Enough about Cosmetics

It has been nearly two weeks since I left St. Paul and the national political conventions behind. Political conventions are showy affairs with lots of pomp(osity) and circumstance – they are generally light on substance. It has taken the meltdown of the economy to get the candidates and the media to focus less on the makeup choices of pigs and more on the issues separating the candidates.

During these two weeks, I have been fascinated by the national fascination with Sarah Palin. Three weeks ago hardly anyone outside of Alaska could have named that state’s governor. Her selection by Sen. McCain kicked off mini debates over coffee and water coolers all across the country about Palin’s qualifications, or lack thereof. For 14 days, it seemed the whole campaign was going to boil down to whether or not we felt comfortable allowing Sarah Palin; mother, moose hunter and maverick* to control the nuclear codes. While this is an important question, it was also an excellent political diversion by the McCain camp.

Palin helped to swell the McCain crowds. Republicans let their feminist tendencies unfurl in a gust of estrogen induced pride. Democrats tried on the cloak of self proclaimed qualification superiority. The mavericks tearfully rose to the defense of all women as if any and all questions about Governor Palin’s record were an attack on her entire gender. Change agents smirked and tried to not look worried.

Suddenly, the financial crisis and a bombing in Yemen reminded us that this race is about more than lipstick and finger pointing. Serious questions loom for our nation and it is time for us to address them. Let’s see if the candidates are able to stop lobbing insults and start demonstrating they grasp and have a plan for what needs to be done.



* These were the actual first three words of the Palin "introduction" video at the Republican Convention.