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Mo Do on Sarah Palin

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:26:08 PM EST
Tags: Sarah Palin (all tags)
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Maureen Dowd's Vice in Go-Go Boots spares no one. There's plenty of shots at Obama and Michelle and McCain as well. The least offensive snippet:

This chick flick, naturally, features a wild stroke of fate, when the two-year governor of an oversized igloo becomes commander in chief after the president-elect chokes on a pretzel on day one.

You want to complain about sexist treatment of Palin by the media? Here's your chance. It's not the blogs, or at least this one, that is writing this stuff.

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    Mo Do on Sarah Palin | 155 comments (155 topical)

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    Dowd shows us where NOT to go (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:32:10 PM EST
    And there was one blogger in particular who loved this column and highlighted it.

    I think people can guess who it was.

    I can't (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Faust on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:35:02 PM EST
    there are too many to choose from.

    Parent
    Americablog (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:44:33 PM EST


    Parent
    pfft (5.00 / 5) (#27)
    by Faust on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:50:48 PM EST
    you're right I should have been able to guess.

    Parent
    Taylor Marsh (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by americanincanada on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:57:08 PM EST
    linked to it as well.

    Parent
    Wow, Shame On Her (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:03:22 PM EST
    Or probably, she's lost her sense of humor.
    And her once strongly-held stance against sexism.

    Parent
    Taylor's piece (5.00 / 6) (#52)
    by nell on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:05:50 PM EST
    was sexist.

    Equating Palin to as nothing more than the beauty queen of the republican party is unacceptable and offensive. Do I want her as President or Vice President? No. Do I think she is as qualified as one should be? No. But she is much more than a beauty queen - you don't get to where she is by being a dumb Barbie Doll bimbo.

    Men with similar qualifications are given a chance (Obama is case and point, the fact that Kaine was taken seriously as a VP option is another example), but women are called lightweight Barbie Dolls. At least she is attractive...I cannot imagine how much worse and hysterical and mean spirited the criticism would be if she weren't....

    Attack her for her policies, but my god, these people need to STOP insulting her because of her gender, and insulting her more than they would insult a man with her same qualifications.

    I am sick of it!

    Parent

    Taylor Marsh (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by tek on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:10:01 PM EST
    has an unconscionably sexist, vicious piece up on Palin.  She's been slamming Palin since the pick was announced.  But then, Taylor Marsh has devolved into the dirtiest of dirty politics ever since Obama got the nod.  About a week ago, she even had a hit piece up on Hillary.

    Parent
    She DID? (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by rooge04 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:16:09 PM EST
    Wow. I remember she was quite a Clinton partisan during the primaries, no?  I haven't visited there in quite some time.

    Parent
    The irony is ripe! (5.00 / 3) (#65)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:13:17 PM EST
    Taylor was a beauty queen from Missouri, if I recall correctly. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

    Parent
    Tim Kaine (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by overprotective on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:26:16 PM EST
    This Tim Kaine comparison is patently unfair.

    First, there's a huge difference between being leaked as a short-lister and actually being chosen.

    Second, Kaine is far more experienced.

    Kaine was mayor of Richmond, VA, population 200,000.

    Palin was mayor of Wasilla, population (at the time) of 7000.

    Kaine is governor of Virginia, population 8MM, the 12th largest state in the union.

    Palin is governor of Alaska, population 600,000, the smallest state, just 1/5 the size of Chicago.

    Nothing will change the fact that 1 year and 8 months ago Palin was the mayor of a town of 7000 people. Most city councilmen serve a larger constituency than that.

    Nothing will change the fact that Palin, as governor, represents fewer Americans than most US Congresswomen.

    Nothing will change the fact that this is a smart, bright women who simply is not ready to lead this country.

    And in comparison, no matter what you may want to believe about so-called 'executive experience', Sen. Obama is far more qualified than Palin.

    What I'm wondering is... why do I feel compelled to post this on a DEMOCRATIC blog?

    Parent

    Because Dems don't talk in lockstep (5.00 / 3) (#137)
    by andrys on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:43:25 PM EST


    Parent
    Obama is running for president. Palin (none / 0) (#179)
    by hairspray on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:52:53 AM EST
    is running for the Vice President with a GOP Presidential candidate who has more experience than Obama.  Please keep your apples and oranges straight.

    Parent
    Kaine (none / 0) (#182)
    by Pianobuff on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 03:08:33 AM EST
    Was the candidate that McCain didn't want selected.  If it turned out being Kaine, I don't know if McCain would have picked Palin.

    Parent
    Big Orange (none / 0) (#71)
    by MKS on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:19:41 PM EST
    has been very good imo in getting rid of a certain kind of tabloid diary.

    Experience is a valid (non-sexist) basis of criticizing any candidate....Kaine was not picked in part because of his lack of experience....

    But, it may not be all that smart to attack Palin's lack of experience.  Doing so may be perceived as sexist, and the media is doing that anyway....Staying silent is a good idea for the Obama campaign....and the McCain experience  argument will be very hard for them to make now...

    Palin is in her own words "absolutely" "hard core" pro-life.  

    Parent

    No, staying silent (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by Manuel on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:28:11 PM EST
    is what they did in the primaries.  WRT Palin, Dems should be as the ACLU is to hate groups.  Decry their ideas but protect their rights.  When sexist crap is thrown around, it should be denounced no mater what the source.  MoDo should have been fired long ago but won't be as long as her employers get ratings and traffic.  Please don't link to her.  I am only aware of what she writes from reading the Daily Howler.

    Parent
    And, doing Rove's work for free (5.00 / 2) (#94)
    by Brookhaven on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:47:50 PM EST
    It's tragic how so many of these so called Dem/Left blogs have behaved towards women and mostly Clinton Dem women and they are doing Rove's work for him all over again.  Shame on both counts.  

    Just because Dem men are Dem men, doesn't mean they are not equally as bad as or worse then Repbulican men when it comes to women and they are as this political season has painfully shown.    

