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