Sunday, August 31, 2008

The rant that started it all

Slightly edited from the original (cross posted at Miss Caitlin)


Allow me to be blunt: Sarah Palin's similarities to Hillary Clinton start somewhere below their necks and cut off just above their knees. 

Last week, the DNC convention ended with a spectacular finish and a truly unified Democratic party. I'm not just talking about the magnificent speech, but the final conclusion of the primary business, and the end of the Clinton/Obama drama. The party has its nominee, and he has the full support of every single one of his primary opponents. 

Barack Obama won this nomination, but Hillary Clinton lost absolutely nothing this week - in fact, she was better than ever, reminding us that she didn't need to be President to remain a powerful and inspiring voice for women- women who can now allow themselves to support a historical, all male Democratic ticket. Right? We're over it, and we're proud to be over it. Suck on that, media narrative!

Wait, what's that? John McCain has an announcement? He picked a lady running mate?? How enlightened of him! And shrewd- now he can finally cement the coveted PUMA bloc. Congratulations to John McCain on picking up an extra hundred votes or so. 

This maverick choice shows that, unlike that arrogant sexist Obama, John McCain believes that we are ready for a female President. But more than that! He believes we're ready for ANY female President! Wow. How magnanimous. How very forward-thinking. Bravo. 

Who cares about her enthusiasm for oil drilling in the Alaskan Wilderness? Or about her positions on science and evolution (not so much)? And who cares about her hard-core anti-choice abortion stance that makes no exception for rape or incest? Sure, it's sounds anti-feminist, but it's probably just the PMS talking. Am I right, ladies? Cramps are the worst! Finally, a candidate who feels my pain - where it hurts the most.

I should be careful with my sarcastic derision of Sarah Palin, I know. Just like Joe Biden should be very careful not to destroy her in a debate, because that would make him a big bad bully. When we speak of our Republican opponents, we Democrats should praise "Governor Palin's courageous female-ness" along with "Senator McCain's heroic service to this country."  I know we should take a page from Barack's playbook, and refrain from personal attacks. 

I know that. But you know what? I really feel like making some personal attacks right now. Maybe just this once, before I start my period, and the cramps cause me to identify with her too much.

Sarah Palin is not SMART enough to be Vice-President. She is not EDUCATED enough to be Vice-President. She is not EXPERIENCED enough to be Vice-President. She has in no way WORKED HARD enough to be Vice-President. She is in NO WAY QUALIFIED to lead this country as President, in the likely event that her spry 73 year old running mate were to leave the job in her hands.

And if you really believe that the exact same things could be said, with validity, about Barack Obama, you are an idiot. How's that for a personal attack?

She has a BA in journalism and no higher education. She was the mayor of a town with the population of my neighborhood. For only two years she's been the Governor of fewer people than live in my district. She's the least qualified of any presidential or vice presidential candidate in modern political history. 

Feminism means that we don't have to choose between work and family - even if work is running for vice-president and family includes a 4-month old with Down's Syndrome. But we're expected to believe that she can do it all, and manage to look good doing it! Women can do anything we put our minds to - we're just so magical.

Ladies, John McCain believes that you are stupid enough to vote for him, just for the warm fuzzy feeling of voting for a woman. He thinks you will ignore his recurrent displays of contempt towards women. He expects you to validate this decision, in the name of sisterhood. He has shown the depths of his contempt for women by appointing one of the least impressive among us to be his running mate.

In other words: John McCain just called you a cunt.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well done, Ms. Weiss!
I'm sending this to everyone I know via email and facebook.