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Area GOP embraces the choice
Staff writer
Twenty-four years after Democrat Walter Mondale chose New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro as the first woman to appear as a vice presidential candidate on a major-party ticket, everyone was talking Friday about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
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A campaign staffer in Washington referred questions to Paul Lindsay, McCain's spokesman for Ohio and Pennsylvania, who confirmed in mid-afternoon that Palin would be appearing jointly with John and Cindy McCain.
Volunteer Lyn Tinkey of South Strabane Township tuned a portable radio to pick up any station carrying news of McCain's choice Friday morning, about a half-hour before the campaign sent out an e-mail message.
"They wouldn't fib on the radio, would they?" she asked.
Once the word was out, the excitement at the Republican headquarters was palpable.
"I think it's great that it's a woman," said Amy Pascuzzi of Washington at the Republicans' office on East Maiden Street as she secured two tickets to today's rally at Consol Energy Park. "I don't know much about her, but what I do know is very interesting. It'll be very interesting. Go, McCain!"
Richard and Nancy Lancaster, who retired to Key Largo, Fla., after living in the North Hills, are planning to go to McCain's rally.
"Women are just as smart as a man, as far as that goes," Nancy Lancaster said.
Richard A. Yeager, chairman of the Greene County Republican Committee, was initially a little disappointed that McCain didn't pick former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as his running mate. But the more he learns of Palin, the more he likes her.
"I think there are a lot of Republicans who are surprised right now, but as they find out more about her credentials, I think they will be very happy," he said.
"She's an extremely conservative lady, very outspoken. This was a very bold move, and I think people in the Obama camp are pretty worried right now, because I think a lot of Hillary supporters are going to jump to our side."
Greene County Commission Chairman Pam Snyder, a delegate pledged to Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, won't be one of them.
Snyder said by phone from Colorado the day after the Democratic convention wrapped up, "Most of America doesn't know who this woman is. I never heard of her 'til today."
Snyder compared her experience at the convention nominating Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden as the Democrats' team to that of 2004, when Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards were the candidates.
"I'm coming out of here feeling more united than we did then," Snyder said. "This campaign is not about gender, and it is not about race. It is about issues in this country and our standing in this world, and that's what we need to focus on.
"Electing John McCain president is like electing a third term of George Bush, and that's the last thing this country needs. Yes, I am a Hillary supporter and love Hillary Clinton, but this convention made me see what change we do need for this country here at home and abroad."
Washington County Commissioner Diana L. Irey, the lone Republican on the board who will be emceeing the McCain rally today, received a text message at the Tanger Outlet grand opening Friday morning about the Palin choice.
"I think it's a great decision," said Irey, who has been following Palin's career for the past six months. "Sarah Palin is someone who will be able to relate to the average American. McCain's experience and Sarah Palin, that's a very strong ticket."
Palin, a mother of five, is a self-described hockey mom who has a son in the military who's headed for Iraq. Her youngest child, just 5 months old, has Down syndrome.
"This is an individual who can relate to Americans in a different way than John McCain," Irey said. "It's someone I can definitely get behind and support to win."
Staff writer Cara Host contributed to this story.
Sarah Palin : 8/30/2008
We're former Greene County residents who have moved to Alaska. Sarah Palin has done a great job so far as Governor here. The best thing about her is her integrity. She stood up to the "old school" and won. The public here really admires and respects her.
Pandering with Palin : 8/30/2008
McCain chooses someone with no national or international experience, whose only experience in elected office as a city councilor and mayor of a town with less than half the population of Washington, PA, (according to the 2000 census) and as Governor of a state with a population roughly a quarter the size of the Pittsburgh Metro area. She received a total of 909 votes when she won the mayorship of Wasilia. In the Alaskan 2006 Gubernatorial the vote total that placed her in the Governor's office was equal to about half of the total population of Washington County. Now McCain has decided to place her a heartbeat away from the Presidency of the greatest nation on the planet for no other reason that to capture votes by pandering. While Ms. Palin may be a capable and admirable person, she is in no way qualified to be our Commander in Chief should something (God forbid!) happen to Senator McCain.
