I can honestly say that I wanted to mark all of the above.

Gender roles and politics are so complicated.

i agree harmony... that was a tough one

Because I don't think she would have been picked for this job if she was a man, I feel like this question is moot for me.

Same here, Harmony.

I think she is being treated this way more because she is a conservative, not necessarily because she is a woman.

UD did you forget how Hillary was treated? It's not solely because of political affiliation.

I second the "wish I could have picked all of the above" comment.

so i guess everyone wants to forget how horribly hilary was treated

If her husband was taking on the parental duties, then it would just be a matter of reversed roles in the household. But he works full time, so with her on the road campaigning for the next couple of months, who is putting their kids first? And the schedule of a VP doesn't leave much time to be the primary caretaker.

For a party that claims family values, this doesn't seem to be leading by example.

When was Hillary treated badly? I honestly don't know when the press treated her unkindly. Her husband kicked her several times, and tripped up the campaign, but not the press.

My wife and I work full time, and as a pastor, my wife is gone most evenings. I'm home by 5:30 to take care of my beautiful children, and when they are in school, I'll be home earlier. Just because it isn't the traditional family model doesn't make it non-family values.

"When was Hillary treated badly?" Are you kidding me right now UD? I think it would be a good thing if I didn't get into this with you.

:drink:
Have one on me.
:pour over head:

your wife is a pastor? what kind of church do you go to? for some strange reason I thought you were baptist.

Lutheran, ELCA. Extremely liberal, and drives me crazy. Most days I get out of church wanting to kill someone. I call it pennance for loving the girl I love..

Hillarys a woman?

j/k

oh ok. have you always been lutheran? I used to go to a very conservative baptist church.and they had almost no liberals in that church

Im lutheran too!

Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean that sexism becomes invalid. I don't want Sarah Palin anywhere NEAR the white house. That doesn't mean that I can't acknowledge that she's being treated unfairly.

Oh but she wears heels and a skirt right? AND she doesn't act too aggressively. So when injustice happens to her it's actual REAL sexism. With Hillary she just deserved it.

I never heard a woman speak in front of a church b4,we only have men.

Unfortunately, it's the exact opposite for me.

I knew there was a reason I liked you CG!

I am sure if any liberal was in that church they are no longer a part of it.

I didn't think we were going to get into it HF.

Just because you don't like someone, that doesn't make you a sexist either. I don't like Hillary because she spoke and talked like she deserved the presidency because of who she was (a Clinton). She lied, and when the lie sounded good, she use it several times. When she gat caught (many times), she brushed it off as a simple mistake, or I'm tired, or something else. She lost because she wasn't trustworthy. I'm sorry.

I am not saying that she lost due to sexism. I'm saying that just because you feel that way, and you are more than welcome to feel that way, doesn't mean that she WASN'T a victim of sexism. To say that you actually never witnessed any sexism in the media towards Hillary Clinton is appalling.

Unfortunately, I have (get) to go take care of the children. I will probably be back later though.
:hugs:

Maybe Limbaugh wouldn't be claiming 'we've got a babe on the ticket' if it was Mr. Palin. Maybe.

lol, that's a lot of options. I want the one that says, "Yes, I like green eggs and ham."

My opinion is... I don't think she would've been considered by McCain if she weren't a woman, but I don't feel she's a bad choice because of that. Many factors come into play when choosing Veep.

Oh, and btw, are those actually Palin's legs? Because I am in LOVE with those shoes. I'm just saying.

I saw Hillary experience sexism, for sure, but not to this extent.
The way the media (including bloggers) treats women in this day and age is disgusting...and to see 'feminists' coming at Palin like they are? Abhorrent.

I agree with everything Harmony said, regarding Palin and Clinton.

I don't like her because she's anti-gay, anti-polar bear, and seems to have a penchant for firing people she doesn't like. But I think other people are applying a double standard because she's a woman. McCain would never have put a Mr. Palin on the ticket, people would never judge a man this way, McCain made a cynical choice to get women voters, and then said she's off limits, I think dealing with this level of distractions might impair her leadership during this crucial time, and this is a matter of McCain's judgment.

