I have felt this exact same thing. I would call what McCain did the most blatant example of sexism exhibited in our political landscape in years. He picked someone who is a polar opposite of Hillary on the issues and expects women to vote for him because he has a women on the ticket. I guess to McSame, stupid women only know one thing - other women.

Anybody with half a brain should see that this is just pandering. And it didn't help that Governor Palin used the Hillary card in her first words of her speech today. That was so obvious.

and I think most women will realize that. The ones that don't weren't going to vote for Senator Obama anyway.

unfortunately, our corporate media won't raise this issue--they are more concerned with "the surprise" as game changer as if this is a game--

I also love the kangaroo court aspect of how this "knocked Obama off the front page." I love how the media sets the rules and then portrays things as set by them--This is using the media like a puppet. They are are none to happy to oblige.

When the nominee chooses a VP, they are essentially voting for a President--how this isn't being framed this way goes to the heart of of media's negligence. McCain put politics over his country--If it is true that he has only met her once, the media should be asking why--

The timing of this announcement is purely political. It was designed to help bury the "Obama's acceptance speech was magical" meme and steal the day's headlines - and it did just that. I have no problem with that - that's the way the game is played. But you have to wonder when the decision to pick Palin was made. I can't help but think that the thought process in the McCain camp was to pick Palin after Hillary was out of the picture. Had Obama actually chosen Clinton as his running mate, we'd be seeing someone else. Maybe even Holy Joe Lieberman - someone other than a woman to steal the headlines, in Lieberdouche's case because he's a self proclaimed "independent"... as well as a douche. And not looking for the most qualified person for such an important position is a real shame. That this was purely to attract the women's vote and a blatant pander is what bugs me the most. But I also think they've shot themselves in the foot with their pick.

JG said: unfortunately, our corporate media won't raise this issue...

If they do, it'll be spun as sexist.

It's up to Obama supporters now to make sure that every voter is aware of the issues at hand in this election, because all identity politics aside, the issues are what this election will come down to.

The VP hype, as we all know, lasts a week or to, and then fades to the background and Obama's argument will remain true. The McCain campaign stands for more of the same failed Bush policies.

The only thing that will beat us this fall, apart from some horrendous scandal, is an overwhelming number of uneducated voters (uneducated on the issues, that is) voting against Obama because they believe the smears or for McCain simply because Palin is a woman and McCain tells funny jokes on Leno & Letterman.

There's too much at stake folks, let's get to work.

Oh my The Christ, Jon Stewart SO fucking stole my Litany of Hysterical Sitcom Titles In Barack's Speech gag from last night's liveblogging!! COCKSUCKER!!! He used almost every one of the shows I did, too! BASTARD!!

This tactic isn't surprising. They have been using a similar one with the whole "POW" thing. As Wes Clark so eloquently stated, being a POW doesn't automatically make you qualified to be president. Neither does having a vagina make you qualified to be vice-president and take over where Hillary Clinton left off.

This is really insulting. McCain is so damned obvious. You know that if Senator Obama had tapped Hillary, Senator McCain would have tapped an African American man. And this Palin woman is a farce, and a cruel one at that. Anyone who is already using her 4 month-old Down's Syndrome baby as a nonsensical political argument against abortion says something very dark about her character.

And her voice? OMFG, I don't ever want to hear her speak again. It's just awful.

You know it is a bad VP pick when David Frum is questioning it now. Actually I read quiet a bit on the National Reviews site today where people are questioning this pick. She has 8 weeks to sell herself to the American people and I just do not see that happening.

Intox--thanks for the link. That is the best capsule of this pick that I have read--and coming from David "Axis Of Evil" Frum carries a a lot of weight. I wonder if our "liberal media" will quote this ad nauseum as they do when they attack Dems with op-eds and articles that are critical of Obama or the dems.

I won't hold my breath--I still can't believe McCain has only met her once before the decision--how is this not a story? Also, how is Romney's 4.2 million votes not a story the way HRC's votes were--rememeber, Romney bowed out after Super Tuesday, and won 11 primaries 291 delegates--he sure would have garnered a lot more votes had he stayed in--why is this not a story to be pounded every other sentence?

Mittens & Pawlenty are pissed:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/29/palin_pick_leaves_bruised_feel.html

And to add, I can't wait for the debates, I just hope that they're on C-SPAN.

correction:

her met with her twice--

Mr. The Elvis Dingeldein wrote: ...Jon Stewart SO fucking stole my Litany of Hysterical Sitcom Titles In Barack's Speech gag from last night's liveblogging!!

Dude, that sooooo sucks the big moose cock. I was there for the comedic genius too. It was gold, Jerry. Gold!

Holy cow. I've just been reading one of the boards on the WashPo site. There are loads of Repub Trolls posting the worst possible slurs against this woman, presumably to allow the MSM to create the impression that these morons are psychotic, sexist Dems.

Rovian tactics that encourage women to 'defend' Palin?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/29/palin_pick_leaves_bruised_feel.html

My wife received an email from one of her aunt's yesterday, a life-long Republican, that says it all. If her response is in any way typical, Obama just got a VERY nice gift from the Birthday Codger. Here's part of her email:

"Now I know this might sound funny, but after hearing McCain's choice for VP today, I am even more fired up than ever for Obama. I mean, could he have possibly made a more politically transparent choice of "My Country" Second, "Me First"?

I'm so infuriated by his choice, but primarily because it seems so irresponsible to me for him to select a virtual unknown that he has only known for a few months with zero foreign policy experience to be a potential heartbeat away from the potential presidency. Is he that desperate that he really didn't care that much about the potential future of his own country?

Also, it seems so clear that he just wanted a woman, any woman to be on his ticket to try and woo over the Hillary supporters. Someone today called it a "Hail Mary" pass and I couldn't agree more.

Well, I know I'm not supposed to talk politics too much with family members, but knowing that you are each Obama supporters, it couldn't hurt too much.

By the way, oddly enough, it was McCain's politically selfish choice that made me make my first donation to Obama's campaign today. I just felt like I wanted to do something."

More here: http://eclectablog.blogspot.com/2008/08/mccain-gives-obama-birthday-present.html

Like most, I have family members who are Republicans. Most of them aren't actually Repubs but they always vote that way. They're all horribly ignorant of actual issues and will parrot any of the nonsense spewed by Fox and conservative radio. So I was able to take a peek into the minds of the conservatives yesterday and they actually, completely believe Palin is a "homerun". They actually believe this will take the "woman vote". Because, you know, women all vote the same according to who the super secret grand matriarch instructs.

I brought up experience and they, of course, said she has no less than Obama. Nevermind his running the largest, most organized, upset-campaign in history for the duration she was a governor. Anyway, the uninformed Repubs out there really are buying into this woman.

Bob, and all, I don't disagree with this argument, but I think I offer another perspective.

As a rule, I am pro-life. I don't believe in abortion. I believe that the abortion window should be very narrow (first trimester) if allowed at all, and all other abortions need a pretty strong argument (life/health of the mother). I count mental health, but only in the extreme - favoring emotional and material support to women over abortion. The argument that McCain would overturn Roe v. Wade doesn't hold much for me - I only care about that in the sense of men dictating to women - a slew of pro-life female judges wouldn't worry me - much. I wrote a post on my sight about the rather serios challenge represented by Palin, and will continue to advocate that we take this very seriously: http://obamaproject.windonwater.net/?p=121

QT