In today's pages: Sarah Palin, feminism, immigration and Los Angeles
Looks like "pick-a-fight-with-Republicans day" lasts more than 24 hours at the Times' Opinion Manufacturing Division. Today's OpEd page offers two, umm, less than flattering takes on John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, despite her star turn at the podium last night. (Can I just pause to remark, as someone who enjoys the theater of big political events, that Palin deserves the same accolades that Hillary Clinton received for doing exactly what her party needed her to do at that moment? If you missed it, read the transcript aloud in a strong, assured voice while keeping a determined look on your face. For the sake of verisimilitude, make sure to pause frequently for applause. Of course, it might be easier to peruse this take by the Times' veteran DC bureau chief, Doyle McManus, or this one by Top of the Ticket blogger Andy Malcolm. But I digress.)
Feminist author Gloria Steinem, who calls the speech "down-home, divisive and deceptive," shreds Sarah Palin's record as governor and all but declares her unfit to serve as vice president. Yet Steinem doesn't fault Palin as much as she does the man who picked her:
The culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a belief that women can't tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom.
Columnist Rosa Brooks takes a different tack in her critique of Palin (and, by extension, McCain), delving into reports of Palin's entanglement with a secessionist political party in Alaska. Rounding out the distaff trio of scribes, columnist Patt Morrison looks not at Palin (make that "looks not again") but at California's GOP delegation, which convention organizers held in low esteem despite the outsized number of votes the state casts in the Electoral College:
Our delegates have just about the worst possible seats at the convention, at the back and so far left that they can only see the speaker in profile. The only way they could be any more distant is if they were working the concession stands.
Over on the editorial page, the Times' board wades into less controversial fare, like, oh, union membership for illegal immigrants. In particular, it bemoans the effort by Agriprocessors not to recognize the organization created by its meatpacking employees on the grounds that the illegal immigrants on its payroll didn't have the right to unionize. Can't wait to see the comments on that one. The board also wishes the city of Los Angeles a happy 227th birthday, and urges Congress to bar federal investigators from pressuring corporate and white-collar targets to reveal what they discussed with their lawyers.
The photo of Sarah Palin speaking to the Republican National Convention last night is from Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images.
"Is it not true that both kids had to be aleast the age of 18 or could he go to jail for under age sex with an under age girl?
Posted by: kenneth childers "
Depends on the state. Ky has an "age of consent" of 14.
Alabama is 16.
Alaska is 16
Posted by: RoBoTech | September 04, 2008 at 10:02 AM
That tiny little box that you thought you had the GOP in is now your home. Kick as much mud and spit as much hate as you can please because.... your done, beat at your own game. This is history right in our face because never has a political party and 95% of the media been defeated by a mere woman. How could you ignore such a obvious weekness. Is it because you were all so busy doing your left wing duty that you failed to notice the threat? Liberals are star struck and lack the necessary grap of reality to lead the USA.
Mcain/Palin is the only choice for leadership as Obama is to busy looking at himself in the mirror trying to perfect that sleeves rolled up look. What a joke
Posted by: Jay | September 04, 2008 at 09:49 AM
The glass celing isnt the only thing shattered this election. Phony Feminism is in pieces on the floor as well. All you left wing Sisters have no Integrity and are little more than political hacks for the men of the left. it should read.. as Im so full of hate and contempt I have no choice but to support Obama. please look up Feminism and Integrity and tell me again why you support two men?
Posted by: jay | September 04, 2008 at 09:20 AM
What you can say?? It was the same ole stuff from the GOP. We're patriots, you're not. We work, you don't. We are the party of god, you're not. We don't like terrorists, you do. We serve in the military, you don't.
Wanna see the REAL bridge to nowhere?
http://s418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/spookyvid/?action=view¤t=BridgeToNowere.jpg
Posted by: Billy | September 04, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Never mind that the Bush administration continues to pour (divert) billions of dollars each month into Iraq while our school system is in financial straits; our roads and bridges are crumbling; health care is out of reach for many Americans, not to mention the energy crisis or simply having a home to live in.
Jim Anderson
Jim~
How did Barack Obama vote on funding Bush's war? Everybody who voted to continue to fund an unconscionable war has the same blood on their hands and the same responsiblity for our failing domestic systems.
