Cliffs Notes for Sarah Palin's debate

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is America's Affirmative Action candidate. Everything opponents of the controversial civil rights measure claim is wrong with affirmative action has all but vanished into thin air. With Palin now on the McCain ticket Republicans have amnesia.

Despite Palin's basic success as mayor of a teeny-tiny town and a very short time as a governor, her most recent television interviews with ABC News's Charles Gibson and CBS Anchor Katie Couric might appear she is below average in qualifications to be vice president and a heartbeat away from the rresidency should she and McCain win in November.

Republican adversaries of affirmative action argue that minorities are given chances due to purposefully set inferior standards to create opportunity. Hence, resentment may come from a more qualified middle-aged white male who was passed over because of political expediency. In this case, Senator Joe Lieberman or former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney might be resentful, but both declare they are thrilled with Palin as the most "qualified" candidate for the job. They too support the affirmative action move of bringing Palin in.

Sarah Palin receives social promotion and free passes from Republicans despite her obvious lack of coherency when she articulates. It's become quite visible she has tremendous difficulty thinking analytically when it comes to matters on foreign policy and the nation's economy. Palin is a case in point of what opponents of affirmative action would call someone who has low level accountability in her new position. The McCain campaign hides her from most of the press and they are on constant watch over her.

In reality, Palin's selection for the running mate slot fills a gender "quota." This is a fightin' word for Republicans. They will step into the ring with you if you use that dirty word. Honest conservatives would say the Palin pick is plain old-fashion preferential treatment of a minority who is ill equipped to handle the job. Republicans, however, are willing to give her on-the-job training, Cliffs Notes and an advanced copy of a mastery test to try and get her qualified. The Palin pick is very sad, but possibly a workable attempt to convince Americans, particularly women, that to be less than average for one of the top spots in the world may be okay. All right, it's about winning.

If Palin is seen as a quota selection then her candidacy represents the most severe criticism Republicans offer against affirmative action - that it demeans true achievement of women and minorities. There is growing concern by women, even from conservatives such as Kathleen Parker, who wrote in the National Review Online last week that her "cringe reflex is exhausted" after watching the Alaska governor stumble through TV interviews. "As we've seen and heard more from John McCain's running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn't know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion," writes Parker.

Although Palin represents everything Republicans hate about affirmative action, they are now willing to flip flop to get their gal in. Though no one wants to use this term again, this is what's called putting "lipstick on a pig." 

The debate this Thursday between Palin and Biden is a huge final entrance exam to prove to the American public that she is up to the challenge. Maybe because she is studying very hard to remember her talking points and she can throw a quick punch with her one-liners, she could possibly fool the media and women. Although she might be the affirmative action candidate Republicans usually denounce, with their help she may be genuinely ready for the job some day.