The gender gap

I agree with you to some degree. People get pregnant because they are having sex, that is not sexist, that is a natural occurance. Don't have sex if you do not want to get pregnant. It only takes one time. All goes to self control or the lack of it. That is a message that needs to be preached and lived out by everyone – personal responsibility. Life is not fair and there are no guarantees. I personally would not want the job of being president, would you? I worked for a hearing officer for 8 years in the nonsupport, protective order court in Louisiana and there is no amount of money to ever want to have this lady's job. I admire her as she would make her decisions based on the truth and facts. I am excited about Sarah Palin.....I can see her as president in the future!!!!!

I wish the Republicans would stop babying her and let her speak for herself. How can we expect her to speak to leaders of other countries when she won't even let the media question her on the hard topics. This kind of mess gets me so angry at the Republican party it's like pulling teeth.

But I'm sure, Jami, you believe your sexist "sweetie" Barack Obama is the man to get it done. Because, at the risk of being called racist, the statistics show that African American men have always held women in the highest regard.

Same old...same old....So called feminists that advocate accomplishments of women being recognized as long as those women are liberal women, not conservative women. If only you knew how transparent your motives are to those of us that are thrilled with Palin's success.

I am a working woman and I appreciate what Mrs. Palin has accomplished in her life. My concern is for her young child; he is only 4 months old and has Down's Syndome; she needs to be with him for at least a year.

Did you see how they have been handling him? He has been on stage constantly since she was nominated; If he was in hollywood under those lights for more than an hour, they would be charged with child abuse.

I am not saying that she can not be vice-president or president; but not now.

Also, she called herself a "pit bull in lipstick", she now has to prove that is what she is. She can not suddenly become a poodle and say the media is picking on her. Do you know anything about a pit bull; if they attack you, you must try to kill them.

I'm not sure how homicide being the leading cause of death for pregnant women contributes to the point of the article. As for the fitness of whomever is elected to office regarding progress for women, Obama did in fact champion equal pay for equal work at the DNC, Spider. And your sarcastic comment *is* racist.

It's ridiculous how suddenly with the appearance of Palin, people are comparing Obama to Palin. McCain and Biden drop out of the picture. Palin is *not* running for president and it's odd to hear so many comparisons being made.

People who get excited about this female potential VP need a reality check. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean gender equality will be on the rise if she gets that position. In fact, all Americans will feel the effects, and they won't be good. Those of you who admire her because of her gender need to look up the facts. Her radical beliefs, unethical practices, and abuse of the environment will take the whole country back generations in progress, IF the Republicans win, and IF this inexperienced would-be VP gets support in the sad legislature she would love to see pass.

From the little I have heard, it doesn't sound like Sarah Palin would help to make a difference with women's rights issues. She wouldn't be where she is today without several generations of women out there fighting for equality. When I first joined the workforce, women had jobs only women performed and were forbidden to even apply for "men's jobs". We were often turned down for a job if we were of child-bearing age because employers didn't want to deal with retraining and an employee that may be called home because of a sick child. It hasn't been that awfully long since women became news anchors and reporters–this was something always done by men!

Yes it's true, we still have a long way to go. Calling oneself a "pitbull with lipstick" doesn't impress me in the least. There is no need to over-compensate because we are women--all we need is to be qualified and self-confident. I'll be listening to hear how she handles other related issues.

Character and confidence are good qualities. What she has seems more like slease and deception to me.

She really does make Hillary look like Mother Teresa.

I for one am getting a little over the "clips" of Ms. Palin with her Down Symdrome baby prominently displayed in what seems to me to be a horrible misuse of that unfortunate childs condition to gain sympathy and promote Ms. Palin's agenda and party politics...

We dont seem to see prominently displayed, her 5 month prengant daughters condition...I guess only "certain" family values are selected to be promoted in the Republican party's politics. Not too much focus on the rising number of teen pregancies in this country. Married or not, this certainly does not wash as a "family's" moral compass in a party which unashamedly uses the values of the "Religious Right" to win support for their candidates. I guess the Republican party can pick and choose which values they use to get VOTES.

