We all know John McCain and Sarah Palin are out of touch on women's health; between McCain's infamous air-quoting of the word "health" and Palin's countless contradictions on reproductive health care, we know that we would be in bad shape if they were to make it to the White House. That is no big news.
But what Sarah Palin told the American public last week was a stark confirmation of where they stand.
During an interview that Focus on the Family founder and anti-choice leader James Dobson conducted with Palin, he brought up the Republican Party platform's position on choice, identifying it -- in his own words -- as, "the strongest pro-life, pro-family document to come out of a political party." [The Republican platform seeks a constitutional amendment banning all abortions -- with no exceptions for rape and incest, and no exception to save the life of the woman.] To me, that's not pro-family -- that's pro-government in women's lives.
Not only did Palin express her support for the platform's principles, but when she was asked if McCain also "strongly supports those views" and whether she believes he will "implement it," she responded, "I do, from the bottom of my heart."
With that statement, Palin affirmed our fears that she, along with John McCain, is on board with the platform's most severe anti-woman principles. Apparently women's health is not only "extreme," but it's not even up for discussion.
If McCain upholds the Republican Party platform while in office, where will this leave the teenager who is impregnated as a result of rape? Where will this leave the woman who might die if she doesn't receive abortion services? Shouldn't these women have the right to make these personal decisions about their health, about their lives?
Regarding the principles of the Republican Party platform, Palin said: "[T]hey are there, they are solid, we stand on them and again I believe that it is the right agenda for the country at this time. Very, very clear and contrasted tickets in this election, November 4th."
That last sentence is the one thing Sarah Palin and I can agree on. And there are only eight days left to go. Governor Sarah Palin is assuring Americans that a McCain/Palin administration will implement the very harshest of anti-woman policies -- meaning no choices, and no exceptions. Next week when you're at the polls, use your vote wisely; don't put the government in control of women's health and lives.
