Why should atheists be worried about Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Harriet Miers Sarah Palin?
The Christian Coalition loves her:
Roberta Combs, President of the Christian Coalition of America said: “Governor Sarah Palin is a bold choice for Vice President who is a courageous advocate for unborn children. In addition, she is a conservative who is a reformer not afraid to shake up the establishment. I congratulate Senator McCain for his outstanding selection for his vice presidential running mate.”
The Concerned Women for America love her:
Janice Shaw Crouse, director and senior fellow of CWA’s Beverly LaHaye Institute, said,
“It is particularly significant that a conservative woman was nominated for the nation’s second highest office. For years the feminist movement has acknowledged for leadership only those women who embrace a radical agenda. How refreshing that now we have a woman who reflects the values of mainstream American women. Sarah Palin is pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-family. She is a woman who is balancing the personal and professional in admirable ways. She is an outstanding woman who will be an excellent role model for the nation’s young people. Sarah Palin is chief among equals with American professional women; she brings the kind of balance that characterizes the high-achieving women of today. She will bring to the forefront of our cultural conversations an intelligent, realistic, well-grounded woman’s perspective.”
Crouse concluded: “Take that feminists — here is a woman of accomplishment who brings a fresh face to traditional values and models the type of woman most girls want to become.”
Liberty Alliance Action loves her:
“Gov. Palin is pro-life and pro-marriage. She is also a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association,” said [LAA Chairman Mathew] Staver. “Personnel is policy. With the selection of Gov. Palin, Sen. John McCain has proven that he can exercise sound judgment. Gov. Palin has electrified conservatives,” noted Staver.
Family Research Council Action loves her:
[Says President Tony Perkins:] “Senator McCain made an outstanding pick from the choices that were on the table. Governor Sarah Palin is an outspoken advocate for pro-family policies that energize social conservatives. She has a record of advancing the culture of life at every opportunity including championing a ban on partial-birth abortion and promoting parental consent for minor abortions.
“On February 11th of this year, for example, she signed into law the ‘Safe Haven for Infants Act,’ facilitating the safe surrender of an unwanted newborn to a place of safety and hope. Her actions contrast sharply with the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who when he was in the Illinois Senate repeatedly helped to kill a bill that sought to protect babies who survived abortion.”
Even James Dobson has has apparently turned gay for her, saying, “I would pull that lever [for McCain].”
Other reasons we should be worried:
Palin wants to teach Intelligent Design:
“Teach both [evolution and creationism]. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And, you know, I say this, too, as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject — creationism and evolution. It’s been a healthy foundation for me. But don’t be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides.”
She thinks religious leaders have the freedom to endorse candidates from the pulpit:
“A pastor, a priest, a rabbi, certainly they have the freedom to say whatever they want to say. And you know, thank the lord that we do have that freedom of speech.
“Faith is very important to so many of us here in America, and I would never support any government effort to stifle our freedom of religion or freedom of expression or freedom of speech.
“You know, I would just caution maybe a pastor to be very careful if they’re in front of a congregation and they decide to endorse one candidate over another. You know, there may be some frustration with that candidacy endorsement being made manifest by a few, fewer dollars in the offering plate, so I would just offer that bit of caution (laughing.)
“But, no, I’ll tell you, freedom of speech is so precious and it’s worth defending and of course freedom of religion and freedom of expression will be things that I will fight for.”
Just wait till the weekend’s over and the media have combed through her entire personal and political life.
We’ll get more of her absurd statements and the Religious Right’s fawning press releases.
