Sarah Palin Is No Friend of Women in Politics

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I used to be very confused. I thought Feminism was the fight for women to be able to make decisions about their own lives.
I am a stay-home mom of seven who has been socially abused for my choices since my third pregnancy. By "open-minded" "Feminists". I am standing with Sarah as a real feminist--no one can say Susan B Anthony would have been for all the nonsense that is called feminism today. And the abortion litmus test you people use--your footing gets thinner on that every day as the science of life gets ever more plain.
At some point, society will have to decide which it is--is Choice--late, after the REAL choice in the bedroom (don't try the Rape angle with me--most Conservative women support abortion for women when bedroom choice was stolen!) the absolute moral authority? Our legal system is confused. Now a murderer get double charged for killing a pregnant woman, but you "feminists" shriek that a baby only exists if the egg donor agrees to its existence. Who asks the murdered woman if it was a baby yet or not?
How long will gender-selective abortion in China get a pass from you people? I know that women there are not strapped down for that against their will, and I never hear meaningful horror and real protest about that.
Does the suppression and abuse of women in Muslim countries frost you to the point that you are actually willing to make a meaningful, personally dangerous statement on it? I don't see anything of the kind. Where are the NOW protests at the doors of judges who are now bringing Sharia Law into settled legal tradition here in this country, after decades of it creeping over Europe?
To my eyes, "feminism" has been degraded now to a bald support system for liberal socialist politics. That is why you hate Sarah. She is not like you. So much for Susan B Anthony's legacy. Shame on you.
Deanne

Deanne of CA 4:54PM December 01, 2010

I applaud and appreciate your article Jamie and the objective articulate way you have outlined it.
This has nothing to do with liberalism, democrats or republicans...it has to do with common sense, that women like SBA pioneered in relation to womens rights...ironically facing over one hundred years ago the same kind of ignorance inherent in alot of these postings in 2010
en·light·ened/enˈlītnd/Adjective
1. Having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook.

KF of FL 3:57PM December 01, 2010

Well, Jamie and Katie Van Winkle-from-the-Sane-State-of-Maine, since China can now hit any city in the USA, using state-of-the-art, solid-fueled missiles with dead-accurate, computerized guidance systems and multiple warheads, thanks to Bill and Hill, I hope you both have a handy hidey-hole.

Carol M Kelley of TX 2:13PM December 01, 2010

It is appalling to me that there is no acknowledgment that "the candlelight of desire" is the farthest thing that applies to some women's pregnancies; ask a 13 year old who has been raped by her father if this is the description of the act. The circumstances leading to a pregnancy are often the farthest thing from a choice. Likewise, a decision regarding a severely deformed fetus that may not live more than a few minutes should not the decision of the government, but of the family involved.
As for Ms. Palin, I wonder what constitutes a patriot or feminist in the minds of the readers who have posted comments. Is it the ability to stir us racist and xenophobic hatred? Check. Is it the inability to name a single newspaper or book she has read? Check. Is it the vicious lies that she spreads about public policy she does not understand? Check. Is it the constant self-promotion of herself and family on reality television shows? Check. Does this make a great leader? Don't think so. Does a true public servant quit in her first term as governor to make a few million dollars? No. This has nothing to do with political party. Peggy Noonan, President Reagan's former speechwriter, wrote about her disgust with Sarah Palin in 2008 and how she has degraded the party. Why is this person the appointed "feminist" leader of the Republican party? Doesn't intelligence and integrity matter? Republicans can and have done better.

Laura Polacheck of UT 2:03PM December 01, 2010

Brava, Katie Van Winkle of the sane state of Maine. What an eloquent statement, like a lighthouse.
Thanks to all who contributed to this dialogue.

Jamie Stiehm of DC 1:53PM December 01, 2010

Jamie Elizabeth Stiehm: Another example of "an education is a terrible thing to waste".
Sarah Palin makes you feminazis crazed with envy! She didn't ride in on the coat-tails of a rapist/sociopath, she's never been a victim (although there is danger for her against you crazy libs and pseudo-intellectuals). No, she is woman at her best and a patriot to boot. And oh, noooo, a Christian! No wonder you have to attack her!

