Editor,
Both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin are women political leaders. The commonality between the two ends there. It is important to keep this campaign focused on the critical issues facing this country and how each side plans to tackle these issues. Where does each woman stand on the issues?
Palin was elected Alaska's governor a little more than a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. Clinton has more than 30 years of political leadership experience, including a law career and two terms as a U.S. senator. Clinton's background with foreign policy issues includes ".an assignment to the Senate Armed Services Committee and involvement with homeland security issues."
Palin is strongly anti-abortion, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. Clinton is an abortion rights advocate. As Barack Obama so eloquently points out, whether Democrat, Republican or Independent, U.S. citizens need to unite and find common ground. Most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, hopefully agree that finding effective solutions to unwanted pregnancy is the focus.
Palin supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. Palin is extremely politically conservative, appealing to a small group of very right-wing people. Clinton is a liberal Democrat. She is a strong advocate for women's and human rights, has worked to expand health care for all, and, unlike the John McCain contingency, fights to protect Social Security from privatization.
Palin doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change and supports oil drilling. She says renewable gas won't be ready for years, just as offshore drilling will not necessarily produce oil for years. Climate change is happening, regardless of one's opinion of how it is being caused. Clinton opposes offshore oil drilling. She supports investing in renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and promoting environmentally responsible recovery of oil and gas resources.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Before making his vice president choice, McCain met Sarah Palin in person only once. They spoke a second time - by phone - Sunday, when he called her about the vice president position. How's that for good decision-making? With all his experience, McCain has demonstrated extremely poor judgment and irresponsibility in his hasty choice of vice president. It's the issues - not the superficial exterior and glitz of appearance - that should shape this campaign, as well as guide the one who will lead this country in the years to come.
Margaret Leicester
UNM student
