This Hillary Democrat won't vote for Palin
Janice Hahn was still hurting early in the Democratic convention week over the fact that her candidate, Hillary Clinton, did not get the presidential nomination and won't be on the ticket. "I think this may have been the last chance in my lifetime to elect a woman president," said the Los Angeles councilwoman.
But that doesn't mean this ardent Democrat will consider a vote for John McCain, now that he has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running-mate.
"I think when all is said and done it was always about more than having a woman in the White House," Hahn said by phone shortly after 11 a.m. Denver time, as her plane home was about to begin taxiing. "John McCain's priorities are just not in line with most women's. The stakes are just too high. Hillary said it in her speech. 'Were you in it just for me?'"
Hahn may be typical of most women Democrats in Denver over the last week. She is the first woman elected to office from a family of staunch Democratic men (all of whom served, however, mostly in nonpartisan office): Her late father Kenneth Hahn, the legendary county supervisor; her uncle Gordon Hahn, a state assemblyman and councilman; and her brother Jim Hahn, Los Angeles mayor, city attorney and controller.
McCain can be assumed to be trying to reach Hillary Clinton supporters who are rooted less deeply in Democratic politics than the Hahns.
2005 photo of Janice Hahn by the Times' Al Seib
Great point, it really looks like Palin is designed to FOOL women voters, which McCain should know u cannot do.
Posted by: aaron johnson | August 29, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Most Democratic women voters will see through the Palin selection by McCain for the ploy that it is, and vote for Barack Obama for President.
Posted by: Sheldon | August 29, 2008 at 12:31 PM
It would be so sad if Hillary's women fans were to really fall for such a cheap shot. Sure, some women may still be angry, but if they really love Hillary, they would never vote for a woman who seems to stand for ideals opposite to those Hillary has. Does an anti-abortion rights, gun crazy conservative woman strike anyone as a feminist who would really care for what women have to say? Seems to me she would be a good one to walk 3 steps behind McCain and stay quietly in her place unless directed to say or do something.
Posted by: Liana | August 29, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Hey Hillary supporters: You seem to think that all women are democrats. Well we're not! Republican women are very happy with McCain's choice. If my husband's dancing around the house this morning, with a big smile on his face is any indication, I think he is equally happy.
Posted by: diana | August 29, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Has anyone forgotten than Palin is pro-life? If she cannot even get women's rights down, how does McCain expect to get women who voted for Hillary?
Posted by: Jenny | August 29, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Compared to all of the Senators on the Republican and Democratic tickets, Governor Sarah Palin has two more years of running a government, balancing a budget and managing a legislature than any of the other candidate running today. The fact is, being a Senator means you spend 50% of your time campaigning, 25% with your family and another 25% showing up to vote the party line 90% of the time. The fact is Senators don’t even read the laws they are voting on anymore as Michael Moore proved. A robot could do the job.
So what experience does Obama, McCain or Biden really offer in regard to governing? Governor Palin has worked a real job, ran her own company, been a real mom, a real mayor and a real Governor. McCain does not know how to use a computer yet we are considering him for President? Obama has not run a budget for anything and worst of all he is a lawyer. Biden is a 35 year veteran of the U.S. Senate democratic party machinery and he represents change? If you want change, Governor Palin sounds more like change then the rest of the fools on both tickets. All of these Senators have voted what they were told to vote on by their respective party over 90% of the time. Look at the records yourself. Not one of those Senators has real leadership experience. They are high paid order takers and not leaders.
Posted by: Yukon Dave | August 29, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Suddenly it's not about having a woman in the White House? It never was. It was about having a LIBERAL/SOCIALIST woman in the White House. The MSM screwed you, and you feel betrayed. How does it feel to have the media lie about you? undermine you? Welcome to the club.
Palin is not about fooling liberal women, it's about putting a Conservative on the ticket to secure his base. Lost of Hillary supporters will vote for McCain because they understand that Obama is dangerous and if he wins, the media has won.
