How can I, as a feminist, have a problem with Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter situation?  How can I, the self-proclaimed "breeding feminist" take issue with this woman's choice to continue this election campaign despite some very messy family business?  Shouldn't I, as a feminist, believe that her choices are hers to own, and none of her personal or family life has any bearing on her ability to be an effective leader?

Well, the answers are simple, but they are not as easy as "because she's Republican" or "because she goes against everything I believe in."  No, it is more than that.

Idaho Senator Larry Craig (R) was publicly outted as a gay man after his embarrassing 2007 arrest in an airport bathroom.  His own party was furious with him.  Why was this so scandalous?  It wasn't because he was gay.  There are plenty of gay politicians, and most people don't care one tiny bit, least of all me.

No, it was so scandalous because he's an outspoken homophobe who has voted down gay rights every chance he's had.  Simply put, I don't give a shit that he's a queer – I give a shit that he's a hypcrite.  He's a queer who hates other queers, and uses his hate to deny them civil liberties.

Now this leads me back to Palin.  We all know she's got a knocked up kid, and that part I could care less about.  I'm the child of two teen parents.  No big deal.  BUT – and oh, this is a very big BUT – I do care that she has consistenly voted against teen pregnancy prevention programs, she believes in "Abstinence Only" campaigns, she is anti-choice even in the case of rape or incest, and to top it off she has voted against funding to assist teen mothers and their babies.  Jesus…. what did those babies ever do to her?  So, she's pro-life, but only before the baby is born?  Once the baby comes out she (and the other reds) don't really give a rats ass what happens to them.  Then she has the audacity to say that she is "proud" that her daughter made the "choice" to have the baby.  Um… hold on Mom… she had a "choice?"

So Sarah Palin is a woman who hates other women (unless they're her daughter.)  Yes folks, THIS is the part I have a problem with.  She wants to run YOUR life with her dangerous public policies, but can't run her own child's.

And I have a major problem with the fact that she's got a brand new special needs 4 month old BABY at home (and clearly a teenager in need of some guidance) but she seems to have plenty of time to run for VP and try to pass her anti-feminist policies off on others.  Before you go saying I'm a sexist, I will tell you that I would have said the same exact thing about a male candidate.  I wouldn't tolerate my husband running off to campaign for two months leaving me to deal with a mess like the Palin's have.  My husband does exactly 50% of the household chores and childrearing around here, just as I think EVERY husband should.  Mine even hyphenated his last name with mine so I wouldn't have to compromise my feminist ideals to get married.  So I think it's safe to say that I hold men to the same exact standards I hold women to, especially when it comes to parenting.

I could go on and on about why I think Palin is a ridiculous choice for VP, but I need to focus my energy now on trying to keep those two Red nuts from being elected, or trying to figure out how to gain Canadian citizenship if they do.