Getting to know Palin

Denise Oppenhagen
Published: September 21, 2008

I’ve talked about this election off and on for several columns. Now, with a little more than six weeks, I would say we’re into the homestretch. And, unfortunately, I don’t like what I’m hearing. I was very
excited about this election — I like John McCain and although I am not as fond of Hillary Clinton as I am of Barack Obama, either one would have made history. But, the tide has changed. I have lost a lot
of respect for both candidates, more, however, for McCain.

John McCain used to be a maverick. He used to say what was on his mind and let the chip fall. He had respect for his opponents in both political parties and was a straight talker. But lately, he has taken
to attacking Obama for every little word he says and he says things that have already been proved as untrue. Pouncing on “lipstick” to say Obama was denigrating Sarah Palin? Oh, come on.

And there is Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, savior of the McCain campaign. There are a lot of women who are going to vote for Palin just because she is a woman. No woman who truly supported Hillary
Clinton would vote for Palin — their views are just too far apart. But if the only reason they voted for Hillary was to see a woman in office? Then they will cast a vote for Palin. And, to me, that’s as bad as
voting for a Republican just because he’s (or she’s) a Republican (or she) or voting for a Democrat just because he (or she) is a Democrat. It does nothing positive for the country and can, in some cases,
hurt the country.

I am also worried about how McCain is treating Palin. She is still off-limits to most of the press. She has had one interview and is planning another. But these are softball, get-to-know-you interviews, not
hard-hitting, Tim Russert political interviews. It is important for me to know how much Palin knows, how much she doesn’t know, and what her positions are. Why is that so important? Because John
McCain is an older man who has survived several cancer surgeries. What happens if he dies in office? We would get a President Palin. I need to know what’s going on in her head.

And can I trust her? At first, I was impressed by her willingness to let “Troopergate” go forward and get the story out in the open and solved. But now, McCain (or more specifically his campaign which is
acting under his orders) is trying to stifle the investigation. The campaign is sending lawyers to assist the governor’s counsel and are urging other not to participate. Why? Because the findings may
possibly come out right before the election. But if she’s as innocent as she claims, then there shouldn’t be a problem. By trying to hide behind the presidential race, Palin is just making herself look very
suspicious.

I am sad to say that I have become accustomed to politicians who distort the truth. This shows in my opinion of the “Bridge to Nowhere.” Instead of being justifiably indignant that Palin would stoop so low
as to tout this project as something she opposed when the record shows that she supported it until it became a negative political football, I sigh and wonder how far she will go to win this election. She
isn’t a reformer, a maverick, a fighter against Big Business and the status quo. She is the status quo. I’m sure in Alaska her activities and actions don’t raise eyebrows but she didn’t run on the platform
of a reformer then. She is running on that platform now and I want to know how she really is a reformer of government. We’re going to need someone strong who will come in, shake up the status quo
enough to get the economy going again.

Is Palin the person? Unfortunately, McCain’s handlers are doing a great job at keeping her where they want her. Is that what she calls breaking the glass ceiling? For the sake of women everywhere, I
hope not.

Denise Oppenhagen is a longtime resident of Prince William County and can be reached at .