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.
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.
