What to Do About Matthew Scully and Sarah Palin

I received dozens of e-mails, and not just from Animal Person readers, asking what I think we should do about Matthew Scully and Sarah Palin (some people asked only about the latter and never heard of the former, but did share my disappointment when I told them who wrote her speech).

Here are my thoughts:

• Forget about Matthew Scully. He’s not an animal rights advocate, he’s a staunch Catholic and conservative, and other than wanting "mercy" for animals (and that’s even a stretch, as I wouldn’t say mercy), we have nothing in common. We don’t have the same values. We don’t want the same things for this country. And realistically, we don’t want the same thing for animals.
• I think about Howard Lyman and of course say to myself: "If that guy can change, anybody can." But I’ve read his book, I’ve seen him interviewed, and at no point did I feel like he enjoyed killing anyone. He didn’t look forward to it and relish it. And for me, that’s an important distinction. Sarah Palin (the "killa from Wasilla" likes to kill. But if Matthew Scully can somehow make a dent in that kind of mentality, god bless him. However I’m not holding my breath or spending any more energy on that.
• I belong to oodles of lists about politics–from both sides–and perhaps you do too. If you do, you’ve been getting links to articles, as well as letters from Executive Directors, about Palin’s views. This, in my opinion, is all I need. Here’s what MoveOn.org has to say:

Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God’s task." She’s even admitted she hasn’t thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq." 1, 2

Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its ‘inspiring convention.’" 3

Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn’t made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact.4

Palin doesn’t believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I’m not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." 5

Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. 6

Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn’t even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. 7

Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She’s said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. 8

As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor." 9

She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." 10

Sources

1. "Palin: Iraq war ‘a task that is from God’," Associated Press, September 3, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24701&id=13709-10463608-LIaaQux&t=6

2. "Palin wasn’t ‘really focused much’ on the Iraq war," ThinkProgress, August 30, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24702&id=13709-10463608-LIaaQux&t=7
3. "The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
4. "McCain and Palin differ on issues," Associated Press, September 3, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24703&id=13709-10463608-LIaaQux&t=8
5. Ibid
6. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.
9. "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record," Time, September 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24704&id=13709-10463608-LIaaQux&t=9
10. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

Finally, I will mention one personal thing that I found disturbing: Trig, Palin’s newest child who has Down Syndrome, is being treated like a prop. I saw two entire segments on the news about who held Trig at the convention, following him around from person to person, ending with him being held by his mother at the end, at the pivotal moment where the McCains and the Palins were being applauded and confetti was falling all over them, and I found it all distasteful (of course this is on Fox-type news channels). The newspeople talked about how "real" she is because her son has Down Syndrome and her teenage daughter is pregnant. I could pick both of those kids out of a line-up, but I have no idea what the other three look like. And don’t even try to tell me that that’s an accident. We all know that everything about that evening was well-choreographed. I don’t think any campaign should be about a candidate’s children. But if you don’t, then you shouldn’t parade them around and focus so much attention on the ones who might help your campaign.

PS-Just returned from the grocery store (time to come to terms with the hurricane situation and prepare) and saw three magazine covers with Palin holding Trig. No other family members–just the two of them.