I had a night full of the RNC, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite clips from tonight’s coverage. I watched PBS’ NewsHour with Jim Leher and switched over to CNN periodically. The former Lt. Gov. of Maryland spoke and it was good to have a black Republican featured to keep up the idea that the Republican Party is diverse. “Drill baby drill, and drill now!” was his commentary about our dependence on foreign oil. Although Palin has fought big oil, she wants to drill in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge. “Let’s keep Al Gore’s private jet on the ground” said Mitt Romney. I didn’t think that was really necessary…other than just to come out against Gore. And how is McCain going to “defeat radical Islam” if our image abroad doesn’t improve? Romney made a SUPER right-wing speech. He was actually pretty moderate even when he was running, and even more so in office as Massachusetts’ governor, so I thought his speech was out of character. Mike Huckabee came out and said McCain has “stubborn integrity.” Not quite sure what that’s supposed to mean, but it doesn’t sound good. In reference to Obama’s recent trip to Europe, Huckabee said he was afraid Obama had brought back “European ideas that destroy our ideals.” That’s just a preposterous statement that doesn’t belong in his speech. I thought the speeches given by Huckabee and Romney were borderline unprofessional and out of place. More to come on Palin’s speech…I’ve got to let that one set in.
On a personal note…I’m upset that with the addition of Palin to the ticket, equal rights and women’s rights have no spot on their agenda. If you’re not gay, why do you care if gay people get married? And if you’re not going to have an abortion, why do you care what a woman does with her own body? Republicans need to see that right to life should be defined as right to live.