Posted by: Mark | August 29, 2008 at 01:44 PM
All politicians are strategists. Regardless, Palin is very smart and has led an incrediby honorable life. I don't think John McCain is really gonna end up needing Hillary's voters. This year, I decided to really pay attention to the election, read everything I could and watch as many news shows that would show both sides. Last night when Obama spoke, all I kept asking in response to his promises is "how?" I have been a corporate lawyer for 10 years and a libertarian for 16 years; I know business and economics very well. That speech was just a lot of standard liberal fluff with no substance -- what people want to hear but the implementation has either (i) already happened (i.e., FMLA and the Equal Pay Act -- does he know about these laws already in existence? That scared me); (ii) is logistically impossible or (iii) would cost an absolute fortune (he is LYING when he says he will not increase the taxes of 95% of people -- read one article or watch one show that discusses his actual plans and that is obvious). He is a great speaker, but if you really examine the issues he is discussing, it does not take long to realize he doesn't really know what he is talking about. He may have all the polish and shine, but I don't trust him to run my country. I think more people will realize this in this debates.
Of course, this is just my opinion and I am fine with people not agreeing with it. I love living in a democracy, even though it means I have to listen to people who stand for exactly the things I do not.
Posted by: jaclyn haynes | August 29, 2008 at 01:47 PM
In my mind, this gamble comes down to balancing two major things. McCain steals Obama's post-convention hype vs. removing his ability to talk up Obama's inexperience. There are other factors, as I point out here:
10 Reasons Why Palin Will Win And Lose The Election For McCain
but that is the major gamble that the McCain campaign took with this selection. I tend to agree though, these pro-choice women are not going to go GOP simply because a pro-life female is on the ticket.
Posted by: Some Dork | August 29, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Only 2 years ago Palin was the mayor of a town with a population around 6,000. This qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the US presidency how? Even worse when the Presidential candidate in question is a 72 yr old who has had health problems.That's downright scary. I didn't like Hillary's campaign tactics but there's no comparison between her and Palin, sorry.
Posted by: Jen | August 29, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Does anyone for a minute think that Hahn would really not vote for Obama. She was just having a crybaby moment cause her candidate wasn't handed the nomination. Now she'll crawl back and support her male superiors. What courage.
Posted by: CharacterA | August 29, 2008 at 02:15 PM
This is such a shallow choice by McCain. Such a purely political move. It shows a huge lack of judgment on his part. Sarah Palin isn't even close to being ready to be President.
Posted by: Jonny M | August 29, 2008 at 02:57 PM
The Palin pick is simply meant to Exploit women. IT shows the republican party is completely out of touch with the US public. Obama just won the presidency. McCain needed to solidify and inspire the republican base. HE just lost them with this pick. He can no longer argue experience. He has absolutely NO ANGLE to win now. Unbelievable...
Posted by: Andrew | August 29, 2008 at 03:07 PM
As a male I may need a bit of help understanding “women’s issues”. Some on this page are saying Palin does not represent women’s issues. Please correct my list and inform me of which stance on each issue a woman is to adhere. Then, please compare and rate Palin against the list.
1. Choice / abortion 2. Equal pay for equal work 3. Shared husband/wife responsibility of family 4. Balancing children and work 5. Holding the “Top” job 6. Sports 7. Social involvement 8. Education and self understanding 9.___
Posted by: todd | August 29, 2008 at 03:42 PM
The solidarity between the average women is very low and their feeling for dignity very high. That makes McCains choice a desaster. I have no doubt that Barack would have chosen Kathleen Sebelius as vp if his women and the women of his campaign would have told him that it would have helped him.
