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Barbra Streisand on McCain, Palin, Smart Women

By September 8, 2008News, Politics

Babs is all set to perform at a huge fundraiser for Obama on Sept. 16 – tickets are reportedly $28,500 a pop. This letter was originally posted on her website

McCain Doesn’t Get It: Women are not that stupid.

 Maybe he was sick of the lack of media attention…maybe he had enough of the late night talk show hosts poking fun at his age…maybe he realized that belonging to a party that has been associated with rich, white men was not going to connect with voters in this historical election year. Or maybe he was just ready to take back some of the spotlight that has shined so brightly on Barack Obama and the Democrats since the beginning of the Democratic convention. Desperation can motivate people to make some pretty cynical and hypocritical decisions. Whatever the reason, John McCain’s Hail Mary– in the form of Vice Presidential pick Governor Sarah Palin–sent a very clear message to America about how he views female voters. Women, he thinks, will vote another woman into office regardless of the candidate’s values, experience and political positions.

No one can dispute that this decision was micro-targeted to the small percentage of Independent and Democratic women residing in the Rocky Mountain West, who strongly supported Hillary Clinton in the primary and still find themselves undecided as we move into the general election. Unfortunately, what John McCain failed to realize is that after eight long and destructive years of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and their cronies, American voters will not fall prey to political ploys once again.

For months, John McCain and the Republicans went after Barack Obama for lacking the experience they felt was necessary in order to be commander in chief. Yet, on this day, an aging John McCain, who is the oldest Presidential nominee in history, chose a running mate—a person that is just a heart beat away from the Presidency—that has no foreign policy experience, no national experience and limited state government experience…. a virtual unknown who has only been Governor for a less than 2 years of a state with a population of fewer than 680,000 people…a woman who condemns a woman’s right to choose.

I believe John McCain chose Gov. Palin because he truly believes that women who supported Hillary—an experienced, brilliant, life-long public servant–would vote for him because his Vice President has two x chromosomes. McCain’s selection of Governor Palin is a transparent and irresponsible decision all in the name of trying to win this election.

John McCain has served this country. No one in this election is denying him that. But his selection of Governor Palin has demonstrated that he is willing to put his desperation to win this election above the welfare of the American people. As someone who has spent over 40 years advocating on behalf of women both politically and philanthropically, as someone who was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton and as someone who cares deeply about the health and welfare of all women, hear me Senator McCain: “This calculated, cynical ploy to pull away a small percentage of Hillary’s women voters from Barack Obama will not work. We are not that stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

You said it, Sister.


Join the discussion 14 Comments

  • Hillary says:

    This is just me…one woman. Just my personal view. I think Streisand is looking at this election with blinders on. I’m a woman living in the Rocky Mountain West and although I have views most similar to an Independent, I’m a registered Republican (gotta be here in Colorado Springs…need to influence the primaries here to get the least crazy of the candidates into the elections). Anyway, I’ve admired Palin for a few months after reading about her in an article somewhere this spring. I think she’s a strong independent woman, and I appreciate her spunk and her courage. I think she’s smart and tenacious. And if McCain croaks, I’d be happy to have her as president.

    I was never really a Hillary backer, so I guess I’m not in what Streisand believes is McCain’s target audience, but I was an undecided voter. Until Lieberman’s speech. And then Palin’s. I’m not a hundred percent behind McCain, but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to vote for Obama.

  • Julie Roads says:

    Really? Even after she’s lied, changed her mind on critical issues just to do what’s popular, has no idea about foreign policy, doesn’t practice what she preaches, made a huge mistake yesterday about Fannie and Freddie, is under federal investigation, wants to destroy our environment for instant cash, doesn’t have a grasp of economics, is a Pentacostal believer who speaks in tongues and will not fight for the civil rights…of anyone?
    Who’s wearing the blinders?
    Also, just because you live somewhere, does not mean you have to believe what other people are believing. I’m sorry, but that, is ludicrous and a pitiful justification. Hate to be cliche, but…if they were all going to jump off a bridge, would you go to? Just because you live in Colorado Springs???

  • Hillary says:

    Registering as a Republican so that I can influence Republican primaries does not mean that I believe what other people are believing just because of where I live. My beliefs (especially the ones about which I am passionate) are my own and fall all over the political spectrum. There is no candidate who will ever thrill me, and I have to be reasonable and admit that, in a city like mine, non-Republican candidates don’t have a chance of winning in the general elections. So I do my duty and vote in the primaries to try to get the candidate who annoys me the least into the general election. And then I choose my candidate in the general election. This year in our election for House rep, I’ll be voting for a Democrat even though I know he doesn’t have a chance to win.

