McCain Picks Alaska's Anti-Gay, Former Beauty Queen Gov. as VP

The morning after the Democratic Party nominates its first black presidential candidate, John McCain and the Republicans shake up the election. McCain has chosen as his running mate Sarah Palin, former beauty queen and the obscure governor of Alaska, as the party's first female vice presidential nominee. Although only holding state-wide office for less than two years, Palin "has already shown that she is a fierce opponent" of gay and lesbian rights.

Prior to being elected governor, Palin supported the 1998 amendment to Alaska's constitution banning same-sex marriage. The new governor also supported a ballot question that sought to deny benefits to the domestic partners of public employees, which was ordered by the Alaska Supreme Court. Palin's first legislative act as Governor of Alaska was to "put the issue on the April 2007 ballot for a non-binding advisory vote. This was the only issue on the ballot and that election cost the state taxpayers $1.2 million."

Palin is a favorite of social conservative, anti-gay "pro-family groups" such as Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council. Palin is strongly pro-life and gave birth to a child with Down's Syndrome, making her somewhat of a hero to the anti-choice crowd. When asked about the right-wing’s reaction to the choice of Palin, The New York Times quoted Ralph Reed, the anti-gay former head of the Christian Coalition as saying, "They’re beyond ecstatic."

Comments

[Derrick from Philly]

This is some kind of bizarre dream, and I'll wake up soon-- smiling (no hard-on...I stopped those years ago).

Maybe it's a nightmare for Republicans.

[blkpoetx]

the Dems and Reps are like night and day this time around... so if something happens to 77 old year Mccain, the country would be in the hands of 1 term Governor with .. 5 kids?

[Ling]

Palin is strongly pro-life and gave birth to a child with Down's Syndrome, making her somewhat of a hero to the anti-choice crowd.

Is the anti-choice base still so strong and manipulable in America that such a sob detail would fly? I think they should focus on what her credentials are, and what direction she would take the country would she become president.

And as much as I think the media is going to be in love with her, she still has two full months to to fill up her candidacy to the people. That's far from a given.