Every kind, it turns out: of all ages from 18 to 90; located all across America, including Alaska; of every political persuasion including Republicans and Independents as well as Democrats; and from every socio-economic level including blue collar and highly-paid professionals, plus stay-at-home moms and retired women in nursing homes.
The outpouring is remarkable in many ways, from crisp, thoughtful analyses to emotional to single issue to downright funny. What it shows is that American women really are paying attention, understand the issue(s) and have made their own judgment call. They almost uniformly show a deep concern for, and understanding of, not just America but the American system of government. Here are a few of my favorites:
I too would love to see a woman elected to high office, but I want her to be legitimately qualified and legitimately vetted and legitimately chosen for her supreme knowledge of democratic government. Not because she is folksy, trash-talking arm-candy for a foundering candidate.-Sue U., 42, Milwaukee, WI
As a registered Republican, and as an accomplished professional woman with a law degree, I feel it is my duty to share my extreme distress over McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. She is not qualified to be the President of the United States and she does not represent Republican women. Beth P., 42, San Francisco
Guess what, Democrats have been including women in this process forever.
*They have sent 139 women to the House or representatives, Republican only 79.
*They have elected 22 women to the United States Senate, Republicans 13.
*Democrats have also elected 19 Female governors compared to the republicans at just 12. So Republicans watch out because we are not so easily hypnotized by a woman being brought into a place of power by politics, we have done it time and again, and we will not vote for someone who is not qualified for the job simply because she is a woman.-Gina W., Winslow, AZ
Sarah Plain represents the opposite of change. She represents the male establishment fronting her as a smokescreen to try to win over women's votes.-Jennifer T., 42, Denver, CO
I am so ashamed to be a Republican that I have re-registered as a Democrat this year because, frankly, they are more like original Republicans anyway (less government, more power to the people) and the Republicans are now about more government and less power to the people. She in no way represents an intelligent Republican woman and I don't want to be associated with Republican women if they identify with her ignorant and hypocritical platform.-Susan W., 65, Flagstaff, AZ
I was a construction worker for 20 years. I never used the gender card to get ahead. I let my reputation as a hard worker speak for itself. Shame on McCain for hiding behind her while he attacks Obama and shame on Sarah Palin for condoning it.
-Vanessa H., mother and grandmother
First I want to say that I am an Evangelical Christian Southern female who opposes abortion; however, any seriously thoughtful Christian will admit that this is only one of several Biblical principles and no one candidate nor political party owns a consistent Christian platform. I am writing to state in the strongest of terms that I am appalled at the choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican VP nominee.....Ms. Palin's smugness, arrogance, and lack of humility further guarantee that her election would continue our country's disastrous course of the last eight years under the Bush/Cheney administration. For a man who claims to be a man of honor who puts "Country First", it is so sadly ironic that he is willing to put our country (and our world) at such terrible risk.-Susan M., MD
I was raped at age 18. I was not impregnated but had I been I believe I am owed the choice to decide on motherhood. Palin stands for the destruction of choice. She is a contradiction in every aspect of the word. Please do not elect this woman as VP.
Please.-A. T., 19, Santa Fe, NM
If I wanted to live in a theocracy, I'd move to Iran. This nomination is McCain's way of patting us all on our little heads and saying, "There you go, honey! Now don't worry your little head about this government stuff."
- Christin R.
If this is John McCain's first executive decision of sorts, we are in a lot of trouble as a nation. I am a 59 year old working class woman, and I can tell you that in no way do I relate to Sarah Palin and her antiquated, self absorbed vision of life. Stephanie M., Yonkers, NY
The ongoing selections can be read at http://womenagainstsarahpalin.... but beware: reading them is addictive.
I couldn't have - wouldn't have - said it better myself.
Thanks again!
Steve
Thanks!
Steve
Sarah Palin has absolutely no problem with the state paying for evidence gathering. But the problem is that a rape kit is far more than evidence-gathering. A rape kit also tests for STD's and provides emergency contraception at state expense.The line that Sarah Palin toed was basically this: no way, no how, no public funding at the municipal, state, or federal level for rape kits that contain emergency contraception. But investigation costs, she says? No problem.
And what's so bad about emergency contraception? Well, a lot of radical pro-life groups view emergency contraception as tantamount to abortion on the grounds that it runs the risk of preventing the implantation of a fertilized ovum, which religious nutballs apparently view as the equivalent of murder.
[...]
In sum: the only possible reason behind Sarah Palin's consistent refusal to fund rape investigation kits with taxpayer money is that they contain emergency contraception, which her religious fundamentalism views as tantamount to an abortion, and she, like George Bush, is a firm believer in the Mexico City policy.