlSpecifically, McCain played a leading role in crafting the campaign finance reform law that bears his name and that also enraged many lobbying groups. The NRA was one of the most outspoken.
At the group’s national convention in 2001, NRA President Wayne LaPierre vocalized that dismay.
“Is it possible that John McCain thinks you have too much freedom?” LaPierre asked, before adding: “I don’t know what’s happening to John McCain.”http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mccain-has-work-to-do-with-gun-owners-nra-2008-04-09.htmlAs I pointed out, Palin is merely a decoy to divert attention from John McCain. We need to use our ammunition to shoot at him rather than Palin.