Posted by: maz hess | August 29, 2008 at 03:50 PM
I'm disgusted by the liberal democrats posting to this blog that claim that Palin and/or McCain aren't qualified to run for Presidential roles due to their lack of experience, when these same people will go to the polls and blindly vote for Obama, who has less than 150 days of senatorial experience himself. McCain has far more experience in his career that would lend itself to constructive leadership than Obama will attain in his lifetime. If people are going to make inaccurate statements, at least do your research first. God knows the democratic party would like us all to have the minds of children, and many of the posters here dictate that their mission has been accomplished. . . :(
Posted by: Jon | August 29, 2008 at 04:22 PM
I am a registered democrat, but I can tell you that I would never vote for Obama. I'll be cross partisan voting this year for McCain. I'm hoping the rest of the country will think before casting their votes in November.
Posted by: Melissa | August 29, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Re: "If people are going to make inaccurate statements, at least do your research first" -- I beg to differ. Making inaccurate statements after doing research is the job of those of us who write Opinion LA. Commenters should feel no obligation to do research first, they can just fire away with their inaccuracies.
Posted by: Jon Healey | August 29, 2008 at 04:33 PM
This is laughable...a poster above basically regurgitated Obama's sound bit about Palin being a former mayor of a town with a Pop. of 6,000 being a heartbeat away. While we have Obama that's been a state senator for 2 years?? And oh yeah, some community service work. Give me a break.
Do any of you said Democrats ever think for yourselves? Or just what your media and I guess candidates say? Palin has more experience than Obama at 1) governing a state, 2) running a city. Obama is running for President and has less experience than the Republicans' VP choice.
And honestly most of the Hilary supporters (read women) aren't the type I want voting for McCain/Palin anyway.
So I'm also guessing, most of you Hilary women supporters that are Pro-Choice, would have aborted Palin's Down Syndrome child had you known about it, correct? (that I actually took from a female caller to a talk show) Makes me sick.
Posted by: Ian | August 29, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Let's forget about Palin, and Obama, and Hillary, and all of them.
Who destroyed the country lately? Republicans! Who really beleves they will be the ones to fix things by doing what they've been doing? Not me.
Does anyone seriously believe Palin or anyone else they promote cares about regular people? Hey news flash: they care about money just like all republicans.
Obama was a lawyer who helped poor people. At least he wasn't a shark.
Posted by: Liana | August 29, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Don't insist that all women are pro-choice. Most of us have learned to take responsibilty for our actions.
Palin represents what a real woman stands for: ethical, hard-working, and holding people accountable for their actions and the results of their actions. An absolutly incredible choice.
Posted by: T | August 29, 2008 at 04:43 PM
This Hillary Democrat will vote for Sarah Palin!!!!
Posted by: MAUFIT | August 29, 2008 at 04:57 PM
McCain should have done a simple web search and he would have found this local news report on the Palin TrooperGate Scandle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UojMnCgqVA
Posted by: StalkExpress | August 29, 2008 at 05:59 PM
I've changed my mind about voting for Obama. Palin has changed my mind. For once, I'm actually going to vote Republican.
Posted by: Kytas | August 29, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Hey I can balance my checkbook. Does that make me ready to be president? Cause I dont think a year and a couple of month is enough experience.
Posted by: Brenda | August 29, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Before VPs were chosen, I remember thinking that if Obama chose Hilary, that he would win. Then I thought, what would happen if Obama didn't choose a female and McCain did chose a female? I didn't think much about it because I didn't expect it to play out this way. Conventional thinking was that Obama would pick Biden and that McCain would pick Romney.
Obama did not pick Hilary and Obama also did not choose any female. The democratic party threw their women under the bus. Sorry ladies, the donkey party says "no representation" for you. McCain was smart to choose a female governor, who, by the way, is more qualified than Obama, Mr. "I was in the Senate for a year and so I'm declaring myself president." Then he parades himself around Europe like he owns the place.
I think that McCain's move is pure genius. It lets all the air out of Obama's balloon. Now McCain is progressive while Obama and Biden are the same old "two guys running for office". Before, I thought that McCain might win. Now, I think that he will win.
