Something John McCain will have to answer is - why Sarah Palin? Walter Mondale was also challenged on this in 1984. He never really adequately answered it.
It hamstrung the campaign somewhat in that Democratic women who were much higher in the pecking order than the three term congresswoman had to defend the choice. Even if they thought they might have been the better choice but they had not been considered.
Lets look at current female office holders who McCain skipped over, shall we?
Female Republican House Members:
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
- Deborah Pryce
- Sue Myrick
- Barbara Cubin
- Jo Ann Emerson
- Kay Granger
- Mary Bono
- Heather Wilson
- Judith Borg Biggert
- Shelley Moore Capito
- Marsha Blackburn
- Ginny Brown-Waite
- Candice Miller
- Marilyn Musgrave
- Thelma Drake
- Virginia Foxx
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers
- Jean Schmidt
- Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
- Michele Bachmann
- Mary Fallin
Now there are some very obvious no-goes here. Jean Schmidt, as controversial as she's been, is about as likely to have been picked as Glen Beck. Same goes for Heather Wilson. Some are too inexperienced, such as Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. (I didn't pick Mary Fallin for that role because she was a Lt. Governor for 12 years. Arguably, she is at least as experienced as the presumptive nominee.) Some are not eligible for the presidency like Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was born in Havana but otherwise would be a serious candidate.
There are also a bunch of people who can claim to be more experienced and better prepared to assume the role of the presidency.
Female Republican Senators:
- Lisa Murkowski
- Olympia Snowe
- Susan Collins
- Elizabeth Dole
- Kay Bailey Hutchison
Alright, Lisa Murkowski is out. There is way too much potential scandal going on there. She's also from a sparsely populated state that has three electoral votes. OH! WAIT! Sorry about that last part, I almost forgot that Sarah Palin is from Alaska.
No Kay Bailey Hutchison? Elizabeth Dole? You want 'ready to step in', these two have some serious gravitas. Certainly more than the nominee presumptive. Heck both Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins have Palin beat here as well! I can understand if you're worried about their occasional 'maverickish' stances though.
Female Republican Governors:
- Linda Lingle
- Jodi Rell
Here we are on the final leg! I get it! You want someone with executive experience.
Well, here the choice was easy. Linda Lingle is blatantly pro-choice and Jodi Rell actually has signed legislation allowing same sex civil unions. Either would have alienated the conservative base that you, John, seem so desperate to hold on to.
So, apparently, you needed a pro-life woman with some executive experience. I can find better female options in both the house and the senate. Therefore my conclusion is you wanted a female and a governor and only one acceptable one was available.
Not that there weren't several viable options other than governors for you here.
Candice Miller was Secretary of State of Michigan before going to the House.
The aforementioned Mary Fallin was Lt. Governor of Oklahoma for 12 years. Sounds like some solid executive experience there.
Kay Granger is a former mayor of Fort Worth! But maybe she isn't as young as what you were looking for considering your own age.
I am just trying to understand. You see, for months John, I, and everyone else, have heard you repeat, over and over, the same pat answer when asked about your VP. "They will be ready to serve."
I am not seeing that in this choice. You and Sarah Palin have 67 days to convince us that Sarah Palin is ready to serve. You just turned 72 today. (Happy Birthday, BTW!) Whether you're choice is ready to succeed you is a very legitimate question for you, just as it was for Ronald Reagan in 1980.
I don't see that person next to you, yet. I can't believe the American people do either. You have 67 days to change that perception.
VP choices don't usually make or break a race. Congratulations on making history John. I think this time, it just might.
Comments welcome,
Pat McGovern Sphere: Related Content
