Gloria Steinem says Gov. Palin is the wrong woman for the job

Every now and then a story appears that we know will generate a lot of comments. Little did we think that it would be today in the wake of Gov. Sarah Palin's big speech in Minnesota. Actually, yes, we did think that there would be a huge variety of opinions. But who would have thought that Gloria Steinem would be so against the first woman (possibly) in the executive branch?

From Ms. Steinem's piece in today's opinion section:

Selecting Sarah Palin, who was touted all summer by Rush Limbaugh, is no way to attract most women, including die-hard Clinton supporters. Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton. Her down-home, divisive and deceptive speech did nothing to cosmeticize a Republican convention that has more than twice as many male delegates as female, a presidential candidate who is owned and operated by the right wing and a platform that opposes pretty much everything Clinton's candidacy stood for -- and that Barack Obama's still does. To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, "Somebody stole my shoes, so I'll amputate my legs."

This is not to beat up on Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to me. I regret that people say she can't do the job because she has children in need of care, especially if they wouldn't say the same about a father. I get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn to compete with Sen. Joe Biden's 37 years' experience.

Feel free to read the whole piece, and if you'd like to chime in with your opinion, use the comments below.

Earlier comments were posted on this message board. While the message board is now closed, we encourage you to read the comments and weigh in here at good old Comments Blog. Thanks!

-- Tony Pierce

Photos: Associated Press

Comments

[Cookie]

In addition, Gov. Palin's state has one of the hightest number of STD cases. The abstinence only education is really working for them up there in Alaska.

[tas13]

Since virtually all other left-leaning feminists have reacted with panic to the rise of Governor Palin, I'm not surprised that the one feminist out there who is actually older than John McCain (and even more outdated) has joined them. Governor Palin's nomination has exposed the inauthenticity of the left. Apparently, for the leftist feminists, only liberal women are qualified to be trail-blazers. How very sexist of you, Gloria "I'm 74" Steinem.

[Marta]

very strong and articulated opinion from a women that really understands what the presence of women in politics and affirmative action are all about. Women who get to legislative bodies or to the executive in their countries have a huge responsibility to uphold the agenda of women everywhere: equity, autonomy, respect for her choices and dignity. I feet H Clinton would've been such a good choice not only for America, but for women all over, and I hope that Obama advances the gender agenda. Palin? she's still got a long way to go.

[tom dent]

gloria,
you are the wrong woman with the wrong message. you are a rediculous, self serving, egotist who's opinion matters to like minded pathetic excuses of women. Sorry, that is the way I se you. Your time has come, you have been exposed for what you're group is yet you think your opinion carries weight, on the contrary, it is a joke that people laugh their asses off at. Lot's of luck with your campaign smearing tactics. They are backfiring. Sarah Palin has more character, spunk, zest for life, and truthfulness than your entire organization does combined

[ReaganRepublican]

Big surprise, Gloria Steinem does not approve of Gov. Palin. Most thinking Americans know that the feminist movement doesn't care about women, just those who share their twisted liberal ideology. She decries Gov. Palin for being another Phyllis Schlafly; we embrace her for it. I look forward to reading more of the left's incoherent ramblings, knowing how frightened they are of the imminent downfall of their false Messiah. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be over here clinging to my guns and religion, and preparing to elect our first female VP. God bless America!

[James X]

Gloria Steinem, is a woman whose beauty and virtue has decades ago fled. Leaving behind a bitter, sour, fascist left, extremist outer shell of a woman. Whilst she speaks from a jutting, shovel jawed face.

Your day in the sun, your day of relevance, has long since passed. Thank you for NOW's former leadership. Now get the hell out of the way!

You, and your Paleo-liberal friends, are seen as the fascist, power mad, goose steppers that you are!

Your former president put Japanese Americans into "internment" camps.

Your ideology voted against both Civil Rights Acts of the 60's....just ask Al Gore senior!

Your ideology beat the civil rights marchers, then turned fire hoses and dogs on them...just ask George Wallace and Bull Conner!