Pansy
Posted by: Pansy Pruitt | September 04, 2008 at 08:18 AM
You Republicain are a power monguer this friking speach is just one of the big picture the americain will see but does not have any substances, you can feel that is an evil speech , hey republicain remenber that the americain people are way better then your lies and your hatered and your cinississme, wake up dummers
OBAMA - BIDEN ALL THE WAY
Posted by: sarah P | September 04, 2008 at 08:07 AM
To the liberal news media, I say leave Palin's daughter alone! Obama's mother was 3 months pregnant with Obama when she married a man that was already married.
I don't see anything about that in the far left media headlines.
I also find it interesting Obama has time to write two memoirs but has never written or passed one piece of legislation. He has never fought for anything for the American People.
McCain/Palin all the way!!!!
Posted by: Michael Ratcliff | September 04, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Man, this Palin thing is really making the Obama people / supporters / blogs nervous. Guess what? I don't think she is going away. I also see the same treatment of Palin by the "elite" that we saw with Hillary and Geraldine. Palin reminds me of another plain speaking person - H. S. Truman.
d.
Posted by: Dale Frazier | September 04, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Good speech. And photogenic family.
When does she talk about her views on creationism, the 1st amendment, sex education and abortion?
Posted by: cta | September 04, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Americans ARE awake and Soccer Mom Sarah Palin
made McCain acceptable and her great Thatcher like
attitude spells nothing but pain for all the
left wing globalists who want to take down the USA
a notch or three !!!!
GO PALIN !!!
Posted by: M A Andrews | September 04, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Obama should start looking for a good surgeon because
Sarah just firmly inserted BOTH of her feet in his
incompetent, condescending, inexperienced community-
organizing backside !!!!
Posted by: NoBO | September 04, 2008 at 07:35 AM
I don't think Palin's daughter's pregnancy has anything substantial to do with this campaign or with the future leadership of the country. But for the GOP to be indignant over media attention is laughable. Can you IMAGINE what would be said if Obama or his running mate had an unmarried pregnant teenaged daughter?! What would the self-righteous right-wingers say about that? Limbaugh, McCain, and company would have a field day. It would be held up as proof of the parents' debased values and the liberals' destruction of the American way, etc. Be honest-- if this were the other way around, the comments would be downright hateful.
Posted by: B Dub | September 04, 2008 at 07:03 AM
Thanks but no thanks! No more of it.
We saw the maverick with his fresh new hunting dog; quite fierce and dominating. I am sure he would take it for all his 'normal walks' and his future hunting expeditions.
Sarah was interesting but exhibited absolute low standards in her attacks on experienced senior politicians. She brought the game to such low repute and set the future standards of the battle much below pa,r by her vituperative attacks on her seasoned opponents. She was ably supported by the flaunting mayor of New York city who I thought was ridiculously arrogant. According to him, she had the most experience compared to both the democratic candidates put together. If it is the 20-month executive experience that he means, I must say she towers even over her mentor and should be projected as the Presidential candidate instead of the VP. While her accomplishments in Alaska are to be credited, the controversies she has tagged along with them are remarkable too, judging by the short span she has been as the governor. That speaks volumes for a potential VP.
So now we have two "trigger-happy" candidates working together in tandem to take America and the world to a peaceful co-existence with the rest of the economically growing powers in the world. Is this is a good omen for America or for the anti-American-rest-of-the-world? Only time will tell.
Americans please wake up. Do you want peace or war?
Posted by: Sam | September 04, 2008 at 07:01 AM
You people (MARC CRISTOPHE, Harry, John, others) are insane. You put your faith in liars that are exactly the same as the people that have been ruining your country for the past 8 years.
Posted by: Titus, Netherlands | September 04, 2008 at 07:00 AM
If you want to know more about Sarah Palin click here: http://newsdroppings.blogspot.com/2008/09/who-is-sarah-palin.html
Posted by: News Monkey | September 04, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Bunny,
Your comment, "And screw the media , btw!" shows the great advance work the GOP opinion makers have done.
Rule #1:
If you have a weak case, preemptively attack anyone who will pick away at you.
Sarah Palin is a weak case.
