Palin's Social Views

By BJ

Cernig already noted Sarah Palin's less-than-knowledgable answer regarding "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance on the Eagle Forum's questionnaire, but to truly appreciate just how far to the right Palin is on social issues, you really need to read all of her responses, though I'll note the first four questions and answers as they have some bearing on recent news and her position on women's rights.

[The first question asks whether or not abortion should be legal at varying stages of pregnancy or banned completely]

SP: I am pro-life. With the exception of a doctor’s determination that the mother’s life would end if the pregnancy continued. I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending an innocent’s life.

2. Will you support the right of parents to opt out their children from curricula, books, classes, or surveys, which parents consider privacy-invading or offensive to their religion or conscience?
SP: Yes. Parents should have the ultimate control over what their children are taught.

3. Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
SP: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

4. Will you support efforts to raise or lower the mandatory age of education? Why or why not?
SP: No, again, parents know better than government what is best for their children.

The rest of her responses include an unwillingness to expand hate-crime legislation, and a couple of slams against same-sex couples. McCain has clearly decided to throw in with the "agents of intolerance" this time around.