Republican Governor Linda Lingle, the first Jewish chief executive of the Aloha State, knows something about being the woman governor of a state which is isolated, relatively new and, in the eyes of many Americans, almost mythical in nature.
So when she comes to the defense of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin - declaring that Palin has more on-the-job experience than Barack Obama - Lingle, like the Republican vice-presidential candidate a former mayor of a small community, speaks with unique authority.
"As another woman Republican Governor, we know each other very well, and I can tell people in America and all over the world, that she is the unique combination of toughness and grace," says Lingle, in St. Paul to attend the Republican National Convention, which has been put on hold pending the outcome of Hurrican Gustav in the Gulf Coast. She acknowledges that that many dismiss John McCain's running mate as "only a mayor of a small town" and "governor of a distant state." However, counters the former mayor of the island county of Maui, "the Democrats' presidential candidate has zero experience. He's never led any city, never led any state. So our vice-presidential candidate has more experience than their presidential candidate has."
Palin "is a proven leader on local level as well as the state level, she's had a balanced budget, she's had to deal with every issue from the environment to energy and healthcare to education and public safety, and she's done it in a way that every governor does, which is: you make the final decision for which you'll be accountable.
"It's not like being in Congress, where no one might know you're responsible," she told Haaretz. "When you're a governor you're the one to make a decision. It's a great, great preparation for a job such as vice president."
Lingle says she has never discussed Israel-related issues with Palin. "But Senator McCain's commitment to Israel is strong and well-known, and I assure your readers that he would not put someone on that ticket who did not have the same feelings. Certainly he has discussed those issues. Government Palin is a very religious person, and the religious Christians are the greatest supporters of Israel."
According to Lingle, the Republican Party is likely to attract growing numbers of Jewish voters because "the Republicans have a much stronger position on Israel than the Democrats, and that's why I think more people will be seen on the Republican side.
"It takes time, but when people start really looking for issues, and not on the traditional family party affiliation, I think Republicans have a good chance at the Jewish community."
One factor, she continues, has been President George Bush's "unwavering support for Israel, I think that made a big difference, but also I think being fiscally conservative makes a difference, and a focus on education makes a difference for the Jewish community."
Like the majority of U.S. Jews of her generation, Lingle, 55, comes from a family of Democrats. "When I came to run for office in my state of Hawaii, where Democrats have [held] power for decades, I felt there were ethical questions about them, and that I couldn't be part of them. I ran as a Republican, and I got elected."
Asked about the recent revelation that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, Lingle remarks, "It's one of the issues that face families all over America and all over the world. Families have tough things happen to them, and what you need to judge people by, is how they deal with those tough situations occurring to them.
"That can happen to anyone, and they decided to stick around as family. And because I know Sarah and Todd Palin, I know that they will do the right thing for their family, as it should be. Senator Obama, to his credit, said today that it should not be a part of a political campaign, and I admire him for saying that."
Although early polls have not indicated that women voters have gravitated to the McCain ticket in the wake of Palin's nomination, Lingle says that the more that Americans get to know Sarah Palin, "the more they'll get excited about her."
Calling the Alaska governor a reformer, and noting that Palin has taken on her own party on occasion, Lingle says that "What she and John McCain have in common is that they would do what's right for their country, even if it hurts them politically. They've done it throughout their careers."
Regardless of party affiliation, "her nomination gives inspiration to the women of America. Women all across the country are excited about this. Since the announcement was made, money has been coming in so strongly for this ticket, and volunteers who have never been involved are coming, and they are so excited by her story, by her experience and her vision for America."
Remarks:
Good evening. Aloha!
It is my distinct pleasure and honor to speak with you tonight about Senator McCain's outstanding choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as our party's Vice Presidential nominee!
As a fellow Republican Governor, I have had the chance to get to know Governor Sarah Palin. She is a terrific individual...and an outstanding governor. Sarah is a person with proven leadership skills, and strong moral character.
Because most Americans are just being introduced to Sarah Palin, I think it is important to share with you a little about her great personal story.
Her family moved to Alaska -- the Last Frontier -- when Governor Palin was an infant.
Sarah and her family are avid outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy long distance running as well as hunting. In high school, she led her basketball team -- as point guard and captain -- to victory in the state championship. Two years later, she was crowned Miss Wasilla and finished second in the Miss Alaska pageant.
After college, she married her high school sweetheart, Todd. As early evidence of Sarah's commitment to fiscal discipline...they eloped!
