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Alison Skirtboston

Skirt! Boston editor

Skirt! is evidence that the universe is paying attention: I spent the last six years at mach speed, whether finishing college (Emerson) while writing full time for Boston Globe West (2001-2004) or editing the Boston Parents’ Paper during the day while holding down the steady gig writing for Globe ...

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Vice President who?

alison

We thought we had 8 more weeks of political campaigning before choosing a president. Today, however, the gloves are off.

Last night’s speech by Democratic candidate Barack Obama left warm and fuzzy images of Americans helping one another along the rocky road to economic recovery after being thrown under the bus by an uncaring Republican administration.

We were all aware that today John McCain would attempt to dim Obama’s spotlight by announcing his running mate. His choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin surprised even those who have watched the progression of events very closely.

I’m appalled. It would be nice if the Republican pick were a genuine, bonafide candidate and not a prop for McCain, who recently suggested to a crowd in North Dakota that his wife would do well in a wet t-shirt contest. Despite my respect for his dedication to service, this move seals my distaste for McCain. He should have stuck with a safe white male like Mitt Romney. If he’d wanted to stretch and appeal to liberals and non-Obama Democrats, there was Lieberman. But his choice of Palin, a newcomer and a completely unknown quantity was obviously made for one reason: she might attract some of Hillary’s unhappy followers.

For a guy who’s familiar with trophy wives, this was an easy choice: a trophy veep who’ll look good on his ticket but will keep her mouth shut (lest she let any inexperience slip out). 

If McCain wanted a female vice president, he could have selected from the small pool of qualified Republican women, as journalist Dan Kennedy suggests in his blog: http://medianation.blogspot.com. Unfortunately, he’s using Palin as a pawn in a race that’s not going to get any prettier.