In my experience I have seen women making more, the same, and less than men doing comparable work with comparable background. Most often it is the same (or within +/- 3-5% which is negligible).

I'd like to see the studies that suggest the leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide. I'm not suggesting it isn't but I'd like to see it. And since it is "most studies" and not 'all studies' I'd also like to see those that suggest something else is the leading cause and what that cause might be.

I could readily believe that the pregnancy rate among teens is climbing and sharply so. What is the answer there?

As for other countries such as England, Pakistan, and Germany having already elected a woman to their highest office? No two ways to interpret that – the United States is still behind the leading countries of the world in this. I was excited about either the first female presidential candidate or the first minority. Since both were in the same party it couldn't be both but I'm just as pleased either way.

The time will come when we have a woman president. The stage has been set by Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Palin for the serious contention of future female candidates. And I couldn't be more pleased.

She can't even run her household let alone aid in running the country. She is just a token put out there by the republicans and right wing. Hmmm I wonder what happened to her "family values?"

What is it about Palin that American's like- her external appearance? Because if you look at her record, it is very self-serving and questionable. She came across well in her speech at the RNC but she did not write it. A speech writer began drafts before she was even chosen as McCain's running mate. And with McCain being the oldest Republican candidate to run for president, Palin is a heartbeat away from becoming our president. Absurd! If McCain is this sloppy about choosing a running mate, what will his cabinet be like? I'm seriously afraid for our future. This is an election, not a beauty pageant!

I agree with Richard, when do we hear something other than the canned speech from the convention? We still do not know her and McCain seems hell bent on keeping it that way. I think they are acting mad at the media so she doesn't have to answer any questions. I can't believe as Americans we are allowing anyone to run for the 2nd highest office who will not talk to us (free form)?!

Why is it that so many of Palin's defenders feel the need to support her by becoming insulting when anyone questions her ability to be a good VP? That implies there's no factual way to repel the attacker and demeans both Palin and her proponent. Why not just address the issues? Dump the name-calling and insinuations, and get down to issues and strategies.

And I want to hear more about Palin's extreme views; "get right with God"?! What does that mean exactly?

I can't imagine any woman who would vote for a woman who wants to take away your right to choose. Either I just don't know America like I thought I did (pretty much a free nation) where you choose (or not) your own religious beliefs, and what you do with your own body is your personal right (like privacy rights...) or maybe we've become so politically correct that we're afraid to stand up for ourselves. Why aren't the woman outraged?!

I just don't think Palin is all she's being made out to be and we might not find out if McCain keeps her under his thumb until it's too late.

She should be putting her special-needs child ahead of her ego...

Her daughters pregnancy has no relevance on anything.
Why not focus on something more important...like the fact she made a speech where she said 'The Iraq War is God's War' -this sounds all too familiar.....

The truly SAD and SCARY thing about this situation with Gov. Palin is that people (mainly women) are fawning over her simply because she's a woman!

We haven't heard a thing about her true beliefs, we can only gather from her background that she's: conservative, against a woman's right to choose, for banning books in some cases, she likes earmarks, and she exaggerates her accomplishments to the extent of baffoonery!

AND YET: Women still flock to her simply because she's a woman! Never mind the fact that she's under investigation: she's a woman, and that's all that seems to matter to her fans! (I tell you, the 'soccer mom' crowd is going to be our downfall if we don't watch out!)

...This woman must not get into Office!

(On a side note: There were sooo many other, better qualified, female candidates to choose from! Do you really think McCain chose her for her "abilities"??? - Hardly! I saw him checking out her a$$ while she was making her speech! No fewer than 5 times, really! I saw him checking out her backside! Ouch! Cindy McCain better keep a leash on him...I'm not saying I blame him! I'm just saying I wouldn't pick her as VP just because she's attractive!)

