In a Friday press release, U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard called Republican presidential nominee John McCain's selection of little known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate a "brilliant selection."
PalinAlaskan Dude/Flickr
Describing Palin as "the only true Washington outsider on either ticket," Allard focused on her skills as "a reformer with executive leadership experience and an intimate knowledge of western land issues and energy policy that we desperately need in Washington."
While the mainstream media has pounced on Palin's gender as a source of focus, Allard used it to highlight the GOP's often under-reported achievements when it comes to breaking down racial and gender barriers. "This selection continues the tradition of breaking important historical barriers we Republicans have always valued. The first
African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American U.S. Senators, the first female Justice appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the first female National Security Advisor and now the first female Vice President will all have been Republicans. When we Republicans talk about 'breaking the glass ceiling' we are serious."
Of course, it wouldn't be a week in the presidential campaign without a reference to "change" - Allard closed by using a perhaps tongue-in-cheek reference to the DNC's catch phrase. "I commend Senator McCain for picking a running mate who stands for the true change we need in Washington," he said.
While Palin's gender - and her relative inexperience at a youthful 44 - will lead to the suggestion that she was merely granted the spot because she is a woman. We hope the cynics are wrong and we'll look forward to giving Palin the chance to prove herself in St. Paul over the coming week.