Since John McCain shocked the world and nominated a young beauty queen/hockey mom to be his vice-presidential running mate, I have not weighed in on his decision in this space, partly because I was aghast at his daring, and partly because I didn't know what to say.
Being ignorant has never stopped me before, so I am going to wade in.
It seems that nominating Sarah Palin has energized McCain's campaign, and his rallies are having bigger and more energetic crowds than ever before. The polls have indicated that the campaigns are now neck and neck, and the crucial "white woman" vote seems to be swinging toward McCain/ Palin.
Most of my e-mails tend to be from the Christian Right of the political spectrum. I have been getting for months the scary stories about Obama and his Muslim connections, his anti-American church, his inexperience, his alliance with unsavory Chicago politicians. I read, but do not forward the e-mails, many of which turn out to be false, according to Snoops, the e-mail truth finder. Obama seems like a bright, articulate man with a lovely smile and a remarkable life story.
Most of my Christian buddies have fallen in love with Sarah Palin. When I first saw her, I couldn't believe anybody with five children, one born in her 44th year, could look like that. I thought most women would automatically hate her. However, the ladies I talk to are so excited that we are going to get to vote for a "pro-life" woman that they will take the risk of voting for an old man with a volatile temper and a history of skin cancer just to vote for her.
She electrified the country with her acceptance speech that was interesting, funny, and able to stick a needle in the other campaign's balloon with a good-natured smile.
I don't think anybody is big enough to assume the Presidency of the United States, but being a hockey mom, a P. T. A Worker, juggling a husband and five children, one a Down's Syndrome baby, is about as good training as anything.
I got an e-mail from my Haven of Rest supporter friend, a Baptist Community College professor from Elizabethtown, who asked me to pray for Sarah Palin and her church. I quote: "The pastor of Sarah Palin's church in Wasilla, Alaska, The Full Gospel Church of Wasilla, AK is David Pepper. He states:
Three days before Gov. Palin was announced by John McCain as his choice for VP, she came before her pastor to be anointed and prayed over for service to God. She didn't tell the church what was going on... just that she needed their prayer support. Since the announcement, the pastor and the church have been bombarded with questions from the media. They are trying to get word out to Christians all over America to pray for the protection of Sarah Palin and their church. They suspect that the treatment of Jeremiah Wright will pale in comparison to what is coming their way as a conservative Christian body."
We in the Bible Belt are familiar with the term "Full Gospel," but can you imagine the horror of the Washington Establishment who could not understand what Jimmy Carter meant when he said he was a "Born Again Christian"?
I got another e-mail this morning originating from a Sarah Palin friend/acquaintance/ backstabber from Wasilla who must have been beat out for cheerleader in high school by Sarah. She had three pages, single-spaced of how and where Sarah Palin went wrong, and that her exposing the ethical shortcomings of the good ole boys had helped her to get rid of a job she hated. There was much more.
I had been afraid for the innocent, naive mother of five to be thrust into the snake pit of Washington , DC, but if half of those stories about Sarah's cunning is true, it will be like throwing Brier Rabbit into the brier patch. She will come out smelling like a rose!
Do pray for the right person to be elected President of the United States.
Other items by this author:
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is Fifty Years Old
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
You Can't Do A Thing About the Weather
