MEETING SARAH PALIN, MCCAIN'S VP PICK

Sarah Palin, John McCain’s newly announced choice for running mate, is more than extraordinary. I met her and her husband, Todd, yesterday. They must be the most unusual couple in American politics. She is the accomplished chief executive of an expansive and complex state, but more importantly she’s a devoted wife of 22 years and a mom to five kids. (One born with special needs while she was in office.) He’s a unionized commercial fisherman by trade. They are also a thoroughly Evangelical Christian family.

Others who study political careers can comment on her performance as a politician and chief executive. I’m more interested in the foundational principles that guide people like Governor Palin. So, when I was offered a VIP seat at the big coming out event, I jumped on it. I wanted to personally engage whomever McCain selected. I knew it could prove decisive for me and for countless others. (I’ve met Joe Biden, Barack Obama’s complement, many times during my years on Capitol Hill.)

While I was en route to the event I got a call relaying a message to me from a well-known Washington, DC, columnist who said he had evidence it would be Governor Palin. She was definitely not on my short list of disirable prospects, but only because I knew so little about her. That would soon change. I called everyone I knew that might know something about her and my staff began our own in-depth research. A few things that came immediately to light were that she is completely and convincingly pro-life, she is pro-traditional marriage and she is an Evangelical Christian. And on each of these points she has long walked her talk.

Still, there are some things you can only tell by shaking someone’s hand and looking them in the eyes. I did both today with Governor Palin and her sponsor, Senator McCain. If you’ll permit me a sidebar, I’ve got to say, Man! What a bold move. There are many voters who really wanted to make history in this election. Now they can do so with either ticket. Bravo!

But back to Sarah Palin and her spirituality. After our exchange of normal niceties, the first thing I asked the Palins was about their church. My office was doing research on this while I was at the McCain event and sending it to me on my Blackberry, but they got one thing wrong when they first reported she was Catholic. Someone called to correct our early news release and said the Palins were Baptist, so I wanted to clear it up by simply asking. Gov. Palin herself. She told me they have long attended Wasilla Bible Church in their home town of Wasilla, Alaska, near Anchorage. I'll write more on this church, but take a quick look at their website and you'll see the sort of Christian community she keeps company with. I told Sen. McCain yesterday that he had just built the bridge he needed to our Evangelical world. He seemed relieved! Traditional Catholics will like Governor Palin, too. It was a stroke of genius.

More on this later . . .

Rev. Rob Schenck

faithandaction

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