Sarah Palin, Opinion
I was driving down South Tryon in Charlotte when I heard the news about Sarah Palin. I was thunderstruck, but soon pride was once again shaping itself inside me as I thought about this Friday surprise. How ironic! It may be the republicans who land the first vice president in the White House. Then of course, the dismay with my own party, the missed opportunity to do the right thing with Senator Clinton, brought me to another passage of grief-quite possibly, the anger stage, as it moved into acceptance. I proceeded to turn around and head home to listen to Palin’s acceptance speech. I had to see this lady in action that was being described by Charlotte Talk Radio as nothing short of “remarkable”.
Needless to say, I was impressed by this woman, and found the Palin family so refreshing as the children marched onto stage. I thought: this reminds me of my family as we once were many years ago growing up in Memphis. There was always one young enough in the arms of an older sister as my Mother focused on some other family task. Now, Sarah Palin was centering on an undertaking that would not have been available to my Mother.
“One problem”, my loyal conscience cried. “She’s a republican, a conservative.” Yet I gave myself the same argument as I had done earlier for McCain. It was my party’s DNC that pre-wired the rules and continued to adjust them as we went through the primaries. The 18 million votes were forced to cow tow to Dean, Pelosi, and Brazille in an ugly power struggle to force the Clintons out.
“True Democrats” did their job. They fought for Jeffersonian ideals that were noble but unfortunately, not to be attained this time. So I have fallen once again on the ideal of the PUMAS in that crooked behavior by the DNC cannot be rewarded with my vote, "The Just Say No Deal" factor. Since May 6, 2008, I have taken my stance a step further in that I decided to vote for McCain, noting that Country was more important than party, and that it would truly violate my principles to vote for Obama.
True, the country is in worse shape than at any time I have witnessed it, pointing out to me the gravity of what is at stake. Experience and very sound judgment is needed. For now, issues that would possibly separate me from McCain seem very small. The addition of Palin has been a brilliant solution for the McCain campaign. I admire the grit and the maverick personality of Sarah Palin. She has fought corruption among her own colleagues and party members. I simply think she would always do what is right. Sarah Palin did not give in to any political machine. Palin did not ask for anything unsavory to propel her into political life. Instead, she has valiantly fought corruption and faced risk.
I would hope that women like me, who are pro-choice, remember that Sarah Palin has faced the toughest of women’s issues, and that the day is near that abortion rights will not be on any party platform. There are too many things that we can unite on this election round, and we need to do this and celebrate Sarah Palin. Remember, women have fought so hard for good women to take their rightful place in public life.
I admire Sarah Palin for living what she believes…..TR, Charlotte Front and Center