She was choose because of her gender and because of her (ah) views -- to solidify her base as they say. She's being treated so harshly because of the things that have come out about her and her past.

We have about 60 some odd days to get to know this woman. I want to know everything because there's a chance that she might have to take over for McCain should the unthinkable happen (which makes me nervous to the core.)

May I ask if you were this critical and shrewd with your research into Obama and Biden?

I do my research. Both Obama and Palin have been on the cover of US Weekly, and I read them both!

(Kidding. Except she really is on the cover. http://blogs.abcnews.com/liveblogging/2008/09/how-palin-is-pl.html)

Talking to me GS?

I was actually for Hillary in the beginning - then switched to Obama for my own reasons which are no ones business but mine. But yes I was critical of everyone -- especially after the last 8 years of well -- pain.

UD Same religion! I'm Lutheran, too!

Well, I've heard they let ANYONE join...
Just kidding

GOP wants nobody to criticize Palin, and they want to hide behind the gender thing. I have not seen one newsperson even mention her family issues, but rather they are targeting her real lack of experience.

I agree with all of the above (the above choices to the poll). I also think that had Palin been a bit more exposed to the media earlier on, she wouldn't be so extremely scrutinized now.

Also? The claims that McCain knew about all of the things going on in Palin's life? I call BS.

She has been governor for 20 months, of a tiny population state (4th lowest). She has the troopergate scandal. He met with her one time for 15 minutes. Have any of you been hired for a job on that basis?

I actually sort of was, once. It didn't work out for me or my employer.

*I mean, not those specifics exactly, but...oh, you know what I mean.

I wouldn't vote for Hillary, but I got steamed at the way she was treated by the media at times. At times she was reduced to body parts - mainly her behind and thighs. A man would never have to hear that crap about his personal appearance. Her crying was criticized as either inauthentic or weak. Yet the tears seemed to soften some people's opinion of her. So in my mind, no matter what she did she was criticized. She isn't/wasn't as likeable as Barack because of what I believe is mostly men not wanting a woman in charge.

I have a theory, I not saying its true, so don't attack me.
Over the past couple of days I have been reading up on Palin and am confused why McCain would pick her with so much revolving around her with her legal and family issues. (Family issues do effect the campaign because they can effect her judgment and ability to do the job efficiently.) I can see him picking a woman, flood her with controversies, have her resign from the campaign so McCain can pick whoever he wanted without being blasted for choosing another white male. Politics this day and age are a dirty job, I wouldn't put it past anybody.

I think there have been moments of sexism...I think Limbaugh said that she was a babe or something.

However, I do think that if she would have been a man, many more conservatives would be asking WHY did he pick them? There are just so many other people that seemed to be more qualified, more popular, and people that McCain actually KNEW. It is one thing to take a risk on someone you are familiar with. It is completely another to take such a risk on a stranger that you have never worked with, and met once.

I do think there is valid skepticism that brings questions. Being that she is not very well known on a national scale, this should be expected.

i think that there's a lot to be said when you factor gender into the mix and the same goes for experience and position on issues. i think that if you had a man with the EXACT same credentials and positions as Palin, then you would probably choose the one who's more charismatic seeing as how a lot of what people go by (after the facts etc) is their impression of someone and how they feel (secure vs. indifferent)

"She isn't/wasn't as likeable as Barack because of what I believe is mostly men not wanting a woman in charge."

Just a little story...

One of my good friends back home was a volunteer for Hillary. She went door to door, and she said it REALLY made her sad to see that many of the people who told her that they weren't comfortable with a woman as president were women. My friend has been very active in women's rights, so this was especially upsetting to her.

I'm not so offended by people having issues with her politics. That's politics. It's that people are so offended with her 'woman-ness' and hate on her because she's a woman with children running for office above PTA president.
Oh, did you know she faked her last pregnancy to cover for her daughter and that the baby is actually her daughters, and that she's actually lying about the baby having Down Syndrome to get sympathy? Sorry. That's the newest bit of BS that no man would ever have to defend.