# And again -- who IS Sarah Palin **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686 "2008-09-02T15:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/301 "2008-09-07T23:12:47Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a male governor of a state be referred to as a ‘spokesmodel’, or as a ‘pretty prop’. > > Might be some time for a little soul-searching on your part if you think that wasn’t sexist. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/302 "2008-09-07T23:18:34Z")
What’s sexist is the choice of Palin itself. It’s not just that they ceynically assumed all women are so stupid that they’ll vote for anything with a vagina, but that they took an even lower road of bypassing the women in their party who are actually qualified to choose a bimbo in go go boots to try to sex up the appeal of the ticket for white trash men. Putting Palin on the ticket was a deeply cynical and chauvinistic choice. She no different than any of the blonde Fox News bots who wear micro-skirts and mechanically read teleprompters, only they have a little more polish than Palin and lack the screechy voice and irritating Fargo accent. McCain hired the political equivalent of the bikini babe who poses on the car. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/303 "2008-09-07T23:23:51Z")
By the way, **Sam** , exactly the same kinds of things were said about Dan Quayle – that he was a “hunk” chosen not for his brains but as a transparent attempt to appeal to women. I know that gender equity is a brand new concept for conservatives, but you guys aren’t really getting it. It’s not just about screaming “sexism” every time a woman gets criticized or questioned. Nobody is saying palin is unqualified because she’s a woman, they’re saying it because she’s unqualified. Women are just as capable of being unqualified and intellectually lacking as men. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/304 "2008-09-07T23:23:54Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > . . . . > > Did anyone watch the interview with Alaska’s National Guard commander that I linked to? Seems like it might be some pretty relevent information in finding out Palin’s qualifications. I did indeed watch it. Two things struck me: one, that he seemed more exercised about some perceived slight to the Guard than anything specifically to do with Mrs. Palin; second, that it was edited (I assume) in such a way as to have him seem to contradict his earlier comments on the issue. > [@](#): > > Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin “extremely responsive and smart” and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder. > > But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations . I’m sorry I don’t have the link to the AP story any more, I think I got it from a post on this forum, though. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/305 "2008-09-07T23:32:10Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a male governor of a state be referred to as a ‘spokesmodel’, or as a ‘pretty prop’. > > Might be some time for a little soul-searching on your part if you think that wasn’t sexist. 1. nobody’s referring to her as that in her role as a governor. The question is her role as VP. So, false analogy. 2. Other persons might have avoided such labels because they were perceived as bringing more to the table than their looks. Your assumption that her gender inspired the labels is sexist on your part. The attack is on her uselessness. Not her sex. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/306 "2008-09-07T23:56:02Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Look, it’s clear why Palin isn’t immediately giving interviews - she’s an outsider from Alaska, and she’s being rapidly schooled by McCain’s advisors on the ins and outs of Washington and the various issues. As soon as she’s ready, they’ll send her out. Probably sooner than later, before her ‘refusal to talk’ becomes a major talking point. > > There is a very interesting video on [this cite](http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/06/palin-inexperienced-not-really/comment-page-1/#comments), which I suggest you watch to get a more complete picture of Palin. Now, the site is a pro-Palin site, and the video is from Fox News, but what’s important is that the video contains an interview with the General who commands the Alaska National Guard, and he is asked very specific questions about what Palin has done in her role as commander of the guard. Yeah, watched it. Would you call that fair and balanced? I suppose if you balance it with all the criticism of her in threads on the boards, but not for a station who has that slogan. Not one criticism? No mention of troopergate. Notice how Greta led them to the next praise item? Sheesh ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/307 "2008-09-08T00:02:16Z")
The Greta piece was nauseating. She’s probably still picking curly hairs out of her teeth. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/308 "2008-09-08T00:11:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The Greta piece was nauseating. She’s probably still picking curly hairs out of her teeth. Back down a bit. Your mouth-foaming tirades are (unfortunately) within bounds for Great Debates, but this is unnecessary and pointless. If you simply want to be a cheerleader for the “Burn the witch!” crowd, take it to the Pit. Otherwise, calm down and post actual logical reasons (backed by pertinent cites) and lay off the emotional rhetoric. [/modding] ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/309 "2008-09-08T00:25:00Z")
> [@vison](#): > > I did indeed watch it. Two things struck me: one, that he seemed more exercised about some perceived slight to the Guard than anything specifically to do with Mrs. Palin; second, that it was edited (I assume) in such a way as to have him seem to contradict his earlier comments on the issue. My understanding, and excuse me if this has already been covered, but Palin’s role with the National Guard is nothing…when it is a federal operation. So those troops sent overseas have nothing to do with her. The only time she does have a “CinC” role is if the national guard is sent to handle something locally. For example, providing security for a marathon in Alaska, or dealing with erosion, or sending a cargo plane to help with Gustav, are all part of the governor’s role. However, it appears that, rather than actually doing that stuff herself, she has not issued an order to the Alaskan national guard, relying instead on Maj. Gen. Campbell and her chief of staff: “Out west and northwest we had erosion problems, and the National Guard was involved in some of the protection out there. About three days ago, the Army National Guard picked up a lady from Little Diomede (Island) . . . at the request of state troopers.” Did Palin directly approve each of those activities? No, Campbell said. The governor has granted him the authority to act on his own in most cases, including life-or-death emergencies — when a quick response is required — and minor day-to-day operations. “Some authorities have been given to me that she has acknowledged that I can execute,” he said. “For others I have to ask her each time.” The recent decision to deploy a C-17 cargo plane from the Alaska Air National Guard to Louisiana to assist during the Hurricane Gustav response was an occasion in which Campbell briefed the governor’s office and sought its approval, he said. Chief of Staff Mike Nizich signed off on it." [from here](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/51665.html). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/310 "2008-09-08T00:26:57Z")
