Op-Ed

Wonder Woman
By: Danielle Denning


The big question on everyone’s mind today is whether Sarah Palin is qualified to be the next Vice President. Given that there are no specific guidelines to tell us what makes a good Vice President, a lot of people are having a hard time finding an answer to this question.
Sarah Palin made history on December 4, 2006 when she became the first woman ever elected as governor of Alaska. Foreshadowing of the future? Not only did she conquer this election, but she defeated an incumbent democratic candidate. Under her leadership, the Alaska Gas line Inducement Act (AGIA) was passed in House Bill 3001. AGIA permits TC Alaska to construct a 1,715 mile natural gas line providing America with safe and domestic sources of energy. While we all know that oil will not always be a reliable source of energy in the future, right now it is essential to our economy. Because of Sarah Palin and Alaska we have secured a reliable domestic source. Amazingly, AGIA is only one of Palin’s accomplishments in office. She is a leader of Alaska Conservation Commission, Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, Alaska National Guard, and Governors Association National Resource Committee. Does Barak Obama do this much as Senator of Illinois?
In an MSNBC interview, former speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich was hounded about Sarah Palin’s qualifications compared to Obama. Gingrich responded that “Sarah Palin is a whistle blower who defeated an incumbent mayor and turned in the chairman of her own party and had him fined $12,000. When did Obama ever have the guts to do that?” While this response may not address Palin’s achievements, it certainly addresses her outstanding ethics.
Unfortunately, this is the very subject that has wrongly come into question in today’s news. Every last measure has been taken by Obama’s team to dig up secrets and destroy Sarah Palin’s good reputation. I find it somewhat humorous however to see how futile their attempts have been. The most democratic investigators could dig up was the Wootengate scandal. I applaud their efforts to bring down Palin and they came quite close, unfortunately for them, McCain’s camp was one step ahead.
Wootengate refers to Sarah Palin’s alleged abuse of office when she fired Public Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan, which he claims is because he wouldn’t fire a state trooper. I will admit that her actions may be just cause for an investigation, but what Obama’s camp conveniently left out was the reason for her actions. When they leaked the scandal to the press did they forget to tell us that the state trooper in question had been tazoring his ten year old son? There are two sides to every story. Whether she abused her office or stood up for a little boy is completely a matter of opinion.
When the incident was first being investigated by a legislative inquiry in January, prior to her Vice President nomination, Palin agreed to fully co-operate. However, when the issue became more of an attack by the Democratic Party rather than a bipartisan investigation, Palin obviously changed her mind. The legislative inquiry led by Democratic senator Hollis French was said to be “planning the investigation as an ‘October Surprise’ before election day.” What exactly is nonpartisan and fair about that? In response, Palin filed a complaint against herself with the Alaska State Personnel Board, which investigates ethics complaints against executive branch employees. Going through this system will allow Palin to be fairly investigated without party intervention. Many have called her a coward, but what exactly is cowardly about refusing to be pushed around and targeted? This so called scandal has revealed more about the tricks of Obama’s campaign than it has anything about Sarah Palin’s ethics.
Sarah Palin has shown us time after time that she is capable of holding her own with the men who dominate politics. Not only does this portray much of her character but it empowers women everywhere. She is mother of five children with a 16 year reign in politics and numerous substantial achievements. What can’t she do? It’s time for Sarah Palin to make history, a second time.

Authors Note:
This is definately my first draft of the article. I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked writing it and I know there is room for a lot of improvement.

Any time of corrections or suggestions is welcome!