Comments on: Is Sarah Palin a “Victim” of Affirmative Action? http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Mon, 28 May 2012 21:59:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: D. E.Rodriguez http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155871 D. E.Rodriguez Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:33:43 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155871 Marlowecan says:<br><br>"Thatcher was, however, no Palin."<br><br>Amen! Marlowecan says:

“Thatcher was, however, no Palin.”

Amen!

]]> By: D. E.Rodriguez http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155867 D. E.Rodriguez Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:31:08 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155867 Marlowecan says:<br><br>"Thatcher was, however, no Palin"<br><br>Amen! Marlowecan says:

“Thatcher was, however, no Palin”

Amen!

]]> By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155818 DLS Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:04:43 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155818 Marlowecan -- back in the 1980s some of us were ready for a President Kirkpatrick. Marlowecan — back in the 1980s some of us were ready for a President Kirkpatrick.

]]> By: kritt11 http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155806 kritt11 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:41:48 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155806 Marlowe- You may be right--but the argument here is about affirmative action and hypocrisy. The GOP has traditionally opposed it yet, broke its own race and gender barriers with under or unqualified candidates.<br><br>If Palin were like Thatcher, I would argue against her positions --- not her lack of qualifications or ability. I'm sure Palin could have been a rising star in the party- but she was harvested too soon, and put in an impossible situation. Quite honestly, she reminds me of a better looking, female Forrest Gump! Marlowe- You may be right–but the argument here is about affirmative action and hypocrisy. The GOP has traditionally opposed it yet, broke its own race and gender barriers with under or unqualified candidates.

If Palin were like Thatcher, I would argue against her positions — not her lack of qualifications or ability. I'm sure Palin could have been a rising star in the party- but she was harvested too soon, and put in an impossible situation. Quite honestly, she reminds me of a better looking, female Forrest Gump!

]]> By: Marlowecan http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155765 Marlowecan Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:21:46 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155765 I am unsure about this argument, as I approach it from another context. <br><br>In the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher rose to power in a male-dominated Conservative party . . . and then over a very male-dominated country . . . purely by her own strength and determination.<br><br>She never benefitted from affirmative action in any way, shape or form. In fact, she did not care for it at all.<br><br>Ironically, feminists and the Left in Britain hated and despised her . . . and they do still . . . as much or more than Palin is hated and despised in the United States.<br><br>Thatcher was, however, no Palin. <br>She ate her critics for breakfast, and would kneecap any interviewer who dared condescend to her. <br>I can only imagine how she would have handled Charlie Gibson . . . looking down on her with his glasses perched on his nose . . . they would still be picking his entrails up off the studio floor.<br><br>I would argue . . . were Palin tough and smart and hard-core . . . an American Thatcher . . . she would be hated and despised much as she is now. <br><br>And perhaps more. I am unsure about this argument, as I approach it from another context.

In the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher rose to power in a male-dominated Conservative party . . . and then over a very male-dominated country . . . purely by her own strength and determination.

She never benefitted from affirmative action in any way, shape or form. In fact, she did not care for it at all.

Ironically, feminists and the Left in Britain hated and despised her . . . and they do still . . . as much or more than Palin is hated and despised in the United States.

Thatcher was, however, no Palin.
She ate her critics for breakfast, and would kneecap any interviewer who dared condescend to her.
I can only imagine how she would have handled Charlie Gibson . . . looking down on her with his glasses perched on his nose . . . they would still be picking his entrails up off the studio floor.

I would argue . . . were Palin tough and smart and hard-core . . . an American Thatcher . . . she would be hated and despised much as she is now.

And perhaps more.

]]> By: PattonGuy http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155754 PattonGuy Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:06:01 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155754 You know, the funny thing is that when Clarence Thomas was at the EEOC, he apparently praised affirmative action, saying that it had gotten him to where he was. Then he turns around later and says that affirmative action is stupid, or something to that effect. Of course, given the audience, that may have just been pandering to his underlings, but it is a bit awkward, yes? You know, the funny thing is that when Clarence Thomas was at the EEOC, he apparently praised affirmative action, saying that it had gotten him to where he was. Then he turns around later and says that affirmative action is stupid, or something to that effect. Of course, given the audience, that may have just been pandering to his underlings, but it is a bit awkward, yes?

