WE Empower Daily

Female First, Sarah Palin

Posted by Arabella Santiago on September 10, 2008

Sarah Palin is the first female governor of Alaska and the Republican vice presidential candidate.

The Women’s Conference applauds women’s “firsts.” During the 2007 conference, we were honored to have the first female White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, the first female vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, and the first female Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman. This year’s presidential election is certainly setting the bar for more glass-ceiling cracking newsmakers.

On August 29, Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, announced his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. She’s a stunning woman and eloquent speaker, and the nomination has caused much discussion among voters and politicos, to no one’s surprise. Since it’s near impossible to talk about this topic on a blog in a non-partisan manner, let’s begin with a simple straightforward summary of Palin’s bio from the ever useful Wikipedia:

The Republican vice presidential candidate was born Sarah Louise Heath on February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho, and raised in Wasilla, Alaska. While attending high school, she took on numerous leadership roles. In 1984, she participated in the Miss Alaska Pageant where she placed second runner-up and was awarded the title of “Miss Congeniality.” In 1987, Palin received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho. She eloped with her high school sweetheart, Todd Palin, in 1988. They now have five children and still live in Wasilla.

Palin began her political career as a member of the Wasilla city council. She served for one three-year term beginning in 1992, and was elected a second term in 1995. Palin ran for mayor in 1996 and defeated incumbent John Stein. In 2002, she made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. At the age of 42, Palin defeated Tony Knowles in the 1996 gubernatorial race and became Alaska’s youngest and first female governor.

Here are a couple of links to articles on Palin:

Drawing Women’s Attention, Maybe Not Allegiance - New York Times

Palin: wrong woman, wrong message - Gloria Steinem opinion on Los Angeles Times

Now, let’s hear your voice. Post your comments: What do you think about Governor Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee?

(Also, go to our discussion boards and tell us, "If you were Sarah Palin, would you have accepted the candidacy?")

Comments

I just can't see this as being good for the country.

Posted by Michael Bloom, 23 October 2008, (3 months ago)
This is a real role womens model. Look at her personal involvement in her family , community , state , and country.... we need her running for president...no question about it !

Posted by Melissa Braden, 22 October 2008, (3 months ago)
God Bless Her! This is going to require nerves of steel and rhino skin because as we can all see even some women are throwing stones and the ink is still wet on the page. It's unfortunate that the political party's have pitted American against American. Part of it is the national disease called "no accountability" that has become almost a national anthem. Everything from "my parents beat me" to "I just don't want to get involved" and that's why I do or don't do the things I do. No one reads the past voting history of the candidates to see if the person has the same ideas as they do. People don't look at the actual facts of anything. They just take one guys/ newspapers/tv news anchors truth and adopt it. Without asking questions. And God forbid the guy who asks the hard questions and expects a truthful answer. If you don't like the present administration then you should have voted against it. A paltry FEW voted compared to the amount of American's who could have voted. So you either voted by punching a ballot or not voting at all. Either way your choice was heard.
I'm gutsy but even I would not have the nerves to jump into this quagmire. Being the same party as the current admin. she has to know that she will be expected to be just like Mr. Bush when in fact all of you know that George Bush is a special kind of person.
Let's just leave it at that. Look at the people who are running for office. The "people" not the party. Both party's people! See which HUMAN BEING votes the way you would. Actually do some homework and look at the figures. If candidate #1 does this what will the likely out come be. If candidate #2 does this what will the likely outcome be? It's math. This is such an important decision, why on earth would you make a choice based on how many kids a person has, were they born to a married or unmarried couple, do they dress nice, yada yada yada. This is the thing that got us where we are now. Get out and vote! Go find for yourself the truth about a persons voting history and decide if the person is someone who votes "YOUR" conscience! Any how for all the women of the world regarding a woman candidate.. Sarah, good show! It's about time men stopped hogging all the limelight!

Posted by Alystar Mckenneh, 1 October 2008, (3 months ago)
I agree it's exciting to have a female candidate for V.P. however I personally feel that Sarah Palin should spend more time AT home , not away from it.
She should give her family the Time & Attention they need so they don't look for it elsewhere (again). There are many important things she can do from home, including consulting or chairing a committee.
Yes, I am serious!

Speaking From Experience - On a much, much smaller scale ;)
I was once appointed Mgr of Human Resources at a company where I was clerking. (I started out as a "mail girl" at $5.50 per hour in my 20's and ended at 40k before becoming a postal employee). I voiced my opinion that I was NOT qualified but then jumped into the job working sometimes over 16 hrs per day + weekends to succeed.
At the time, I had no committments. (Well, okay, a boyfriend who complained he never saw me). If Palin does this, her family will surely suffer!

Posted by KaRi ThePrimeSpot.com, 30 September 2008, (3 months ago)
It is refreshing to see women in the fore front of our Presidential Elections. However, I personally convinced Sarah Palin is not the women we need. Women have fought for decades to enjoy the personal freedoms we now take for granted , Palin and McCain will see that those rights and freedoms are no more.

Posted by jean hartman, 13 September 2008, (4 months ago)
How refreshing to see that you are honoring all women across the board. Thank you for your great article on Gov. Sarah Palin.
She is an amazing women and I look forward to hearing more from her and watching what she will do when she hits the White House.
So many women I know are just very excited to have someone of her caliber get this far. :)

Posted by lee chen, 11 September 2008, (4 months ago)