Everything in your L.A. Times screed shows you to be the inheritor of, and the standard bearer for, the knuckle dragging, fascist, Neanderthal, Paleo-liberal, America hating, Left.

Your day of relevance has passed! Can you hear the freight train coming?

[John Izzo]

Palin is what every feminist has said women can be if they wanted to and now when they have her they run like chickens. Compare Palin with Hillary - of the two, which got where she is on her own and who got there by sleeping with the boss?

[Krisp]

I get it now - all along Gloria, you and other "elite", left wing women have perpetrated the biggest fraud of all time on those of us, born in the 40's, 50's and 60's. I'd call this an act of discrimination against one of our sisters - isn't that what we've worked so hard to defeat? Funny, its ugly head is being raised by Gloria and others.

[Glenda]

Ms. was a money-maker for you, Gloria. You used us and took our cash and we went to your speeches and bought your books. But if a woman gets close you turn like a scorpion. I supported HRC and I will vote for Palin because real women stand together. You are simply out for yourself.

[Heidi]

Gloria needs to HANG IT UP!!! Her, Jane Fonda and Susan Sarandon are hypocrites, they need to move to France.

Michelle Malkin has a GREAT article, than his one about sexism on her website.

[Gloria...............]

You've had your head in the sand for so long, you can't even recognize that Sarah Palin is acheiving as a full-fledged woman, what you have been chasing for 30+ years as a "feminist"!!!!!

She is the RIGHT WOMAN (sorry, absolutely not Hillary) for this job and I hope that she becomes PRESIDENT when the time approaches! And to infer that McCain is just "using" her is ludacris.

And how much time is Biden going to have to provide for Obama's ON THE JOB TRAINING?!?!?!?

GO SARAH!!!! You've got my vote!!!

[B. Sklar]

Hear, hear, Ms. Steinem!!! I agree completely with your opinions. So far the only people who have commented on your article are against you. Ms. Palin needs to go back to Alaska.

[Ellie]

Steinam speaks for the majority of men and women who fought long and hard for equal rights for women and freedom of choice.
Palin, the Barracuda wants to take away not only a woman's freedom of choice but even he right of all Americans to practice birth control. I'm appalled.

If anyone thinks that the Alaskans nicknamed Palin as the Barracuda out of affection better consult the dictionary/encyclodia. This dangerous fish is described in part as "predator" "large mouth with powerful jaws" "harmful to humans."
The slang term is "treacherous, greedy person."
One definition of the adjective treacherous is: deceptive, untrustworthy, or unreliable.
Check it out.

[jpm]

From 'CrossTabs' on Real Clear Politics:

"John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as vice-presidential running mate is proving more shrewd by the hour. As Blackfive points out, Governor Palin, as Alaska's chief executive, has shared strategic command of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard:

One area of Sarah Palin's background that may help her is Alaska's unique role in our national security and homeland defense. Several folks have have mentioned this but Tom W. was specific and his info jibes with the record.

Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It's on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified

[mr.j]

sarah palin is a proverbs 31 woman ! begin at verse 10 to see what i mean. she is the real deal ! loves the LORD JESUS CHRIST AND LIFE ! IT'S THE PRO LIFE PARTY VS THE PRO DEATH PARTY ! DO YOU THINK THE REASON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE VILLIFY HER IS BECAUSE SHE IS SOLIDLY SAVED ? I BELIEVE IT WAS JESUS CHRIST WHO SAID : THEY HATED ME SO THEY WILL HATE YOU ALSO . JOHN 3 : 16

[Sandy]

Ms. Steinem - Did I misread this statement? ". . . the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party -- are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president." Have you forgotten Geraldine Ferraro?

You are correct though at Palin. She's the wrong woman for the job. She may have come a long way baby but her policy positions would set us back decades. Any Hillary supporter who votes for McCain/Palin because Palin is on the ticket or because they're still angry, never believed in what Hillary has worked for and what she stands for. How could they and vote for this woman?

