the battle of pregnant second daughters

I am interested in Sarah Palin's speech tonight, for a number of reasons. John McCain has succeeded in creating a media circus surrounding an event that up until his VP pick announcement, was a non-event. Things that will be on my mind while watching:

Is Palin being used? What better way to counteract the historical nature of Obama's campaign then by nominating Palin? McCain knows that people love to see history being made in front of their eyes. It is exciting. It is different. Without Palin, he didn't stand a chance. Now voters get to choose between radical historical moments: Obama and an old white guy or An old(er) white guy and Sarah Palin.

But you have to remember that campaign managers and "consultants" are ruthless. Doesn't anyone else feel like Palin's image is being used? A number of things have been popping up in my mind: Obama is young, vigorous, and attractive. He has a young, healthy family. Where is the youth and beauty in the McCain campaign? As of this week, it is squarely on the shoulders of Sarah Palin.

Joe Biden has been a suprisingly successful choice for Obama. He has a comfortable image, as far as politicians are concerned. He's white, upper-middle-aged, with a great smile and frosty hair. Almost Bill Clinton-esque. He provides a certain amount of comfort to the change promised by Obama. He's like a big old political catfish, and he's been swimming in the bayou for a long, long time. So what does McCain do? He goes fishing using Sarah Palin as bait. And within a week, he gets a hit: headlines that blast Biden for calling Palin "good-looking". (nevermind that it was out of context) What a brilliantly underhanded way to portray him as your run of the mill sexist politician, and to remind the American public that maybe the "change" promised by Obama isn't really "change" at all, but a re-packaging of everything we've seen from Dems in the past. McCain did a wonderful job of making America wonder if Biden would cheat on his wife with Sarah Palin. This is politics.

Experience. McCain has pounded Obama for his "lack of experience". Which I think is laughable. Energy and vigor, intelligence and inspiration, these are the things that can make a difference. I also happen to believe that Obama's non-Washington experience is what makes him special as a candidate... being multi-cultural, having built up grass-roots organizations, that is what makes him special. But this post is about Palin. Does McCain figure that his girth of experience somehow levels Palin's lack thereof? Need I remind him that if he dies while in office, he's leaving the country in the hands of the VP. So what has Palin done? She has been a great Governor of Alaska. Which is our biggest state, but also one of the sparsest populated and quirkiest. That being said, George W. Bush probably had less experience than Palin when he was elected, and he managed to become the worst president in history. So at least I am convinced that Sarah Palin would run this country more efficiently than our current prez. So as far as experience goes, I equate it to a succesful mayor of a mid-sized Midwestern city suddenly finding themselves mayor of New York.

The pregnant daughter. As far as I am concerned, it is a non-issue. People get pregnant all the time. None of us would be here if people didn't get pregnant. And the daughter seems to be making responsible decisions regarding the situation. But I get fed up with the GOP pounding us with "this is really a non-issue. Its none of anyone's business. Forget about it." If Joe Biden had a pregnant teenage daughter, don't you think Republicans would be having a field day? They'd be lined up to take shots at the irresponsible youth of a liberal nation. If nothing else, the pregnancy of Palin's daughter should serve as a platform of pro-life (Palin) v. pro-choice (Obama). Biden is sort of iffy on the issue.

So what I am basically looking at tonight is something that convinces me that Palin is not being put up there to even out the attractiveness of the campaign. I do think that she is a better VP pick than the Dems have put up the past two elections. I just don't think that adding her to the equation gives McCain enough umph to top Obama. But tonight could go a long way towards convincing Americans either way.