But Alaska is near Russia, on the front lines of the Cold War. Doesn’t that count for something? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/311 "2008-09-08T02:10:20Z")
More data about who Sarah Palin is: [Palin appears to disagree with John McCain on Sex Education](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-sexed6-2008sep06,0,3119305.story) > [@](#): > > “I’m pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues,” she said during a debate in Juneau. > > Such statements could raise concerns among social conservatives who have been some of Palin’s most enthusiastic supporters since she was tapped for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket last week. > > … > > Palin’s statements date to her 2006 gubernatorial run. In July of that year, she completed a candidate questionnaire that asked, would she support funding for abstinence-until-marriage programs instead of “explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?” > > Palin wrote, “Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.” > > But in August of that year, Palin was asked during a KTOO radio debate if “explicit” programs include those that discuss condoms. Palin said no and called discussions of condoms “relatively benign.” > > “Explicit means explicit,” she said. “No, I’m pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues. So I am not anti-contraception. But, yeah, abstinence is another alternative that should be discussed with kids. I don’t have a problem with that. That doesn’t scare me, so it’s something I would support also.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/312 "2008-09-08T03:10:45Z")
What is “explicit sex education,” and how can you teach sex education without being explicit? She favors Abstinence Only education and specifically sought funding for the program in Alaska, so whatever those comments are supposed to mean, she hasn’t backed it up with public policy. “Explicit sex ed?” WTF? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/313 "2008-09-08T04:06:55Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What is “explicit sex education,” and how can you teach sex education without being explicit? > > She favors Abstinence Only education and specifically sought funding for the program in Alaska, so whatever those comments are supposed to mean, she hasn’t backed it up with public policy. > > “Explicit sex ed?” WTF? Maybe it means telling kids about birth control rather than showing the video. where did you read she sought funding for abstinence only? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/314 "2008-09-08T04:31:06Z")
This whole “commanding the National Guard” shit is too wierd for TV. Since when is a capacity for military command considered a needful qualification for a state governor? Ever hear of anybody including that in a campaign ad for the office of Gov.? Ever? Anybody ever said “I should be governor, I’ve read all of the _Sgt Rock_ comics, and typed for two years at Fort Dix”. If it had been a qualification in Alaska, then clearly she would not be qualified, having D for diddly-squat military experience. Hell, I was in the Air Force Cadets once, that means I’ve got more military experience than she! If a fuckin’ hippy has more mil exp than you, then you are very, _very_ civilian. So either she was placed in a command situation which she was wholly unqualified to address, or no such situation existed, nor was ever contemplated. Its not just ridiculous, its almost perfectly ridiculouis. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/315 "2008-09-08T04:31:34Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Maybe it means telling kids about birth control rather than showing the video. > > where did you read she sought funding for abstinence only? I heard it on Fox News. One of the panel shows. I think it was Mort Kondrake who mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/316 "2008-09-08T04:33:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Anybody ever said “I…typed for two years at Fort Dix”. Tom Paxton. That’s where he wrote “The Marvelous Little Toy”. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/317 "2008-09-08T04:33:50Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Maybe it means telling kids about birth control rather than showing the video. There’s more to sex education than birth control, and you have to get kind of get specific? When did they start showing video’s, by the way? All we got was the dry, outline drawings on ditto paper. A convict on Viagra couldn’t have spanked to them. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/318 "2008-09-08T05:06:37Z")
The thing that seems the most sexist to me is that I can’t imagine a Republican male with so few credentials being nominated for the position of Vice President. If we want to restore some dignity to the office of the Presidency of the United States, it won’t be with someone who wants to shoot wolves from a helicopter. This woman has little strength of character. If she were a fictional role in a movie, most people would want her to get her comeuppance at the end. **Sam** , I wish to commend you for your knowledge and interest in U.S. politics. You really are amazing. You also handle disagreement well. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/319 "2008-09-08T05:13:36Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > The thing that seems the most sexist to me is that I can’t imagine a Republican male with so few credentials being nominated for the position of Vice President… Agnew, Spirochete > [@](#): > > …(11/9/1918 – 9/17/1996) was the thirty-ninth Vice President of the United States … and the 55th Governor of Maryland. He is noted for his quick rise in politics - going in six years from County Executive to Vice President of the United States… ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/320 "2008-09-08T13:08:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Agnew, Spirochete …and look how well that turned out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686.md?page=17)