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McCain’s veep choice is historic and hardly known
Published Friday, August 29, 2008
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — In two short years, Sarah Palin moved from small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers to the governor’s office and now — making history — to John McCain’s side as the first female running mate on a Republican presidential ticket.
She has more experience catching fish than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs.
Talk about a rocketing ascent.
In turning to her, McCain picked an independent figure in his own mold, one who has taken on Alaska’s powerful oil industry and, at age 44, is three years younger than Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and a generation younger than McCain, 72.
Palin’s selection was a jaw-dropper, as McCain passed over many other better known prospects, some of whom had been the subject of intense speculation for weeks or months. ‘‘Holy cow,’’ said her father, Chuck Heath, who got word something was up while driving to his remote hunting camp.
Palin had been in the running-mate field but as a distinct long shot.
She brings a strong anti-abortion stance to the ticket and opposes gay marriage — constitutionally banned in Alaska before her time — but exercised a veto that essentially granted benefits to gay state employees and their partners.
‘‘She knows where she comes from, and she knows who she works for,’’ McCain said in introducing her to an Ohio rally. ‘‘She stands up for what’s right, and she doesn’t let anyone tell her to sit down.’’ He said: ‘‘She’s exactly who I need.’’
Said Palin: ‘‘I didn’t get into government to do the safe and easy things. A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why the ship is built.’’
Democrats seized on the gaping experience gap and said McCain now has no business questioning the seasoning of their nominee. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said McCain was taking a ‘‘roll of the dice’’ and declared that Palin’s ‘‘lack of experience makes the thought of her assuming the presidency troubling.’’
Palin lives in Wasilla, a town of 6,500 about 30 miles north of Anchorage, with her husband, Todd, a blue-collar North Slope oil worker who won the 2007 Iron Dog, a 1,900-mile snowmobile race. He is part Yup’ik Eskimo. The two have spent summers fishing commercially for salmon, an enterprise that once left her with broken fingers aboard their boat.
Typically seen walking the Capitol halls in black or red power suits while reading text messages on Blackberry screens in each hand, Palin made a recent appearance in fashion magazine Vogue.
‘‘At first they had me in a bunch of furs,’’ she said of the photo shoot. ‘‘Yeah, I have furs on my wall, but I don’t wear furs. I had to show them my bunny boots and my North Face clothing.’’
Palin’s clean-hands reputation has come into question with an investigation recently launched by a legislative panel into whether she dismissed Alaska’s public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper. Trooper Mike Wooten went through a messy divorce from Palin’s sister.
The governor denied orchestrating the dozens of telephone calls made by her husband and members of her administration to Wooten’s bosses. She says she welcomes the investigation: ‘‘Hold me accountable.’’
Palin, who led the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at her high school, could help McCain’s standing with social conservatives who have been skeptical of him.
‘‘It’s an absolutely brilliant choice,’’ said Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University School of Law and founder of the legal group Liberty Counsel, who has sought to coalesce evangelicals around McCain. ‘‘This will absolutely energize McCain’s campaign and energize conservatives.’’
Palin is ‘‘a woman of faith who has a strong position on life, a consistent opinion on judges,’’ Staver said. ‘‘She’s the complete package.’’
Four months into her most recent pregnancy, Palin learned the child would have Down syndrome, and she said she never had any doubts about whether she would have the baby.
‘‘We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential,’’ Palin told AP earlier this year in describing what she and her husband had confronted. Trig, her fifth child, was born in April.
Alaska’s first female governor arrived at the Capitol in 2006 on an ethics reform platform after defeating two former governors in the primary and general elections.
In the primary, Palin defeated incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, who also had 22 years of experience in the U.S. Senate.
Her task didn’t seem any easier in the general election, but she handily beat Tony Knowles, a popular Democrat who had served two earlier terms as governor.
During her first year in office, Palin moved away from the powerful old guard of the state Republican Party and has refused to kowtow to the powerful oil industry, instead presiding over a tax increase on oil company profits that now has the state’s treasury swelling.
But she is a proponent of petroleum development, in tune with McCain, although the two disagree on drilling in Alaska’s protected Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She favors drilling there; he opposes it.
The governor also opposed designating polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, fearing that step would get in the way of a proposed natural gas pipeline tapping the North Slope’s vast reserves.
Before becoming governor, her political experience consisted of terms as Wasilla’s mayor and councilwoman and a stint as head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
Her parents Chuck and Sally were trying to reach the abandoned gold mine that serves as their hunting camp when their son-in-law called them Thursday to tell them to tune in to the radio when they got there. A flooded creek turned them around for home.
‘‘I should have put two and two together,’’ her dad said. ‘‘I’d rather go moose hunting than be involved with politics.’’
But if she’s down-home, she’s also politically savvy.
‘‘Sarah Palin for her entire political career has been underestimated,’’ said Paulette Simpson of the Alaska Federation of Republican Women. ‘‘She’s tough, she’s tenacious. I believe that she does have what it takes to get out there. Again, her ability to connect with voters and make a case is very, very, very strong.’’
Palin’s confrontations with the state GOP began when Murkowski named her chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. There, Palin exposed current Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich, who was also on the commission, for ethical violations.
In 2005, Palin co-filed an ethics complaint against Murkowski’s longtime aide and then attorney general, Gregg Renkes, for having a financial interest in a company that stood to gain from an international trade deal he was helping craft.
The Palins’ five children are Track, 19; Bristol 17; Willow 14; Piper, 7, and baby Trig.
Track enlisted in the Army in 2007 on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and has been assigned to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.
Palin was born Feb. 11, 1964, in Idaho, but her parents moved to Alaska shortly after her birth to teach. She received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.
