Letter to the Editor:

Palin not like Obama

September 17, 2008

Governor Sarah Palin has dominated the news media since her speech at the GOP convention. Propaganda, demagoguery, and blatant misrepresentation of the facts to energize your political base oddly enough do tend to increase your popularity.

Political strategists suggest Senator Obama should forget about responding to her attacks and get back to the issues—that’s what will win him the election in November. But just because Obama should, doesn’t mean I have to.

I agree that the top of the ticket is most important, and sure McCain has made plenty of false, misleading, or ridiculous statements himself, but when an uberconservative, right wing ideologue is in a position to become the future vice president of the United States, I guess it warrants a little attention. That could be why the media has anointed her the queen of this presidential campaign. Of course, her recalcitrant refusal to talk to the press probably raises interest as well.

Perhaps the media’s fascination with the former Alaskan mayor stems from her Obamian rise from little-known politician to superstardom. But don’t be fooled, she also has foreign policy experience because her state is close to Russia. And no, I’m not clever enough to come up with something that outrageous. That’s all the McCain camp. Kudos to them.

Nevertheless, she does have executive experience. And what has Obama done? He was (insert inappropriate GOP laughter here) a community organizer (and Columbia University graduate, financial services research
associate, the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, teacher of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, a civil rights lawyer, the driving force behind “Project Vote”, bestselling author, Illinois State Senator
for six years, and a U.S. Senator).

Well, all of that is fine and good, but Obama is still going to raise your taxes—if you’re amongst the wealthiest five percent of Americans that is. Meanwhile, Palin reportedly tells congress, “Thanks, but no thanks” to federal funds for the “bridge to nowhere.” Right after it was clear that it wouldn’t get full federal support. Then she kept the funds that were to be used for the bridge anyway. When you’re the beneficiary, earmarks really
aren’t so bad.

I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason that last part was omitted from her convention speech, but we can’t know for sure because Gov. Palin certainly
can’t be questioned like she’s some sort of big name candidate or something. I mean c’mon people, the lady is clearly not ready for that sort of thing.

--JAMES ANDERSON

 

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