From every political standpoint, I’m strongly in favor of the McCain-Palin ticket. As a mom, I had some questions.
I have nothing against women being in politics. Just as I have nothing against voting for an African-American. In fact, if it weren’t for Obama’s political stands (and lack thereof), I would be thrilled to see this nation be grown up enough to go color blind and elect him as president. As it is, if we are to vote based upon the candidate’s gender or color of skin, I’d prefer Condoleezza Rice or Alan Keyes.
No, I have nothing against women being in politics. But I did wonder how a mom has time to fulfill all her political responsibilities.
Yet it would seem that Mrs. Palin has done a superb job of governing the largest state in the Union. And she has not taken the easy way out when it comes to her family, either. She not only chose life in the face of a difficult pregnancy that could have greatly affected her career; she is standing by her daughter who is an expectant mom herself. Her daughter whose un-wed pregnancy makes the national news nearly every time her mom is mentioned.
Being a wife and mom is a full-time job. But that doesn’t mean a mom has no time for anything else. It just means she has to keep her priorities straight. And for some, that’s a more delicate balancing act than others.
I’m glad every nitty gritty detail of my family is not being played on the national news. I wouldn’t want them to peek in my house and see all the dust, either. But the dust is often there because I do work part-time. And when I’m home, cooking dinner, playing with my daughter, and resting in my husband’s arms is more important than that dust.
My vote will be cast for the McCain-Palin ticket not just because I think Mrs. Palin will keep Senator McCain on his toes. I’ll be voting for Sarah Palin because I believe she has the level head and firm convictions to be vice president without letting husband, family, or country go by the wayside.
So when I’m up in the middle of the night cuddling a sick baby, I pray for Mrs. Palin and her family. I believe the Lord may have called her “for such a time as this.” I pray He grants her wisdom and strength for the task of being wife, mommy, and vice president.
23 Comments
Thank you for this great post, Gretchen! It’s quite refreshing to read, especially when so many others (homeschoolers especially) do not approve of her. Some women in the Bible were leaders too! The Lord calls us all to different things. I am so grateful for Governor Palin ~ she is getting my vote whole-heartedly!
Great post!
Thank you, Gretchen. I appreciate your thoughts on Mrs. Palin. I also had some questions on how she would manage being a mom and vice president. Thank you for helping to clear some of that up.
A faithful reader of YLCF, but new to leaving comments,
Ruth
Balanced and hopeful. A beautiful post. Thank you.
We are all indescribably excited about Palin over here. Wow! She is truly something. Her speech last night was amazing.
I see some touches of Reagan in her. She’s so real… their baby son and their strong love for him means a lot to us, as we have our own little special needs boy.
She’s so committed. She doesn’t care what people say about her, and goodness knows she’s already received a lot of nastiness directed towards her and her family… she’s willing to take the blows, because she stands for what she believes in. She doesn’t back down or concede to win popularity… she’s strong.
She’s just so genuine! ‘The real deal,’ as you might say. We’re so very, very excited.
And before I run off to do the dishes, let me echo Jaimee and thank you, Gretchen, for your post. Many people in the circles I move in are wondering if she can be a wife, mother, and vice president. Well, I have no doubt that she and her husband pondered the same question long before the present doubters even knew her name. I have no doubt they thought about it long and hard, and figured out how they would make it work. They made their decision, and now she has my support and prayers.
I totally agree! McCain made an excellent choice for VP and now I feel like I can vote for him instead of voting against Obama – great post!
Amen! As a Canadian living in a border town (Windsor Ontario/Detroit Michigan) I follow American Politics almost as closely as I follow Canadian. If I were an American my vote would go to McCain and Palin too! May God bless them both!!!
Thank you so much for this hopeful and positive post. I’m disappointed in some conservative Christian leaders who do not approve of Mrs. Palin solely because she is a women. But frankly, the most important issue to me is abortion, and here is the perfect champion of that. It’s easy for men to talk about the evils of abortion…here is someone who lives it out. She has been pregnant five times, once with an infant who she knew would be severely handicapped (a knowledge that leads many to abort) and she stood firm. She walks her talk.
