John McCain recently chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. On one level, Palin is a very honest person. She shares McCain’s interest in ethical reform, having won on a “sweep the bums out” platform in reaction to the ongoing corruption investigations of virtually all major Republican figures in Alaska. She’s the mother of five, has a history of making good on campaign promises, and belies gender stereotypes in a number of ways. How many other moms do you know who go moose hunting?
On the other hand, it’s a deeply cynical attempt to win over Hillary Clinton’s backers. Until less than two years ago, Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of 9,000. Her foreign policy credentials make Obama’s look like Joe Biden’s. She does not generally support reproductive rights, opposing abortion even in cases of rape or incest. To her credit, she is consistent, having carried to term a son that she knew had Down’s, rather than opting for termination. She opposes access to family planning services both here and overseas. She is opposed to government sponsored universal health care, preferring a market-based approach. (And look how good the free market has been at providing universal health care!)
In short, while she appears to be a genuinely decent person, her nomination is a repudiation of much of what Hillary Clinton stands for. This includes the most important feminist principle of all - that a women should get the job when she is the best candidate for the job, not because of her gender.