Todd is a commercial fisherman, an oil field worker and a union member, as well as a world-champion snowmobile racer. After 20 years of marriage, Sarah and Todd have five beautiful children and a grandchild on the way.
They face the same challenges that moms and dads do, every single day in our country. Difficult things happen to families, and just like yours, families pull together and get through it. More than just having a great personal story, Sarah Palin is a great person. She is genuine, and comfortable in her own skin...truly authentic.
She will not be trying to reinvent herself during this campaign! She is who she is.
Like others who meet Sarah, when you get to know her...you are going be very impressed...and the more you get to know her, the more impressed you're going to be.
Sarah has integrity and strong values. She is smart and she is a unique combination of toughness and grace.
I was at a conference with Sarah and a few other governors this past April, in Dallas, when on very short notice she delivered an outstanding, strategic speech on energy issues. Let me assure you that she knows the energy issue well and she will help our soon to be President John McCain...achieve energy independence!
The same day she delivered that speech, Sarah went into labor with her fifth child...made the trip back to Alaska...and delivered her son Trig the next day.
"Did I mention that she is tough?"
All of these qualities contribute to make Governor Palin a great leader.
In fact, she is a gifted leader. It comes naturally to her...and people naturally gravitate toward her. She engenders trust in people...and she lives up to that trust!
She has cut excessive spending from the multi- billion-dollar state budget she oversees.
She has taken on the Establishment...challenged a corrupt political system...and enacted a strong ethics reform law.
She took on the sitting Republican Governor with whom she disagreed...and she won.
In the general election, she took on a former two-term, Democratic Governor. And she won! Put simply...Sarah is a leader and a winner!
Like all governors, she is dealing with many issues that members of Congress have talked about, a lot, through the years, including health care, education, economic development, energy and the environment. But, mere words, no matter how eloquently delivered, will never replace the decisive actions of a governor that produces real results.
While Congress passes lots of laws, it is the governors who have to deal with their consequences.
Sarah is also the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard. I share that same Commander in Chief role with my fellow governors. As the governor of a tightly-knit state, I know that seeing off troops before an overseas deployment is not a perfunctory exercise, but an intense, personal experience.
These are our friends and our neighbors, our family and colleagues...people we know.
Before serving as Governor, Sarah was the mayor of Wasilla for two-terms...again, defeating the incumbent! Some have tried to diminish this experience by pointing out that Wasilla only has a population of nearly 10,000 people. This is the size of many cities all across our country. The size where everyone knows everyone, and where as mayor you are held personally accountable for your decisions.
I find it reminiscent when I hear Democrat party leaders and their surrogates questioning Sarah's experience. They used the same tactic against me when I ran for governor. They said being the mayor of Maui was insufficient experience to be the governor. Being a mayor, whether in Hawaii, or Alaska or anywhere else is outstanding preparation for higher office. And the people of Alaska and Hawaii will tell you Sarah and I are doing just fine.
I find it especially amusing that the other party says Governor Palin lacks experience when their own candidates for president and vice president...have NO executive experience... ZERO! Neither Senator Obama nor Senator Biden has ever managed a multi- billion dollar budget, or been a chief executive of any city... or state, of any size... or of anything for that matter.
As President Lyndon Johnson said, "When the burdens of the presidency seem unusually heavy, I always remind myself it could be worse. I could be a MAYOR."
Mayors, like Sarah Palin, are CEOs. Governors, like Sarah Palin, are CEOs.
That's why I think it is so beneficial to have a Governor on the ticket...and Sarah is a great choice. Senator McCain decided to look "North to the Future" - which is Alaska's motto - to find a transformative leader.
The other side has made the point that Alaska is a small state, but the last time I checked, it had the same number of electoral votes as Delaware. And, you can fit more than 250 states the size of Delaware within Alaska's border.
Sarah has broad appeal within our Party...because she is a strong social conservative, an adherent to free market principals, and a fiscal hawk...and because she has the ability to expand our numbers by reaching out to independents...young people...and women!
His decision to choose Sarah tells us a lot about Senator John McCain. It is a clear reminder that he truly is a maverick, and that he will always do the right thing for the people of America. It underscores that Senator McCain understands what Americans have known for quite some time - Washington is broken.
And Senator McCain showed his commitment to ending politics as usual in Washington by picking an Outsider...a proven reformer...an experienced woman governor.
This choice is bold, historic and courageous...I am glad to know Sarah Palin. I know when you... and the rest of America gets to know her, they will agree with me, as you agree with me...that Sarah Palin is going to be a great Vice President.
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