For the past 18 months the nation has had opportunity to discuss and confront a myriad of issues: Infrastructure deficiencies, the Iraq war, treatment of veterans, energy independence, government corruption, the continued conflict in Afghanistan, education, the national deficit, immigration, health care and, yes, even society’s perception of race and gender. Conversations on these topics, however vital they may be to the nation, do not easily lend themselves to the marketing jargon and quick quips that have become the hallmarks of today’s Republican Party.
It should come as no surprise then, when even the most staunch within the GOP are finding it difficult to be inspired by the party’s candidate for our nation’s highest office, that Arizona Sen. John McCain would reach out and tap an individual with a personal story loud enough to drown out the collapse of interstate bridges.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a former beauty queen, sports journalist, city councilor and mayor, is the mother of five children. She has three daughters: Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, and Piper, 7. She also has two sons. Her eldest son, Track, joined the Army last fall. Her youngest son, Trig, was born this past April and has Down Syndrome.
As Iowans saw when Rep. Janet Petersen took time off this spring to give birth to her son, conservatives aren’t always tickled when a female public servant takes time away from her duties to give birth. In Palin’s case, however, there was a reason to celebrate the otherwise termed “dereliction of duty.” While speaking with Michael Baggot of LifeSiteNews.com, Palin described her newborn as a “gift.”
“We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.”
I’ve no doubt she and her entire family have been and will be blessed by their new member. I’ve also no doubt that her choice to carry this child to term played heavily in the vice-presidential selection process — something that saddens me and should sadden us all.
Standing alone McCain had little hope of winning the emotional support and excitement of social conservatives. Standing with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, McCain’s own short-comings would have been highlighted. While Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty definitely brought a strong anti-abortion stance to the ticket, but he, like McCain, lacked the ability to pull the heart strings of social conservatives and make them want to support McCain. Palin, as a woman with a compelling personal story, can provide McCain what no other individual could. Even at the cost of lowering the national conversation once again into divisive politics… even while publicly proclaiming his desire for armed conflict to continue for 100 years… McCain has gladly and gleefully grasped Palin’s “pro-life” credentials as a last resort to motivate the previous supporters of Pres. George W. Bush to head to the polls in November.
Looking past November and at Palin’s record in relation to government corruption, however, it’s difficult to know the role she will play if she and McCain meet with success in the general election. In many ways, she is the true maverick, having bucked Alaska GOP leaders to take on incumbent and fellow Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski in a heated primary. Then rising above the monetary to defeat former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in the general election to become not only Alaska’s first female governor, but the youngest governor in the state’s history.
She has built her administration on the foundation of old-time GOP values such as fiscal responsibility and limited government. While Republicans in the beltway have dived further under the covers with their big oil partners, her administration is noted for seeking independence from such interests. While Republicans in the beltway are linked to lobbyists like Jack Abramoff, Palin sold a jet purchased on a state government credit account on eBay for $2.7 million.
Although she is currently embroiled in a legislative probe as to whether she abused the power of her gubernatorial office — a probe not expected to be completed until after the November general election, it’s worth noting that McCain, in his lust to entice social conservatives, may have neglected to consider the ramifications of bringing someone so well known for unearthing government corruption into a White House so recently vacated by the Bush administration.