God calls us all to different things. This is where He has Sarah Palin. If we can’t support her in that…maybe we don’t understand God’s plan for women (women like Rice and Palin and Deborah from the OT) as well as we think we do.
~Keely
I really appreciated your balance, bibilical view and wisdom in this article. I know this is a controversial subject, so I thank you for putting yourself out there.
Thanks Gretchen! I have to agree with about Mrs. Palin, even though I can’t vote (not old enough yet) I would vote for McCain/Palin if I could, thanks again for the post! I’m sharing it.:^)
Kally
Thank you gretchen! I have been bombarded with aquaintances who proclaimed her a feminist, and a woman un-fit to be a mother. One person even went so far as to say women should not be allowed to vote until they are married, and then only for who their husband’s want them to vote for. I realize it’s not a perfect situation, but we live in a fallen world. Sitting on our hands will get us nowhere. Thank you for this excellent post!
I’m curious what scriptural backing you find to support women in politics (besides Deborah, of course)?
What a fantastic view on this subject, thanks so much!
Interesting. I agree that “God calls women to different things” but I am still reluctant to accept that a woman can put in *more* than full-time work hours outside the home and not somehow be neglecting her role as wife and mother inside the home…
Cindy Easley had a good segment on submission on PrimeTime America yesterday, and related it to Sarah Palin. Listen here: http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramDetail.aspx?id=25656
Sarah Palin brings hope to the election and the country. I’m excited to cast my vote for her and McCain. I would undoubtedly rather have a women with good principles for vice than a man with questionable ones.
Thank you for your well thought out position! I am disappointed by those who would, in effect, be voting for socialism/Marxism in the form of Obama by their choosing not to vote at all, rather than support Sarah Palin. I see a tiny glimmer of hope with this ticket; who am I to decide how much is too much for her to handle? That is between her and God. Many seem to be using Isaiah 3:12 (“…children are their oppressors, and women rule over them…”) to say that a woman cannot be involved in government, yet, as Believers, we are not “spiritual Israel”; the same blessings and curses don’t always apply to us. God may be very well be using Sarah Palin for a great purpose! I too have thought that she may be on the political scene “for such a time as this.”
Thanks again for your thoughts on this topic!
I am not from America, and therefore will not be voting in their election, however I would like to say how much I admire Sarah Palin. I am the sister of a wonderful, intelligent young man, who loves God and is training to go into ministry. He happens to have cerebral palsy. With the current view of abortion and people with disabilities, many people would choose to have aborted my brother 21 years ago (my mother is very opposed to abortion, and we didn’t actually know until he was born, but if it had been another mother who didnt know…)
Having someone in power who opposes abortion and clearly values the right of people wiht disabilities can only be a good thing….
Gretchen–
I agree. I, as several commentors, have been very disappointed at the vicious attacks on her, some even by Christian bloggers that I respect. I saw a bio on her last night on Fox, in which she and her husband talked about how they balance out their family life, and I was very impressed. This is obviously something they have thought and prayed about, and found a balance that works for their family.
I was delighted that McCain chose someone whose values mirror mine. I am much more hopeful about this election now. McCain/Palin will have my vote in Nov.
Thank you for your balanced, thoughtful commentary.
http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2008/09/4331.aspx
It is not right for a woman and a mother to be in the position to lead a country, much less a country that claims to be God-fearing like ours.
She is a very accomplished woman, beautiful, poised, talented, and caring. That is not the point.
I already commented but I wanted to mention that I linked to your article on the Sisters Keepers blog I write, along with some other articles on Sarah Palin that I really liked…I hope that’s OK, Gretchen!
I agree that she is probably a nice woman – maybe even a Christian. But I think the question of Biblical support for female leadership is a good one. “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” Also, it is true that she is a member of “Feminist for Life” – feminists who support abortion, but who are nevertheless feminists. Please don’t take this as an attack on her or on anyone who supports her. My desire is to follow the Bible.
When I saw the words “Sarah Palin” at the top of this post, I braced myself for another attack on how women cannot be in politics, how Ms. Palin is an abomination, how the end of the world is nigh. What a pleasant surprise to read a positive post on her family/work balance and one that is excited about the choice on McCain’s team. Thanks for your thoughts!