    I expect the worst from damaged hacks like MoDo.  She's a grossly overpaid one at that.  She's a circus side show.  The one that used to bite the heads off of chickens.  If that's a person's cuppa, then I'm sure that person is highly entertained.  Have at it. What she writes and how she spits vomit at people in her writing is repulsive to me.  

    She (and Rich and Collins as well) has a severe case of CDS.   And, now it seems PDS.  Just in general, from what I've read of hers, she doesn't seem to like women.  But, I'm not a shrink so I'll leave it there as to the why of it.

    Parent

    Um, excuse me? (none / 0) (#140)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:52:25 PM EST
    Wanna back this up with some links:

    It's tragic how so many of these so called Dem/Left blogs have behaved towards women and mostly Clinton Dem women and they are doing Rove's work for him all over again.


    Parent
    What do you want me to back up? (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by Brookhaven on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:50:42 PM EST
    You're kidding me I hope.

    Parent
    I think I see what happened (5.00 / 2) (#158)
    by Brookhaven on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:15:06 PM EST
    You misinterpreted what I said.  

    I wasn't blaming the Clinton Dem women, of which I am one, of doing Rove's job for him.

    I was placing blame on some of the Dem/Left blogs some of which have been named in this thread of doing Rove's job for free during the primaries and now with the Palin pick.  

    Parent

    Yes, I see now (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:34:52 PM EST
    I apologize.  Obviously, letting my anger get the better of my reading comprehension.  Please forgive.

    Parent
    We're cool (5.00 / 3) (#165)
    by Brookhaven on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:50:39 PM EST
    I think we're all on edge and understandably  so.  I've been doing Yoga and it has helped.

    If nothing else the ugly bugs under the beautiful rocks were revealed during these 18 months and that's a good thing because now we know fully what we're up against as women regardless of political party.

    And, I'll leave it here.

    Parent

    Not kidding, but I take it back. (none / 0) (#157)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:06:19 PM EST
    You just go ahead and talk up Clinton Democrats' responsibility for sexism in the campaign all you want.  The more the better.  It really helps Obama, show's he's reaching out.  I compliment you on your political acumen.

    Parent
    I took Brookhaven's comment differently... (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:22:59 PM EST
    It's tragic how so many of these so called Dem/Left blogs have behaved towards women and mostly Clinton Dem women and they are doing Rove's work for him all over again.  Shame on both counts.

    My interpretation is that Brookhaven is saying that Dem/Left blogs have acted badly toward women overall and especially toward Clinton/Dem women; and now it's happening again to Palin

    I didn't take it to mean that the sexism has been coming from Clinton Dem women all along (although Taylor Marsh is currently slamming Palin).

    Does that make sense? If not, maybe I've misunderstood and garbled the whole thing.

    Parent

    I may be mistaken, then, rereading... (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:33:44 PM EST


    Parent
    Thank you, Foxholeatheist (none / 0) (#164)
    by Brookhaven on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:40:34 PM EST
    That's exactly what I meant.

    And, no, you didn't garble it up. ;)

    Thanks for taking the time to comment to help clarify things.  I really appreciate it.  

    Parent

    Actually, (5.00 / 13) (#6)
    by Maria Garcia on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:36:24 PM EST
    ...If I woke up one morning to discover that reading MoDo was the path to salvation, I'd have to take my chances in hell.

    Parent
    Hear! Hear! (5.00 / 4) (#47)
    by jar137 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:02:54 PM EST
    Her sophomoric writing drives me up a wall.  I picture her drafting her columns in a spiral notebook with a pink pen with a pom-pom at the end.  Her focus is always so high school.  And I don't find her witty or clever at all.  It really bothers me how some supposed progresives hang on her every word.  She adds nothing to the public discourse. other than to reduce it to an "I want to be popular" contest.  Not surprising that Americablog would cite her approvingly.

    Parent
    Dowd's column on Palin is (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:51:11 PM EST
    a helluva lot less hateful than anything she's ever written about Senator Clinton.

    It's odd, but MoDo sounds genuinely turned-on by her fantasy of Palin as a "Vice in Go Go Boots" kind of gal. I think Mo relates to the image she's created for Palin. And she'll probably develop it into a saga in future columns.

    Parent

    Does anyone read MoDo anymore? (nt) (5.00 / 7) (#4)
    by cmugirl on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:35:15 PM EST


    With Palin Derangement Syndrome (5.00 / 4) (#15)
    by LatinoVoter on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:43:56 PM EST
    sweeping the nation she has tapped into a whole new market.

    Parent
    I only read them so that (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:07:33 PM EST
    I can lambaste her for them in the NYT comment sections. MoDo is becoming a bigger embarrassment than Judy Miller, and that's saying something.

    Parent
    Exactly my sentiment (none / 0) (#10)
    by BigB on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:40:55 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm Ashamed To Admit (none / 0) (#28)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:51:15 PM EST
    that when Sarah Palin was announced on Friday as McCain's VP, and shortly after I'd gotten over my shock at the pick, I thought to myself:

    "I cannot wait to read Maureen Dowd's next column. She's probably already twisting that lil' red head of hers trying to come up with some witty smart-a$$ phrases to pepper her column with."

    No lie!

    And she didn't disappoint; she made me laugh out loud - literally. And I didn't feel silly about it. Humor to start off the day is always a good thing.

    Parent

    If only she was trying to be funny. (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Faust on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:52:53 PM EST


    Parent
    does this mean (none / 0) (#41)
    by ccpup on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:59:05 PM EST
    we're no longer under the bus?

    :-)

    Parent

    On our way? (none / 0) (#70)
    by CoralGables on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:19:39 PM EST
    As in recently? As in now? George Bush won twice. We hopped a ride in the handbasket express long ago.

    Parent
    Coral- I hate to nitpic, but bush (none / 0) (#159)
    by kenosharick on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:21:47 PM EST
    won what twice? You cannot mean the presidency, which was stolen, mostly in Florida in 2000, and in Ohio in 2004. He may have taken the office, but DID NOT win anything. Sorry if I am still a bit touchy.

