Didn't See That Coming: McCain Picks Sarah Palin as VP

A surprising move by McCain:

DAYTON, Ohio — Injecting a new twist into the presidential race, John McCain on Friday introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate at a rally that also celebrated the Republican presidential candidate’s 72nd birthday.

“My friends and fellow Americans, I am very pleased and very privileged to introduce to you the next vice president of the United States, Governor Sarah Palin of the great state of Alaska,” McCain told a capacity crowd of 12,000 at the Nutter Center.

Describing Palin as someone with “grit and integrity and devotion to the common good that is exactly what we need in Washington today,” McCain said Palin “knows where she comes from and she knows who she works for. She stands up for what is right and she doesn’t tell anyone to sit down. She’s fought oil companies and party bosses and do-nothing bureaucrats and anyone who puts their interests before the people they serve.”

Palin, 44, brings to the Republican ticket a resume that challenges conventional wisdom while also playing into the party’s conservative base. A former beauty queen, the Alaska governor is, among other things, a mother of five, abortion opponent, union member, hockey player and moose hunter. She is said to be a reformer who takes pride in standing up to the “good ole’ boy network” and has served as the top ethics watchdog in her state.

“I would be honored to serve next to the next president of the United States,” Palin said after joining McCain, his wife Cindy and daughter Meghan on stage. “To be chosen is a great challenge. I know that it will demand everything I have to give and I promise nothing less.”

Although McCain's move is surprising -- I thought he'd consider it too risky to pick a female VP -- it illustrates the fact that Republicans are often ahead of Democrats when it comes to advancing women and minorities to positions of real power.  It was Republican presidents who picked the first female Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, as well as the first black and female Secretary of State, just to name a few.  In fairness to Dems, they were the first to nominate a female VP (remember Geraldine Ferraro?), but in general, the left is surprisingly retrograde when it comes to giving real power to women and minorities, considering that they talk a big game.

Will this bring female Democrats who saw Hillary Clinton has an historic choice over to vote for McCain?  Yes, some of them.  This will separate the dyed-in-the-wool Democrats from the rest.

Comments

[markg8]

Local Alaskan tv report nails Palin lying about firing scandal. What was McCain thinking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UojMnCgqVA

[Gina Cobb]

Hello markg8. You would be one of the "dyed-in-the-wool Democrats" I was referring to. Keep coming back! You might learn something. In another 10 years or so, once you've had enough years in the real working world with a job, family and a mortgage, you may actually come to admire President Palin. :)