Who's afraid of Sarah Palin? And her faith? I'm one of those who thinks all the hand-wringing about her supposedly ideological right-wing faith is way overblown. Could she be a right-wing religious ideologue if in office? Perhaps she'd follow the script if that's what she was told to do. But what really emerges from a review of her statements about faith and policy is that there really isn't much connection, and efforts to connect her Pentecostal upbringing (which she has admittedly been running away from, and fast) to speaking in tongues or "Third Wave" theology winds up not only as cheap shots, but as pretty thin: I'm not sure she understand all that stuff any better than I do. Or Bonhoeffer (or Barth) for that matter. But she might want to check them out. As it stands now, her version of "religionless" faith comes off as an all too typical American believer who doesn't reckon with tradition or faith in public life; yes, Biden and Pelosi aren't exactly Aquinas and Augustine. But I'm not sure how Palin's "values" connect with public policy, if it all.
Palin has in previous campaigns said she's for teaching creationism, but won't push it, said she's for abstinence-only sex ed, then said she's "pro-contraception" sex ed, and said she's "pro-life" but won't push policies against abortion. In another segment (NYT transcript here and Christianity Today here) from her Couric interviews, Palin again does this dance.
Ms. Couric: If a 15-year-old is raped by her father, do you believe it should be illegal for her to get an abortion, and why?
Ms. Palin: I am pro-life. And I'm unapologetic in my position that I am pro-life. And I understand there are good people on both sides of the abortion debate. In fact, good people in my own family have differing views on abortion, and when it should be allowed. Do I respect people's opinions on this? Now, I would counsel to choose life. I would also like to see a culture of life in this country. But I would also like to take it one step further. Not just saying I am pro-life and I want fewer and fewer abortions in this country, but I want them, those women who find themselves in circumstances that are absolutely less than ideal, for them to be supported, and adoptions made easier.
Ms. Couric: But ideally, you think it should be illegal for a girl who was raped or the victim of incest to get an abortion?
Ms. Palin: I'm saying that, personally, I would counsel the person to choose life, despite horrific, horrific circumstances that this person would find themselves in. And, um, if you're asking, though, kind of foundationally here, should anyone end up in jail for having an ... abortion, absolutely not. That's nothing I would ever support.
Ms. Couric: Some people have credited the morning-after pill for decreasing the number of abortions. How do you feel about the morning-after pill?
Ms. Palin: Well, I am all for contraception. And I am all for preventative measures that are legal and safe, and should be taken, but Katie, again, I am one to believe that life starts at the moment of conception. And I would like to see ...
Ms. Couric: And so you don't believe in the morning-after pill?
Ms. Palin: ... I would like to see fewer and fewer abortions in this world. And again, I haven't spoken with anyone who disagrees with my position on that.
Ms. Couric: I'm sorry, I just want to ask you again. Do you not support or do you condone or condemn the morning-after pill?
Ms. Palin: Personally, and this isn't McCain-Palin policy ...
Ms. Couric: No, that's OK, I'm just asking you.
Ms. Palin: But personally, I would not choose to participate in that kind of contraception.
Palin also endorsed the "right to privacy" that is the underpinning of Roe v. Wade, and I don't think this was a trick question, as Couric explained it to her very gently and carefully. That should give abortion opponents fits, no?
Or this on evolution and teaching creationism:
Couric: Do you believe evolution should be taught as an accepted scientific principle or as one of several theories?
Palin: Oh, I think it should be taught as an accepted principle. And, as you know, I say that also as the daughter of a school teacher, a science teacher, who has really instilled in me a respect for science. It should be taught in our schools. And I won't deny that I see the hand of God in this beautiful creation that is Earth. But that is not part of the state policy or a local curriculum in a school district. Science should be taught it science class.
Palin's most Falwell-esque remark may be her view that homosexuality is a choice. Mark Silk has more on Palin's interview with right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt and her view that she doesn't belong to any church, but that people are mocking her faith.
In any case, does this sound like a Warrior Queen of the Religious Right? Or like political pragmatism and a nice faith-based gloss?
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i'm not too sure what palin is all about either, but i don't see any inconsistencies in that interview, i see a bit of question-dodging but thats about it. What i saw, was that she preferred the pro-life option, but wouldn't be prepared to push that on the public. She seemed to support the use of contraception, but wasn't too keen on the morning-after pill, which is logical because the morning-after pill is pretty much along the same lines as an abortion - a life has been physically created by sperm and egg getting together, and being terminated AFTER it has happened. not all contraception works in this way - most act as a barrier - so no life will be formed in the first place. Her acceptance of the right to privacy in these matters I think is also well placed. for many who have to have an abortion, the pressure is hard enough, without joe-public knowing about it. Also, it was refreshing to see a republican supporting the teaching of evolution as an accepted principle. Creationism should be kept in the religious studies classes unless a solid scientific basis for it is found.
So yeah i'm not sure what to make of Sarah Palin... I thought she'd be all gung-ho religious right rhetoric, but this interview seems to suggest she might have some more center-leaning views after all.
Anybody who thought Ms. Palin would wear her ultra-right wing beliefs (religious and social) on her sleeve leading up to voting day must not have much experience with politics. She isn’t a rabid beast, people, she has some experience being in the public eye – by virtue of her beauty contestant days and time spent as a local news anchor, at the very least.
Not only that, but she has practically spent the last month locked up in McCain’s basement with a team of the best coaches and political advisors on the planet preparing her for brief forays in front of the camera.
So let’s not be glib; Palin will present herself with all the gloss and polish needed to get by. As proven in various interviews, and the debate last night, she gets rather shaky when pressed for specifics on any one topic – because, I believe, she does not have the answers. She tries to generalize her comments as much as she can, because that’s all she has to work with. You can only pump so much information into one head over the course of a month.
In my opinion, Palin does not have what it takes to be VP or, god help us all, President. A VP is more than just a “plan B”; they are the confidants and advisors to the President, and Palin does not have the fundamental ability to serve in this capacity.
What possible situation is John McCain going to turn to Sarah Palin for advice on? The War? Ha. The economy? Please. She took Wasilla (pop. 6500) from a budget surplus to a $20,000,000 debt.
Sarah Palin is window dressing; a distraction for the public leading up to an election where John McCain knows he is in deep trouble and can’t possibly answer the tough questions. So... look over there!
It is the worst, most irresponsible political pandering ever before seen in the history of the United States of America; McCain is so desperate to win, he is willing to risk the future of the country on the shoulders of this... dashboard ornament... to do it.
Well okay i'm not American lol so I dunno how politicking goes over there lol. I do accept what you`re saying though about the republicans and how they`re desperate to hold onto power. It does put things in a different light now you mention it nightlad. I should've known that they would stoop such a level to gain votes.
Palin may or may not be without religion but she's without morality. She and McCain and their campaigns are going to subject us to a month of the vilest smears we've seen since Bush pulled them on McCain and Kerry. Her "palling around with terrorists" claims is just one example.
If you actually cared about America you wouldn't drag it through the mud just to win an election.
[quote]Palin may or may not be without religion but she's without morality. She and McCain and their campaigns are going to subject us to a month of the vilest smears we've seen since Bush pulled them on McCain and Kerry. Her "palling around with terrorists" claims is just one example.
If you actually cared about America you wouldn't drag it through the mud just to win an election.[/quote]
What do you call a person who deliberately tries to inflict harm on innocent people for an ideological idea? The man about whom Palin is accusing of being a terrorist, would today be lock-up. Today if you threaten with words to do what he has done you go to jail. So what do you call him besides a terrorist?
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