    Parent
    Dowd (5.00 / 11) (#5)
    by ColumbiaDuck on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:36:12 PM EST
    She is seriously disturbed.  For awhile, after getting smacked down by the Times ombudsmen for her terrible columns during the primary, she got a little better, but now it is clear that she is back to her old ways.  

    A prime example of the death of public discourse and political analysis.

    I've always thought of Dowd as (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:39:24 PM EST
    a humorist, not a serious analyzer of the political scene.  This one's pretty funny, imo.  

    Pretty bad at humor, though (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by BigB on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:41:40 PM EST


    Parent
    Must be a midwestern thing. (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:46:38 PM EST


    Parent
    Curious, considering that she was (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:51:18 PM EST
    born and raised in Washington, D.C..

    Parent
    Be a good study. Maybe I'll (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:53:38 PM EST
    apply for a grant.

    Parent
    You must not have heard (none / 0) (#167)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:28:48 PM EST
    of our famous "Midwestern nice."

    That means that if MoDo came to the Midwest -- since is not nor ever has been a Midwesterner, bless your heart and hers -- we would not be rude.  Not at all.

    We would invite her to our potlucks and tell her she would be welcome to bring a dish to pass.

    And then every one of us would take a pass on it.

    We are subtle.  But nice, always nice.  

    Parent

    Owwww.... (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by ColumbiaDuck on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:40:38 PM EST
    I just read it again and I think my brain is bleeding.  However, I am shocked, SHOCKED, that she doesn't mention Hillary.  Perhaps her Hillary hate has been totally transferred to Palin?

    hillary is no longer running (none / 0) (#57)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:09:38 PM EST
    why would she mention her?

    Parent
    Hillary not running (5.00 / 6) (#69)
    by ColumbiaDuck on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:19:27 PM EST
    has not stopped Dowd from taking shots at her all summer.  

    Parent
    Or at anytime... (5.00 / 5) (#74)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:22:46 PM EST
    over the last 17 years.

    Parent
    Woot! (none / 0) (#168)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:29:44 PM EST
    Thanks for a funny subthread.  Spot on, Duck and Shoephone.

    Parent
    MoDo Is A Comedian In A Journalist's Clothing (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:42:06 PM EST
    I've concluded that she is a humorist. She is the print publication version of Steven Colbert and John Stewart combined, with different internal plumbing.

    I spit out my coffee when I read that paragraph quoted this morning. The woman has a way with words, no doubt about it, but if anyone takes them seriously, that's where a huge problem lies.

    I wonder how much of a backlog... (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by EL seattle on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:42:08 PM EST
    ... there is on source material that needs a good public shredding over at Somerby's site.  That poor guy hasn't had a breather in a long, long time.  Maybe there should be a fundraiser to pay for some hired help to him keep the pile-o-MoDo at a manageable level.

    John 'I don't know much about the economy' McCain? (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by steviez314 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:43:59 PM EST
    Please tell me which policy position indicates that McCain gets the economy?  Or what policy issue of his would be of economic benefit to women (or men)?

    Then tell me which candidate selected his VP pick as a sop to his base, for which abortion is the most litmus test of all.

    Sometimes the stretch here to dis Obama is amazing.

    Truly (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:45:43 PM EST
    McCain is bad on the economy. But until Thursday night Obama didn't get it either. We'll have to see if he finally realizes that he has a problem.

    Parent
    Sadly true, but (5.00 / 4) (#64)
    by magisterludi on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:12:32 PM EST
    he finally did. It's enough for me.

    Maybe I'm crazy, but I really feel the world and the environment are on the brink and the world I envision under McCain is very dark and violent and cruel. He's back to the '50's for me. I don't want to send a message to the DNC so badly to pass up the chance to maybe, just maybe, keep the world livable.

    Anyway, I almost pity MoDo. She so wanted to be the new Dorothy Parker and she ended up Paul Lynd.

    Parent

    MoDo is not as funny as Paul Lynde (5.00 / 2) (#68)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:16:54 PM EST
    He took no prisoners but never sounded truly mean spirited. And he could laugh at himself just as well. Not so with MoDo.

    Uncle Arthur, where are you when we need you??

    Parent

    That is really a good line. Way to go! (none / 0) (#99)
    by progressiveinvolvement on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:55:45 PM EST


    Parent
    Well I certainly don't get the point of your last (none / 0) (#44)
    by steviez314 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:59:33 PM EST
    reply, so I guess you're right.

    Parent
    Actually... (5.00 / 11) (#21)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:47:01 PM EST
    It is BOTH the blogs AND the media who are being sexist towards Palin.

    It is just a repeat of what happened to Clinton. That is not to say that Palin is equivalent to Clinton. It is to say that the reactions and talking points are pretty much the same.

    starting with early criticism (5.00 / 6) (#23)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:47:45 PM EST
    of Palin's voice.

    Parent
    What's wrong with her voice? (5.00 / 4) (#38)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:56:45 PM EST
    I, personally, don't have a problem with it; sounds pretty normal to me. If anything, it's refreshing to hear her voice after hearing McCain all this while.

    Parent
    She has a Western/Midwestern thing going (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:04:01 PM EST
    that sounds strange to many of us from east of Pittsburgh.

    Parent
    I thought she sounded quite Midwestern. (5.00 / 3) (#72)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:20:33 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm From The Midwest (none / 0) (#78)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:28:44 PM EST
    and she hardly sounds Midwestern.

    She sounds more Southern to me than anything, in the way that she doesn't pronounce her 'Gs'

    i.e. spendin', recognizin', listin', relyin'

    And also the way she say 'A-merry-kuh' and 'A-las-kuh'

    Parent

    Interesting (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:29:54 PM EST
    I'm from Philly and she sounds not one bit southern to me. She has a western/midwestern accent, so far as I can tell.

    Parent
    Sounds like Nebraska to me. (none / 0) (#116)
    by Iphie on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:30:24 PM EST
    I know that's very specific -- if I had to be more general, I'd say she sounded like the Mountain West, though that's not really Nebraska. The person she sounds most like to me is Roseanne Barr who grew up in UT and CO if I remember correctly.


