Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain made history Friday by choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running-mate in his campaign to the White House. Palin is now the first woman to be chosen by the GOP to make a bid as Vice President of the United States.
If you couldn't already tell, you can probably see that I am thrilled by this choice. I believe that if McCain already has a slight advantage now, this pick will help to strengthen it to an extent. Let's remember that history tells us the VP pick doesn't usually win the election for the man who appointed him (or her). However, I believe Palin helps McCain, because she strengthens the base tremendously.
News is already out that evangelicals are excited, something that has been hard to come by this election season. Even James Dobson, the well-known founder of
Focus on the Family,
said he would vote for the McCain-Palin ticket. He struggled with the idea of voting for McCain over the last year or more, but he is now warming to the idea. There is even the idea that
Palin on the ticket may cause a number of socially conservative Democrats to turn to the GOP this year. Along with that, she just may turn a number of defected supporters of New York Senator Hillary Clinton to the GOP, after Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama beat her in a tight primary race earlier this year, and didn't really include her in their party's drive to the White House.
Palin is an unknown to may people. That is her possible downside. She is not well-known, and not believed by some to be well-experienced. However, that first downside can be overcome by November. I don't believe the second downside is so bad. Palin is running for the Vice Presidency, not for Commander-In-Chief just yet. She may be President later on, but I believe she is ready for that if the time comes. The Democrats have nominated a U.S. senator who has only been in office for less than four years. Before that, he was a state senator, and a "community organizer", whatever on Earth that is. Palin was a city council member for four years (1992-1996), mayor of the town of Wasilla, Alaska for six years (1996-2002), and was elected governor of the 49th state in 2006.
While mayor, she was chosen to be president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. I'll take someone with her executive experience over someone (like Obama) who doesn't, regardless of how small the setting, and she isn't even running for a job that high.
Palin will not only strengthen the ticket, she will help McCain govern on principles, values, and patriotism. As I have been telling everyone who asks me what I think of this choice, she is a solid conservative, not only in words, but in action. She not only talks pro-life, she decided to allow her young son, Trig, to live, even though he was found to have Down syndrome. She had the opportunity to get an abortion, but she followed her principles instead. She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and solid on support for the Second Amendment right to bear arms. She stands for American energy independence, and knows that issue firsthand, being governor of a state where that issue is key. She is a non-denominational Christian, who worships at the Church on the Rock in Wasilla. She is a reformer, who has worked to cut taxes, and the size of government in Alaska. She has a history of fighting corruption, and battles wrong, whether it is outside her party or not. She has appointed Democrats and Independents to her administration in Alaska. Her son, Track, is heading off to fight in Iraq on September 11th. McCain's son has also gone off to fight for our country, which proves that potential Presidents and Vice Presidents do watch their children go off to war.
Another strength of Palin is her common-man's, blue-collar background. Her dad was a teacher, and her mom a secretary in a school. She worked as a sports reporter and a commercial fisherman with her husband, Todd, before she entered elected politics. She was a union member, and her husband continues to be. He now works for the large oil company BP, where he works in a non-managerial position. She is a self-described "hockey mom", and plays the sport, as well as supporting it. She hunts and fishes. It is reported that she would get up at three in the morning to go caribou hunting.
She also seems to have a strong spirit to her. If she was nervous at all during her acceptance speech yesterday, it was not readily visible. She has a strong charisma about her, and shows skills of a great public speaker.
I want to give credit to Mr. McCain on such a solid pick, and credit to him and his campaign for keeping such history under wraps until just before the announcement. I have noticed a re-tooled McCain campaign that is sharp, crisp, and speaking principles and values clearly. I really believe the reason the McCain campaign is back on track is because they've gone to the business of standing for conservative values in the mode of Reagan. They have been putting out great ads, cut back on gaffes, shown enthusiasm for values, and have been speaking on them clearly. At the same time, the Obama campaign has found itself on a slippery slope, and committing various gaffes. They are finding themselves in one now, as their campaign attacked Palin for a lack of experience. Obama later tried to cover it by congratulating her, but it is just the latest move by the Obama campaign showing that he is really just a regular politician, and not the candidate of change he wants people to believe he is.
For the first time since the primaries, I am energized. For the first time in a long while, many of my fellow principled conservatives are, as well.
