October 26, 2008

WOMEN VOTES

Sarah Palin -- governor of Alaska and Republican candidate with Senator John McCain for U.S. presidency-vice-presidency team – will make history if elected on November 4.

Other women have aspired to the top spot of American politics. Most notably was Congress lady Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. Former Vice-president Walter Mondale chose her to be his running mate. However, they lost in an electoral landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice-President George H. W. Bush.

New York Senator, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, campaigned for top spot on this year’s Democrat ticket. However, she was bypassed when Senator Barack Obama was nominated and chose Senator Joe Biden for Vice-President candidate.

The first woman to be nominated for, and elected president, by a major political party, is yet to be nominated and elected.

PALIN EXCITEMENT

For now, Gov. Palin is creating excitement in today’s presidential race as Vice-president to Senator John McCain’s quest for President. She is beautiful, smart, capable and well spoken – “You betcha!”

One would think that the Women’s Liberation Movement crowd would be working diligently for her election. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

“Women libbers” are not primarily for women. They are merely liberals wearing lipstick.

They are aghast that Sarah, as a teenager, hunted moose with her father.

Liberals of all stripes hoot at Palin’s remark that from her house she can see Russia. It is not physical possible, of course; but it emphasizes that eastern Russia is just beyond Alaska’s Bering Strait. There is serious talk by Russia of a bridge there to Alaska’s western-most island chain.

Critics are outraged that Palin refused an abortion though it was determined her recent pregnancy would produce a boy with Down's Syndrome.

Wild and wooly Democrats grind their teeth when she often brings along her whole family while speaking before a crowd. She, her husband Todd and daughters take turns holding baby Trig while Mommy wows political rallies.

FAMILY ENTERPRISE

Sarah and Todd were high school sweethearts on opposing basketball teams. Todd has a commercial fishing license and uses it as captain with his crew when the salmon run. Other times, he is an oil-well worker with labor union membership. Oldest son, Track, is in the Alaska National Guard – recently deployed for Mid-east duty.

Before becoming governor of Alaska, Palin served two terms as mayor of Wasilla and chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission. Two years ago she was elected the state’s first woman governor and began a $40 billion natural gas pipeline to the “lower 48” states.”

As governor, Palin is chair lady of the Natural Resources Committee for the National Governors Association.

WOMEN RIGHTS

Gov. Palin’s rise to national fame may cap the 256-year campaign for the rights of women for full election rights.

Lydia Chapin Taft in 1756 was allowed to vote in three New England town meetings.

However, it was not until 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York, that Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott began a 70-year struggle to gain voting rights for women.

The territories of Wyoming (1869) and Utah (1870) were the first to grant voting rights for women. By 1900, Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming had enfranchised women after efforts by Suffrage associations.

CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE

Suffragists were subject to arrests, but President William Taft championed women’s voting rights.

His successor, President Woodrow Wilson, urged Congress in 1920 to pass the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States -- or by any state – on account of sex, and Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified August 18, 1920. Wilson next year appointed Taft Chief Justice of the Supreme Court which legalized equal pay for equal work by women.

Today, Democrat liberals fear Gov. Sarah Palin might succeed a President John McCain after his two terms.

The nation should be so fortunate!

You betcha!

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist