Governor Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech: Reactions!!!

Ok when I first started blogging, I said I wouldn't blog about controversial things like celebrity gossip & politics, but I've been following the upcoming presidential election and the news closely and after listening to Governor Sarah Palin's acceptance speech during the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, I just have to VENT!! And I'm anxious to see if it's just me or if there are others that were just as irritated and frustrated and offended as I was.

First off just let me say that watching the RNC as a Black American I felt underrepresented. I could be wrong, but I only recall two Black faces in the audience (not including the performers). Listening to all the Republican speakers, I felt non-existent. It was as if Blacks in this country do not count. Republicans definitely do not feel the need to appeal to minority voters. It's a statistical fact that in the future White Americans will be considered a minority. Hispanic and minority populations and popularity are growing at an astronomical rate. Whether we like it or not, as a country we need to change and will HAVE to embrace, acknowledge and include minorities.

I haven't heard anyone in the media mention the subliminal messages sent in Hukabee's and Gulianies speeches, but I heard them. Things like implying we ought to be thankful for our freedom. We're lucky to have freedom? - sure to be 'politically correct' he tried to cover it up by saying freedom from war but we know what he meant and so did the applauding crowd - (so Black people I guess we're LUCKY not to be slaves anymore!)....not needing anyone to help pull them up in life (in other words no welfare or government programs to assist poor or working middle class families)....... and a cheering crowd for all the historical leaders as their photos flashed on the screen except Martin Luther king Jr. Watching this made me feel like we're still in the days of fighting for equal rights! It's really sad that no matter how far we've come, unfortunately, there's a group of White racist, conservative individuals who believe they are and forever will be superior to us. Everyone wants to tip toe around the subject of race being a factor in the presidential election, but it is definitely and issue whether we say it or not. And unfortunately there are White people who will never vote for a Black president no matter what he says or what he does and will defend any White person that runs against that Black person no matter what.

We see it happening now. Before she even took the stage, we found out that Governor Sarah Palin:

1. Is under federal indictment for Abuse of Power.

Now we all now if Senator Obama had any legal troubles, even as much as a traffic violation, the media and Republicans would blow the entire ordeal out of proportion and definitely would not sweep it under the rug as they are for Governor Palin.

2. Has a 17 year old daughter who's 5 months pregnant.

Now this is a sensitive issue. While I do believe and agree that teenage pregnancy is a personal, private family matter, unfortunately pregnancy becomes a public issue as your belly grows and I know that if Obama and his family had similar circumstances, it would not be made light of, or down played, excused or swept under the rug. And beyond that, she put her daughter and family out there. Even after the McCain camp stated that this was a private issue, she made the decision to bring the daughter's 'baby daddy' to the RNC and introduced him to the world.
Poor Levi. She's lucky I'm not his mom! I would encourage my son to be a responsible and loving father but there's no way I'd allow my 17 year old son to marry his pregnant teenage girlfriend for the sake of her mom's political career! There isn't enough money or political power to make me to that to my baby. And yes I am the proud mother of a son. He's only 8, but I can imagine how that boy's mother must feel.

3. Has only gone out of this country a minimal amount of times (is it once or twice?)

I've had a passport since that age of 22 (almost 10 years) and am well traveled. I would expect that the Vice President of the US would be well traveled and well versed in foreign affairs and issues. Wouldn't you?

4. As Governor she has only handled a max of 50 employees at and a yearly budget of 12 million.

While Obama's managed 3 times her budget in a month and thousands of employees! But according to them she's got more experience?

7. While she speaks on behalf of special needs children, it's a fact that she cut budgets for special needs by 62% since she's been in office.

Well she didn't have a child with special needs then, need I say more?

8. Her husband was convicted of DWI and he was part of a movement for Alaska to gain independence from the United States.

It's hard for working class Americans to obtain employment after DWI and other convictions. But I guess the the same rules don't apply when your wife was the Mayor of your town and now the Governor of your state or when your Dad is the President of the United States!

All of these issues have been 'excused' by the Republican Party and it's supporters. Do you think they would've done the same for one of us?

My answer is not no but Heck NO! Just starting at the bottom, it sounds to me like she only cares about issues once it effects her life. Now since she has a special needs child, she's supportive. She has health care for her family, so guess what? Lack of health care for Americans doesn't effect her or her wealthy counterparts. But it does effect 40 million Americans! I wonder what her stance would've been on abortion if her daughter decided to terminate her pregnancy? Well we would've never known, because that would've been yet another skeleton in her family closet. I don't like to judge or beat up on public figures. My heart really goes out to people in the public eye. I feel bad that they're not allowed to have private lives, but in this case the Governor put these things out there and character may not be a relevant issue to the music I listen to or what movies I watch, but I believe it's relevant when who comes to the next presidential duo of my country.

Gov. Palin started off by stating how her family has the same challenges and and joys as everyone else. I'm taking that as a way to justify the normalcy of Bristol's relationship and teenage pregnancy. I know I sound like a broken record, but if it was a Black politician and his/her family with a teenage daughter who is pregnant, NO way would they excuse it. And another thing about teenage pregnancy, I fell like by glorifying this situation and excusing it, you're almost sending a message to our teens that it's ok. First Jamie Lynn Spears (who the media and conservatives destroyed for being pregnant and engaged at 16), now our own VP elect's daughter?! Our same VP elect who took a stand against sex education in schools and believes in teaching abstinence and not prevention. Need I point out that abstinence teaching didn't work in her own home, so how would she expect any other confused, hormonal teenagers to listen?!! And how does she say sex before marriage is wrong when she's publicly embraced Bristol and Levi which again is sending a message to teens that it will be ok?!!

How dare she belittle Obama's service to the community. Are you kidding, here we have a Harvard Law graduate who refused top paying 6-figure positions to go back to the community and be of service to the people. Did I hear her call him ELITE? For real? Well sweetie, If you're for helping the American people that's where you need to be. In the community. With the people. The real average American everyday poor working and middle class communities. What good are you in office if you really can't relate to everyday problems, concerns, and needs of Americans? How can you promote change if you can't relate? Can McCain relate? When your wife is an heir to an Anheuser-Busch fortune, I think not!

Well we heard a lot and saw a lot of sarcasm and arrogance last night. Sure she appealed to the Republican die hards, who would endorse just about anyone up against a the possibility of the first Black American President. But I didn't hear anything that answers the difficult questions:

1. What will they do different than the Bush administration?
2. What will they do about Health Care issues?
3. What about education on all levels (elementary - collage)? And the rising cost of a college education?
4. What about economic issues for working, middle class Americans?
5. What about minority issues? or even minorities? Do they know we live her too?
6. What about social security? retirement? disability?
7. What about the real estate and foreclosure crises?
8. What about the unemployment rate?
9. What about New Orleans?

Speaking of New Orleans...I live there and had to evacuate myself. Still haven't returned home, I've spent this time in Atlanta with my family glued to CNN. Now as the wife of a professional athlete, my situation is unique, but in general the city is still suffering. (Before you ask if we help, absolutely! My husband and I are very active in the community. He's helped to rebuild homes with his bare hands. We give, raise money, attend and speak at an unprecedented amount of community events in New Orleans). One person can make a difference but cannot fix the problem. There's so much that needs to be done. Many are still suffering and trying to recover from Katrina. The Bush administration ignored the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina and now to save face for the upcoming election, he wants to run to New Orleans for media and photo ops as if he really cares about the effects from Hurricane Gustav?!! Yeah right, how about allocating some of the 10 billion we spend over seas on war to take care of your own first?!!