[George's Mom]

"drivel"
katie
not "dribble

[mrtelco1948]

Elian Libby is right on, righton, right on!! Nothing remains to be said. Thank you Elian!

[Ziggy]

All I can say in respone to "Sarah Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Hillary Clinton" is "YES!!!!!!! Do you PROMISE?"

As far as the creationism half-truth goes, the next day she clarified her position. From the Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
---------------------------------------------------
In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:

"I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum.

Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

"I won't have religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism," Palin said.

Palin has occasionally discussed her lifelong Christian faith during the governor's race but said teaching creationism is nothing she has campaigned about or even given much thought to.

-----------------------------------------------------

I know that freedom of thought and discussion of issues are SCARY ("The Earth has A FEVER !!!!! The science is settled !!!! Blah, blah, BLAH) but they are part of adulthood.

Hey Gloria, really bites it to see a lady who's off the plantation make it, huh?????

It may well S**K to be you come November.

[sheryl]

I am scared, very scared, when I see the comments posted thus far criticizing Gloria Steinem's argument. With the exception of possibly one post (and I am not saying the facts in that post are 100% accurate) all are personal attacks on Steinem, not the facts or logic in her argument. I am scared because this says something about the responders' lack of ability to intelligently approach the issues and make sound decisions.

[Alexandra Jule]

Gloria - go slither back into your hole. You don't matter anymore. Not sure if you ever really mattered. All your life you espoused feminism. Why the insanely liberal attacks on Palin? Is it because she is a Republican? You are so very transparent these days. Good bye.

[Dan Healy]

Ms. Steinem is entitled to her opinion, but I am amazed at how sexist (treating a person differently, holding to different standards due to their gender) the left and the media are being. Questions like "should Sarah stay home w/the family because of a special needs child and a daughter pregnant?" Where were these same voices when John Edwards decided to forge on after his wife was diagnosed with cancer, for that matter where was the outrage when the Pres had an affair with an intern, and told the Secret Service she was a stalker when he wanted to break it off. Hypocrisy abounds.

[Amy]

Excellent points, Ms. Steinem. Let's focus on the issues here. Palin is against "choice" even in the event of rape and incest. She is anti-environment and anti wildlife and doesn't believe in Global Warming. She wants creationism taught in public schools. She thinks the Iraq war was the will of God. And she doesn't know what the Vice President does. Just as Shlafley before her, Palin tows the misogynistic GOP party line (she literally read that line in the form of a speech last night!), which is the ONLY way a woman can advance in their world. She is a potentially disastrous choice because of her positions on the few issues she has ever addressed, many many of which are most definitely not in the best interests of the average American woman.

[M. Delgado]

I think that Ms. Steinem is the one that is out of touch with today's women. She is obviously ticked off that her candidate was not chosen. Perhaps she should direct her anger at Obama and not Sarah Palin. Ms. Steinem alleges in the article that she supports Obama because he supports women's rights and feels they should be equal in every way. Apparently, he did not feel that way when he chose his running mate. Apparenlty, women should be equal except in politics. She also suggests he supports government programs to help these poor women. Is keeping them dependent on welfare and other programs really helping them or holding them back? There are hundreds of thousands of women, like myself, that have a career and family, are the soccer and baseball mom, drive the carpools, and get involved in the PTA and other organizations. We are not feminist, we are not fighting that great fight against men, we simply work hard, know what we want out of life, go after it and suceed. We are not your old definition of feminist....we are independent, confident and sucessful women. Whether you like Sarah Palin or not, she has made great strides for woman by gaining the nomination for VP. As a feminist Gloria, you should be proud.

[Lynn]

Gloria doesn't speak for me either. Seems she is confusing feminism with liberalism. While she points out the ratio of men:women on the Republican side, she is being dismissive of the inroads that have been and are being made for women of which Sara Palin is now a historical part.

Get with the times Gloria as times, they are a changing!