posted September 3, 2008
I guess I consider myself a liberal when it comes to voting my conscience, but if you’re anything like me then you’re always caught in the middle on a number of key issues come election time.
I have watched, listened and read as much media about our two, or should I say four, candidates this go ‘round more than any other election in years past, and will probably find myself sticking with the Dem ticket once again. When you’re stuck in a two party system even 66% equals a 100% come Nov. 4.
I’ve now watched Obama give a grand speech in Denver, I’ve listened to both Liberal and Conservative radio shows, and I’ve tried to understand where both parties are coming from and where both parties say they will take us, but what I don’t understand is the public “applauding” that the Palin family is receiving from the Repubs, as the news of her daughter’s pregnancy has reached America’s eyes and ears. It seems to me that the “Right” is dangerously close to legitimizing and even blessing the experience that these two teenagers have gotten themselves into, and that doesn’t seem like your core conservatism. I see this rally cry taking place for the fact that there will be no abortion, but where is the father? It seems that everyone is happy they are doing “the right thing” (supposedly getting married), but no Conservatives are speaking out about “the wrong thing” that got them in this situation to begin with.
At this point let me just say that I am not pointing a finger at the two teenagers. Me, and just about everyone of you out there have bent the rules in the name of fun and pleasure just to step over that parental line drawn in the sand. But my point is to merely exploit hypocrisy within the party. And I’m willing to bet there is many a Conservative pondering the same thoughts.
I myself have a child out of wedlock, and was a wild and dangerous child in my teenage years, but I have a feeling that if the Obamas were going through something similar the Media Hellfire would melt any and all opportunities for him to reach office. It’s a weird time, a weird time indeed, but what do you expect from the same party who elected “W” twice in a row. You better figure it out Repubs. You’re “always” on the forefront of right and wrong; who’s right and who’s wrong in this one?
Ryan Coulter
Jefferson Heights
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Conservatives struggle with the same issues as the liberal community. We are all human and none of us are perfect.
We all know or have known someone in the same position as Sarah Palin. Does this mean she is a terrible parent? No. At some point in the life of a child, you have to let them out of your sight and pray they make the right choices. Her child made a mistake.
What is the left looking for? An honor killing for her daughter? Are we supposed to stone Gov. Palin for loving her daughter? The best parents in the world have children that make poor choices. My own parents know from experience.
I don't think the conservative community is "applauding" her circumstances. We are applauding the way she has handled them.
Rick Watts
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I 100% agree with Mr. Coulter, if that was one of Barack Obama's kids having a baby the Republicans would make it a bigger than life issue about it. Barack Obama showed class saying he did not want to discuss the private lives of his opposition.
The GOP could be amply call the party of "hypocrites" and the tag would suit them perfect. They are against abortion, but do not hesitate in sending their 17-year-old kids to be killed in a useless war that was started by lies and has eliminated from the face of the earth almost 5,000 of America's best and the end is still not in sight, yet the Republicans want four more years of the same old Bush policies.
I cannot believe that anybody would ever vote Republican again after what has happen to America in the last seven and a half years it is unbelievable that anybody could be that naive.
Harold McCoy
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I am so sick and tired of hearing all of these people judging Gov. Palin's unwed pregnant daughter. What does it have to do with Gov. Palin's political record or experience? It's not as if she's the first ever unwed teenage daughter in the history of the United States of America. It seems to be no big deal now a days in our society for a young girl to turn up pregnant out of wedlock (just look at the role models our daughters have now a days – a.k.a., Jamie Lynn Spears) – however since it's Gov. Palin's daughter, it seems to be so newsworthy that it needs to make the "top headline" news. C'mon people. Sen. Obama was right – families should be off limits when it comes to politics. I sure haven't seen the media going after anyone in his family (or Biden's either).
