To the editor:
I watched Sarah Palin's speech last night to gauge what kind of person she is. I also Googled her record to help me understand what policies she supports. I think her speech told us a lot — that she is mean-spirited while offering no substance about how she would improve health care, unemployment or our position in the world.
She dismissed Barack Obama helping people on the South Side of Chicago as a community organizer. Maybe helping people doesn't count unless you're a mayor. And why did she misled viewers about Democratic tax cuts — Obama's plan gives 95 percent of Americans a bigger break than McCain's, whose cuts continue to be given to those that make millions.
I feel uncomfortable when a candidate says that the war in Iraq is "God's task," that we should teach creationism in public schools and that humans don't contribute to global warming. She says she went against the Big Oil companies but that was over leasing issues. In fact, her inauguration was sponsored by BP, where her husband is employed. If you are pro-choice, Palin doesn't support a women's right to choose even for rape or incest. Then there's her opinion that sex-ed should not be taught in public schools except for abstinence. And as for opposing the infamous Bridge to Nowhere, she flip-flopped supporting it before opposing it.
When it comes to national security, her credentials commanding Alaska's National Guard has even its top officers criticizing her. Moreover, Palin only commands the Guard for routine firefighting and security details. When Newt Gingrich says her Guard experience for two years is her key national security qualification to be a heart-beat away from becoming the nation's president, my eyes roll back in my head.
If anyone criticizes her, her defenders called it sexist, as if Americans can't have an opinion. Delivering a Karl Rove-style political attack speech coupled with cynical attacks and exaggerations of her experience and extremist policies makes me wonder how Senator McCain makes choices and how he would handle the job of president.
Jesse Kalfel
West Newbury
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