Question: Was Sarah Palin chosen to be John McCain's running-mate just for her looks?
Answer: It is undeniable that Palin is a very attractive woman. She placed second in an Alaskan beauty contest to help pay for college and her looks continue to cause some to wonder if that's all there is to her candidacy.
Regardless of her attractiveness, Palin has earned a reputation as a reformer in Alaska and her popularity among the state's citizens was often in the 80th percentile. Certainly there are more entrenched and experienced women the campaign could have chosen to be McCain's running-mate, but few (if any) of them have the combination of good looks, a respectable resume and a history of conservative stick-to-it-iveness that Palin eventually wound up bringing to the ticket.
Unfortunately, Palin's looks have became a focal point for many suspicious women voters, who insisted on singling her out and labeling her "unqualified" because she happens to be attractive.
Ironically, this isn't the first time a candidate's looks raised these questions. After the Republican primary, there was considerable speculation that former Massachussetts Gov. Mitt Romney's good looks would make him a shoo-in for the GOP ticket. Undoubtedly it had to be factored into what he brought to the table, but it certainly wouldn't have been the final determining factor. Romney's ability to shore up the conservative base would have been more important than how he looks. The same goes for Palin.
In a way, Palin's good looks have actually worked against her -- and the McCain team. In this day and age, being too attractive can be a woeful liability. In the end, though, the totality of what Palin brings to the ticket reaches far beyond her beauty, although her beauty has certainly raised the profile of the campaign.
Sarah Palin FAQ Index
Regardless of her attractiveness, Palin has earned a reputation as a reformer in Alaska and her popularity among the state's citizens was often in the 80th percentile. Certainly there are more entrenched and experienced women the campaign could have chosen to be McCain's running-mate, but few (if any) of them have the combination of good looks, a respectable resume and a history of conservative stick-to-it-iveness that Palin eventually wound up bringing to the ticket.
Unfortunately, Palin's looks have became a focal point for many suspicious women voters, who insisted on singling her out and labeling her "unqualified" because she happens to be attractive.
Ironically, this isn't the first time a candidate's looks raised these questions. After the Republican primary, there was considerable speculation that former Massachussetts Gov. Mitt Romney's good looks would make him a shoo-in for the GOP ticket. Undoubtedly it had to be factored into what he brought to the table, but it certainly wouldn't have been the final determining factor. Romney's ability to shore up the conservative base would have been more important than how he looks. The same goes for Palin.
In a way, Palin's good looks have actually worked against her -- and the McCain team. In this day and age, being too attractive can be a woeful liability. In the end, though, the totality of what Palin brings to the ticket reaches far beyond her beauty, although her beauty has certainly raised the profile of the campaign.
Sarah Palin FAQ Index
- Why did Sarah and Todd Palin announce that their teenage daughter was pregnant?
- Was Sarah Palin chosen to be John McCain's running-mate just because she's attractive?
- Will Sarah Palin's family get in the way of her duties as vice-president?
- Did Sarah Palin commit nepotism as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska
- Did Sarah Palin propose banning books at the Wasilla Public Library?
- Did Sarah Palin try to have her former brother-in-law fired from his job as an Alaska State Trooper?
- Did Sarah Palin ever support the "Bridge to Nowhere"?
- Will Sarah Palin’s interview with Katie Couric factor into the VP Debate?
- Is Sarah Palin's "folksy" talk all an act?
- Are Todd and Sarah Palin really getting a divorce?