    But definitely not Southern -- she's got those rounded vowels, not the drawl that comes from the more relaxed, open vowels of the South.

    Parent

    Point of fact (none / 0) (#128)
    by cmugirl on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:00:49 PM EST
    Newscasters and the like go to training to rid themselves of any accent and to sound (wait for it) more Midwestern.  Nobody wants to listen to someone giving them the news with a southern twang, a Boston accent, or heaven forbid, a Philly or NY accent.

    I say this as a proud Midwesterner who, when I lived in Texas, people thought they were complimenting me by saying that a)I didn't talk like a Yankee, and b) I didn't talk like I was from the northeast (I had to point out, and have people argue with me, that Michigan is firmly in the Midwest, and no, I didn't talk like a northeasterner).

    :)

    Parent

    Well, all you say is true (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:07:47 PM EST
    However, the midwestern accent isn't any less of an accent than what can be heard in the south or the northeast, it's just been decreed "good" by the broadcast industry.

    Rhotic accents (i.e. FDR, JFK, and EMK) used to be all of the rage.

    Parent

    Sounds like Idaho and the Dakotas to me (none / 0) (#147)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:37:08 PM EST
    As a southerner, I can definitely say that she does not sound southern.  Her accent reminds me of that woman in the movie, Fargo.  

    Parent
    But how does she say (none / 0) (#84)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:30:42 PM EST
    "wash," "now," and "downtown"?  

    Parent
    I thought she sounded like (none / 0) (#121)
    by Grace on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:47:31 PM EST
    Minnesota or North Dakota.  

    Think of the movie "Fargo."

    Parent

    oh... (none / 0) (#106)
    by kredwyn on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:08:56 PM EST
    I know that voice. My best friend's mom has that. It's kinda through the upper part of the nose?

    Took a bit of getting used to. But now when I hear it, my thoughts are "Oh...you're from..."

    Parent

    As the daughter of an Idahoan (none / 0) (#169)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:36:10 PM EST
    who then was raised in Washington State, I picked up a bit of what you're talking about from my mom, even though I am a Midwesterner through and through.  And not one of those on the fringe such as Nebraska and the Dakotas.  I'm as middle a Midwesterner as there is.

    But I have the occasional Northwest (aka Idaho-Montana-Washington) tick in my speech.  And yes, it is a Southern thang, as I've been told by some Southerners who get a puzzled look when I do it.  And as I've been told by a linguist who studies this.  It turns out that this is owing to a sizeable migration of Southerners who went to the Northwest, he said.  Not my mom's folks, but others there picked it up, too.

    Of course, I didn't hear it all from Palin, as we never do when we hear what seems the norm to us.  But now you will have me listening for it!  One bit of it that I'll especially be listening for is endemic in my Northwestern relatives even today:  See if Palin adds "and all" at the ends of phrases and sentences.  They use it the way others of us use "uhh" or "umm."

    Parent

    Women In Power (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by Athena on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:51:24 PM EST
    The country is not used to hearing female voices and associating them with power.  It happened to Hillary also.

    Big mistake to mock Palin on any level.  Women will resent the sexism, and the classism will be resented by the "little people" who are apparently always in need of leadership but never capable of leading.

    No, labeling Palin as "silly" will only drive voters to her side as they believe themselves to be mocked as well.  

    Obama is surrounded by Ivy males (like himself) who cannot imagine the great unwashed actually getting near the corridors of power.

    Parent

    Some of those surrounding (none / 0) (#97)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:53:14 PM EST
    Obama are from the University of Chicago.

    Parent
    True (5.00 / 2) (#98)
    by Athena on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:55:41 PM EST
    Same thing.  It's attitude - and the Chicago crowd is philosophically deeply retro, infatuated with the charm of economic power.  They synergize well with the classic Ivies.

    Parent
    UC hires from the Ivies (none / 0) (#170)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:42:48 PM EST
    you can bet.  Every higher ed institution prides itself on the number of Ivies it can hire.  We call them the endemic "males from Yale."  Even if at the bottom of their class, they'll be hired ahead of any one, especially a woman, with three times the record of research and teaching and service and more.

    It's not where they were hired; few institutions hire their own.  It's where they did their terminal degrees.  Check their c.v.'s, and I'd bet you see Ivies.  Also those from the next tier, also Eastern schools (mainly Northeast but U of Virginia also is good).  

    Parent

    I've seen several male pundits (none / 0) (#40)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:58:43 PM EST
    criticize her voice, one saying it reminded him of some sitcom character I never heard of.

    Parent
    And these lamebrains search high and (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:04:18 PM EST
    low for something to harp on; and will make it up if they have to...the people we should be concerned about are the ones that buy into this b.s.

    Parent
    apparently it's 'shrill' (none / 0) (#42)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:59:10 PM EST


    Parent
    There's nothing wrong with her voice, (none / 0) (#146)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:33:26 PM EST
    She just has a western/north mid western kind of accent.  Some people have a problem with that.  Go figure.  

    Parent
    It is the blogs Jeralyn. Not this one, but we (5.00 / 3) (#22)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:47:23 PM EST
    have higher standards here.

    Can you reach, yourself, ... (1.00 / 1) (#73)
    by eustiscg on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:22:31 PM EST
    ... or shall I come over and pat you on the back?

    Parent
    You can pat the authors' backs. I just read and (5.00 / 3) (#77)
    by Teresa on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:26:33 PM EST
    learn. If you don't see the difference in what they write compared to other blogs, you need to read more.

    Parent
    That is just Dowd's style. (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by jtaylorr on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:50:27 PM EST
    She takes no prisoners.

    Some find it offensive.
    I find it a breath of fresh air.

    Better, at least, than the "traditional" columnists who come off sounding as offensive as Dowd anyway.

    She's beyond offensive (5.00 / 6) (#32)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:53:07 PM EST
    I find her repulsive.

    Parent
    I see this post as a call out to BTD. (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:54:33 PM EST
    Wonder if he'll "take the bait."

