Pandered to the far-right
EDITOR:This letter is in reference to the Sept. 8 letter "Bashing of Sarah Palin." The letter states:
"If you happen to be a Democrat, you are now aligned with a venomous party. Anyone who takes hateful potshots at a 17-year old pregnant teenager or a 4-month old Down syndrome baby is repulsive and deserves to be repudiated. There is no place in our society for such deplorable behavior. Have we lost all respect?"
As a Democrat, I take offense to the implication that I am "repulsive" and belong to a "venomous party."
The letters has assumed, and wrongly so, that all Democrats have been hateful against Governor Palin's two daughters. To say that we have attacked a 4-month old Down syndrome baby is a complete lie. A few idiots in Internet blogs might have, but not the party. Senators Obama and Biden have publicly said that families are off limits.
Unfortunately, the selection of Palin has put the Democrats in a Catch-22 situation. If she is attacked for her views and policy, the Republicans will cry "sexism." If she is not criticized, Palin's ultra- conservative beliefs will be ignored. She will be able to continue espousing her Karl Rove formed ideas unchecked.
Her convention speech energized the party but did we hear anything substantial? Her tone was very sarcastic and strident. To mock Senator Obama's "work as a community organizer" was over the top.
It degraded the sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King and Caesar Chavez. Of course, many in the Republican base like to avoid any connection with the disadvantaged and poor. They don't fill the coffers of the Republican "war chest."
In my view, Palin is nothing more than a Dick Cheney, without the experience, I might add, in an attractive woman's garb. Oh, I'd better avoid saying "attractive;" that's a sexist comment. I've had enough of Dick Cheney and his ilk hanging around Pennsylvania Avenue. Eight years of a Cheney led administration is enough.
The letter also goes on to quote former President Clinton's Secretary of State: "Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright once said, 'There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.' No doubt Madeline was referring specifically to Democratic women. But have no fear; Sarah Palin is a woman of courageous substance who can take the heat and has no intention of spending time in Madeline Albright's 'feminists' kitchen.'"
I don't believe that Madeline Albright was, to quote the letter, "No doubt specifically" referring to Democratic women. She endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton and advised her on foreign policy. Now, Albright is serving as an adviser to Senator Obama.
As to, "take the heat," that remains to be seen. As of this writing, she hasn't been allowed to give an interview. "Courageous?" "Substance?"
Well, she has stood up to a moose or two. She has, as Commander and Chief of the Alaskan National Guard, also kept her borders free from invasion by Russia and the Yukon. She has learned, during her brief political career in Alaska, to walk over the bodies of her critics unscathed. She has, like many astute politicians, said that "pork" will not be tolerated but will keep federal funds anyway.
The "Bashing of Sarah Palin" letter is typical of many "modern" conservatives. They simply "parrot" information from "ultra-right" web sites like the Free Republic. As a matter of fact, most of the information in the letter was written by "boy wonder" Ben Shapiro in his article, "The Hypocritical Woman-Hating Left Targets Palin" found on townhall.com.
Sadly, the party of Reagan and Goldwater has moved drastically to the politics of the far-right, derision and intolerance.
Senator McCain is more honorable than this but has had Palin forced upon him by the new core of the Republican Party. He has pandered to the far-right, in order to get elected. Is this the kind of "change" we want in Washington?
Thomas Martin
Iron Mountain
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harris
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09-12-08 5:25 PM
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Well Done Mr. Martin! For the other comments: John F Kennedy was 44 years old when he was elected president. The conservative comments are also spewing the republican rhetoric - heard all of the your comments on Fox News last night - you are entitled you your opinion so is everyone else - your bashing others is rude.
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Blackhawk
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09-12-08 4:27 PM
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The big difference here might be that Obama has been campaigning for the last 2 years and hasn't introduced and kind of legislation. Being present as President isn't going to cut it. He is trying to become the youngest and most inexperienced president in history.
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Malamute
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09-12-08 4:12 PM
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Also, the First Republican President of the United States of America was a man Named Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln had 8 years of experience in the Illinois State Senate and then 2 years in the U.S. House of representatives. Mr. Obama has 8 years of experience in the Illinois State Senate and 3 and half years in the United States Senate. Obama actually has more experience then maybe the most beloved Republican President of all time and almost exactly the same only differing that Obama's Position in the U.S. Senate may be considered a little better then Lincolns experience in the U.S. House of Representatives. Also, Obama represented 650,000 people in his Illnois State Senate for 8 years. The same as the whole population of Alaska. So to see Republicans denigrate Obama's experience is almost hysterical to me considering their first president as a party had the same exxperience. :)
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Malamute
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09-12-08 4:05 PM
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Actually We are glad Palin is on the ticket. Once people look through the bells,whistles and shiny red buttons they will realize that yes, she is an intelligient well thought woman, but that she is out of her league for this position. There were many many better republican women that McCain could have put on the ticket, but he chose someone that isn't up the task. I mean Kay bailey Hutchison, Christy todd Whitman, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Elizabeth Dole, Carly Fiorina, Meg whitman just to name a few that are much more qualified for the position then Palin. So no, democrats are far far from worried.
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