Posted by: Jim | August 29, 2008 at 07:00 PM
PUMA MEMBERS WILL MOSTLY VOTE FOR MCCAIN. IT IS THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT HILLARY IN 2012. WE MUST DEFEAT OBAMA.
Posted by: HILLARY | August 29, 2008 at 07:13 PM
I'm sorry Yukon Dave, but being the governor of Alaska, a state with a population barely above 500,00, no where near the experience of Obama, Mccain, or Biden. HAHA Thanks for the amusing read and laugh...
Posted by: namar | August 29, 2008 at 07:14 PM
This democrat will vote for McCain. Sorry Obama, you should have chosen Hillary.
Posted by: Marsha | August 29, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Hillary Democrats will NOT vote for Palin.
Obama has not convinced me to vote for Obama - Sarah Palin has.
Until this morning I was leaning towards McCain esp. if he chose moderate like Lieberman.
Now I'm actually going to vote for Obama which a few days ago was out of the question. I am dismayed and alarmed by McCain's choice.
Even more so because out of the woodwork come all the extreme right-wingers who might not have otherwise voted, to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Those are the people you guys should be worried about - Hillary supporters (including me) were rightfully upset at the way she was treated and we are much smarter than most of the pro-Obama bloggers understand. Which is why we will, in fact, finally vote for Obama.
Posted by: Sarah | August 29, 2008 at 07:27 PM
I am a woman.. and I have been a hardcore democrat for all of my voting life.... Sarah Palin is an excellent choice for any V.P.... she also has a child with special needs... so do I ... she relates to the American people like no one ever has!!!! I think this is what will get her votes... not to mention the fact that she is a woman :)
Posted by: Morgan Pendleton | August 29, 2008 at 07:32 PM
HEY OBAMA!!!!!!!!! KEEP THE CHANGE!!!!! I am a woman. I am a moderate conservative. Obama is not good for this country! I wish Palin was running for President! She is AMERICA! McCain has my vote 100% You GO Sarah! You are STRONG, MORAL AND HONEST!!!!!! I think that we could all learn something from this women! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jenn | August 29, 2008 at 07:43 PM
It is hard for me to believe that with all the qualified people in our party that this is the best that John could do. I know he did it to appeal to Hillary voters,but on the issues, the two women are poles apart. I have no idea whether his gamble will pay off,but if it does not, then he only has himself to blame and may end up ruining this woman's political future. I pray she is ready for prime time.
Posted by: Harry | August 29, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Does an anti-abortion rights, gun crazy conservative woman strike anyone as a feminist who would really care for what women have to say? Seems to me she would be a good one to walk 3 steps behind McCain and stay quietly in her place unless directed to say or do something
Why do libs (even women) think all women think alike? And what an ignorant statement. Obvously you know nothing about this women. She's a strong feminist who is not a whiner. You won't hear her talking about the MSM or anyone being unfair to her because she's a woman. And as far as Palin being gun crazy. Yeah, hunting, knowing how to handle a gun, encouraging gun-safety, etc. is a real nut job. She can protect herself, can you?
Posted by: Gracie | August 29, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Oh, come on. Most of us never heard of Sarah Palin until this morning. She runs a state smaller than most of the cities the rest of us live in, and has run it for only two years at that. And she represents an ideological extremism that the country is rejecting. Choosing her was brilliant? Wow!
Posted by: David | August 29, 2008 at 08:33 PM
To the posters above who talk about democrats have no minds of their own. Hmmm..let's see, economy is shambles, lied into a war, Katrina, torture, cronyism, lobbyists run rampant, incompetents out in positions b/c of ideaology, anti-science, wiretapping of citizens, need I go on?? And you want to give them 8 more years???
Talk about mindless robots!!