    Parent
    she's smug (5.00 / 4) (#36)
    by txpolitico67 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:55:39 PM EST
    and the only difference between her and Ann Coulter is.....

    is....

    is....

    Parent

    Ann Coulter takes herself seriously. (2.00 / 1) (#46)
    by jtaylorr on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:02:54 PM EST
    Dowd is trying to elicit laughs.

    Parent
    Coulter's Brain Wiring Is Faulty (none / 0) (#60)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:10:54 PM EST
    I once attended a speech she gave at a university in Michigan a couple of years ago, which was at the invitation of the College Republicans. I left wondering how a person as educated and learned as herself could make such absurd and flippant remarks. Fortunately it was free to the public.

    I'm not sure where MoDo received her education, as I've never felt compelled to find out. Her columns are a good indication that however much, or little she did receive, it was all for naught.

    And speaking of Coulter, she's been pretty low-key off late, hasn't she?

    Parent

    Explain how (none / 0) (#89)
    by Jjc2008 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:37:03 PM EST
    sexism is funny.

    Or how attacking physical attributes is funny.


    Parent

    It'd be a "breath of fresh air" (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by rooge04 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:06:47 PM EST
    if she were actually telling the truth half the time. The woman is a total liar and has been exposed as such time and again.   You will not think she's "fresh air" if you read the number (of lies) she did on Gore, Bill, Hillary and Obama.

    Parent
    Actually, (none / 0) (#75)
    by jtaylorr on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:25:46 PM EST
    she received a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of the Lewinsky scandal.

    Parent
    Thanks for proving my point. (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by rooge04 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:42:29 PM EST
    She won a Pulitzer reporting on a President getting impeached for a personal affair---the lowest time in our history when it came to "reporting" until now.  And that makes no difference to the fact that the woman is almost pathological in her lies.  You should look into that and you won't be singing her praises quite as loudly.

    Simply agreeing with a columnist when she's agreeing with you doesn't make her a good columnist. She's absolutely shameful and a hack.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#85)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:31:03 PM EST
    and the the conservatives rained heck down on her for that and she began the conservative appeasement tour that's been going on for years now.

    Parent
    To each his own I suppose (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Jjc2008 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:36:17 PM EST
    MoDo is a fifty something "mean girl" who trashes by attacking gender, physical attributes and trends...
    She's seems more attuned to middle school humor than anything else for me.

    Parent
    Chacun a son gout.. (none / 0) (#109)
    by daria g on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:25:30 PM EST
    but personally it's hard to find anything fresh about cynicism and mean-spiritedness.  

    I think it's frankly a blight on the paper at this point - the relentless misogyny - if she played with the worst ethnic stereotypes every week there's no way they'd give the space to that.

    Parent

    That (5.00 / 5) (#35)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:54:46 PM EST
    column is disgusting and tiresome. Is MoDo implying that Obama has lost the election though? Or that the media is finally going to turn on them?

    Jeralyn, we really can't criticize your blog because you and BTD have been consistently fighting the sexism in the media. Many, many other progressive blogs have done the opposite.

    well, let's not bring that stuff here (none / 0) (#63)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:12:24 PM EST


    Parent
    Oh (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:26:00 PM EST
    I'm not. I just thought that you and BTD should get some compliments for what you've been pointing out.

    I no longer read most of those other blogs anyway. Maybe they aren't as bad now as they were a few months ago but really it's just not worth it in the end.

    Parent

    Women (5.00 / 6) (#54)
    by tek on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:06:51 PM EST
    in high places in our society are sick.  The direction of this campaign is going straight in the gutter and women should be leading the way to treat other women with respect.

    I don't share Sarah Palin's positions on most issues, but I can still think that she's an appealing woman who is quite accomplished. After listening to her speak, I don't believe she fits the Dan Quayle and other demeaning slurs.  Any woman who has five kids--one with a disability--and is the governor of one of our largest states seems pretty competent to me.  

    Or maybe some of the men throwing out sexist crap would like to show us all how well they would do handling an executive position and juggling five kids.

    Gov Palin isn't juggling job and family (2.00 / 1) (#90)
    by MyLeftMind on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:38:09 PM EST
    in the way that middle class and poor women struggle to work and raise a family.  She only stayed home three days after the birth of her disabled child.  She obviously has resources to pay someone else to handle the tough work.  

    Sure, she might be accomplished.  But being a mayor of a little town and being the Gov of Alaska for one and a half years does not make her qualified to be our Prez.  

    She's a token who was chosen to mobilize the conservative base and steal the thunder from our convention and our candidate.  That's all.  

    Parent

    She has family to help (5.00 / 5) (#111)
    by nycstray on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:27:24 PM EST
    and her son seems to be with her a lot. I really don't think it's valid to bring up whether she's leaving the "tough job" to someone else unless you know what you are talking about. Do you know if she has never juggled job and family?


    Parent
    And that family that helps raise her children? (5.00 / 5) (#122)
    by Iphie on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:48:39 PM EST
    Includes her husband -- why people want to diminish his role in the care of his children is beyond me. Apparently, since she became governor, he has stopped working outside the home and is the person responsible for keeping the household running day to day -- the cooking, and getting the kids to school, etc., etc. -- a house-husband for lack of a better term. What on earth is wrong with that?  


    MyLeftMind, do you have the same criticism of the Obama's and their situation? Do you cast aspersions on their credibility juggling work and family? As I understand it, Michele's mother is basically a full-time nanny to their daughters which is quite a bonus for them. But why do they have to struggle like poor women do anyway? What does that qualify a candidate for?

    Parent

    Sen Obama isn't juggling job and family (5.00 / 2) (#171)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:50:22 PM EST
    in the way that middle class and poor fathers struggle to go to work and raise a family.  He only helped to bring his daughters home and then went back to work days afterward.  And he went out of town to work a lot.  He obviously has obviously has resources to pay someone else to handle the tough work of helping to raise his daughters.  

    Sure, he might be accomplished.  But being a part-time state senator and being in Congress for  one and a half years before he began to run does not make him qualified to be our Prez.  

    He's a token who was chosen to mobilize the white liberal guilt-ridden base and steal the thunder from our convention and our candidate.  That's all.  


