Obama hasn't been tough on Palin

Kick Miller writes that Sen. Obama shouldn't criticize Gov. Palin.

If all this writer were concerned about is civility in campaigns, I would have no problem. But there are a number of factual errors:

Gov. Palin is a hockey mom, not a soccer mom. This is a small point but one that speaks to a larger issue. Hockey moms are a much smaller group than soccer moms. They tend to be in northern states, typically Caucasian and conservative. Soccer moms are in all states and as diverse as the whole population.

The flap about lipstick on a pig was a specious argument that Sen. Obama was criticizing Gov. Palin. He was not. Like Sen. McCain, Vice President Cheney and a host of others, Sen. Obama was using the expression in reference to a policy statement - not a person. The McCain/Palin campaign were the ones who blew it up to be something it wasn't.

Gov. Pailin is not talking to the press, but it is seems to be because the campaign handlers want to protect her from making vacuous statements as she did with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric. Perhaps she isn't speaking because she has run out of things to say?

Gov. Palin's "experience" is as mayor of a town smaller than some high schools in our area. While mayor she tripled spending. Then she became governor of a state that has fewer people than several cities in our state. A state where every person gets a check from big oil every year. Not what you would call real executive experience.

Gov. Palin is not yet a grandmother. She will be as soon as her underage daughter gives birth.

Apparently Kick Miller wasn't aware that Sen. Obama issued the strongest statement about candidates' families being off limits. Candidates, like Gov. Palin, are fair game. There are no specifics given about how Sen. Obama has criticized Gov. Palin's personal life, but I think it fair to question Gov. Palin's statements and beliefs. The Republicans have tried for years to claim they are the party of "family values."

So it is only fair that a candidate's stands on issues - even issues related to family - be questioned. The implication is that Sarah Palin is off limits because she is a woman or a mom. How ridiculous when vigorous scrutiny is given everything every male candidate has said, or even people he may have once met have said.

I would recommend checking facts before spouting off.

Tim Springer

Batavia