Do we really want a self proclaimed soccer mom leading our country? If you owned a business that was in crisis would you hire a self proclaimed soccer mom as your CEO? I agree that this woman is not what she appears to be. Watch the news. There are several reports surfacing. She has not addressed one single issue with a plan. All she does is bad mouth the dems. She won't even be interviewed. Women need to look at the issues and not vote gender.

The media has made this unknown woman into a celebrity overnight. She has brought over a large number of white women. I really hope these white women are for Palin for the right reason, don't vote for her JUST BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN! Look at her views, Palin and McCain are not going to CHANGE anything, they are BUSH supporters. She's not the right woman for the job. She's out there throwing rocks at the Democrates but when they start throwing rocks back at her, then white women will be crying, the boys are beating up on Sarah Palin, if women want to play in this political arena with the men, then take off the skirt and take the blows like a man, since you want to compete. There are no separate rules, just because you're a woman. Oh, and by the way, I am a woman and can go toe to toe with men, yeah, they throw some good ones at me, but, I don't cry, I just throw back harder!!!! But Palin is not the answer for our economy and foreign policy. Where is McCain, I thought he was running for President! Did he decide to give Sarah the postiion?

Why is Palin getting all the media attention, she's only running for VP. Where is McCain? They won't even mention the word "Republican" they are passing themselves off as democrates. I am tired of hearing the hockey mom story and the five kids. I know many women who take on this job everyday, she is not the only one. The news media has overcasted Obama's convention speech and where is Biden? The media doesn't even give Biden a second on the air. Come on media, this is a campaign here, give some equal time for the main candidates, Obama and McCain. The media has been drilling Obama for 20 months on who he is as a person and his background. Until the McCain camp allows the media to talk live and unscripted with Palin, then she does not need to be all over the television. I got to the point where I mute her because her high school voice is annoying. Also, McCain and Palin need to speak the truth. And they call themselves Christians, please!!!!

I was proud to be a member of the armed forces for this country for 20 plus years. We have all witnessed how the USA has lost its prestige and honor amongst all the nations of this world in the past 8 years. The Republicans want us to vote for a military hero from the 60s who wants to fight the Vietnam War all over again – except this time WIN. George W. Bush re-fought his father's war and we have seen what a mistake that has been in lost US lives and treasury. Palin is a joke. I'm sorry but I could not salute any person who is under investigation, parades her baby in front of the TV cameras, has not answered any questions from the news media, denies the damage we are doing to our planet, smears her opposition, and will tell a woman "bad luck – you still have to have a baby and WE (the Republicans) will force you," after she as been raped. Sorry John – your party should have nominated you in 2000 – your time has passed. Sorry Sara – deal with your own personal problems before you come on to the national stage. I would never salute George W. Bush – I would never salute Palin. I think America deserves a REAL CHANGE. This country voted for a state senator from Ilinois who became one of our best presidents – On Nov 4th – I hope and pray for our nation – we will do the same thing again.

I have been watching CNN and MSNBC all day. Can we get some coverage of the Obama campaign? Both networks showed no one but Sarah Palin and McCain. I'm sorry, but everyone is not a fan of these two people. I pay for this cable news network and I can also cancel this cable news network. I'm tired of hearing her lie about the bridge to no where. Please lets get some "CHANGE" here!!!!

Ohio advocate for Barack Obama and African American, I find Sarah Palin and (JOHN MCCain) appalling in many ways. The most recent ANTI-CHOCOLATE Rally In THE MID WEST posted by Sarah Palin 09/06/08 noted on the FAQ News Network "I don't see a chocolate face in the crowd" began McCain and continued "I see vanilla lovers and people that want to stop this country from letting it slip into the hands of those that aren't vanilla lovers"! Sarah McCain, oops Palin stated "READ my Lipstick, no more chocolate"

Yeah, actually "most studies" is pretty strong. Actually car accidents seem to be more prevalent as a cause of death than homicide for pregnant women. However, for black women, homicide is more likely than car accidents; in fact a black woman is 7 times as likely as a white woman to be murdered while pregnant. See http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/20316.php, for example. Perhaps this is what Jami Floyd got confused about.