ARTICLE TOOLS
Text Size: A
A
A
A
Chattanooga: Reaction is mixed on McCain No. 2 pick
Included in this article
 | |
|
| |
| Connie Weathers | |
Janet Brown, a Republican from Lookout Valley, said she was going to cast her presidential vote for Sen. John McCain anyway, but the fact that he picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice president is still “a cool move.”
“I think it’s a cool move, the fact that she’s a woman,” Ms. Brown said. “I don’t know much about her.”
That last statement is one of the recurring themes after Friday’s announcement that Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., selected Gov. Palin as his running mate. With only two years as governor in a state that’s about 3,700 miles away from Chattanooga, many people here are only vaguely familiar with her.
Connie Weathers, chairwoman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, called Gov. Palin “a magnificent choice.”
Gov. Palin will bring in Republican voters who had reservations about Sen. McCain’s conservative commitment, Ms. Weathers said. Plus, her two years as a governor brings a different type of experience to the race, she said.
“She certainly has executive experience that (U.S. Sen. Barack) Obama (D-Ill.) doesn’t,” Ms. Weathers said.
But John Bailes, chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, cast doubts on Gov. Palin’s resume.
“She’s governing a population twice the size of Hamilton County,” he said.
Mr. Bailes said he was glad the pick is a woman, but that he’s not particularly impressed with Gov. Palin herself.
“I’m glad to see the Republicans are catching up with the Democrats after 24 years,” he said.
Former U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, D-N.Y., was the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate in 1984.
Nathan Smith, chairman of the Northwest Georgia Young Republicans Club, said Gov. Palin could bring in voters who supported the failed presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
“I think she’ll appeal to the young and the women who were excited about Hillary’s campaign,” he said.
Mr. Bailes disagreed.
“Hillary Clinton has always honored a woman’s right to choose, and this woman doesn’t,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said he is “pleasantly surprised” by Gov. Palin’s selection and that she adds youth and energy to Sen. McCain’s experience.
“I say all the time that our best candidates are our Republican moms, people who have compassion and understanding on some of the most important issues,” Rep. Wamp said.
Gov. Palin, 44, has five children, including a son born with Down syndrome in April.
Gov. Palin should help soothe over any concerns conservatives have with a ticket led by Sen. McCain, said Larry Sabato, who directs the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. Many conservatives were worried that Sen. McCain would choose an abortion rights advocate as a running mate, but Gov. Palin is an abortion opponent. But it’s too early to assess her impact as a female candidate, he said.
“This is a fascinating pick, and we’ll have to let the dust settle before we know what the public really thinks,” he said. “But few vice presidential nominees make much difference on Election Day.”
Phil Smartt, who supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s bid for president in the Republican primaries, said he was disappointed that Sen. McCain didn’t pick Gov. Romney. But he said he was satisfied with the selection of Gov. Palin.
“She’s a conservative,” he said. “She’s pro-life. She’s pro-gun. I think McCain was smart.”
Gov. Palin’s selection drew positive reviews from Republican Tennessee lawmakers, who called her a bold choice.
“Once again, Sen. McCain has shown the sort of creative leadership and independent thinking that will serve us well in the White House,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.
Robin Smith, chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party, said Gov. Palin is a genuine conservative and a welcome new face to national politics.
“Gov. Sarah Palin brings to the McCain ticket fresh leadership, with a record on reform, a pro-life record and the belief that domestic drilling is part of the all-of-the-above energy policy America needs,” Ms. Smith said in a statement.
Tennessee Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, also gave Gov. Palin its endorsement, calling her “an articulate pro-life woman.”
Share This...
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
del.icio.us
digg
Furl
YahooMyWeb
co.mments
Ma.gnolia
blogmarks
BlinkList
NewsVine
scuttle
Fark
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Publishing Company, Inc.
Comments
I'm not sure whether I'm more disappointed by McCain's choice or the Republican response. Will no one from the GOP come out and state the obvious: that John McCain is willing to place an unknown quantity a heartbeat away from the highest office in the land for the sake of political expediency? John McCain may be "experienced," but he's not young, and he's gambling with our country's future. It's absurd.
0 of 0 people found this comment useful.
Being an unknown is no disappointment for me. It's sort of hot. But Palin's dishonesty is a real worry. She is for "the bridge to nowhere" when it suits her as mayor, against it when it suits her as governor, but, on national television, acts like she was against it all along. She is seven months pregnant and doesn't tell her family. We've had eight years of lying politics. Does this country need more?
0 of 0 people found this comment useful.
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.