Thursday, September 4, 2008

Sexism

The media isn't sexist. Or at least not in the way the candidates think it is.

Gov. Sarah Palin is running on a platform of extremism packaged as "traditional" values. She has the slimmest resume of any candidate in decades, but that isn't the real concern. The biggest concern is her blatant obsession with power.

Prior to her nomination, Palin showed no interest in the pressing issues of the day, especially Iraq, saying "I haven't really focused much on the Iraq war." Instead, she pursues the eradication of medical freedom (her stances on abortion--anti-choice--and stem cell research), scientific freedom (pro-teaching creationism), and sexual freedom (anti sex ed--pro abstinence-only) with the heavy-handed approach of a dictator.

But here is the rub: she portrays herself as a "typical" hockey mom. She invites us to see her, not as the strong, commanding VP (the one that's half a breath away from the Oval Office), but the supportive, dutiful wife. Her entire candidacy is not only based on sexism (let's add a woman to steal women voters away from the other guy), but she is running on a platform of sexism. She doesn't want women to have equal pay with men. She doesn't want women to have a choice in their sexual health or to make appropriate arrangements to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And her approach to the office from day one has been is not one of equality, but of subservience. She embodies sexism.

The charges of sexism leveled against the media are truly ridiculous. The Republicans spent all of yesterday making this allegation--for the media's depiction of Palin as inexperienced. Experience level is not an issue of sexism and they can't have it both ways: you can't claim Obama is inexperienced while saying that same charge against your candidate is out of bounds. Please.

So here it is. The truth. Sexism is about putting the needs of the dominant sex above the needs of the other(s). Sarah Palin represents that same arrangement, not just the status quo, but of the eating away at your rights and libirties. In short, the most sexist person in this campaign is Sarah Palin. And that's just sick.

And don't let her aww-shucks approach fool you--it's won her a lot of support already, regardless of her political positions. She is hungry for power and the ability to tell you what to do (or not do) in your home, your bedroom, and in your community at large.

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