A Democrat Woman for McCain

Dr. Lynette Long, a lifelong Democrat and a woman who has apparently been pretty prominent in Dem campaigns, is pledging her support for John McCain, or more accurately for Sarah Palin. She writes a lengthy op-ed in the Baltimore Sun and you should read the whole thing, but here's how she wraps it up:

Yes, policy is important, but who decides and delivers that policy is even more important. Children incorporate many of their perceptions about gender by age 5. Little girls won't understand if Sarah Palin is pro-life or pro-choice, believes in gun control or is a member of the NRA, but they will know the vice president of the United States is a girl - and that alone will alter their perceptions of themselves.

I have given my loyalty to the Democratic Party for decades. My party, which is comprised primarily of women, has not put a woman on a presidential ticket for 24 years. My party stood silently by as Hillary Clinton was eviscerated by the mainstream media. My party and its candidate gave their tacit approval for the attacks on Mrs. Clinton (and, consequently, women in general).

I can vote for my party and its candidates, which have demonstrated a blatant disrespect for women and a fundamental lack of integrity. Or I can vote for the Republican ticket, which has heard our concerns and put a woman on the ticket, but with which I fundamentally don't agree on most issues.

Right now, for me, gender trumps everything else. If Democratic women wait for the perfect woman to come along, we will never elect a woman. I will vote for McCain-Palin. I urge other women to do the same. I promise to be the first person knocking on her door if Roe v. Wade or any other legislation that goes against the rights of women is threatened. But in Governor Palin, I find a woman of integrity, who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. I can work with that. I will work with that.

I think there are far more women out there that think like that than the Dems will ever want to acknowledge. Many Democrat women were very upset by how Hillary was treated by the Obama campaign and the media, and they see Sarah Palin as an opportunity to make up for the rejection they felt.

Welcome aboard, ladies!