Posted by: Mary | August 29, 2008 at 08:41 PM
Get real about the experience issue. Obama was a state senator in one of the most populous states. He has served on senate committees and has gone through a grueling national campaign in the toughest primary battle in a long time and has emerged the stronger for it. And as much as the anti-book learnin' folks can't stand people with an ability to handle complexities, he graduated from Harvard Law school, where they have to use things, like uh, logic and analysis. I am a woman and I have always supported Obama because he has a BRAIN and understands nuance and listens and thinks before making decisions..oh yeah..he also probably likes science and separation of church and state...and call me crazy, I kinda think that's what we should look for in a president. I find the choice of Sarah Palin an insult to me...how idiotic that McCain and his lobbyist advisors think I would vote for him and this woman who has never been out of Alaska and never been tested on the national scene because she is a woman.
Posted by: NoCal | August 29, 2008 at 09:05 PM
I think a lot of commentators don't understand what McCain is trying to do with this Palin pick.
He's not trying to win over pro-choice female voters. Pro-choice voters won't vote for him no matter whom he picks as VP, because he's pro-life.
He's trying to win over PRO-LIFE female voters, especially among the evangelicals, who always had doubts about his conservatism. And he's also trying to drive a wedge into the Democratic Party by making Democratic women even angrier at Obama for not picking Hillary as VP.
In short, McCain doesn't have to win many votes for the GOP. He just has to keep the Democratic party split open.
Posted by: Steven L. | August 29, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Why is no one discussing the fact that this young mother of a FIVE month old baby with down syndrome is now going to try to take on the immense responsibility of being VP of the USA. Sounds to me like this "blessing" of hers will soon be pushed to the peripheral edge of her attention span soon enough, if he hasn't been already. If anyone has ever had a person with down syndrome in there family, they know that the term "special needs child" isn't just superfluous.
Posted by: Cidofolous | August 29, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Alright so lets be fair, Palin doesn't really have any "Washington" experience which is a plus and a minus. But I am worried about the fact that she just simply doesn't pay attention to foreign policy. This could be absolutely disastrous on an international stage and thusly could amount to a risky move if (god forbid) something did happen to John McCain.
Now Barack Obama essentially has more experience in foreign policy (though not as much as, say, Joe Biden) but he does indeed actually pay attention to foreign policy. That is an essential difference.
Here is a bit of pandering though. Palin doesn't pronounce the word nuclear correctly. Are we seriously going to have to listen to that (nuclear power is fundamental to the McCain campaign) all election cycle? God save us all; I'll just shut the TV off.
Posted by: Jon K | August 29, 2008 at 09:59 PM
I'm extatic over the Palin pick. My wife, who is not a Republican supporter is proud to be voting on a McCain/Palin ticket.
Palin is not the liberal, pro-choice woman that many Democratic women wanted, but here's the catch, she has resolve and integrity, and when she says that she is pro-life, and has a heartwrenching story to solidify her convictions, that shows great strength of character, and that is what will draw some fence walking women.
As far as experience goes, she has statistically more time in office than does Barrack Obama. He has 140+ working days in the Senate, she has just under two years (or about 540+ days) oh, and she has actually been involved in governing, not legislating. There is also the fact that she went to Iraq in her first year as governor, while it took three years and prompting for Obama to make it over there.
Democrats argue that she is not experienced enough to take the reigns of Presidency if need be, but where she does lack she has the experience of McCain to learn from, who, by the way, is the HEAD of the ticket. Whereas, the head of the Democratic ticket will have to refer to his running mate for what he lacks.
It seems backwards to me, but you should have a Presidential nominee that has experience and a hefty resume, with a running mate that is willing to butt heads with their own party, with bipartisian work ethics, and not the other way around.
Posted by: Dustin | August 29, 2008 at 10:10 PM
This is how the right wing works: like vultures.
Progressives work tirelessly for decades to get us to the point where a glass ceiling has 18 million cracks in it...only to show up at the last second with an ice pick. Fight for decades for civil rights...only to wind up with isolated, counterproductive ideologues like Clarence Thomas in positions of power.
