Sarah Palin is exactly what America doesn't need

Sep 7 2008 Elaine C. Smith

I AGREE with Sarah Palin's comment about hockey moms.

The Republican vice presidential candidate said the only difference between the sport-loving parents and a pitbull was lipstick.

Having stood at the school gates with the Scottish version, I can tell you she is right...and I was one of them.

When it comes to our kids most mums will fight to the death.

Mind you, most Scots mums wouldn't relish being called dugs.

My worst fear is another Republican in the White House.

Her speech to the Republican convention reminded me of that Thatcherite appeal to the worst in people.

All that, "I'm going to Washington to fight for you, I'm just one of you," is always a winner but I think it hides huge ego and ambition.

Palin may seem to be a likeable cheerleader but she believes abortion is wrongevenin cases of incest. Anyone whopeddles that idea is a very dangerous person to be in a position of power.

Running for vice president in a gruelling campaign will not allow her much time with her baby and five other kids.

I am the last to say mums shouldn't work but I have never had to put in the hours she will have to.

I had a husband, a mum, a childminder and that was only for two kids. And that was hard enough.

The sight of her eight-year-old sitting with the new baby during her mum's speech made me very uneasy but it might play well to the ordinary folks in the States. It's certainly given John McCain and the Republicans good coverage but it's just made him look a lot older. It'll be interesting to see just how she performs without days of being tutored by George Bush's team of speechwriters and coaches.

As for catching the female vote, I feel insulted that I would support a candidate simply because she is a woman.

Palin may be a woman but I am more interested in what she stands for.

As a gun-toting, right-wing Christian from Alaska, she and Hillary Clinton are light years apart. The 18 million women who voted for Clinton won't automatically change their votes.