Published: September 16, 2008 11:26 am      

GESENHUES: Where the feminists are

A response to Peggy DeKay’s opinions on Gov. Palin

In Peggy DeKay’s recently published Opinions column affirming her support for Gov. Sarah Palin, she asks, “Where are all those women who championed Hillary Clinton’s rise as a presidential candidate?”

We’re not that hard to find, Peggy. We’re exactly where we should be: with Hillary Clinton supporting Barack Obama, a candidate who supports women.

Just because Gov. Palin is a woman does not mean that she is a supporter of women’s rights. Her ultra-conservative political beliefs against a women’s right to choose, against sex education in the schools, and against same-sex marriage are the very opposite of feminist beliefs. It’s appalling to think that anyone would assume that just because a politician is a female, other females should support her.

DeKay claims Oprah Winfrey is being disingenuous by looking the other way and not having Gov. Palin on her show. First, no presidential candidates — since announcing their candidacy — are sitting next to Oprah on her stage. Are you requesting special considerations for Palin? Second, would she even take the interview? The campaign managers of the McCain-Palin ticket are being very, very selective about the interviews Gov. Palin will actually take. Even if Palin got the offer, I find it hard to believe her advisors would approve of her taking an interview with Oprah.

Unfortunately, DeKay’s claim that Palin, “…speaks clearly, and she doesn’t hide,” isn’t true. She is hiding from any interview where her answers cannot be pre-formulated by her advising panel. And her clear speak? It’s the same speech every single time. She has repeated the same rhetoric so often that she has become a parody of herself: the

“Thanks, but no thanks” on that bridge that she actually said yes to in the beginning; the private jet that she, “…sold on eBay,” but not really on eBay. Her clear speak is in complete disconnect with her previous actions.

As a feminist, I’d like to be able to say that I respect Sarah Palin even if I disagree with her political views. But, I can’t. I haven’t heard her say anything about what type of Vice President she will be. I’ve only heard her repeated sound bites and condescending and mocking commentaries against her opponents. Yes, Barack Obama was a community organizer, but that was before he went to Harvard Law School, became the first African American to be editor-in-chief of the Harvard Law Review, and then went on to become a civil rights attorney, Illinois senator, professor of constitutional law and U.S. senator who served as chairman on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. While Obama was working as a community organizer in 1988, Sarah Palin was a sports reporter KTUU-TV.

And still we keep hearing, “She’s so likeable.” As a nation that has spent eight years suffering at the hands of a Republican administration, don’t we want more than another “likeable” Republican? Likeable is what I want in a next-door neighbor. Why are our standards for our leaders so low? I want someone who has accomplished tremendous things; someone who sets an example by creating a standard of excellence that we should all hope to achieve.

As for me, I am just an American woman, a mom, a patriot, and a feminist married to a former U.S. Marine. I want to live in a world where my daughter not only has a choice, but is given an education that allows her to make an informed decision. I want leaders who are strong proponents for women’s rights and stand up for all women and men. I want smart women in leadership roles who know where they stand and speak

for themselves.

The McCain campaign insulted women by assuming that just because Gov. Palin was a woman she would win over Hillary supporters. Yes, it will be phenomenal when a female makes it to the Oval Office. And yes, I would love for that female to be Hillary, but it’s not going to happen this time. But there is no way I’m giving up my vote to someone who is unqualified, has a somewhat questionable background, and is against everything I believe in.

Amy Gesenhues is marketing professional and freelance writer. You can read more of what Amy believes at www.amywroteit.wordpress.com.