Carol M Kelley of TX 1:31PM December 01, 2010

MY COMMENTS IN CAPS: IF IT'S FEMINISM TO INSIST THAT CHILDREN ARE MURDERED BEFORE THEY EVER GET TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A FEMINIST?? "If it's Christian to mock, sneer, and jeer and show blatant disrespect to those whose opinions differ from yours, to display stunning disregard for other religions than I am no Christian" - AND DEAR, KATIE, I WOULD ADD TO THAT: YET, I RESPECT YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. If it's conservatism to favor the wealthiest people and large businesses and keep health care, food, and jobs away from those that desperately need them, than I am no conservative. KATIE, DEAR: WHO IS 'FAVORING' THE WEALTHY? HOW DID THE WEALTHY GET WEALTHY? AND IF THE WEALTHY AND LG BUSINESSES ARE HIRING THOSE WHO NEED FOOD AND HEALTHCARE AND JOBS, HOW ARE THEY KEEPING THESE ESSENTIALS AWAY FROM THEM?? IS IT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GIVING IT ALL TO THEM FOR FREE?? If it's Patriotic to send our young men and women into harm's way on the whims of leaders who themselves never spent a day in harms way, especially under the guise of "spreading democracy" or to dismantle a nation that did not attack us first, then I am no Patriot. I CAN AGREE ON THIS POINT...EXCEPT FOR THE USS COLE, AND 9/11, AND THE PRESUMED LOCATION OF THOSE WHO ATTACKED US. OTOH, WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN BORDERS --OR OUR OWN AIRPORTS -- YOU'RE RIGHT, WE NEED TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN. THOSE PEOPLE HAVE IT ALTOGETHER ALREADY...LIKE THE IRANIANS AND ALL OF THE PROTESTERS WHO WERE KILLED WHEN THEY HAD THEIR LAST ELECTION, BEGGING FOR FREEDOM. WHO CARES ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T ATTACK US FIRST?? People like Sarah Palin have their own agendas: to garner as much attention and as much publicity and as much power as they can, with no disregard for facts, truths, the economy, or the welfare of any other people. CORRECTION: 'HER' AGENDA SHOULD BE YOURS: FREEDOM FOR THE COMMON MAN TO BECOME WHAT HE/SHE WANTS TO BE WITHOUT GOVT RESTRAINT. Narcissism and arrogance are not leadership qualities (PRIME EXAMPLE: PRESIDENT OBAMA), neither is the ability to make a buck (MILLIONAIRE OBAMA). But all three traits, coupled with charm and a pretty face do make for an entertainer. Or a good con man. (Woman.) WHOA, HON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU VOTED FOR HIM OR NOT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IF YOU DID, YOU WON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN. BULLY FOR YOU!!

Pookiebear60 of OH 1:27PM December 01, 2010

Hear, hear! David of ID.
It's a serious misnomer, "abortion rights". In truth, it's the right to be promiscuous without the responsibility that comes with it.
Abortion is choice to physically avoid the physical responsibility that came with the first physical choice - the choice to procreate with another human being in the candlelight of desire.
This seems apparent - that the cry for 'reproductive rights' is the demand for the ability to jump into the sack with anyone at anytime on any whim without having to face the potential consequences that come with that, inasmuch as is possible, that is. The pain of rejection, breakup, STD's, social implications (like when an adulterer gets caught, the stigma of promiscuity) etc, well, those things are not so easy to demand 'rights' to avoid, are they?
We want these 'reproductive rights' so much that we'll sacrifice the pre-born to cling to them, never taking into consideration the unintended consequences: guilt/shame, grief at the loss of the offspring the mother is programmed to nurture and protect, not murder....the crying for no apparent reason when we see a newborn at the local grocery with a young mother who could have been... me.
Rights are not really rights at all if the rights of another are denied, as in the case of abortion, where the child's right to take that first breath is not surrendered, but denied permanently.
Please-- all you people who are fighting so hard to put your rights above others'-- please start calling this ugly spade just what it is. And please, above all, stop calling Sarah Palin names because she chooses to be a moral woman who is standing for ALL women and our rights to be a part of the conversation about and the execution of liberty in this land of the free; but has made the choice to stand against the tyranny of abortion.

Pookiebear60 of OH 12:52PM December 01, 2010

talk about a one-trick pony.
how does someone this ignorant get published in a national magazine.
no wonder she fears milady sarah. milady sees women as having many facets beyond their selfishly risking unwanted pregnancy for the feeling of an orgasm.
this author chains feminism to the selfish pursuit of irresponsible acts of unfeterred orgasm.

eddie too of NE 12:04PM December 01, 2010

If it's feminism to insist that women get no reproductive rights, then I am no feminist. If it's Christian to mock, sneer, and jeer and show blatant disrespect to those whose opinions differ from yours, to display stunning disregard for other religions than I am no Christian. If it's conservatism to favor the wealthiest people and large businesses and keep health care, food, and jobs away from those that desperately need them, than I am no conservative. If it's Patriotic to send our young men and women into harm's way on the whims of leaders who themselves never spent a day in harms way, especially under the guise of "spreading democracy" or to dismantle a nation that did not attack us first, then I am no Patriot. People like Sarah Palin have their own agendas: to garner as much attention and as much publicity and as much power as they can, with no disregard for facts, truths, the economy, or the welfare of any other people. Narcissism and arrogance are not leadership qualities, neither is the ability to make a buck. But all three traits, coupled with charm and a pretty face do make for an entertainer. Or a good con man. (Woman.)

Katie Van Winkle of ME 11:42AM December 01, 2010