GOP and McCain: Panderers or Hypocrites? The Answer May Surprise You (But Probably Won't)

If anyone had any doubts as to whether the Republican Party is the party of hypocrisy and pandering, the recent Republican National Convention and the days following should have dispelled them completely. First, we have the selection of unknown Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin to be John McCain's running mate. No, sorry, she's more than that: she's (in his words) his "soulmate." So Mr. Maverick, agent of change that he is, nominates a woman with political views that track, almost exactly, those views of the reactionary religious right that have held sway in the White House for the past eight years.

Ms. Palin (she probably hates being called Ms.) is anti-choice, even in cases of incest and rape. She is however, "proud" of her pregnant, unmarried 17-year-old daughter's "decision." We observers can only assume Sarah means her daughter's decision to engage in teenage, pre-marital sex that results in pregnancy, as it is clear bringing the baby to term is not a choice. Further, Ms. Palin is shocked, shocked I say, that the media has covered anything about her daughter's situation. It is "a matter that should be left to the family."

Take your time and re-read that last paragraph, I'll wait. Yes, you got it. In the governor's eyes, the government is entitled to deny the right to choose abortion under any circumstances to everyone, but is indignant that anyone might meddle in the affairs of her family. Kids, can you say cognitive dissonance? It is exactly this kind of compartmentalisation of thought that is encouraged by Christianity in particular and religion in general. But that is a different rant.

Speaking of religion, Hockey-Mom-in-Chief Palin believes that the war in Iraq is, to paraphrase the Blues Brothers, "a mission from God." Apparently, God's plan was to have the United States be the cause of over 1 million deaths, including both Americans and Iraqis, not to mention untold legions of the physically and mentally maimed, for the purpose of the aggrandizement of the Bush Administration's world view. (Of course, anyone who's read the Bible wouldn't be surprised; this kind of thing is God's M.O., after all.) Sarah, you really need to watch all this "maverick" thought, it might get you into trouble.

Well at least she stands up to Washington and those petty bureaucrats that want to hand out free money to the states. Except when she proposed, in 2008, that her state's senator request $197 million in federal "earmarks," more, per capita, than any other state. But it's probably because Alaska is needy, what with all the avalanches and polar bear attacks, right? Well, it seems Alaska took in $10 billion in revenue, twice what it did last year, and swelled the coffers enough that Palin got the legislature to approve a $1200 payment to every Alaskan. This is in addition to the customary payment of $2000 given to every Alaskan annually out of the oil-wealth savings account, known as the Permanent Fund. Apparently Iraq isn't the only place with an oil-based surplus. The Permanent Fund now contains $35 billion, thanks in part to oil tax hikes that Palin signed into law last year.

Now, you may ask: "Hasn't Palin accused Obama of wanting to raise taxes in every speech she has made?" Of course not silly, she only said it in one speech, it's just that she gives the same one every time. Besides, who cares as long as she has all that foreign policy experience by living in the state closest to Russia.

I could go on for ages about our soon-to-be vice-MILF, but let's turn to the rest of the party, shall we? If you doubt that the McCain camp is pandering to the right wing of the party in its selection, consider this: Palin is being endorsed, enthusiastically, by the likes of James Dobson and Focus on the Family. Mr. Dobson declared earlier this year, on the Dennis Prager Show, that he "can not and will not vote for Senator John McCain." Focus on the Family has been taking women to task for years for "abandoning" the family unit and going to work. Yet here we have a mother with five children, one of whom has special needs (not to mention the 17 year-old who's getting ready to have one), and Focus on the Family is endorsing her to work in the second-highest office in the land. The word here kids is "hypocrite." But again, what can we expect from an organization that is "bible-based," considering the bible itself is a seething mass of contradiction.

Further evidence of pandering has cropped up in the newest attack ads from the McCain Campaign. These accuse Sen. Obama as being for "sex-education for kindergartners." This stance is gleaned, according to McCain's ad, from Obama's support of Illinois SB0099, which was debated in the Illinois legislature while Obama was a member. Although the ad touts this as Obama's "legislative accomplishment," he didn't sponsor it, and the bill was never passed (it was tabled in 2003 before coming to a vote, and is, for all intents and purposes, dead.) That's lie #1. Lie #2 is that the bill was meant to teach "comprehensive sex education to kindergartners." The text of the proposed bill mentioned "grade k" twice, the most relevant mention of which was:

"Sec. 27-9.2. Family Life. (a) If any school district provides courses of instruction designed to promote wholesome and comprehensive understanding of the emotional, psychological, physiological, hygienic and social responsibility aspects of family life, then such courses of instruction shall include the teaching of prevention of unintended pregnancy and all options related to unintended pregnancy, appropriate to the various grade levels; and whenever such courses of instruction are provided in any of grades K through 12, then such courses also shall include age appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV AIDS. " (Stricken portions omitted.)

The other mention is here:

"Each class or course in comprehensive sex education offered in any of grades K through 12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV." (Stricken portions omitted.)

Now, Mr. Dobson, Focus on the Family, and, one can presume, Mistress Palin, may have issue with this proposed bill because it mentions sex education and the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, which are anathema to the "God Squad" crowd. But to name it a call for sex education for kindergartners is not a Fox-news style "interpretation" or an issue upon which reasonable minds can differ. It is an outright lie. I imagine Karl Rove had his fingerprints on this, but the responsibility rests with John McCain. After all he "approved this message." There are no two ways about it; John McCain is a liar.

From the above, I think it is apparent that the answer to the titular question of this post is a trick one: the GOP and John McCain are both hypocrites and panderers. They are also liars. But again, this should surprise no one who has been paying attention to the last 8 years of Republican rule.