]]> By: denisedh http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155753 denisedh Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:48:15 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155753 In my workplace, I have seen the negative effects of promoting an unqualified candidate to a position based on the need to promote diversity in the field. In the end, both the person in the position and the agency or company is hurt. <br>A major part of my job is selecting candidates for positions--trying to assess competence and fit for the position. My first reaction to Sarah Palin was that she wasn't ready for this promotion--she needed more mentoring and time to develop her views outside of state government--and that the current "interview" could ruin her career. Most people actually grow positively with experience and her home state would have been a more supportive atmosphere in which she could make her mistakes and learn from them. In my workplace, I have seen the negative effects of promoting an unqualified candidate to a position based on the need to promote diversity in the field. In the end, both the person in the position and the agency or company is hurt.
A major part of my job is selecting candidates for positions–trying to assess competence and fit for the position. My first reaction to Sarah Palin was that she wasn't ready for this promotion–she needed more mentoring and time to develop her views outside of state government–and that the current “interview” could ruin her career. Most people actually grow positively with experience and her home state would have been a more supportive atmosphere in which she could make her mistakes and learn from them.

]]> By: kritt11 http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155749 kritt11 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:38:22 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155749 Thanks, Dorian for a good analysis.<br><br>I made the affirmative action argument about Thomas on another website months ago- and the one about Palin on here today.<br><br>OK since I disagree with both Palin and Thomas on just about everything, I guess I'm a little biased. But the fact that both of them were put in high positions by prominent Republicans (who claim to oppose affirmative action) for which they were underqualified cannot be denied. <br><br>Yes, it is about time the GOP picked someone other than a white middle-aged male to run on the ticket-- but WilRobinson is absolutely correct when he says that there were much better choices out there. This is just a cynical and irresponsible pick. Thanks, Dorian for a good analysis.

I made the affirmative action argument about Thomas on another website months ago- and the one about Palin on here today.

OK since I disagree with both Palin and Thomas on just about everything, I guess I'm a little biased. But the fact that both of them were put in high positions by prominent Republicans (who claim to oppose affirmative action) for which they were underqualified cannot be denied.

Yes, it is about time the GOP picked someone other than a white middle-aged male to run on the ticket– but WilRobinson is absolutely correct when he says that there were much better choices out there. This is just a cynical and irresponsible pick.

]]> By: JSpencer http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155744 JSpencer Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:18:34 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155744 As was mentioned, Clarence Thomas benefited from affirmative action before he ever started railing against it. Forgive me if I see his anguish as less than genuine. The man is a Supreme Court Justice of the USA for crying out loud (whether or not he is a very good one is a separate discussion). As for Palin, my concerns never had anything to do with her gender; they have everything to do with the scant resume she brings to the position. I just watched her inability to name a single source she gets news from when asked by Katy Couric. I can only shake my head and wonder (for the hundredth time) what was McCain thinking? I mean what is so hard about naming a source one gets news from? Just one! Good grief... even Dan Quayle could have fielded that question. As was mentioned, Clarence Thomas benefited from affirmative action before he ever started railing against it. Forgive me if I see his anguish as less than genuine. The man is a Supreme Court Justice of the USA for crying out loud (whether or not he is a very good one is a separate discussion). As for Palin, my concerns never had anything to do with her gender; they have everything to do with the scant resume she brings to the position. I just watched her inability to name a single source she gets news from when asked by Katy Couric. I can only shake my head and wonder (for the hundredth time) what was McCain thinking? I mean what is so hard about naming a source one gets news from? Just one! Good grief… even Dan Quayle could have fielded that question.

]]> By: WilRobinson http://themoderatevoice.com/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/comment-page-1/#comment-155742 WilRobinson Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:03:36 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/affirmative-action/23089/is-sarah-palin-a-%e2%80%9cvictim%e2%80%9d-of-affirmative-action/#comment-155742 Seems to me Kay Bailey Hutchinson (sp?) would have been a much better, and wiser, choice if the ticket wanted to implement affirmative action.<br><br>Yet Palin may be doing a disservice to future women who want to run legitimately. <br><br><a href="http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/">http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/</a> Seems to me Kay Bailey Hutchinson (sp?) would have been a much better, and wiser, choice if the ticket wanted to implement affirmative action.

Yet Palin may be doing a disservice to future women who want to run legitimately.

http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/

]]>