It’s the same old story it always was, and always will be: the have-nots do all the work...and the haves take all the credit, to go along with their money and power.
They’re just being smart.
What you have to decide as a voter is whether you want to align yourself with what’s right and just, or with personal outcomes. As Americans we’re deciding about 50-50 today.
Posted by: JJ | August 29, 2008 at 10:31 PM
It's beyond scary to think that Hillary supporters would consider switching their vote to "Palin". What do Hillary and Palin have in common besides their genitalia?
Posted by: ChrisC | August 29, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Jon Healey, Pro-Choice does NOT mean Pro-Abortion. I don't know why people don't understand this. And let's make this clear: being pro-choice encompasses pro-life. Palin had a CHOICE to have an abortion and she did not. Just because the opportunity is there does not mean that everyone will be getting abortions constantly. No one will ever be forced to have an abortion.
Posted by: Liz | August 29, 2008 at 10:53 PM
I am a woman.
I am VERY pro-choice on reproductive rights.
I do NOT EVER vote based on one issue: I am an American FIRST.
Sarah Palin is the only outsider on either ticket and she has REAL accomplishments that back up her words.
With this choice, McCain has shown that he IS still a maverick.
That is CHANGE that I not only CAN believe in, but that I DO believe in.
This voter will FINALLY be going to the polls in November and will be VERY proud to cast a vote for McCain/Palin.
Posted by: Finally | August 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Anyone with half a brain can see this is a huge pander. This woman is an extreme right wing conservative. I'm sorry but being a mayor of a town of 6000- 90000 people and Governor of a state with under 700,000 people is ridiculous. I want someone who has had to address the issues of millions of people not a few hundred thousand. She is anti-choice, anti-environment, pro-oil, wants to drill in ANWR, NRA member, doesn't care anything about animals even if they are endangered, is a creationist and wants it taught in schools, is anti-stem cell research, anti-gay. She doesn't believe in global warming. She is currently under investigation for misuse of power. Her education goal as governor was to fully fund K-12. The woman is a disaster. What does she know about foreign policy. Does she even know how to address issues that major urban population centers care about. Alaska is a unique state. I don't think she can relate to the average American. Alaska is not representative of the diversity America. C'mon people. We've been going backwards for 8 years. Time to go forward. Obama/Biden.
Posted by: Pander Palin | August 29, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Umm, Liz, I think you meant to direct your comment about pro-choice not equalling pro-abortion to commenter Ian, not to me. It's a little confusing, but the names are at the bottom, not the top.
Ian, if you're still paying attention, check out Liz's comment from 10:53 p.m.
Posted by: Jon Healey | August 29, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Obama got it right. There was no other woman he could put on the ticket that would have compared to Hillary. She is one of the most knowledgeable, experienced and respected leaders of our time. No other woman could possibly substitute. Obama got it right. McCain got it wrong. Sarah Palin is a joke compared to Hillary. This Hillary democrat just decided to vote Obama/Biden.
Posted by: jss | August 29, 2008 at 11:30 PM
ASIANS support OBAMA.
Republicans intigating war in Georgia to give McCain a point lead. When that didn't work because Putin has "uncovered" their loopholes, they are now trying to hide under the skirt of a woman to try to fool voters to vote for McCain.
Comeon. US citizens are smarter than that. Goodness. Palin is a "hunter," maybe a gun-toting woman. Do you americans want another "Cheney incident?" Oops.. republicans did it again, sorry for the bullet wound.
One thing I can say: PALIN IS NO HILARY CLINTON.
I say, don't get blinded by the Republican's cheap shot.
Posted by: maxx | August 29, 2008 at 11:38 PM
I guess McCain had no other options...no other intelligent Republicans wanted to take on Obama!
Posted by: LD | August 29, 2008 at 11:48 PM