The authors attempt to psycho-analyze the Right Wings' support of Palin underscores a major flaw in Feminist dogma, a view that strong and "liberated" women cannot deviate from established feminist dogma. How inconvenient!

The Palin paradox must really chap some feminist hides. After all, how can an objective feminist object to Palin without sounding hypocritical? (Even just a little?). Worst case? Palin is a conservative with a vagina and just might be VP. You know, that might not be all bad if your goal is to put a woman in the White House....without her having to marry into it.

The author is rationalizing, suggesting that nothing is really amiss, here; that its OK to rail against McCain/Palin because Palin and the party are actually well within the realm of Right Wing normalcy. Well, I hope that makes you all feel better, but I'm smirking because I suspect feminists are grinding their teeth, contemplating how to describe her as a turn-coat double-agent without exposing themselves. In essence, the Republicans and Palin stole the feminist "roar", if there is such a thing any more, because they pushed a woman farther up the political ladder than the Democrats. The Hillary cult must really be going crazy. Too funny.

That's just gotta suck, but dont worry about it. It's a win-win situation. If Barrack wins, you can chalk it up to the glass ceiling, go back to the old dogmatic whining about the Hillary bashing sexist media. All will be normal again. If McCain wins, you can celebrate a major achievement.

My wife, who is a centrist liberal, who may or may not be a "feminist" (I don't know what the word means) but believes that women should have equal access to opportunity, rather that "equal opportunity", equal pay and all the other egalitarian benefits, who left the work place to raise our two sons and then went on the volunteer-charity-beneift circuit until I retired does not hate Gov Palin. In fact, she admires what she's achieved

But, this is how she feels about the Gov's vice presidential selection by Sen McCain: "So McCain thinks he's going to get the female vote by 'throwing a bone to we women?'

"If anything will move Hillary's supporters and feminists into the Obama column, this will. We women do not like to be cynically patronized."

Well don't be so sure. Liberals are happy with McCains choice, because well... she's a fruit. They wouldn't vote for her anyway, so what is your point?

Cons are another story... feminist Coulter wannabes may (or may not) like her. Feminist conservatives will vote for her, because they just will. And of course this wasn't the point of topic, but the religious right women (if their husbands allow them to vote) will vote for her.

Barracuda? Permission for use aside, have you even read the lyrics to that song? WEIRDNESS...

Hillary supporters are not going to flock over to Palin... sorry. Hillary is way out of her league.

If your wife were in this discussion, I'd ask her why she views McCains choice as "throwing a bone to women". On the other hand, it does sound like she appreciates the good with the bad. She may be more common-sensical than other liberals. I understand that Palin isnt exactly what feminists or even "centrist liberals" might prefer. But she is a strong woman and she is clearly capable of achieving big things. Its got to be worth something to the feminist movement. I mean, what percentage of Governors are women? Mayors? VPs? Yet the Left appears more interested in proving that Palin is actually a man or that she has been brainwashed by old white men and that she actually will be under McCains desk like Monica was. Their movement might be better served by giving some credit where credit is due. BTW..I'd also ask your wife if she recognizes that the Left is as condescending and cynically patronizing as anything Palin has demonstrated. Has your wife ever referred to a right-winger as a neanderthal, or done that little laugh while she suggests how "stupid" G.W. and the conservatives are? My entire point is that women and the feminist movement have won the war and just dont realize it. Their battle lines are no longer drawn at "barefoot and pregnant", but at "better qualified for President or VP". Hello???? The fact that Palin has a vagina may be getting lost in the feminists or centrist liberals attempts to prove she doesnt actually enable the feminist cause.

"We women" do not all march to the same tune. Visit some PUMA websites and you will see unbridled support for Governor Palin from Hillary supporters.

I am an independent voter who joined Obama's camp early on. I was starting to get over my crush right around the time that McCain chose Governor Palin. Her independent nature won me over. I don't agree with her on very many issues but I have read up on her and I admire her character, her self-relient history and her family loyalty.

Thanks. I expected somebody to rip on me, but you and the other guy invigorate my faith in individualism. Im glad to know there are still some independent thinkers out there.

Not everyone who calls herself a liberal or a feminist 'hates' Palin, though many of us might not be able to stomach what she proposes. I do admire her energy, ambition, and achievements. I've been extremely angry (and have posted on the Fray to that effect) with those who call themselves feminists and then question her judgment b/c they disagree with her personal family decisions...particularly not putting her motherhood ahead of her career.

But I still cannot cast my vote for a candidate or a party (regardless of gender) who stands for the most un-American principles that have recently permeated our politics. She stands for obtrusive government telling you how to plan your family and run your body without any compassionate concern for how you might not be able to live up to her picture of family-life without some support. She stands for plundering our nation's greatest assets...untouched lands where ecosystems we don't even understand continue to thrive. She stands for violating our constitutional rights by allowing the Federal government to imprison *American citizens* without charges or trial (I was impressed with the early part of her speech but had to turn off the TV when she decided to make defending civil liberties the butt of a joke). She stands for taking federal tax dollars from hard-working Americans around the country and funnelling them first into her small town and then her low-population state. And she stands for equating those who love everything our country was founded upon with terrorists for asking that we live up to the responsibilities that come along with the gift of freedom our Founders fought for. I'm a feminist and I don't know Gov. Palin so I can't personally hate her. But I can despise the policies she stands for.

I can't believe I left out the most important...violating the 1st amendment by allowing God to guide her policy decisions.

Isnt it interesting how the debate regarding Palin shifts to policy choices and away from feminist issues? I love it. We are moving away from sweeping movement dictated dogma toward true individual opinions....informed and personal decisions regarding a "candidate". Now if only we could get the corporations and the military out of the debate, we would have a democracy again.

JayMM:

The authors attempt to psycho-analyze the Right Wings' support of Palin underscores a major flaw in Feminist dogma, a view that strong and "liberated" women cannot deviate from established feminist dogma. How inconvenient!

He's right.

Establishment feminists arn't out for women, they're out for liberal democratic women.

Apparently you don't get it's about position, ideals, and issues. NOT RACE NOT GENDER. PERIOD.

Feminists and liberals hate her because she's a radical conservative, no more no less. DEAL WITH IT.

"So McCain thinks he's going to get the female vote by 'throwing a bone to we women?'

For Gods sake, if you're going to write at least get the grammar correct. It's "throwing a bone to "us" women", not "we" women. We is NEVER the object and us is never the subject. Didn't you learn this in grade school like I did??

This is as bad as all the public figures, TV and radio personalities, and newpeople who continue to us "I" as the object when it should be "me".

Do you live in a glass house?

How do you "us I"?

,,,I'd suspect that it's because McCain didn't pick a qualified woman. There are qualified women candidates out there, after all. But McCain decided to pick a younger photogenic 'just folks' female to help him get elected rather than an experienced female politician to help govern. That's no different than a boss passing over the qualified female candidates to give a promotion to the new secretary with the great legs--because she has great legs.

And McCain hasn't picked a feminist in Palin: she voided her claim to the label when she embraced the position that women as a class can't be trusted to make their own decisions regarding terminating a pregnancy.