Red Shoes

This past week has been a tremendous turning point in GOP politics and especially for women. I watched the DNC with baited breath, waiting for Hillary supporters to get their vote on the convention floor, and was dismayed when they were shoved under the rug. I passed on the Obama the Emperor speech and went to bed with excitement knowing that the GOP would announce their VP pick on Friday morning.

I am one of those GOP party baser that was not happy with the GOP party. I spent the past few months deliberating if I was even going to vote in this election. Glued to Foxnews the speculation swirled and I watched in amazement as John McCain pegged his running mate, Sarah Palin the Governor of Alaska! I called my mother in WA state and said turn on the TV, McCain picked a woman. Then called my best friend with the same message. I sat mezmorized as Gov. Palin walked out when introduced and tears fell down my face. A woman! I can't believe it. It was like God had sent down manna from heaven. I did not even know much about Gov. Palin but knew that any woman (party affliation excluded) that could mayor a small town (like the one I live in of less than 10K people) make a run for Governor and win, and manage a family was impressive to say the least. The media started going down her resume and lo' and behold she was a reformer. This woman actually worked for the people who elected her.

The phone calls did not stop all morning, all my gal pals were jazzed. John McCain seemed to do the inevitable solidify his party's base, bring an unknown reformer governor into the national arena and give women all over America something to cheer about. Sarah Palin is new to national politics but not new to a dog fight and the ole dog in McCain saw something in her that has galvanized women from every party.

There is a little bit of her that every woman can relate to, either being a wife or mother of a special needs child, having teens that rebel against the good wisdom you give them, children in the military, or seeing issues in your city/town/state that need correcting and having the fortitude to seek out change for them, working 9-5 or in my case 6-10 as a small business owner. No matter where you stand or what direction American women view of her, they can see a little sliver of themselves in Sarah Palin. It is the greatest joy to see a Republican woman on the National stage, and it great day for all women, because Sarah Palin is going to be someone who will stand up to the good ole boys and be unyielding for America, not just a party line.

Sarah Palin's name on the Presidental ticket has shown every little girl, young woman, and middle america mom, that you can have it all, you can succeed wherever your heart's desires take you in life. Last Friday, I was proud to be a Republican, proud to be an American and very very proud to be a woman. My only wish was that I had a daughter to share the moment. And the best laugh I got from the whole day, was my best friend who is more about style than politics calling saying "I am voting for her! She even wears Red Shoes!"