Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gives a thumbs-up during her speech at the 2008 Republican Governors Association Annual Conference Nov. 13. (Media credit: Marsha Halper/Miami Herald/MCT)

The moment Barack Obama’s presidency became a sure thing, a wave of relief came over me. This was not merely because I voted for him or because it marked a major turning point for our nation, but because finally the bitter campaigning had ended.

While some may feel that the time leading up to this historic presidential election was exciting and sensational, I felt the exact opposite. As someone who cared about the election, it was important to me to make my own decision about it. However, I am also someone who does not care to invest all her time and energy into politics, and after being repeatedly solicited to join the Obama campaign, I was getting fed up. It was not only on campus either — I received at least 10 phone calls from different Democratic groups asking me to sign up and join the campaign.

Although it is clear that every presidential election is important, and of course everyone who can exercise their right to vote should do so, to me politics in general is just one big dirty game.
The aggressive campaigning that felt like it would never end did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. Instead of the candidates highlighting their merits, what makes them qualified and what makes them trustworthy enough to run the country, all the focus seemed to be on controversy surrounding their personal lives.

The craziness that arose around Sarah Palin was ridiculous, and I could not help but wonder, what was John McCain thinking? If he wanted to get the nation’s attention, he sure grabbed it, but teaming up with Palin only seemed to backfire. Continue Reading »

The selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as Republican John McCain’s running mate has had the Republican Party defending the relatively unknown governor of Alaska. Last night Palin spoke at the GOP Convention in St. Paul (video below) and used the opportunity to defend herself and assail her critics.

Overall the speech seemed to be well received; however, an Associated Press fact-check of Palin’s speech found that, “In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.”

The McCain campaign released an ad touting Palin’s credentials and attacking Obama (video below), but multiple fact-checkers are reporting the ad is “misleading” and “barely true”.

The New York Times also weighed in on the ad saying: “In addition, the McCain ad repeats one of its oft-used complaints about Mr. Obama’s support for an energy bill that provided tax breaks to oil companies. The problem is, the claim has been fairly debunked by fact-checkers across the board.”

17-year-old Bristol Palin (right) is 5-months pregnant.

The 17-year-old daughter of McCain running mate Sarah Palin, is 5 months pregnant, according to news reports.

Palin’s daughter, Bristol, will keep the baby and marry the father, CNN and The New York Times reported.

Sen. John McCain’s campaign announced that McCain knew about the pregnancy before he chose her as his running mate.

The aide said it was decided the campaign would reveal this information now because of rampant Internet rumors that Sarah Palin’s 4-month-old baby, who has Down syndrome, was actually Bristol’s, CNN reported.

VP candidate Sarah Palin

According to NYTimes.com, the Palin family made a statement saying “Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”

Photo Source: Daily Mirror

John McCain announced Friday that he had chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate (video below). Palin has served Alaska’s governor for two years, and is the Republican Party’s first female candidate for vice president.

The New York Times is reporting that, “[John McCain's] campaign has been trying to attract women, especially disaffected supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.”

In choosing Palin, McCain surprised many, with the discussion for weeks surrounding former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge.

Longtime Democratic political consultant Larry Ceisler said picking Palin, “does not help [John McCain] one bit in Pennsylvania.” However pollster G. Terry Madonna said that Palin could help McCain court women in Philadelphia suburbs.

McCain announcement comes on his 72nd birthday, and a day after Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention. McCain is attempting to take back the news coverage that has been dominated by the Democrats, and given Obama a convention bump. Gallup is reporting that Obama is now leading McCain nationally by eight points - 49 to 41 percent.

Photo Media Credit: Akira Suwa - Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT