Does Gender Trump Ideology?

MSNBC reporter Andrea Mitchell posted a compelling question after McCain nominated Gov. Sarah Palin as his VP running mate today. Does gender trump ideology? This is a good question.

Will women vote for McCain/Palin because of Palin's female gender, regardless of whether they agree with her on the issues?

Her gender should not determine the vote. That would be sex discrimination against men.

In the workplace setting, it is clear that it is against the law to select someone just because of gender. The only relevant question is the ability to perform the job.

It will remain to be seen whether the candidates have the skills, training, and ability to lead our country into the next generation. We'll be watching!

Pre-RNC: Palin - We Can Shatter the Glass Ceiling Once and For All

Governor Sarah Palin introduced herself to the voters today. When she accepted McCain's invitation to run for Vice President, she praised Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton for paving the way for women to break the glass ceiling. Picking up on Clinton's words from the DNC, she honored Clinton for leaving "18 million cracks in the highest hardest ceiling in America."

Women aren't finished yet, she said. "We can shatter that ceiling once and for all!"

She said her mission is clear - to "take our message of reform to every voter of every background in every political party, or no party at all."

I'm watching for the common ground between the Democrats and the Republicans during this election. Both parties seem to agree (finally) that women can lead in the highest posts of our government.

Pre-RNC: McCain Names Gov. Sarah Palin as VP Running-Mate - Who is She?

Republicans are making this election historic too. Sen. John McCain just announced that he has chosen Governor Sarah Palin to run for Vice President - the first woman to serve on the Republican ticket.

Who is she? In addition to serving as the first female governor of Alaska, she's married to a Native Yup'ik Eskimo and the mother of five children, including a son who serves the Army infantry brigade scheduled to deploy to Iraq next month, a 4-month-old infant son, and three daughters.

Second place winner of the Miss Alaska beauty pagent in the 80s, she won Miss Congeniality and helped to pay her way through college. She has a bachelor's in journalism from the University of Idaho, with a minor in politics. She served as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations, admits she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska (but claims she didn't like it), and is a lifetime member of the NRA.

What has she done? Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council in the early 90s, and she kept her campaign promises to reduce her own salary and worked to reduce property taxes by 60%.

As Governor of Alaska, based on her understanding of a state Supreme Court ruling, she used her first veto to grant State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples by blocking legislation that would have prevented these benefits. She didn't agree with the court's ruling but implemented it - in what some say was deference to the state constitution - despite her personal views.

But she doesn't agree that citizens who happen to be gay deserve the right to marry. Alaska was one of the first states to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage, and she agreed. She still opposes same-sex marriage, although she says she has gay friends and is receptive to their concerns about discrimination.

We will learn more about Governor Sarah Palin in the days to come. History is in the making before our very eyes.