    Regarding the negatives you mentioned about Palin, I have to say that this is just American politics. In a two party system like ours, we could come up with hundreds of negative things to say about candidates from either party. It’s mostly rhetoric and it’s blown out of proportion. Maybe we voters should concentrate on why our favorite candidates are great instead of why the other is so bad. It would make for a much friendlier and less divided system.

  • Julie Roads says:

    Very well said, Hilary. I may not agree with you about everything, but I certainly agree with you on that last sentiment. It’s something I’ve been talking about doing…and NEED to do.

    It’s hard, however, when one side is lying and being so nasty…or is it?

  • Hillary says:

    Unfortunately, I think usually both sides lie or exaggerate to some extent. It’s a bummer…just the way it is.

  • Julie Roads says:

    It is sad…and I get it to some degree…it’s hard to sit idly by and watch mud slung right at you. Thanks so much for engaging in this conversation…if nothing else, this election has gotten so many people involved and talking in ways they hadn’t or wouldn’t have otherwise.

  • Susan Gibbs says:

    I agree with Barbra Streisand. [Never thought I’d say those words together in a sentence.] I had some concerns about John McCain but for the most part I found him to be a fairly palatable candidate. If Hillary Clinton had won the nomination I would have had a difficult time choosing the lesser of two evils.
    But selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate was a huge misstep. She doesn’t “believe” in evolution? Well, I don’t believe in voting for ill-prepared, narrow-minded, self-loathing candidate just because her sex organs are the same as mine.

  • Julie Roads says:

    Susan, as usual, you are dead-on with your steel-tongued wit. Loves it. Oh, except that I never would have considered McCain.

  • Gina says:

    These elitist snobbish celebrities who think they are so clever, think they know better what’s best for us than we do, using the wealth we gave them by watching their movies, and buying their sponsor’s products. I don’t want these celebrities to buy the Presidency. The people of the United States should chose the President. Each citizen’s vote should be equal, not canceled out, or overshadowed by some spoiled celebrity. Look at the list of lame celebrities who are trying to get Obama in the white house …
    Madonna, Ludacris, the idiots from the View, Rosie, Pamela Anderson, Oprah, Lohan, chevy chase, Susan Sarandon … These celebrities are out of touch with us Americans. They are just part of an “in crowd clique” who think they are at liberty to use disgusting language, and make nasty attacks, with impunity. They don’t know the issues, or care, for they are insulated by their wealth, and believe they are above reproach. We, the common people are the ones who gave them their celebrity and wealth … and, we the common people are the ones who can take it back. No Wright, no Farrakhan, no Rezko, no Ayers, no Pfleger, no mean Michelle, and, NOBAMA !!!

  • Julie Roads says:

    Are you insane? With their celebrity they are able to be heard – and speak for many of us…just not you.
    and you really want to call Oprah and Madonna ‘lame’??? Really? I’d call them wildly successful women who started with NOTHING.
    Good luck to you.

  • I’m on the other side of the world so somewhat removed from all these issues, although they get quite a bit of coverage here downunder. McCain comes across as old/establishment and Palin seems a bit ditzy. I can’t comment on Biden not having heard much from him. Obama appears dedicated (although I must admit a bit of soft spot for Hillary, so was disappointed to see her exit).

    With regard to the comment from Gina – regardless of who a person is, celebrity or no, they still have the right to vote and the right to express an opinion.

  • Julie Roads says:

    I love getting the international take on this…I’ve been wondering what the rest of the world thinks about this circus!

  • Sandra S says:

    Just because someone is a celebrity, and in Barbra’s case, well deserved because of her awesome talent, does not mean that they are not intelligent or aware of world events. Many celebrities have college degrees, and did not have to go to five different schools to put together a BA in Journalist like Palin. In addition, celebrities that use their name and money to help good causes are certainly more aware of those causes, then do-nothings like some of these bitter women who call Barbra an elitist and snob. What do you call McCain, who with his 13 cars and seven houses and rich wife who he doesn’t seem to respect, is not in touch with the middle class? I do not dislike Palin because she is a woman, but because she is a self-serving, ambitious power climber, whose idealogies are not applicable to the majority of Americans, let alone women, and who basically is a good old white boy in a dress. She is also too quick to attack those who have abilities and who have done things with their lives besides have five kids, an uneducated husband; kill things and preach do as I say not as I do.

  • Julie Roads says:

    Whooh!!!!! Go Sandra!!! Well said…I’m glad you’re here!

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