I applaud Bristol for making the difficult decision to do the right thing (in my opinion) and give this unborn baby a chance at life. I applaud her for not deciding to terminate a pregnancy as a means of birth control. Yes, I believe in marriage first, then children, but sometimes life throws us an unexpected curve.
I don't consider myself to be a Democrat or a Republican, but I am conservative in my beliefs. I choose the candidate that most closely resembles my values and beliefs. As of last Friday, I honestly did not know whether or not I would vote in the November election because I don't really care for either candidate. However, I cannot bring myself to vote for Obama because as much as he wants to deny it, he is Muslim. He was born to a Muslim father. According to the Barak Obama candidate website, "the Koran (Qur'an) calls for any male who commits Apostasy (the rejection of Islam in word or deed by a person who has been a Muslim) to be punishable by death. All major schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that a sane male apostate must be executed." Obama claims to be a Christian so under Muslim religious law this renders him an apostate. His own brother has even claimed that Obama grew up as a Muslim. And yet we, as Americans, see
Nothing wrong with this – voting a man like this into our nation's highest office. I guess if it hadn't been Muslims who flew our planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, then I might feel differently. They hate us and everything we, as America, stand for people.
Then there's John McCain. I guess the best thing I can say about this guy is he's a war hero. He wasn't the one I voted for to run on the Republican ticket. Mike Huckabee would have been a better choice. However, I am excited at the prospect of having Gov. Palin as our next Vice President. Yes, I know she doesn't have that much political experience, but then again, neither does Barack Obama. However, she appears not to back down from a fight and seems to be up for the challenge. Both Obama and Palin are paired with candidates who have plenty of political experience. The "majority" are tired of having a Republican in the office and blaming President Bush for everything from Hurricane Katrina (natural disaster and beyond anyone’s control) to the economy – lest we forget who holds the "majority" in the House and the Senate – the Democrats – yet, somehow, it's all President Bush's fault.
The bottom line is this - whoever gets elected in November will make history – whether it be the first ever woman elected to the Vice Presidency or the first ever African-American/Caucasian elected to the Presidency. What a year for politics. And for America's sake, I hope it's the McCain/Palin ticket.
LeShawne Ridge
lukesmom626@yahoo.com
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With regard to Gov. Sarah Palin, I can agree with several of the letters sent to Chattanoogan.com.
1) Sarah Palin is certainly "Nothing to ignore." Like it or not, she gave a speech that was simply outstanding.
2) Why is it when a relative newcomer to the national political scene in the Republican Party is given widespread acclaim, it's "following them like sheep," yet when that same attention is given to a Democratic candidate, it's all in the interest of "party unity?"
3) Palin is obviously the anti-Hillary; she's not threatening or perceived to be emasculating. She's appealing to both men and women, and strikes a common chord with men and women of both parties.
4) Americans have two good candidates in the upcoming presidential election. As responsible voters, it's our duty to educate ourselves about the candidates and the issues, and vote accordingly.
5) Finally, the comment from Ryan Coulter about "When you're stuck in a two party system, even 66% equals a 100% come November 4th." Come on, it's painting with a broad brush and economics like that that's resulted in the need for such strong leadership throughout America, not just in Washington.
Chip Chapman
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Pro-life, pro-guns, pro-war, and pro-tax cuts for the rich. I hope for the sake of this country the McCain/Palin ticket does not make it to the oval office.
There is nothing wrong with a 17-year old having a child, it happens every day. The fact that she was told to choose abstinence and was never taught about contraceptives is wrong. Everyone gives Mrs. Palin credit for choosing life when she knew her unborn child had Down's Syndrome. All that means, is that in 4 four months, Sarah Palin will have a nine-month-old son with special needs and a new born grandchild. Unfortunately she won't be there to enjoy it because she'll be working 80 hours a week, traveling around the world, living the dream as Vice President of the United States of America.
How does she relate to the soccer moms of America? I don't know, no mother I know would give up quality time with her babies for a high profile job in Washington D.C.
Jennifer K. Smith
Chattanooga
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