PALIN'S DAUGHTER AND THE VP AT THE CONVENTION

CHECK OUT MY VIDEO BLOG AT THE CONVENTION! (http://gallery.me.com/robschenck/100902)

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I’m off to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. The big news there, of course, is John McCain’s running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. Sadly, most of the media has decided to approach her story in only two “tabloidish” ways: Her teen daughter’s unwed pregnancy (since when is liberal thought moralistic?) and whether or not she was properly vetted—that is investigated—before she was selected.

Here are my thoughts on what’s important about Sarah Palin:

1)   She’s an accomplished woman, but in the “made her own way” genre. In other words, she wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, given an Ivy League education by wealthy parents, entitled to a dynastic political career, etc., etc. Hers was a blue-color, working class, working mom story. She began as a local community activist and advanced to the top executive of her state. (Hmm, sounds like another no-name governor of a lesser-regarded state who rose through the ranks to be become one of the most celebrated two-term presidents of his party. His name was Bill Clinton.)

2)   Rising to the top state post in a place like Alaska can’t be easy. It’s pioneer country with lots of fiercely independent types who are by nature, well, let’s say, non-compliant. Alaska is also a complicated place. It’s geographically enormous. It’s a major energy corridor. Its closest neighbors are, egad, Russia and Canada. The state must maintain good international relations to survive. There are native-indigenous population issues as well with all their attendant challenges.

3)   Most important: The Palins impress me as very normal people. I met both of them at the official announcement event in Dayton. They had none of the political celebrity syndrome—the brusque blow-you-off-because-I’m-the-most-important-person-in-the-room routine. Oddly, I was a VIP guest of the McCain campaign, even though I have very publicly aired my considerable differences with the Arizona senator. Still, he was very gracious to me, unlike my last couple of encounters with him and his top-level advisors. On this latest move, though, I had nothing but accolades for him.

4)   The Palins are clearly sincere Christians. They talk easily of their faith and their commitment to the their home church, Wasilla Bible Church, and their visiting church when she’s doing state business in the capital. (I think it was Juneau Christian Center.) Both churches indicate a strong Evangelical faith, which is just the bridge to the religiously conservative world McCain needed.

Now, on the story of her daughter’s pregnancy my thoughts are simple: It’s none of our business. It has absolutely nothing to do with the campaign or the election. And, the fact her daughter and family will welcome this child into life is a beautiful testament to their deepest pro-life convictions. Pro-life religious conservatives go through everything every other family goes through. They just may handle it a bit differently. But the fact is this is a matter for their family, their faith and their church community. It’s not an issue the rest of us. The only appropriate response is to pray for them and leave them alone. Anyone who tries to exploit this for political or commercial gain, i.e., audience numbers, is shameful and abusive of a young and vulnerable mom.

As you can see, I’m impressed with Sarah Palin. She brings a lot to the table that her complement, Joe Biden, does not. Don’t get me wrong, he’s formidable and has his own compelling story to tell. He too came up from the working class, has been an extraordinarily devoted family man and has sacrificed much in service to his country. (The senate may look cushy, but in reality it’s a brutal over-worked, under-paid inordinately demanding job.) Biden is very smart and politically savvy, but he hasn’t been a chief executive, nor is a he a woman—a factor very important to the progress of our American civilization. (Just as Barack Obama’s African heritage is.) And one more thing, Biden unfortunately continues to practice his public office in opposition to his own church’s teaching, though I’ll give him extra points for not being a lapdog for Planned Parenthood or the National Abortion Rights Action League lobbyists.

I’ll offer more thoughts once I’m on the ground at the convention. Stand by . . .

Rob