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Watching the most recent Katie Couric interview with Sarah Palin makes me sad. I do believe she is woefully unqualified, and it makes me cringe to see her doing badly. As much as I felt I could not fully support a Clinton candidacy (But then, will there ever be a candidate I can fully support? It was naive of me to think Obama would be any different on the issues I’m concerned about, or any Democrat for that matter.), I was never cheering for her loss as others were. The LAST thing I wanted to see was Clinton’s downfall due to how many were gleefully waiting for it. I feel like that’s gradually where my opinion is going in terms of Palin despite feeling that many of her policies are abhorrent and indeed a step back for women.

It seems that with the economic crisis, the Republican use of sexism as a tool to shut people up when talking about Sarah Palin has abated. And while I outlined the sexism I saw being leveled at Palin in a previous post and see more everyday (more to come, trust me) I was incredibly frustrated with the men and some women who began to use it in some cynical bid to women. The “gender and victim cards” of the Clinton campaign were all of a sudden welcomed talks of the sexism towards Palin! My stars! There are many issues that aren’t partisan. This is one.

So.. here is a run down I began in the midst of the furor after the Palin pick. It’s not great, but it’s been bugging me so I’m just going to post it already. It’s been holding up a backlog of other posts.

The Bristol Palin pregnancy - A private issue and a family matter, right? Coming from the party that routinely paints a specter of unwed black teen mothers and their lack of “morals” as they drain the system. Thank you Reagan for the racist, sexist re-framing of welfare with the “welfare queen” anecdote in an 80s campaign speech. Despite documented evidence to the contrary, it persists to this day.

Maegan “La Mala” Ortiz at Racialicious captivated me with this post: McCain’s VP Pick : Palin and the Politica and Privilege of White Woman’hood/Mommy’Hood

Imaginate if Michelle Obama had five children? Imaginate if one of the Obama children were older and pregnant? Imagine the hate and stereotypes that would be unleashed? Oh wait, I don’t have to imagine, as a single mami of color, I live it. Palin’s large brood isn’t seen as a strain on the system. They are a beautiful portrait of an “American” family making every other family, families like mine, ugly.

Lipstick on a Pig - Twisting Obama’s speech to make it look like he was calling Palin a pig, rather than acknowledging he’s using a common phrase to describe McCain’s RECORD ON CHANGE and then seeking to MAINTAIN that this was sexist of him. This is coming from a man who called his wife a cunt, jokes about rape, volunteered his wife for a topless beauty pageant and laughed when a woman asked him during a town hall meeting - “How do we beat the bitch?” I’m wondering how outraged that woman is over sexism against Sarah Palin now! I can’t help but think when McCain endorses this idea - is he seriously lying through his teeth?

This probably needs to be nominated as quote of the day or something - Hannity states that to think Obama did not intend any sexism with his use of the phrase is “naive and irresponsible.” Does this mean Hannity will become a dedicated advocate in pointing out sexism everywhere?? That would entail NOT being partisan for once, and he would actually have to work on his own sexism! Isn’t it naive an irresponsible to allow sexism to thrive unchecked?? Hold on…must…. stop.. laughing.

Update: Apparently McCain admitted that Obama was not calling Palin a pig. So basically, he IS lying through his teeth and as I’ll probably mention another 50 times before we’re done here - they are using sexism as a political tool and I am completely sick of it. This illustrates to me that they think nothing of the serious issues that impact women’s lives every day.

Sarah Palin is a “cheerleader.” - When I first heard this I cringed. Yet, as I watched her speeches (written by a Bush speech writer), I couldn’t help but marvel that the Republicans had crafted her role to be exactly that. She heavily lauds John McCain, praising him and the job HE will do for the country. This is not a partnership. While I think you can argue that they are not meant to be a partnership, I know that I see other President/VP tickets in a much different light. There is a power differential and it seems completely intentional to me.

It does two things - Although we have a woman who has a fair chance at the VP slot, choosing someone who can not stand next to John McCain with her own hefty set of accomplishments and ambitions illustrates the very hierarchies that patriarchy seeks to keep in place. (I’m still trying to figure out if this argument has any merit - it just feels that way to me.)

As well, she is the antidote to the idea that John McCain is an elitist with so many houses he can’t count them. Everything is spun into a “smear” by those “liberal elitists.” It’s not, “Wow, Palin’s interview with Gibson was some real evidence that she doesn’t seem at all qualified.” but “Gibson was intentionally condescending and hard on her to make her look bad!”

A month ago I would have told you I was as cynical as I could get. They sure did prove me wrong.

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