The worst kind of affirmative action

[The Wicker Man]

The choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate exposes Republican hypocrisy regarding affirmative action

Republicans have always been hugely critical of affirmative action policies, believing that giving preferential treatment to women and minorities leads to the promotion of underqualified people over more qualified or experienced individuals. To them, affirmative action goes against the meritocratic nature of America. This explains why, in July, John McCain voted in support of a ban led by Republican Ward Connerly that would end race- and gender-based affirmative action policies in his home state of Arizona.

Outspoken conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, along with other critics of Barack Obama, has repeatedly denounced Obama as an "affirmative action candidate", suggesting that his success is not a result of his merits but because he is African-American. In fact, only a couple of weeks ago on his radio show, Limbaugh declared: "I think this is a classic illustration here where affirmative action has reared its ugly head. ... [The Democrats] ended up nominating and placing at the top of their ticket somebody who's not qualified, who has not earned it."

It's interesting - and somewhat hypocritical - then, that the same could be said about Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. If an affirmative action policy existed for presidential and vice-presidential candidates and Obama and Palin were the beneficiaries, their respective cases would be living examples of the best and worst aspects of affirmative action.

Sarah Palin appears to be an example of the worst kind of affirmative action, the type that Republicans typically argue against and attribute to liberal political correctness. Their promotion of this particular female candidate is more of a cynical, tokenistic gesture than evidence of any real desire to promote merit in cases where it may have gone unnoticed, or to advance the cause of underrepresented women in politics. If that was the case, there are a number of other female Republican politicians – including Olympia Snowe and Kay Bailey Hutchinson - who could have been selected, and may have been better equipped for the role. It would be interesting to hear how those women feel - incorrectly used affirmative action policies often cause resentment among those feel that that they have been overlooked in favour of someone else who is clearly less able but seems to have benefited from special treatment.

Critics of affirmative action tend to claim that engagement in the practice forces institutions or companies to lower their standards. Before McCain selected Palin, his key requirements for a vice-president were someone "who can best take [his] place and carry on the agenda and the vision that [he has] outlined and will continue to outline during this campaign."

Palin's convention speech last week – described by some as "electrifying" – did nothing to demonstrate her actual merits as a vice-presidential candidate, going by the standards set out by McCain himself. While competent and well delivered, there was little substance: no talk of her plans or proposals, her take on the economy, healthcare, national security or other issues of importance, and no agenda for getting the country out of some of its current troubling issues. There was certainly little sense that she'd be able to run America should McCain not be able to. In fact, in a CNBC interview given only a month ago, when asked if she'd consider being McCain's running mate, Palin responded: "As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?"

Even some Republicans believe that Palin's political background is not up to scratch. Advisers Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy were caught off-camera last week expressing their true thoughts about her. When Noonan was asked whether Palin was the most qualified woman for the job, her blunt answer was: "No."

Writing in the City Journal, conservative writer Heather McDonald provided a great analysis: "True, Palin brings traditional political strengths - such as gun enthusiasm and a pro-life record - to the ticket. Her fight against self-dealing in Alaskan politics counters the inside-the-Beltway corruption that damaged the Republicans in the 2006 elections. And her stance on drilling for Alaskan oil admirably bolsters the Republican party platform on energy issues. But admit it, fellow conservatives: none of these attributes pushed her over the top." I'd have to agree.

Last week at the Democratic convention on the other hand, not only did Obama demonstrate excellent oratory skills – which some have rightly said is not in itself evidence that he could be president – but he clearly laid out policies, plans and courses of actions and displayed a firm grasp of the issues that he would have to deal with should he become president. His pick of Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate also displayed good judgement and discernment.

Throughout the course of this election season, Obama has not been content to be the African-American candidate alone, but has sought to demonstrate his merits for the job. He has put in the hard graft: visiting virtually every state this year alone and meeting with foreign leaders in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Europe in order to shore up his foreign policy credentials. If he was, as Limbaugh called him, an "affirmative action candidate", he'd be one that demonstrates how the system should indeed work: giving positions to underrepresented people who actually work hard and prove that they qualify for it.

The nomination of Sarah Palin is nothing more than a poor use of affirmative action in a way that the Republicans have always decried. Between now and November 4 we'll see how well this tokenism plays out.

[wingFeather]

The choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate exposes Republican hypocrisy regarding affirmative action

Time to get the facts straight...

Sarah Palin was chosen based upon her ability to lead, to take on big government and to empower the people.

She was not chosen simply because she was a female.

But, nice try

Why does she frighten you so badly???

[The Wicker Man]

IM SO SCaREED

[96Qowner]

When you post text that someone else has written, please include the source.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm...alin2

[The Wicker Man]

Thanks!

[wingFeather]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm...alin2

UK? Yeah, they have deep insight into Sarah Palin...

[rn79870]

She was not chosen simply because she was a female.

Yep, and her comment about her being there to break that "glass ceiling", the one she referred to as having 18,000,000 cracks in it, references the remodeling of one of JM's 7 houses right?

[The Wicker Man]

UK? Yeah, they have deep insight into Sarah Palin...

This is why Europe hates us, because of posts like these.

[Encryptshun]

Jeezus guys, this is already decending into finger-pointing and name-calling.

Who gives a rat's arse why Palin was selected to be VP? Affirmative Action is the practice of establishing a quota to force diversity in the workplace. Palin may have or may not have been selected because she is female, but she CERTAINLY was not selected due to some afirmative action mandate.