    Parent

    Nice move... (5.00 / 1) (#183)
    by Oje on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 05:27:49 AM EST


    Parent
    Couldn't (none / 0) (#103)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:02:43 PM EST
    you say the same thing about Obama? That he's a t word too?

    I don't think you realize quite what you are saying here. You are saying that Obama, who has about the same experience as Palin, is qualified while she is not. I guess it's okay for a man to have less qualifications simply because he is man? That is the idea you are promoting.

    You are helping John McCain more than you realize with the kind of statements you are making.

    Parent

    Ga6th- what they are all saying (none / 0) (#161)
    by kenosharick on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:30:30 PM EST
    is that it is ok for Obama to run with little to no experience because he is a Democrat. Not ok for a repub. Completely hypocritical.

    Parent
    How in the world do you know? (none / 0) (#118)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:42:39 PM EST
    How do you know how she juggles work and family?

    Parent
    Anybody thing abortion will ever be (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by tek on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:11:12 PM EST
    totally outlawed in this country?  Ever?  Nope.

    In Some Places It Already Is (none / 0) (#186)
    by daring grace on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 10:25:38 AM EST
    for all intents and purposes, in terms of availability.

    "Because of the split between federal and state law, legal access to abortion continues to vary somewhat by state. Geographic availability, however, varies dramatically, with 87 percent of U.S. counties having no abortion provider.[4] Moreover, due to the Hyde Amendment, many state health programs which poor women rely on for their health care do not cover abortions; currently only 17 states (including California, Illinois and New York) offer or require such coverage.[5]"

    Parent

    "At least we're not Maureen Dowd." (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by Edgar08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:11:12 PM EST
    Maybe that could be a cool t-shirt.  All blogs gotta have schwag.

    MoDo seems unable to do anything (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by bjorn on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:28:45 PM EST
     but sarcasm.  It can be funny sometimes, but I have always thought she must be a very unhappy person.  She seems incapable of writing about anything involving genuine human emotion.

    Bingo (on the sarcasm) (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by Lou Grinzo on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:40:27 PM EST
    She's always struck me as someone who's trying to pass off B-grade sarcasm and something of a flair for turning a phrase as genuine wit, and hoping no one notices how far short she falls.

    Parent
    MODO attempt at humor not funny (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by befuddledvoter on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:30:01 PM EST
    sassy
    chick
    spunky
    vacuously
    quirky
    cinderalla
    Miss congeniality
    cute
    cool
    unknowable
    babe
    zealot
    heehive
    sexy shoes

    I really don't see the humor.  And, I do have a sense of humor.  This crosses way over the line.  

    I think the igloo line (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by Lil on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:53:07 PM EST
    was a little racist too...or something like that.

    I think it's just good ol' (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by rooge04 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:58:26 PM EST
    snobbery.  

    Parent
    And lacking in research (none / 0) (#173)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:53:07 PM EST
    as it's not hard to find out this and other differences among the Yup'ik, Aleut, Inuit, and other Eskimos.

    I didn't know much about them until yesterday, when I started learning more.  But then, I don't write a nationally syndicated column.

    Parent

    Mo Dowd has a talent for sarcasm but little else (5.00 / 2) (#104)
    by Tim V on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:03:41 PM EST
    Obama supporters are scared of Palin. A writer from the weekly standard summarized the many advantages Palin offers the GOP/ McCain ticket:

    What Palin Does

    1. Steps on the story of Obama's speech (and convention), and possibly the bounce coming from them, and wipes them off the news cycle. The Sunday news shows will be all-Palin, all of the time.

    2. Sends Republicans into their convention on a huge head of steam.

    3. Wipes out the image of McCain as the crotchety elder and brings back that of the fly-boy and gambler, which is much more appealing, and the genuine person.

    4. Revs up the base AND excites independents, which no one else in the party, or perhaps in the world, could have accomplished.

    5. Puts youth, change, and history on both of the tickets.

    6. May detach some young people, especially women.

    7. May attach some women pissed off about Hillary.

    8. As a pro-life super-achiever, puts feminists in a tizzy.

    9. Revives some of the double-edged nature of the Democratic primary, which featured a black vs. a
    female trail-blazer, and put both sides on notice on sensitivity issues. Democrats used to raising charges of racism against Obama's critics may face charges of sexism and/or condescension if they try to diss her.

    1. Steps on Obama's claims to have been a reformer, as he reformed nothing (much less the corrupt mare's nest of Chicago arrangements), while she was a dragon-slayer up in Alaska.

    2. As a mother of five, one a Down Syndrome baby, helps her side take on the Democrats on abortion extremism and the Born Alive bill.

    3. Reignites the deep and unhealed stresses inside the Democrats, some of whom will now wonder more loudly than ever why they didn't pick Hillary.

    4. Counters Michelle in a way Cindy couldn't.

    5. Counter-intuitively, makes the issue of Obama's light resume more potent than ever. Her lack of experience is no more than his is. And he's--to use a term from Alaska, and the Iditarod--their lead dog.

    Posted by Noemie Emery on August 29, 2008 01:22 PM | Permalink

    She may not draw all that many former Hillary supporters but if they keep up the attacks, then perhaps more than she would have otherwise.

    Thanks for posting this too. (5.00 / 1) (#132)
    by Grace on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:11:20 PM EST
    I think this one:

    Steps on Obama's claims to have been a reformer, as he reformed nothing (much less the corrupt mare's nest of Chicago arrangements), while she was a dragon-slayer up in Alaska.

    will ultimately prove to be the hardest on the Obama campaign.  After all, aside of "Bush's third term," isn't this what "Change" is all about?  Reform?  

    While Obama is all about "Unity" and "Working across the aisle," Palin is more about "Getting your hands dirty and accomplishing something."  

    I dunno -- but I think that one point speaks directly to Obama's "Change" message.  

    Parent

    Palin's record ... (none / 0) (#180)
    by Meteor Blades on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:56:53 AM EST
    ...as a reformer is going to be shot to hell by Troopergate and her other firings of people who disagreed with her politically.

    Parent
    Wow (5.00 / 1) (#152)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:50:33 PM EST
    I guess that's why McCain has taken in nearly $10 million since he announced Palin as his choice.  No wonder I keep hearing republican say that McCain choice was "genius"  and "inspired".   Today I heard someone call it a courageous choice.  Republicans are over the moon.  Jeeze.  They get Palin and we get Joe Biden.  blech.

    Parent
    Most of all (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by echinopsia on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:57:36 PM EST
    she makes the election exciting again. It was getting to be a real snooze since Hillary suspended.

    Thank you, Gov. Palin.

    Parent

    Ask yourself this question : (5.00 / 2) (#107)
    by Tim V on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:10:01 PM EST
    Who do YOU think middle america will relate better to: Maureen Dowd the sarcastic, elitist columnist or Sarah Palin ?

    That's gotta be a trick question (none / 0) (#114)
    by RalphB on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:29:49 PM EST
    to smoke out the morons right?   Virtually nobody could relate to Maureen Dowd.

    Parent
    Great Family Values people! (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by mexboy on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:28:37 PM EST
    Do none of these sexist journalists, bloggers, whatever they call themselves have a mother?

    We need to seriously teach/practice respect for the persons who nurture us and bring us into this world!

    I have no words...correction I have a lot of words for these guys, but I'd get banned from using them in this site!

    I'm off to have a drink and dance my frustrations away.

    Have a great Holiday weekend.

    No, Joe, No! (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by nell on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:44:43 PM EST
    http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/oh-that-joe-n-2.html

    Joe Biden says Palin is good looking...

    All I can say is no, Joe, no! I know he was joking, I have no doubt that it was meant in a good humored way, but whether he thinks she is deserving of the position or not, this woman is his professional equal. He should not be making jokes about how pretty she is...it is demeaning (and again, I know he didn't mean it) and it belittles her. Whether you or I like it, she may be the VP of the United States and she is due basic professional respect...

    I'm telling you, (5.00 / 2) (#125)
    by Iphie on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:53:28 PM EST
    I think the VP debate contains considerably more risk for him that it does for her. We already know about his foot-in-mouth disease, thus far, it doesn't seem that there's much evidence that she is similarly afflicted.

    Parent
    The gaffed wasnt so bad (none / 0) (#124)
    by RalphB on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:49:43 PM EST
    in and of itself, but the inana rattling on after it was pretty stupid.

    Parent
    Many thought JFK was good looking (none / 0) (#151)
    by SueBonnetSue on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:42:48 PM EST
    is that different?  

    Parent
    Yes. (5.00 / 2) (#174)
    by Cream City on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 11:56:20 PM EST
    They weren't on the other ticket.

    Parent
    or Mitt Romney? (none / 0) (#177)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:18:06 AM EST
    He reminded me of a young Warren Beatty when I saw and filmed him in Iowa. Very handsome man. But his political views are terrible.

    I have no problem with commenting on a person's good looks I've probably written ten times about Jon Bon Jovi's face which I could look at for hours. I doubt I'd vote for him for President though unless he got some experience first, despite his talented business abilities and philanthropic acts.

    Parent

    What does Biden think of this (none / 0) (#181)
    by chopper on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 01:24:02 AM EST
    Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks.

    It's on PERMANENT ACTIVE DUTY, unlike other Guard units. As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.

     She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force, ASDF, a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans. Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

    According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets. She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.


    Parent

    Enough posting this already (none / 0) (#188)
    by domerdem on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 05:25:54 PM EST
    Off topic, do you think the Bulldogs can go undefeated?

    Parent
    Modo wrote another sexist (5.00 / 3) (#138)
    by sancho on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:47:03 PM EST
    anti-feminist screed. There is no reason I can see to link to her ever. And I do not think her column helps Obama either. Let's talk about the issues. That's what Hillary would want.

    Fiorina talking about the economy? (2.00 / 1) (#19)
    by jtaylorr on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:46:28 PM EST
    After she drove HP into the ground and got herself a $40 million parting gift?

    Give me a break.

    well, she got one thing right. (none / 0) (#12)
    by rise hillary rise on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:41:51 PM EST
    Palin is probably a better shot than Cheney.

    Here's an opening (none / 0) (#24)
    by txpolitico67 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:48:17 PM EST
    that unnamed blogger just gave ALL those PUMA-types and other feminists:  If Maureen O'Dowd, being a WOMAN, can tear down another woman, be this huge b1tch to her and her accomplishments (as opposed to be a self-appointed muckracker for the NYT...wonder how close her ahd Judy Miller were huh?  But I digress) will make MORE women flock to Palin to defend her from O'Dowd.

    And because readership is down for "the paper of record", a bunch of blogs give this woman even MORE of a forum.

    I just don't get it.

    I subscribe to the NYT but never (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:52:16 PM EST
    read Dowd in the newspapaper anymore.  The blogs are her lifeline to still being published in the NYT.  

    Parent
    I do. (none / 0) (#51)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:05:14 PM EST
    I would never vote for anyone who says I shouldn't have the right to make my own reproductive choices. And when it comes to choice, neither Obama OR McCain gets it, AFAIK. McCain says no way, no how, and Obama wants me to talk with my pastor first.

    Obama is pro-choice (2.00 / 2) (#101)
    by MyLeftMind on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:58:49 PM EST
    It's disingenuous to pretend he's forcing women to talk to pastors before getting an abortion.  This "Obama pastoral approval" myth has already been debunked here on TL.  

    Obama was speaking to Christians via a reporter from a Christian magazine.  He was addressing women who would, as a matter of course, consult their clergy about such an important decision.  Obama said, "My only point is this -- historically I have been a strong believer in a women's right to choose with her doctor, her pastor and her family."  He never said he would force women to talk to a pastor, or even that he wants you to.  Obama has even taken a stand for late term abortions.

    Please stop misrepresenting our party's platform and our candidate's words to faith-based communities as requiring all women to get pastoral approval


    Parent

    I never said he was "forcing" me (5.00 / 2) (#117)
    by shoephone on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:38:19 PM EST
    to do anything. So, don't misprepresent MY words. Obama has been mushy and pandering on choice throughout the campaign, including in his convention speech at Invesco.

    Facts matter.

    Parent

    Obama's statement on choice is problematic... (5.00 / 1) (#166)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 10:54:52 PM EST
    Obama said, "My only point is this -- historically I have been a strong believer in a women's right to choose with her doctor, her pastor and her family."

    POTUS is the highest SECULAR, public servant in the land and Obama's statement oversteps that church/state boundary. I don't want to even hear the word pastor uttered in any such context.

    And "the family"? F-off with "the family" meme. How many "family" members get to weigh in? What happens if the "family" opposes abortion? Why even assume that there's a "family" involved in the first place?

    When it comes to making that choice, we know for sure it will involve a woman and her doctor; that's where the decision ultimately, and rightfully, resides.

    That being said, of course, any woman is free to speak to whomever she chooses. But, it is not Obama's place to make pious statements as to who that might be.

    Parent

    Politicians Speak in Many Contexts (none / 0) (#185)
    by daring grace on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 10:17:29 AM EST
    There is NOTHING I've seen anywhere in Obama's legislative record in Illinois or in the Senate that suggests he wants to FORCE women by statute to consult anyone other than a physician when she is considering an abortion.

    This statement about pastor and family is the other kind of poli-speak which, probably, as you suggest is an effort to frame the choice issue in terms which are more comfortable for those inclined to be anti choice--religious, 'family values' voters.

    But I also see ways that it frames the issue in a way favorable to the pro choice argument presenting an image of women who are considering an abortion as 'regular' people--neighbors who have families and faith in their lives. Not necessarily a bad strategy, and perfectly consistent with reality.

    And, myself, I've known a couple women who DID talk to their families and their religious mentors when faced with this decision. Some families and some religious people are pro choice too, you know.

    Parent

    DG, don't be patronizing, please... (none / 0) (#187)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 02:06:05 PM EST
    You said:

    And, myself, I've known a couple women who DID talk to their families and their religious mentors when faced with this decision. Some families and some religious people are pro choice too, you know.

    I said nothing that precludes any of what you've said there. I've known women who talked to their families and their preachers and the whole damn village. That's their business, not Obama's, nor yours nor mine.

    Obama is over-hyping the family values and religious meme at a time when polls reflect that the public, and even Republicans, want to see LESS of the latter in the political arena. (I could retrieve the polls but that would be a pain in my butt right now.)

    Parent

    Kind of a blurred line... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Dawn Davenport on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:07:58 PM EST
    ...between blogs and so-called traditional media these days, particularly since many old-timey journos now blog and since many bloggers are now writing for corporate media like Newsweek.

    I happen to welcome this change, for the most part, since it allows for more viewpoints to be heard outside the corporate media--ideally, at least.

    But it also brings up some ethical questions, such as Olbermann's blogging on DK yet still trying to present himself as serious and impartial on his show, or the various campaigns' working directly with bloggers to distribute their official talking points.

    MoDo at least (none / 0) (#87)
    by Jjc2008 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:34:35 PM EST
    is trying to be an equal opportunity sexist trasher. I guess she thinks sexism is funny.....not sure why.

    But maybe after all the heat she has taken from the liberal (and I use that word loosely these days) blogs over her ridiculous trashing of Gore, Kerry, the Clintons and the Obamas, maybe she wants to get rid of the bias accusations.
    She's not worth the read to me.

    There's satire and then there's just plain old nasty and mean...MoDo is NOT the former.

    Let's see if Palin and/or McCain (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by oculus on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 06:45:12 PM EST
    say anything.  I'll bet they won't.

    Parent
    They Won't. But... (none / 0) (#110)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:27:02 PM EST
    The right-wing blogs will, and if there's anything that is more successful at firing up the Republican base and blogosphere, it is poor journalism in the New York Times. The NYT has already significantly bashed McCain twice this year, and an attack on Palin can't be too far.

    But, in this case, MoDo already has such a poor reputation that she'll probably only fire up the factions of female Conservatives and Evangelicals.

    Oh, but don't fret ... the Republicans, in general, will protect Palin in ways that the DNC and top party brass didn't when one of their own was being attacked.

    Parent

    The only thing she is lacking is experience (none / 0) (#120)
    by Tim V on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:44:44 PM EST
    and how can someone like Obama that seriously lacks experience make that a winning issue for him ?

    Not possible (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by RalphB on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:56:23 PM EST
    Hard argument to make, that experience matters for the VP but it doesn't for the President.  When I first heard McCain has picked Palin, I thought this was a really great move by his campaign.  The more people I speak with about it, the greater it looks.

    Parent
    And (none / 0) (#130)
    by cmugirl on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:02:45 PM EST
    as governor, she only makes $81,000 and change a year.

    Wow, is that really how much she earns? (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by JimWash08 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 09:26:04 PM EST
    I wonder if that is specific to the state ... by that I mean that different states probably have different demands and circumstances which would influence the pay-scales of each Governor.

    I'd expect the Govs. of CA or TX earns more than the Govs. of VT or R.I. But then again, AK isn't exactly a small state.

    Meanwhile, earning $81,000+ annually has got to be tough for a family of 7, in which she's the sole breadwinner (apparently, based on what I've read that Todd Palin is a stay-at-home father).

    That makes her achievements and responsibilities as a Governor and a new nursing-mom, while her husband holds the reins at home, all the more admirable.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#184)
    by cmugirl on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 08:01:38 AM EST
    Governors (and other state officials) make different amounts of money based on the state.

    Parent
    Johannes is banned (none / 0) (#178)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:27:29 AM EST
    for violating the rules and introducing the rumor topic again. Comments replying to it have been deleted.

    New commenters should acquaint themselves with this site's comment policy.

    Johannes also was posting as two users which is not allowed. The other screen name has also been banned.

    Several comments were insulting to other commenters as well.

    Mo Do on Sarah Palin | 155 comments (155 topical)

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