Opinion

Palin is a dangerous choice


Published: September 5, 2008

To the editor:

John McCain's Labor Day weekend surprise of picking Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, as his vice-presidential pick left both sides of the aisle thunderstruck. Often when any type of decision this startling is examined afterward some sense of sound reasoning usually develops that wasn't discernible at first glance.

But this curious and potentially dangerous selection to be a heartbeat away from the American presidential post that would be manned by a 72-year old almost beggars belief.

After months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," John McCain has chosen a right-wing religious ultraconservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of Wasilla, a tiny town of 9,000 people. Her ideological "résumé" should repel many rational 2008 voters, as most of her position points pertaining to both law and science represent a throwback to a dark age that most of us don't want to go back to.

Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape, incest and the health of the mother. So American women can say goodbye to Roe vs. Wade if this ticket is elected in November. She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000, a man who shares her views and has spent much of his life denigrating modern science in favor of the biblical Christian myth paradigm.

She is a crusader for creationism to be taught in public schools as scientific theory. She opposes stem-cell research and (of course) gay rights, including civil unions. And like the many ardent students of "professor" Rush Limbaugh, she doesn't think that humans have any effect on the current scientifically proven climate changes going on throughout the planet, and that we have no responsibility to try to rectify the situation by either less reliance on oil or by "going green." Try telling that to the population 50 years from now. Or 20.

And speaking about our current oil imbroglio, Palin is solidly in line with McCain's "Big Oil First" energy policy. She's pushed hard for Alaska National Wildlife Refuge oil drilling (thankfully still being prevented in favor of non-intrusive drilling by the congressional Democrats), and says renewables won't be ready for decades. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species ¬­— she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in her home state. To some pundits, this action incredibly has made her some kind of a "maverick."

Palin also is the subject of an ongoing ethics investigation involving the firing of Alaska's public safety commissioner after he wouldn't dismiss her former brother-in-law, a state trooper. One has to wonder if McCain even knew about this, as the sum extent of his vetting of Palin was one meeting with her about a month ago, followed three weeks later with his phone call asking if she would accept the position.

It makes perfect political sense for this fractured party to offer the vice-presidency with gender in mind in an attempt to appear "progressive," especially to voters with no curiosity about whom they're supporting. But even a cursory glance at the qualifications and beliefs of this unknown and inexperienced cipher should give pause to all.

WILLIAM KLESSENS

Salem, N.H.