Womenomics
ABC News' Claire Shipman and the BBC's Katty Kay on women, work and what it really means to "have it all."
Claire Shipman is Good Morning America's Senior National Correspondent. She covers everything from politics to international affairs to family issues.
Katty Kay covers American politics and society for the BBC. She can be seen in the US on BBC America.
Claire and Katty have a new book called Womenomics. For more information visit the web site www.womenomics.com
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Set Sarah free...
September 30, 2008 5:47 PM
There's a new movement sweeping the land that worries me, not because of it's party politics but because of it's gender politics.
As Governor Palin tumbles in polls, fumbles in interviews and hides in Sedona, her supporters are mounting an aggressive counter charge to "Free Sarah." Their argument is that she's underperforming because the campaign is stuffing her head with numbers and policies rather than letting her be herself. What the people want is every woman, not every wonk, they argue. And undoubtedly Ms Palin is at her most politically powerful when she is the unaffected, unbowed hockey mom who resonates so forcefully in small town and rural America.
But is that the woman who's right for these times? In those painful interviews with Katie Couric Governor Palin may have been trying to master too many new facts but she also revealed herself as someone who is not conversant on a range of very serious issues. That too is the real Sarah Palin - it is as much a part of her as her winning personality.
Isn't this another facet of that insidious sexism argument. It used to be that anyone who criticised Governor Palin was sexist. And now the idea that her appealing personality would be enough to make up for lack of experience is also sexist.
Free Sarah misses the point. Even a free Sarah still needs experience.
September 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (45)
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Yeh, really. She's dumb, and we don't need any more of that right now.
Posted by: hang | Sep 30, 2008 5:55:39 PM
Cut Sarah loose - send her back to Alaska.
Posted by: Ed from MA | Sep 30, 2008 5:58:25 PM
Free Sarah misses the point. Even a free Sarah still needs experience.
Could not have said it better!!!
Posted by: becky | Sep 30, 2008 5:58:53 PM
I think some women are feeling that Palin is embarrassing them. Even many who want her to lose don't want her to embarrass herself or their gender.
She's not dumb, she just doesnt have the experience or knowledge base to come across well. As a former McCain supporter, I certainly don't want her in the WH. The idea terrifies me.
Posted by: memyself | Sep 30, 2008 5:58:53 PM
No really, she can stay! McCain needs her..... what a couple of Empty suites. But you never know, she might just be playing dumb waiting for the debates... then POW... Never know....
Posted by: becky | Sep 30, 2008 6:01:18 PM
Free Sarah! Yea, she needs to go back to Alaska before she has no political career at all. Too bad the McCain camp doesn't value human life. Would rather kill her than free her.
Posted by: William | Sep 30, 2008 6:07:11 PM
What I find amazing was that SNL didn't have to write a funny sketch, they used her own words straight from the Curic interview to ridicule her. Her own words.
Posted by: JR | Sep 30, 2008 6:07:39 PM
common sense always says to vote for the conservative in the race. she has common sense and i will vote for her. dont let the media fool you.
Posted by: tim | Sep 30, 2008 6:08:35 PM
If anybody is telling that Sarah Palin is dumb, then it is John McCain Campaign. They are hiding her and not allowing to talk with anybody.
Posted by: Sri | Sep 30, 2008 6:08:43 PM
What is so depressing about Sarah Palin is not only is she incompetent, she is overconfident too. She doesn't know what the hell she is doing, but she brazenly believes that she does.
Posted by: sylvie2566 | Sep 30, 2008 6:08:55 PM
You tell em ladies, everyone knows that to qualify as a vp you must and foremost be; 1: A washington insider, 2: Be a Doctor, Lawyer or Indian Chief, 3: Have close friends with many roman numerals after the name. 4: Graduate from a nice North Eastern College. 5: Have no scrupples and be the biggest BS'er that has ever walked.
Posted by: david | Sep 30, 2008 6:11:49 PM
Sarah is dumb and MCain is an idiot, Sarah does not know a lot because her IQ is low and that is reflected in her college life. So what to do is the question. Women should understand that not every woman is a Hillary Clinton, or a Laura Bush, a Nancy Polosi, etc. They should not feel sorry for Sarah, she has yes to a job which is above her qualifications and learning capability.
Posted by: BKMC | Sep 30, 2008 6:12:54 PM
i still dont understand how anyone sits and talks about palins lack of experience and then turns to barack obama like he has any more?! just ridiculous.
Posted by: tim | Sep 30, 2008 6:13:01 PM
apparently now you have to go to college to be smart... lol
Posted by: tim | Sep 30, 2008 6:14:04 PM
It's not just supporters who want to free Sarah. I want this unqualified person to keep opening her mouth and emitting gibberish. She's a gift to the Obama campaign.
Posted by: Leah | Sep 30, 2008 6:23:23 PM
At this point, she is the one I trust. You don't hear her name taking money from Fannie and Freddie, like Chris Dodd and Barack etc. etc. I think she will surround herself when in office with very smart, honest people. Go Sarah....Get off her back.
Posted by: Judy | Sep 30, 2008 6:27:00 PM
Can't the press get anything right? Senator McCain's home is in Cornville, AZ., not Sedona, AZ.
Posted by: ridus | Sep 30, 2008 6:28:56 PM
Isn't this another facet of that insidious rac-ism argument. It used to be that anyone who criticised Senator Obama was race-ist. And now the idea that his appealing personality would be enough to make up for lack of experience is also race-ist.
...... McCain-Palin '08
Posted by: Cassandra Washington | Sep 30, 2008 6:30:46 PM
Sarah Palin:
1. 6 colleges in 5 years.
2. Used the word "rhetorical" when she meant "hypothetical."
3. Used the word "verbiage" when she meant "diction."
4. Tried to use the word "caricature" when talking to Couric, but clearly didn't know if it was the right word - Couric supplied the word "mock" and Sarah the vocab whiz agreed.
5. Believes that dinosaurs and humans existed at the same time.
6. Believes that global warming is not man-made -AND THAT'S DANGEROUS.
7. Believes that the Iraq war is a mission sent by God.
8. Apparently has rather open views on book-banning.
Posted by: jon in maryland | Sep 30, 2008 6:33:42 PM
I fell sorry for her McCain used her and she will pay for it.He is the one who made the mistake and she was dumb enought to think she could pull this off.
Posted by: indp voter | Sep 30, 2008 6:33:50 PM
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