With the presidential race right around the corner, my mind is consumed with politics right now. In fact, the race is so close in Florida, that I decided I am going over to help out at the local McCain/Palin victory office tomorrow. That's something I haven't done in a long time. But I feel strongly about this race, and win or lose, at least I can say I contributed. I am enthusiastic about the ticket, especially since Sarah Palin joined it. I respect and admire John McCain for his strong leadership and service to our country. I would have voted for him regardless, but I am delighted by Palin, who is a powerful voice for the silent majority of conservatives in this country.
Most people have a strong opinion about VP pick Sarah Palin. It was a brilliant pick; it was a ridiculous pick. She's too inexperienced; she's more experienced than Obama. She is a conservative nutcase; she if finally the conservative we have been waiting for. Then there's all the political "stuff" that always goes along with candidates. The supposed flaws like "Troopergate", the "Bridge to Nowhere", etc. Personally, I don't care if she changed her mind on the "bridge" (what politician doesn't?), and I can forgive her either way on "Troopergate".
You see, Sarah Palin doesn't have to "prove" she has integrity; her life choices already reflect it! Consider this: Palin came from a working class family. She married a blue-collar worker, and lived a modest lifestyle before landing her six-figure job as state energy commissioner. Palin knew that blowing the whistle on the corrupt Republican governor was certainly not the way to advance her career, but she did it anyway. She then went on to resign from her position, knowing she might never work in politics again. She did the right thing, the sacrificial thing, when she could have done the easy thing. THAT, ladies and gentleman, is integrity.
Palin proved her character, once again, during her recent pregnancy. Put yourself in her position: You are 43 years old. You are in a fairly new position as busy governor. You already have four kids, and end up pregnant with a fifth, which may or may not have been planned. Then you find out the baby has Downs Syndrome. (Almost all babies with Downs are aborted, by the way.) Suddenly, you are faced with a situation you probably never expected to be in; a situation that will test your convictions to see if actually do what you say you believe. Once again, Sarah Palin took the high road. How much easier would it have been to have a "secret abortion"? How much "easier" might it have been to drive her daughter, Bristol, to an abortion clinic instead of having a baby at seventeen? Instead of facing the gossip and challenges that were sure to come? Sarah Palin lives out her faith. No matter what anyone may think of her being a working mother, and toting her little ones to work, one thing is for sure: she clearly does not view children as a mere inconvenience and her beliefs as "negotiable depending on my personal situation".
Palin's integrity goes far for me, but there are other reasons I am enthusiastic her. Inexperienced? Yes . . . compared to, say, John McCain. Palin humbly refers to herself as "just a hockey mom", but make no mistake about it, her success is NOT by mere chance. She's ambitious, she's a fighter. She has an incredible amount of tenacity and perseverance. What kind of person runs for governor, without the support of her own party, but as a one woman show, and wins? Furthermore, she is a proven multi-tasker. I admire any woman who can raise 5 children, hold down the fort at home when her husband is gone, and still be a successful governor. Heck, I can't even tie my shoes and my son's shoes at the same time. Amazing.
Furthermore, I think that Palin has, thus far, done a fair job of handling herself in the face of her critics. She is articulate, intelligent, and real. She holds to her beliefs and convictions, yet she does so with the diplomacy. She's not just about herself and her political agenda, but she cares about the people she represents. That's why she is able to work across party lines, and why she has an 80% approval rating in Alaska. And even in all of her "inexperience", her faith will continue to be her guiding force. I'll take Palin -- a heartbeat from the presidency with God by her side -- than Obama, our next president, arrogantly relying on himself any day!
For more on Governor Sarah Palin, visit www.christians4palin.blogspot.com