Comments
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
McCain/Palin 08' Never underestimate the power of a woman . Without them manhood would not survive . For Sarah Palin to come this far in 44 yrs from the humble beginnings of a small town in Alaska just shows the strength this woman will add to the presidency . It also shows McCain is not all about the wealthy (people that say that, have predudice issues , & I'm not talking about racial issues)but cares deeply about all the American people . We can't help the rest of the world be a better place until we take care of ourselves first . John McCain has proven again and in a very big way that he is more than ready to lead our country . Sarah Palin has as much or more experince that the Democratic choice for presidency . I am proud of her accomplishments as a woman and politician . She shows grit and smarts .
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! Good pick. What is not to like? She loves God and family, hunts, fishes, routs corruption, is Governor of Alaska, and shops for groceries and gas. Having been a small town mayor, she better understands who she is working for. Being Governor of the largest state in the U.S. (with an 80% approval rating) certainly helps round-out a resume'. The notion that she is "unqualified", or "not prepared" to be President is ludicrous. I think that same charge against Barack Obama is equally ridiculous; we need some real Americans representing us in DC - enough professional politicians. Give me some butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers...
The Constitution Of The United States Of America
September 17, 1787
Article Two:
"No person except a natural-born citizen, or citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States."
Posted by rhymeandreason (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"hunting and fishing" qualifies you for hunting and fishing... mccain is so out of touch with the real world....now how many houses does he have???hmmmm
does article 2 above have some bearing on the discussion?
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What I would refer to as a TRUE REDNECK!!!! And when you get a REDNECK in the highest office of America, you have the VERY BEST. I hope this is one RED NECK that won't turn politician on us. I feel like Santa Claus has come to America four months sooner than usual. I am so anxious to cast my vote for the McCain-Palin ticket. I feel now I have something to vote FOR instead of something to vote against. Whether a spur of the moment or a long thought out deliberate decision, THANK YOU McCain for giving me hope again in the future of America. Welcome aboard Gov. Palin. Show'em your stuff, kick axxes in the sorry Congress we now have.
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RhymeandReason,
Article Two of our Constitution is the ONLY thing that has some bearing on the discussion. Just so you know, I don't think John McCain "hung the Moon"; in fact, the bill he personally sponsored to provide amnesty for 18 million illegal aliens (6 times the population of Mississippi), really "sticks in my craw". We did this once before in the early 80s, and all that did, was provide a "green light" for millions more to migrate here, break the law, and reduce the wages and benefits for fellow Americans. Bush also wanted that bill passed: imagine that. So I am not in favor of John McCain. Having said that, I still have to admit that this woman was a great choice; they would have a better chance for my vote, if she were at the top of the ticket...
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah I agree with you guys. She has more administrative experience than Obama. And no foreign policy expertise but who likes foreigners? You just have to tell them what to do anyway and carry a big stick.
Sure, the town she was mayor of was less than half the size of Natchez, and that's the only body she's governed on her own for a full term.
Fewer people than Holly Springs, and about half the size of Yazoo City. Even makes me like her more. Too bad P. West wasn't a Republican he might have had a chance!
And she was two years into her term as governor of the rural state of Alaska -- where people don't like the government and don't need it much, either. People with experience running big states like Texas and Alaska are automatic good presidents, huh?
And her husband was an oil man and she wants to drill the wildlife reserves -- of course. She will be sympathetic to the problems of oil men, and we like that. If we are sympathetic to them maybe they won't charge us world spot prices for gasoline they drill on public land. OK that's a long shot.
And she is so pro-family she has 5 kids and a new handicapped baby last April. I'm sure she will have a clear head, no personal problems that keep her from thinking straight.
She hunts and fishes, too. Her husband can take the kids to the office because he is sure to be more than an oilman now. Oh, no, they will have to get daycare and some night care too. They could let grandma raise them like folks around here.
Kind of reminds me of Dan Quayle, another great Republican Vice President.. Some quotes from Dan:
"I have made good judgments in the Past. I have made good judgments in the Future."
"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."
"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make."
"We don't want to go back to tomorrow, we want to go forward." and my favorite...
"Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts."
You can pick em GOP!
I do think John might have blown his foot off by acting like the presidential backup for a 72 year old man needs no experience at all in foreign policy and only a little in management. That was his only good argument against Obama.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that Sarah Palin has a Downs syndrone child is very sad ,but it does put her in the position to see first hand the needs in our health care . The fact that she was mayor of a small town in rural America in the recent past puts her in the position to know the needs of the backbone of America . Who knows,this woman may very well be our 1st woman president yet ! In the meantime she will be learning foreign policy from the best . Oh and on management , she's proven how well she can manage by being governor and having 5 children and a husband and still making 80% of her states citizens happy .
Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(southernbelle) I think thats called muti-tasking which most women can do, have a job and run a town or state, now maybe a country.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a wonder to see you guys who yesterday were all about inexperience toot your own horn when your guy picks an inexperienced running mate.
That's the problem you fight this election -- you guys call your glass half full and the other guy's glass half empty.
If this was a Democrat you know what you would be saying. Does any of you have the character to admit that?
You guys just made it harder to claim inexperience as an issue.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I voted for a Clinton And I'm not proud of it . Just like Monica , it left a bad taste in my mouth .
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope this makes people think twice about Alaska! They think everyone up there lives in Igloos and are all Eskimos and that the women are rough looking! Sarah Palin with the glasses off and her hair down looks like a Playboy Bunny! Only this bunny is super smart!
Posted by rhymeandreason (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and well we could all just suppose she'll be a better shot than cheney....
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