So why were all these other female Republicans passed over the VP spot?

Question

There are plenty of experienced woman Republicans in power that McCain could have chosen who would be better fill in as President should it be necessary. Here are just a few I can thin of, but I'm sure I'm missing quite a few:

Christine Todd Whitman

Condoleezza Rice

Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison

Olympia Snowe

Susan Collins

Linda Lingle

So why pick someone with a year and a half experience at the state level of government when all they other more qualified candidates were available? Only thing I can think of is her ties to big oil and that he was just looking for a yes-woman and not someone with who would ask for any real power. Am I missing something here?

Answer 1

Come on. Sure he could have picked a good VP, but do any of those ladies make men scream how smokin' hot they are? I think not.

Answer 2

Palin is awesome.   I'm voting McCain Palin.

Answer 3

Because they are Washington insiders, Sarah is an outsider.

Answer 4

There were many other Republican female candidates; another female republican is Elizabeth Dole, an intelligent women and former Secretary of the Department of Labor, 2 term Senator of North Carolina.  If he had intentions to recruite Hillary-supporters that were on the fence, he has failed to do with his VP pick.  Truly interesting is the fact that Palin is presently under investigation for abuse of power by the Alaskan State Legislature.  Its being called the biggest political blunder in light of the VP alternatives and McCain's 4 bouts with cancer & his age.

Based on demographics, Hillary Rodman Clinton's 18 million female supporters have not been typically pro-life, pro-NRA, etc.  Hillary-supporters were moved by her 40 yr. plus experience in healthcare (passing CHIPS National Program under the Clinton Admin), women's rights (equal pay for women), children's rights (lawyer for the Children's Legal Defense Fund), economic growth, international trading (NAFTA), and environment (alternative energy).  If McCain  intended to lure Clinton supporters, he will not do so with his VP pick.  Hillary-supporters voted for her based on her issues, not based her gender.  

Perhaps, McCain was looking to build his conservative republican base.  It seems as if he has rejuvenated his likability among the following constituents: the republican pro-life with no exceptions for rape, incest and repeal Roe v Wade (Palin); anti-gun control (Palin); pro-drilling in the Alaskan nature reserve against alternative energy (Palin); privatization of social security with investment accounts; additional funding for the war in Iraq; troop reduction in Afghanistan; non-diplomatic approach to international affairs; pro-voucher education vs. overall school improvement, etc.

However, any of the women above would have been a better VP pick.  Christine Todd Whitman would have been an impressive choice given her experience at EPA; Kay Bailey Hutchison has been in politics since 1972 & has had an extensive legal career (voted one of the 30 most powerful women in America); Olympia Snowe has been in politics since 1977 (the America's Top Ten Senators by Time Magazine & the first woman to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, while her husband acted as Governor to Maine in 1989 to 1995 while serving as a Senator); Susan Collins worked for Senator William Cohen from 1975 until 1987 and chaired Maine commission on financial regulation, and a member of 9 US subcommittees and 3 US committees; Linda Lingle has been serving the state of Hawaii since 1980 from Council member to Governor - having graduated from Cal State cumlaude in journalism; and created a $730 million surplus in Hawaii.  If he was interested in Alaska, he overlooked Linda Murkowski, Senator of Alaska since 2002.  

Of special note, most of these women are members of Republicans for Choice, Republicans for Environmental Protection.  Based on Palin's position, McCain probably pick her to win over his constituents, but the general election is about appealing to the majority.  If McCain cant win the majority visa vis delegates, he loses the state in its entirity.  Ironically, he claimed his VP pick would be greatly based on the person's preparedness to act in his absence.  However, his VP pick is incongruent with his previously espoused position.  Having worked in DC for over 10 years, the alternatives were plentiful....

Answer 5

I think McCain is genetically flawed that he keeps going for bimbo ex-beauty queens. Amazing

Answer 6

Because it's not all about who's "qualified".  

I know plenty of women who are "qualified" to be my wife and "qualified" to be the mother of my children, but that's not all that matters.  

Palin meets his needs and is the teammate he wants, just like my wife for me.

Answer 7

Like I said before, if he wins, she will be the most silent VP in history. If you think that McCain would take advice from a woman, you know, the ones he voted against equal pay for, then I can sell you some summer vacation property in Alaska.

He is desperately trying to get the Hillary supporters who still are not sure about Obama. Funny thing is, Palin is the direct OPPOSITE of Hillary.

Answer 8

It must be insulting to all them..that they picked this lunch lady to be the nominee

Answer 9

Age I think. The choice baffles me too. But I think more age and maybe executive experience. But Whitman has the executive experience so maybe its age. Or maybe celebrity status. Young dashing 44 year old mother of five. Pull the energetic young female base disappointed by Hillary Clinton's loss. I guess ideology doesn't count any more.

Its a maverick choice and makes you wonder how McCain will take executive decisions when he becomes President.

Answer 10

Maybe it's because they were never governors and his pick was.  Let's not forget that governor is closer to presdient than senator ever was and sense Buttock Insane Obama has no experience and has never been anything more than a JUNIOR senator he'll never be much more.  Obama has already lost.

McCain IS YOUR new president.

Answer 11

5 kids NRA Pro life

oh and the big one

a son going to Iraq soon.  

Answer 12

Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, was another great choice, but Palin is a strong fighter for change, so she was chosen. Great choice I think.

Answer 13

Olympia Snowe would have been the most logical pick if one truly was looking for a female-only candidate.  She would have done well to bring in the New England states and is a moderate.

Answer 14

Unlike the othes, she has fought against the establishment.

What has Obama done as Senator? Nothing.

She has more accomplishments and experience than Obama who is running for President.

Answer 15

They were not from Alaska, so they probably couldn't relate to small, very small, extremely small vote counts the way Palin can.

I wonder how they feel.  

Answer 16

Why did Obama pass over Hillary for Biden.  Mr Change has joined the good old boys club.