Palin draws support from unlikely places

Washington Times:

Pro-choice Republican women, including one of their movement's best-known leaders, have embraced the strongly pro-life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCain's choice for running mate.

Somewhat surprisingly, Mrs. Palin has elicited enthusiasm not only from pro-choice Republican groups, but from many rank-and-file pro-choice Republican women.

Ann Stone, who founded Republicans for Choice in 1989 and has led it ever since, told The Washington Times that in picking Mrs. Palin, Mr. McCain did what he needed to do to make the Republican National Convention a success because Mrs. Palin will help the GOP ticket with pro-choice women.

"He did it on Friday. He picked a non-Washington fresh face, a woman who is totally out of the box," Mrs. Stone said. "She breaks all kinds of stereotypes - if Republicans can overcome the lies that the Democrats are already spreading about her."

"Do you think I have lost my mind to be excited over someone so anti-choice?" Mrs. Stone said. "Well, if Sarah Palin breaks through, it is great for all women. And the Democrats in the Senate will have to protect Roe vs. Wade, in spite of it all."

She was referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide and that abortion-rights advocates fear will be overturned by a more pro-life Supreme Court.

But the Palin pick is not a guaranteed winner for Mr. McCain.

"Palin is either an extraordinary political play or absolute suicide," said pro-choice Republican Wendeen Eolis, former first assistant to George E. Pataki when he was New York governor and top adviser to Rudolph W. Giuliani when he was New York mayor.

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Susan Johnson, a Republican-leaning businesswoman in Winter Park, Fla., told The Washington Times that even though hers is a pro-choice Republican family, she was "brought to tears" watching Mrs. Palin give her first nationally televised speech in Dayton, Ohio, on Friday when Mr. McCain announced her as his choice for running mate.

"My husband and I were so touched and inspired by seeing and hearing this eloquent woman who opposes abortion and is on the ticket - you have to keep in mind I am a pro-choice Republican woman," she said. "I find myself surprised that I am willing to compromise on something I feel so profoundly about."

Noting that Mrs. Palin chose to carry to term and gave birth in April to a child in she knew beforehand had Down syndrome, Mrs. Johnson said, "I have a profoundly disabled child myself, and I am not sure I could make the decision she made to have that child and put her money where her mouth is as a pro-life woman."

Palin is clearly someone who lives her beliefs. That is one of the things that makes her such an attractive candidate. She is also a change from Washington politicians, particularly Alaskan politicians in Washington. She has more executive experience than anyone in the race right now. She will be a real challenge for the Democrats to denigrate. Gail Collins and Maureen Dowd have both taken shots in teh last two days and have come off as petty.