Black Bristol

Bristol Palin is pregnant. She's 17. And the media doesn't think that I should talk about it. Furthermore, the media doesn't believe that this is appropriate fodder for decsion making about Bristol's mother, Sarah. But I'm going to deconstruct this bullshit by using a common African-American intellectual experiment: What if Britol was Black?

If Bristol were black, well, if the Palin's were black, this would be their ruin. Black Bristol would be an example of the Black family's inability to measure up to white standards of morality, AKA "Small Town Values," and Palin would certainly be asked to step down from her nomintation. Bristol would disgust white Americans. She would remind them of the loose sexual morales that Black women naturally espouse, morales that were epitomized in the clever right wing nomenclature for Michelle Obama: "Barack's Baby Mama."

If Bristol were Black and not a Palin, if Bristol were just a pregnant Black seventeen year old, staying in school might not be an option. Whereas white Bristol is fortunate enough to have the moral support of her family, Black Bristol might not have the same support. And whatever the case of familial support may be, a Black Bristol would not have comparable fiscal or healthcare support to the Palin family. Black Bristol's child would be yet another notch in the Millenial "Black" Plague: Knocked Up and/or Locked Up.



The differences between Bristol Palin and a hypothetical Black Bristol are indeed myriad. But in general, whereas millions of Black Bristol's around the world have been nearly criminalized for their inability, amongst structural challenges to their child's welfare, to raise their children with the same values and privilages and their white counterparts, Bristol Palin has become an example of and not an exception to the strength of republican family values. Sarah Palin's decision to allow her daughter's child's father to be betrothed to her seventeen year old daughter and general acceptance of the young man, Levi Johnston, is not only considered appropriate (as opposed to an awkward arranged marriage), but an example of Palin's benevolence.

What's more, is that liberals are trying desperately to avoid this awkward subject, just as Republicans most likely prefer. No, there will be no swiftboating of Bristol Palin. There will be no judgement cast upon Sarah Palin's mothering skills, much unlike the judgement so hastily applied to young black women in the same situation. No, we will not even talk about it. And the person who does, is the anti-christ, another relentles fanatical liberal who will do anything to take back Washington including anhialate the santicty of personal privacy of a seventeen year old.

But what is so hypocritical about this way to handle such an unfortunate situation is that a.) given a reverse party situation, Republicans would capitalize on the moment to point out lacking morality amongst liberals and b.) politics is personal. Always has been, and always will be. Personal Characteristics of a candidate far outweigh the influence of his knowledge of the issues.

But what really gets me going, most of all, is the fact that this sort of event has not brought up the subject of empathy. Whereas Palin is able to accept this sort of child into her household, emotionally, socially and economically, these criteria do not apply when a pregnant and impoverished black mother is in the same predicament. And Palin with her comfort of being able to finance a sixth child, wants to make it impossible for women who cannot even afford one child to reverse their mistake and abort the pregnancy. This lack of empathy is unacceptable.

Empathy is the number one lacking feature in govenment and yet the ideological crux of our ability to have a representative government.

This sort of moment should make Palin revisit her policy on abortion. For those seventeen year olds who are not as fortunate as her, but I suppose she hasn't walked a mile in Black Bristol's or her mother's shoes: Palin just doesn't get it!

Queen of the Veepstakes

I suppose it is off the utmost importance to begin this post, and this blog with a disclaimer about my personal politics: I am a FEMINIST. I mean this essentially. I believe that women are 100% equal to men. By feminism I mean no more and no less.

I also should start this blog with yet another disclaimer: I can't stand bullshit. It is my humble opinion that bullshit, otherwise known as dishonesty, is what is ruining Washington, that is in the broadest of terms. Dishonesty, and of course, lack of empathy, that is.

This blog will deal primarily with all things bullshit that are going on in the campaign. A keen eye and a sharp tongue to regulate the dissemination of information pertaining to and within the campaign.

The first issue, or rather that action which was so full of shit that it was the impetus of this blog is McCain's VP choice, Sarah Palin.

Described to me by a friend with more experience with Washington as a " batty old idea" came up with one day, it seems this decision is seriously lacking substance.

John McCain's decision to choose Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, came the day after the Democratic National Convention. By far the sexist bout of politicking that the nation's seen in the last... well ever. McCain's insecurity about Obama's growing celebrity status, however, is not new. Around a month ago he attempted to posit himself as the underdog to Obama's celebrity.

This insecurity, I believe, is what lead McCain to make the decision on Palin. She is somewhat of a celebrity herself. A "hockey mom" with five kids, PTA turned mayor tunred governor, Palin's story is indeed appealing in much the same way that Obama's story is. She is good looking, a factor that needn't be overlooked in any circumstance. The problem, however, is that nobody knows who she is or what shes done.

There's been speculation that Palin is a friend of gays, and this is a rumor, as Palin supports marriage as being defined between a man and a woman. Furthermore, Diddy's refrain that there are no Black people in ALaska (in truth Blacks make up about 3% of Alaskans) does bring up a point that Palin may have difficulty navigating her relationship with minorities (assuming that Inuit issues don't resemble those of more populous minorities (blacks/hispanics).

Palin's lack of experience is mostly troubling because, and yes, I suppose this is poor form to mention, but McCain is old. When you elect a President and Vice President, you have to truly believe that both are able to do the job of President. "At a moment's notice" Palin should be able to fill in for the President. This proverbial moment's notice, however, is augmented by McCain's age and feeble health. The only reason that McCain has been able to keep the ticker ticking this long, is because of the healthcare that his and his wife's income provides them, a luxury that most citizens never see. It seems that this VP decision amongst many other areas in which it is troubling, denies the fact of McCain's imminent illness or death.

This is, the first, well the first doccumented by this blog, reason that McCain, doesn't get it. Picking a young running mate is not only a completely obvious marketing attempt, but it also is the exact thing that Obama urged us not to do the night before McCain's decision was revealed: making a big election about petty things.