The comic above points out the hypocrisy that is present in our politics, regardless of your party affiliation. If you look at the comic above, Gov. Sarah Palin was Republican-approved, Democrat-opposed. Caroline Kennedy is Democrat-approved, Republican-opposed. Neither party is willing to find anything good in the candidate of the other side, regardless of their qualifications.
I was talking to my sister the other day, and she was most upset. She said that in this country it does not matter which party you belong to if you are a woman. If you are a woman, criticisms will be used against you that would not be used against a man. No man with five children would be harassed with claims of not being a good father if he ran for office. No man who was successful in business would be considered a totally unqualified candidate if he were to go after an appointment to an open Senate seat with no prior legislative experience. In the case of the father with five children, it would be said that he was an example for his children, a go-getter, a good provider. In the case of the successful businessman, he would be lauded as an outsider who would bring fiscal responsibility with him and experience in what it takes to run such a major “corporation” as a country. But, if they are women, the very qualities that would make the man stand out are considered liabilities in the woman.
I agree with my sister on this one. In passing, she is a strong Republican conservative and thinks that I am nuts for having voted for President-elect Obama. She is about as far away from a social radical as one can get, but on this issue . . .
After Christmas I hope to return to the discussion from before Christmas.
Huw says
Not exactly connected to the press or the national media, but at least as far as the circle of my ears, Ms Kennedy is getting the Same Treatment Mr Bush got 8 years ago: she's running on her famous name, she has no qualifications, she's a rich idiot. Maybe worse. Mrs Palin, point of order, didn't even have a famous name…
Fr. Ernesto Obregón says
Hmm, I had not thought of it that way. I was simply thinking of the way that Gov. Palin was lambasted on things that would not even have been an issue for a male. But, you are right, Gov. Palin has actually been more engaged in politics, by far, than Ms. Kennedy.