Fred Martinez's Monitor

Were Obama and Supporters Sexist Against Hillary and now Palin?

US elections: Laura Bush defends Sarah Palin against sexist attacks

Laura Bush has rallied to the defence of Sarah Palin, John McCain’s presidential running mate, warning that Democratic attacks on the governor of Alaska could backfire.

By Tim Shipman in St Paul
Last Updated: 9:42AM BST 02 Sep 2008


Sarah Palin with her daughters, Bristol [left], Piper and Willow Photo: AP
The First Lady said that supporters of Barack Obama would risk charges of sexism if they continue to launch personal attacks on Mrs Palin.

Mrs Bush spoke out on the first day of the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota, curtailed by the threat of Hurricane Gustav and dominated by the revelation that Mrs Palin’s 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant.

The revelation provoked a firestorm of criticism and salacious coverage of the onetime hockey mum and gun enthusiast, who has become the hottest property in US politics.

“The other side will have to be particularly careful,” the First Lady said. Asked if the noisy reaction to the story is evidence of sexism in the American media, which Hillary Clinton claimed to have identified during her battle with Mr Obama, Mrs Bush said: “I think that's a possibility.”

She expressed pride in Mr McCain’s controversial pick: “I'm going to get what I wanted, which is to be able to vote for a Republican woman.

“People, as they get to know her, are going to be so impressed with her grit and her sensible judgment. She has shown how terrific women can be, and how strong women can be, in office.”

Coverage of Mrs Palin’s selection has betrayed incredulity from much of the US media, who failed to predict her nomination. One CNN anchorman questioned whether Mrs Palin would have time to be vice president when she is caring for a five month old child of her own with Down syndrome.

Democratic activists and bloggers are pushing the line that Mrs Palin had not been properly vetted by Mr McCain’s team.

Mrs Palin and her husband Todd issued a statement yesterday about their daughter’s pregnancy in response to claims on the internet that Bristol was in fact the mother of Mrs Palin’s own infant son.

Mr Obama, campaigning in Michigan, denied any responsibility for the claims and indicated that he agrees with Mrs Bush that his campaign must be careful in how they tackle Mrs Palin.

Vowing to sack any member of his staff found spreading the false rumour, her said: “Let me be as clear as possible. I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president.”

He urged reporters to “back off these kinds of stories”, pointing out that he was born to an 18-year-old mother.

“How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that's off-limits.”
[http://www.worthynews.com/news/telegraph-co-uk-news-newstopics-uselection2008-johnmccain-2666038-US-elections-Laura-Bush-defends-Sarah-Palin-against-sexist-attacks-html/]

posted by Fred Martinez @ 8:24 PM