She delivered her ghost-written speech very well, but her thin resume and closet-skeletons from governing bodies of 8000 and 670,000 will prove difficult...
Unless you just keep attacking the media...even the objective news reporters...yeah, that's the real ticket.
Posted by: Wayno | September 04, 2008 at 06:55 AM
Palin Amazing ? you must have a very weak definition of AMAZING. Palin appeals to the average intelligence, and those ignorant of recent history. If you find yourself relating to her, you are the below average boring person that makes this country the laughing stock of the educated world. Read a book, and you might understand why you, and creationism are ridiculous. Then please shut up and let the smart people shape the world. Animals know how to make babies too, should they be VP ?
Posted by: Richard | September 04, 2008 at 06:52 AM
Palin was appalling. ..using her ‘special needs baby’ as a prop. The special needs her baby required was the infant to be at home. Not will be fulfilling the needs of her mother and party.
Dangling the infant around like a McCain/Palin sign was disgusting and painful to see. Some “Mom” she is. I know less qualified Moms that would make a better VP. Just because someone is a good truck driver would you want them to be your attorney. Ugh to gettyleigh.
Posted by: Walker | September 04, 2008 at 06:49 AM
PALIN HIT A HOME RUN FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS SICK OF THE ORWELLIAN NEWS MEDIA JAMMING DEMOCRAT PARTY PROPAGANDA DOWN OUR THROATS . BUT DON'T FORGET WHAT RUDY SAID! BARACK OBAMA VOTED "PRESENT" 130 TIMES BECAUSE HE WAS NOT MAN ENOUGH TO VOTE YES OR NO ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION. OBAMA IS A SELF-SERVING, SPINELESS COWARD WHO IS NOT ONLY GOING TO BE AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT (IF ELECTED) HE WILL ALSO BE OUR FIRST YELLOW PRESIDENT.
Posted by: MARC CHRISTOPHE | September 04, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Did anyone notice after Palin's speech how old McCain looked?
Posted by: hst | September 04, 2008 at 06:39 AM
Unreal -- Just to be clear, as the post says, the two (not three) pieces on Palin were commentaries, not news stories. They ran in the same place that Jonah Goldberg's pro-Palin piece ran on Tuesday: the op-ed page. That's not to suggest there's an equal time rule on the page, or any such thing. It's just to urge folks not to judge the integrity of the news pages from what runs in the opinion section.
Of course, columnists with opinions run in the news pages.. So do analytical articles, such as Doyle McManus' piece praising Palin's speech. That miscegenation blurs the line between news and opinion, I admit. But there should be no confusion at all about what's on the pages discussed in this post. It's all opinionated stuff, either by contributors such as Steinem, regular columnists such as Goldberg or the Times employees who make up the editorial board, of which I am one.
Posted by: Jon Healey | September 04, 2008 at 06:36 AM
Help this woman SMASH THE GLASS CEILING LIKE SHE SMASHED HER OPPONENTS LAST NIGHT!
Comedy, Class, Electrifying Delivery, and a WOMAN!!
Go Palin 2008!!
Palin vs. Hillary 2012
It's ON!!
Posted by: Harry | September 04, 2008 at 06:35 AM
The Democrats just can take the fact that Sarah is a great speaker and makes more sense that LiarObama. She's at least a honest, born and lived in America all her life WOMAN. The Democratic women should really be concerned and a bit niffed at their party for doing what they did to Hillary.
WAY TO GO, SARAH, BURN THOSE RADICAL NUTS UP
The liberal media has cross the lines in America as far as I am concerned. All the newspapers can burn, baby, burn.
Posted by: John Peabody | September 04, 2008 at 06:27 AM
Nice speech, good speaker but Alas, classless and tasteless.
Posted by: J.jay | September 04, 2008 at 06:22 AM
The usual comments from the usual suspects...
I do not like or support McCain, but if the only worthwhile thing he ever does is to bring in a fresh face (on the national level) he will have accomplished something.
Obama's convention reminded me of the 1930's - in Germany. His is not the "fresh face" I was thinking of.
I think Ron Paul is still the way to go, but in the meantime shouldn't we listen to each candidate with open minds?
Posted by: Terry | September 04, 2008 at 06:17 AM