Newsweek and the Palin Problem

No matter which way you lean politically, this Newsweek article by Jon Meacham does a thorough job of explaining why so many Americans would have a problem with a Palin Vice Presidency. Meacham quotes Palin saying to a Radio talk show host,

"You know what? It's time that normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency.' I think that that's kind of taken some people off guard, and they're out of sorts, and they're ticked off about it, but it's motivation for John McCain and I to work that much harder to make sure that our ticket is victorious, and we put government back on the side of the people of Joe Six-Pack like me, and we start doing those things that are expected of our government..."

Joe Six-Pack? Call me crazy, or a stodgy academic stuck in an ivory tower, but Joe Six-Pack? The stereotypical archetype that conjures an image of an uninformed, Budweiser drinking, truck driving, Ivy-League-college-education-resenting "average" American.

Who are we (we being anyone) to say who the Average American is? America is a huge country in terms of land mass, political, religious, and cultural diversity. "Joe Six-Pack" represents a portion of America. Not Average. Not Real. There is no more authenticity to what Joe Six-Pack says than what the Dean of Columbia says.

A candidate should be able to relate to Joe Six-Pack, just as they should be able to relate to college students, single parents, and CEOs. Empathy is something that a President needs, but it is not the only thing. The President must, in times of crisis, be able to inspire a nation, and take the reigns and lead. They must have the political experience to know what America, as a whole, needs. As Meacham writes, "Would we muddle through if Palin were to become president? Yes, we would, but it is worth asking whether we should have to." Do we want a President who is learning as they go with a strong base of informed politics, or do we want someone who only had a vague idea of the Vice Presidential duties slightly over two months ago?

As Meacham stresses, this issue is not related to class. Intellectual curiosity, extraordinary achievements (especially from someone from a humble background), and the power to lead. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It's the American dream. But, when does the Average American realize that they need a President who understands the issues in a well-balanced and well-rounded manner, rather than being a "deft crammer" who is "not going to pore over briefing books and charts and white papers and reports for hours and hours."

Palin could make an excellent foil to John McCain, and could, presumably, be a good Vice President. But, two major questions arise:

1) What if something happened to McCain?

2) Is Palin the best choice for the first woman in the second highest office in the land?

McCain is old and in poor health. There's no putting it lightly. Were he to be elected, he would be 76 by the end of his first term. Already, this is a serious issue that puts his Vice Presidential pick under closer scrutiny. Is Palin ready to be America's first female Vice President, let alone President? Winking, blowing kisses, stumbling over the issues, cramming like a B- average college college student. Are those qualities that Americans want associated with a female in power? Using her femininity and her folksy and cutesy mannerisms to charm people into thinking that she has the power to lead is disingenuous and, in my opinion, sets the feminist movement back 30 years. Please, Ms. Palin, shape up if you want people to think that you can lead.