The Selling of America for Ambition

McCain's Mockery of Women
by

Kathleen Reardon
Professor of management at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

I don't know Sarah Palin. Who does? They've kept her away from the press. And we see from her interview with Katie Couric that they did so with good reason. She is confident. That's about it in terms of readiness to be vice president.

With all the competent women available, John McCain chose someone as a running mate who thinks Putin is hovering over Alaskan air space or some such nonsense when he "rears his head" and, I guess, goes for a spin.

Sarah Palin's candidacy for vice president is a mockery of women. It's beyond insulting. It's not that we can't weather this, but it shows us how little John McCain thinks of women. He is using Palin -- plain and simple.

There aren't enough days in the week, weeks in a month, months in a year to get Sarah Palin up to speed. McCain knew this. In fact, it's reasonable to believe that he didn't properly vet her because he wanted to know as little as possible.

For once feminist angst is a good thing. I'm angry! This is a base use of a woman, not for her experience, character, intellect, years of public service or other substantive qualities and achievements, but because she can be packaged to attract attention. She's a curiosity - a novelty. She's a woman of mystery only in the sense that we see so little of her.

Maybe Barack should start telling the press Joe isn't available. When reporters arrive tomorrow morning, he should say, "Joe isn't ready today. Maybe tomorrow. Thank you for coming."

I could be wrong, but it shouldn't take long for a lot of women to resent McCain's little game being played at far more than Palin's expense.