By Scott Alessi

Choice of Palin resonates with pro-life voters

Baptized Catholic, Alaskan governor would be first woman in U.S. vice-presidential role

With the pro-life issue still among the most debated topics in the 2008 presidential election, Republican candidate John McCain strengthened his stance among Catholic voters with the surprising choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin acknowledges the crowd after being introduced as the vice-presidential running mate by Sen. John McCain of Arizona. CNS photo fromReuters

Palin, largely an unknown among the majority of voters, is in the midst of her first term as governor of Alaska, where recent polls found her to have an approval rating of 80 percent. Before being elected to state office in 2006, the 44-year-old Palin served two terms as mayor and two terms as a member of the city council in Wasilla, Alaska. Before that she served on the PTA. Her lack of political experience quickly shaped up as one of her strongest liabilities among pundits and opponents.

A mother of five and a member of the Feminists for Life of America, Palin brings to the table a strong pro-life and pro-family position. She made headlines earlier this year by publicly stating that she chose not to have an abortion after learning that her youngest son, Trig, would be born with Down syndrome. And days after her selection by McCain, amid intense media frenzy, she acknowledged that her 17-year-old daughter was 5 months pregnant and planned to marry the baby's father.

Mark Gray, senior research associate at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, said that while it is "too early to tell" how much of a boost Palin will give McCain's campaign, her stand against abortion is something that "will resonate with many Catholic voters."

"The number one thing that comes out of her story right away would be her knowing that she was having a child with Down syndrome and continuing with that pregnancy," Gray told Our Sunday Visitor. "That is certainly something that is going to be important to many Catholics."

Generating excitement

Although McCain also labels himself a pro-life candidate, having someone as strong on the issue as Palin on the ballot may be the key to getting pro-life voters to the polls in November.

Christina Wolbrecht, associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, told OSV that Palin "strengthens the pro-life credentials" of the Republican ticket, which could make a big difference for McCain.

"That probably has less to do with changing people's minds," Wolbrecht said. "It's not like pro-life voters were going to vote for Obama and now they're going to vote for McCain. It is more about getting them excited and making sure they turn out to vote."

"Your problem as a candidate is often less about convincing people that would have otherwise voted for the other guy to vote for you," she added. "It is making sure that the people who naturally support you are enthusiastic enough to show up on Election Day, because turnout can make the difference in winning an election."

Many Catholics have already shown a newfound level of enthusiasm for the election in the wake of McCain's selection of Palin. Sally Brien Holper, a Catholic mother of four in San Francisco, told OSV that she was "thrilled" by the announcement.

"This woman is amazing," Holper said. "She is not the old dyed-in-the-wool Republican. I'm excited about this election now."

Christian values

Although she was baptized into the Catholic faith as an infant, Palin recently told Time magazine that she considers herself a nondenominational "Bible-believing Christian" with no specific religious affiliation. She attended Assembly of God Church in Wasilla while growing up, but says she and her family now attend various Christian churches.

In her home state, Palin has been well-received by Catholics. Father Tom Lilly, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Anchorage, said that Palin comes across as a "warm, friendly" person with "a willingness to speak the truth, regardless of whether it is politically correct to do so."

Palin's message has included a strong pro-life and pro-family plank. According to Gray, Catholics are also more likely to vote for a candidate who embodies such values than for a self-identified Catholic candidate who does not.

"Being Catholic hasn't bought candidates much among Catholic voters," said Gray. "It is the stance on the issues that matters most. Among Catholic voters, where abortion is a very important issue, it is going to be the policy preference that I think would trump any self-identification as a Catholic."

Palin has also been outspoken on the issue of same-sex marriage, supporting an Alaska constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state. But in 2006, saying she was constitutionally obligated, she vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.

Female support

Wolbrecht, an expert on women in politics, said that while the choice of Palin as a running mate seems to be an attempt by the Republican Party to capture voters who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, it does not necessarily guarantee support for McCain among female voters.

"There's not a lot of evidence that female voters overwhelmingly support female candidates," she said.

But Gray noted that the tactic to draw disenfranchised Clinton supporters may strike a chord with Catholic voters.

"We saw how well Hillary Clinton did among Catholics in the primaries, so it could be very positive for McCain," he said.

While the nonpartisan Feminists for Life do not endorse any candidate in the election, they have publicly expressed their approval of McCain choosing a woman -- and one of their own members -- as his running mate.

Actress Patricia Heaton, honorary chair of Feminists for Life, discussed her excitement with Our Sunday Visitor after McCain introduced Palin as his vice-presidential choice.

"I have chills," she said upon hearing Palin's speech. "It is unbelievable. What a smart choice."

"I think Sarah Palin embodies everything that is great about America," added Heaton, a Catholic best known for her role on the television show "Everybody Loves Raymond." "She is strong. She is positive. She's a mother of five. She is truly one of those people who can do it all."

Even if Palin's bid for the vice presidency is ultimately unsuccessful, the media interest in her now could make a difference in the way Americans view disabilities, Heaton said.

"I know there are a lot of people who are fearful when they find out one of their children is going to have a handicap," she said. "This will go a long way to changing America's outlook on that."

Scott Alessi writes from New Jersey. Additional reporting by Valerie Schmalz.

Deserving better

Feminists for Life President Serrin M. Foster knew when she came up with the trademarked slogan, Women Deserve Better ™ than abortion that she had hit the nail on the head.

This year, not only can Feminists for Life salute one of their own --- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for vice president --- but both Democratic and Republican conventions featured the trademarked WDB slogan. Palin became a member of Feminists for Life in 2006, according to the organization.

The Republicans have incorporated "Women Deserve Better" into a pro-life portion of the party's platform, saying, "At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life. Women deserve better than abortion," the pro-life feminist organization reported.

The Democrats' homage is more backhanded and comes from one of Feminists for Life's most virulent opponents, Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In a speech to Democratic convention delegates, Richards said: "Where women's health is concerned, it seems clear that when John McCain says 'I don't know,' what he really means is 'I don't care.' Women deserve better." In reporting Richards' speech, Inside Catholic columnist Zoe Romansky noted: "Well, you know what they say. ... Imitation is the greatest form of flattery."

-- Valerie Schmalz