[The Wicker Man]

Say what you will, this is just more evidence of the right's constant hypocrisy.

[Encryptshun]

If you want to talk about the hypocrisy of the "right", there are FAR better items to enter into evidence. Just be prepared for equal evidence of hypocrisy of the "left".

Let me elaborate by providing an example:

Democrats are NOT hypocrites -- they believe in affirmative action, so they have nominated a black man for President. Not because he's qualified, but because he's black.

That is a ludicrous and unproveable claim, but it's no more ludicrous and unproveable than the one from the article about Palin.

We aren't electing "The Right" or "The Left". We are electing two human beings who believe what they believe and who will do the job they were hired to do. And the rest of us will have to live with that decision whether we wanted to hire them or not.

Hit me back when Pat Robertson or Ted Kaczynski is up for a Pres nomination.

[The Wicker Man]

Im an Registered Independent. Hypocrisy goes both ways.

[wingFeather]

This is why Europe hates us, because of posts like these.

Europeans (who would align with the Democratic party if they were Americans) hate us. Oh no!

The other ones... good people I am in touch with, don't see a problem.

Besides, even if "everyone hated us OMG LAWLZ", what would it matter? Foreign countries should NOT dictate how we run America

Im an Registered Independent. Hypocrisy goes both ways.

Then why come on here & knock only the Republicans, when your real focus should be promoting your God, Ron Paul
Modified by wingFeather at 4:54 PM 9/8/2008

[The Wicker Man]

Ron Paul isnt running...

[wingFeather]

Ron Paul isnt running...

According to those cool kid Independents I talk to, that doesn't really matter. You're sending a message to Washington...

[The Wicker Man]

Independents are cool? Sending a message? put down the meth, slowly...

[AZhitman]

references the remodeling of one of JM's 7 houses right?

Ummm, is this on topic?

[Encryptshun]

Foreign countries should dictate how we run America

It's a good thing that not everyone believes this, or we'd still be having a cold war with the U.S.S.R.

[wingFeather]

Independents are cool? Sending a message? put down the meth, slowly...

Hey bro, don't shoot the messenger

I'm relaying to you what Independents are saying to me. If meth comes to mind, then perhaps you should join in your party's addictions? After all, BHO admitted to enjoying drug use... and he's President already in many people's minds

[wingFeather]

It's a good thing that not everyone believes this, or we'd still be having a cold war with the U.S.S.R.

They should NOT tell us how to run this country.

[Encryptshun]

They should NOT tell us how to run this country.

I'm not necessarily arguing that point. However, we should take every opportunity to learn how to better get along with the rest of the world. We can't always assume that our way is the best way -- we have to broaden our minds and change with the times (McCain said this in his acceptance speech at the RNC, even).

We keep preaching about "one global economy" and "a new world order" but unless we think about how what we do affects the rest of the world, what the really amounts to is cultural expansionism that leaves us holding the bag for everything that ails everyone else -- meanwhile they don't give two sh*ts about us. I think it would be really cool to have some friends out in the world that aren't just sycophantic douchebags who cling to us for money, weapons, and favorable nation trade status.

[The Wicker Man]

Hey bro, don't shoot the messenger

I'm relaying to you what Independents are saying to me. If meth comes to mind, then perhaps you should join in your party's addictions? After all, BHO admitted to enjoying drug use... and he's President already in many people's minds

Meth or crackpipe, whatever. Just stop smoking whatever youre smoking.

[srellim234]

Time to get the facts straight...

Sarah Palin was chosen based upon her ability to lead, to take on big government and to empower the people.

I think both counts are incorrect. She was not chosen just because she was female or based on her ability to lead. I believe she was chosen because McCain was pressured into it and she was selected for the votes and base energy she could bring to the campaign. Based on McCain's history of dealing with people and selecting friends and advisors, the McCain I know of would never have selected a running mate with whom he had so little previous personal contact with.

Based on her actions, she is very much in favor of big and bigger government. She just wants the bigger government to benefit HER goals and projects.

[Marenta]

As a believer in merit alone, Affirmative Action sucks. I have no bias toward any race or sex for jobs, I will choose whomever is the most qualified.

(off-topic)Dems = telco & Wicker

Reps = wing

You guys still outnumber us, you guys better to blog somewhere to find another Rep to keep up with the posting. (/off-topic)

[The Wicker Man]

errr no, I'm a registered Independent.

[AZhitman]

Really?

I kinda had you pegged as a Dem masquerading as an Independent.

Might wanna pick up a helmet... I hear there's some clown running around kicking people's heads in...

[The Wicker Man]

why would you think I was a dem?

[Jimefam]

Encryptshun Both your posts were logical and unbiased. I had no idea there was another independent on here.

[Jesda]

*scroll scroll*

meth

*scroll scroll*

crackpipe

*scroll scroll*

Ron Paul

*scroll scroll*

Wait... are you all making fun of me?

[Encryptshun]

Encryptshun Both your posts were logical and unbiased. I had no idea there was another independent on here.

Thanks, but I had like 5 posts in this thread (not counting this one)...Which 2 are you talking about?

Anyway, I am an Independent (or at least I try to be -- Illinois won't let you register as anything other than Democrat or Republican, and in Chicago if you register as a Republican you are still registering as a Democrat, as are your deceased relatives, undocumented law-care technicians, and everyone you knew regardless of where they live now), I guess, though I find that only brings me frustration and misery come election time.