This Hillary Democrat won't vote for Palin : Opinion L.A. : Los Angeles Times



This Hillary Democrat won't vote for Palin
Janice Hahn was still hurting early in the Democratic convention week over the fact that her candidate, Hillary Clinton, did not get the presidential nomination and won't be on the ticket. "I think this may have been the last chance in my lifetime to elect a woman president," said the Los Angeles councilwoman.

But that doesn't mean this ardent Democrat will consider a vote for John McCain, now that he has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running-mate.

"I think when all is said and done it was always about more than having a woman in the White House," Hahn said by phone shortly after 11 a.m. Denver time, as her plane home was about to begin taxiing. "John McCain's priorities are just not in line with most women's. The stakes are just too high. Hillary said it in her speech. 'Were you in it just for me?'"

Hahn may be typical of most women Democrats in Denver over the last week. She is the first woman elected to office from a family of staunch Democratic men (all of whom served, however, mostly in nonpartisan office): Her late father Kenneth Hahn, the legendary county supervisor; her uncle Gordon Hahn, a state assemblyman and councilman; and her brother Jim Hahn, Los Angeles mayor, city attorney and controller.

McCain can be assumed to be trying to reach Hillary Clinton supporters who are rooted less deeply in Democratic politics than the Hahns.

2005 photo of Janice Hahn by the Times' Al Seib

Posted by Robert Greene on August 29, 2008 in Barack Obama , Campaign 2008 , John McCain | Permalink

Comments
Great point, it really looks like Palin is designed to FOOL women voters, which McCain should know u cannot do.

Posted by: aaron johnson | August 29, 2008 at 12:27 PM

Most Democratic women voters will see through the Palin selection by McCain for the ploy that it is, and vote for Barack Obama for President.

Posted by: Sheldon | August 29, 2008 at 12:31 PM

It would be so sad if Hillary's women fans were to really fall for such a cheap shot. Sure, some women may still be angry, but if they really love Hillary, they would never vote for a woman who seems to stand for ideals opposite to those Hillary has. Does an anti-abortion rights, gun crazy conservative woman strike anyone as a feminist who would really care for what women have to say? Seems to me she would be a good one to walk 3 steps behind McCain and stay quietly in her place unless directed to say or do something.

Posted by: Liana | A



Only 2 years ago Palin was the mayor of a town with a population around 6,000. This qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the US presidency how? Even worse when the Presidential candidate in question is a 72 yr old who has had health problems.That's downright scary. I didn't like Hillary's campaign tactics but there's no comparison between her and Palin, sorry.

Posted by: Jen |



This is such a shallow choice by McCain. Such a purely political move. It shows a huge lack of judgment on his part. Sarah Palin isn't even close to being ready to be President.

Posted by: Jonny M | August 29, 2008 at 02:57 PM

The Palin pick is simply meant to Exploit women. IT shows the republican party is completely out of touch with the US public. Obama just won the presidency. McCain needed to solidify and inspire the republican base. HE just lost them with this pick. He can no longer argue experience. He has absolutely




Hillary Democrats will NOT vote for Palin.

Obama has not convinced me to vote for Obama - Sarah Palin has.

Until this morning I was leaning towards McCain esp. if he chose moderate like Lieberman.

Now I'm actually going to vote for Obama which a few days ago was out of the question. I am dismayed and alarmed by McCain's choice.

Even more so because out of the woodwork come all the extreme right-wingers who might not have otherwise voted, to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Those are the people you guys should be worried about - Hillary supporters (including me) were rightfully upset at the way she was treated and we are much smarter than most of the pro-Obama bloggers understand. Which is why we will, in fact, finally vote for Obama.

Posted by: Sarah | August 29, 2008 at 07:27 PM

Oops . Think McCain shot himself in the foot with women and the hillary voters.

he must be senile.

Peach, you're mssing the point. There are three levels of the Hillary/Palin effect:

Those who actual switch their vote (likely few)

Those who don't vote as a protest or because they are no longer excited about the dems. (More).

Those who who hold their noses and vote BUT don't give time or money to the campaign (many more).

How big these numbers are depend on Palin's performance. You can guess all you want that she won't do well but that's all you're doing is guessing.

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Fanatically Moderate.

Her extreme anti abortion views (no exception for rape or incest) will not sit well with the vast majority of Clinton voters nor will the transparency of a pick made only for gender reasons. What does McCain and the GOP think women are...a bunch of little kids? I think, as your post points out, many women will be offended by this pick...particularly Clinton voters. After all, Palin is not a substitute for Hillary, even the suggestion is insulting.

I'm insulted . I think Mccain must be senile at best with this pick.

Just because she is pro choice doesn't mean that Roe vs Wade will be overturned. Get a grip.

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OB says I am on ignore.

Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. ~Ronald Reagan

Goverment takes from the needy and gives to the greedy, Ronald Reagan

I think you are the one that needs to get a grip...you wrote that Palin was "pro choice" when I believe you mean she is pro life.

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"Peach & Upton", thanks for both of your post. I hope these post represent the views of the majority of those voters targeted by this strange event.

Like "Upton" states, it really is an insult to assume that those Democratic women that supported Hilliary Clinton did so entirely becaue of thier gender: I find that the ultimate insult to these women. I also suspect that as this scheme emerges past the hype that the targeted voters will also find it disgusting & insulting.

This entire issue reminds me very much of the master-of-deception, Karl Rove: he is a master at playing loose & reckless with the system by which "we the people" select our government. ...pjwky

You're focusing on Hillary voters who were also hard core liberals but she had/has a very strong appeal with independents. It will only take a small percentage of this group to switch votes (keep in mind McCain does well with independents as well) or stay home to swing the election.

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Fanatically Moderate.

All of you that think Independents will go for Palin just because she's a woman are all so wrong.

Issues that affect the American people are paramount to independent voters,not race, religion or gender.

That's why we got out of the cesspool and became Independents in the first place.