I'm just going to go there...

Ardent feminists beware; I'm going to say something that may get too maverick-y for some of you. Sarah Palin's possible Vice Presidency is not an historic moment in women's history. Instead, it is a travesty for all the women in the world who are qualified for jobs, but get passed over.

After the debate last week I saw a follow up with Geraldine Ferraro, the only other female vice presidential candidate and a Democrat. She said she felt divided. As a woman she wanted to see Palin succeed but as a Democrat she wanted Obama in the White House. That sense of division is lost on me. This is not the only shot women have at ascending to power in this country. And at the risk of making an offensive comparison, it is like wanting OJ to be found innocent because of his race. I want someone in office who is there because she is qualified not because she has a vagina.

It did get me to thinking about the women who have become active in government and what skills they brought to their initial campaigns. Have any of them had the traditional training of going to law school then proceeding in a career that takes them from being active on the local level to progressively higher levels of government?

During my sophomore year of college the '92 election occurred. For the first time in history (I think) there were more women running for Congressional seats than ever before. Patty Murray coined the "mom in tennis shoes" phrase when she ran for the Senate in Washington; having previously had that phrase used against her by a state representative. Prior to government work she was a preschool teacher, school board member and environmental activist. Other female members of congress from that election include Barbara Boxer who, prior to her service, worked as a stockbroker, a journalist and a congressional aide. She then joined the House of Reps in 1982 and continued on from there. Diane Feinstein also was elected in '92. She has a degree from Stanford and has worked in politics for almost her whole career. There are many others who entered Congress at various times including Republicans Olympia Snow and Marilyn Musgrave. If you want to read about all the women who have served or are serving in Congress, you can go to this cool site: Women in Congress

It seems as though many of the women in our Congress these days have not gone to law school and proceeded on from there. Instead they bring skills as educators, community leaders and activists. I would be willing to bet though that all of them have a high level of intelligence and made it their business to know how our country has been run and thoughtfully approached what they could do to change it as they mounted their campaigns.

So, what is it about Sarah Palin that makes so many of us roll our eyes and shudder in horror at the thought of her being one heartbeat (or melanoma) away from the presidency?

1. Strike one is clearly (for Democrats) her politics.
   
2. Strike two has to be her clear lack of knowledge on every topic that is critical for a world leader to know.
   
3. Strike three is that she talks like 'Dubya.
   

When you combine those things it appears she was chosen only for her Gender. There are plenty of other Republican leaders who are female who could have fit the bill if McCain wanted a balanced ticket. Instead he seemed to want someone who would photograph well and add a youthful image to his aged campaign. Did they calculate in that the Dems wouldn't go after her for lack of experience when they have just put forth a junior senator as their candidate? Who knows, but I just can't abide with anyone who says her role in this election puts women a step ahead. All the intelligent, well read, well educated and well spoken women who exist in this world are put down a step when someone like this is thrust in front of us as the best option to be second in command of our country.