I’ve been feeling a little battle-worn lately. It wasn’t moving an entire 100+ page Web site from one software to another and then one hosting service to another. Actually, that was more a series of small border skirmishes. But this political season seems to have dragged on longer than the war in Iraq, and one topic has grown particularly wearisome: Sarah Palin.
Since John McCain’s stunning August 29 announcement, even casual conversations seem “Palinopolized.” No one ever talked this much about Hillary Clinton, not even those who hated her. I have certainly participated, with gusto, but after almost a month of this nonsense, I was pretty much done. Done feeling frustrated and angry at blatant hypocrisy. Done feeling amazed that people haven’t made the connection between McCain/Palin’s advocacy of drilling in protected land and the financial windfall for her home state. Done being angry over the constant repetition of easily verified lies, like the way she stopped the bridge to nowhere and rejected federal earmarks.
And then someone told me today that feminists are upset with Governor Palin because she didn’t have any special programs helping her achieve success. I didn’t think to say it at the time, but mainstream feminists have plenty of other reasons to reject her. (Feminists for Life love Palin, and well they should – she aligns with their platform.) The more I thought about the statement, the more I also disagreed that Palin really worked her way onto the presidential ticket. She did have a special program, the most effective of all: A white man in power who needed a woman to stand next to him. Palin walked right over highly qualified male candidates with far more relevant experience. This is exactly the point where critics of affirmative action have always made their case.
Except, of course, with Sarah Palin. And that I didn’t consider this until a Republican raised the issue just boggles my mind.
I am so weary of this nonsense. And yet I now see it is important to pass on the links, to tell the stories, to speak and write my truth, not for others but for me. On this scarred battleground of ideas, no one can declare “Mission Accomplished.” Not even after the election is won.
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Michigan Woman Blogger
Filed under: Elections | Tagged: affirmative action, Barack Obama, feminist, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin
