Is Palin Supposed to Attract the Women Vote? (by Mallika Chopra)

From comments on other blogs, there are a lot of virulent McCain-haters who think this choice is a big trick that won't work to get Hilary-supporters. But such strong liberals were not going to vote for McCain regardless of his vice-presidential choice. This election looks like it will be close, so they only have to convince a moderately greater percentage of the independent voters -- not that bad a strategy. And there is a big difference in expecting a vice-president to grow as a presidential candidate compared to expecting a president to learn on the job, despite comments equating the two.

Good lord, I hope I don't end up eating these words but...........

"Do they honestly believe women are so stupid to vote purely for a woman?"

Tsk, tsk -- please spare us the phony outrage. Do you honestly believe we (your blog readers) are so stupid as to believe the Republican are so stupid? Of course McCain doesn't expect all women to vote Republican by virtue of choosing a female VP. Any more than the Democrats expect all Catholics to vote for Obama because their VP choice (Biden) is a nominal Catholic.

But choosing a female VP candidate (as "observer" pointed out today at 3:46 PM) may very well increase female support for McCain by just enough to secure his election. For the same reason, the Democrats are hoping that choosing a Catholic VP candidate will increase Catholic support for Obama by just enough to secure Obama's election.

Also, you write: "She (Palin) is staunchly pro-life ... Is that going to attract the women voters who believe in their own right to choose?"

We can assume that you are hoping the answer will be "no." We understand that. But not every woman feels as you do and some indeed feel uncomfortable with the commoditization of sex and the disconnects between sexuality and authentic love and between sexuality and procreation. It is these women that I refer to who will be impressed by Palin and her husband's commitment to family life and the dignity of the unborn.

"Is that going to attract the women voters who believe in their own right to choose?"

According to polling, only 3% of American women view access to abortion as a make-or-break issue. Most women -- like most of the country -- while pro-choice, are also in favor of common sense restrictions on the practice.

In other words, with most women voters being middle of the road, they will consider candidates like Hillary or Obama, and they will also honestly consider McCain.

By the way, do you even vote, Mallika?

Ahhh I just read the byline. Sorry I thought it was Depak. Still, although I despise what bush has done to this nation I am not going to embrace uncritically everything the democrats do. Still, while you certainly have the right to voice your opinion I still hope in the spirit of wisdom that the blog can return to sanity and spirituality and veer away from politics.

Steve Snead.

Please refrain from the attempt at political sway and return to the spiritual uplifting which is what we all need the most. We are, most of us, weary of the unending rhetoric from both directions and we should all know by now that "never the twain shall meet". There is no shortage of information on both candidates (and their respective entourage) to keep us wondering for the next millenium. How can you call yourself a spiritual, godly person and not acknowledge the life of the unborn?
Deepak, where are you.....