Does McCain lose educated conservatives with this Palin thing?

[Anonymous]

I am a well educated conservative (female) who was happily thinking that I was going to vote for McCain come November. I have changed my mind. This is a bit much. Am I the only one?

[Anonymous]

Nope. I've heard it from many people. It's a bummer. I would have loved Lieberman or Ridge.

[Anonymous]

Until the dust settles I really don't know what to think. I have been a McCain supporter since 2000 and I was happy to see him win the primaries.

[Anonymous]

Republicans like you give m a little more reassurance than what I have heard from other conservatives, thinking of the bigger picture.

[Anonymous]

I was intrigued by Obama until his speech at the convention. I like the man, but his politics are standard liberal fare and the convention highlighted that. I decided to support McCain. I was pleased with the Sarah Palin nom. I don't take issue with her daughter being pregnant, but I don't believe the spin for 1 second that McCain knew and was fine with that-- therefore I am left questioning the honesty of the candidate. I will either take another look at Obama or see how this plays out but in many ways I feel that McCain handed this election to Obama.

[Anonymous]

Most of my co workers (doctors) who were pro McCain are now speechless. They can't find the words to support this now. I am still probably going to vote republican for all the congressional spots, but the McCain thing is now VERY hard. I need to be able to justify this with my dd, and that is a hard thing to do.

[Anonymous]

I don't know many conservatives but do know a good number of moderate Republicans that have changed their minds as a result of the Palin nomination. The idea of someone so unprepared for any office at the national level being a heartbeat away from the presidency (especially with McCain being 72) is too terrifying. Four years of a democrat are much better to many than the dangerous risk McCain/Palin represent.

Although McCain always held some conservative positions they didn't seem to define him the way they do know thta Palin is on the ticket. I know a few who do not want distracts from a duo pushing to overturn Roe v Wade by appointing ultra conservative justices or get into religious issues at the national level.

[Anonymous]

Democrat here - but I just wanted to say that it is such a relief to read this thread so far. Palin just seems like such a frightening choice from this end.

[Anonymous]

Wanted to second PP. The idea of someone with sub-zero experience as a leader of the free world is too hard to bear...

[Anonymous]

I am conservative and anti abortion. The teen pregnancy thing just seems to be a bad example from the perspective of early sex. I don't want that flying out there as an example for my dd. The lack of experience is more problematic than the Clarence Thomas or Harriet Myers thing.

[Anonymous]

See David Brooks column in NYTimes. He had an interesting spin in how McCain chose someone who was like him (maverick, strong-willed) when he needed someone who was a good administrator and negotiator to balance his tendencies. His criticism does not fall along typical party lines. Of course, as an angry Democrat, I can think of many more critical things to say . . .but read the Brooks column.