She'll get my vote? In a pig's eye!

Oh, wait, can I say that? Or might it possibly be miscontstrued as a jibe at the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, since she wears eye makeup?

How about this: She'll get my vote? When pigs fly!!!!

Nope, probably not that either -- as an elected official in Alaska, she had to fly, a lot (can't get to Juneau except by boat or plane). So that's probably off limits too.

To paraphrase Binkly from Bloom County, we've become a nation full of offensensitivity; that is, highly and easily offended to the point that normal conversation becomes impossible.

OK, I understand that people have their hot buttons. Lord knows I have enough of them myself.

But honestly, people. Stop a moment, take a deep breath, and really THINK, please.

Yes, Barak Obama made the dreaded, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig" comment this week. Republicans and Hillary-crats have used this to lambast him and accuse him of being sexist.

Now, for all I know Sen. Obama is the most mysogenistic, sexist SOB in the world, and his wife, two daughters, and record of supporting women's issues is all a facade to dupe the American public.

But if you're going to make an argument for that scenario, make it a real argument, please! Act as if you, and your fellow Americans, have enough of a brain to actually read, interpret and evaluate an actual, well-thought out argument rather than a vitriolic diatribe aimed at people's hot buttons!

First of all, the lipstick-wearing pig is a folk expression that's been around forever, people. It means that just because a person SAYS they've (or their ideas) have changed, doesn't mean they actually have. In other words, seeing is believing. Or actions speak louder than words. Or any of a million other adages.

Secondly, this phrase has been used often by Obama, LONG before McCain named a female as his ticket-mate. In fact, it was used by McCain during the hard-fought Democratic primary. In all cases, it was used, as is correct, to refer to a candidates plans, policies or ideas, NOT the candidate themselves.

And, finally, in this case Obama was not referring to Palin at all, INCLUDING her plans, policies or ideas. This was all about McCain.

But now he's sexist.

And what's worse, it's not even just the Republicans who are making this accusation; one can, of course, expect it of them; if they can twist words to their advantage, they will (note: I'm a Democrat, yes, but I also know that they, too, twist words to their advantage. I'm neither stupid nor unrealistic, thanks).

But Democratic women are jumping on the Obama is Sexist bandwagon, too.

Have you women actually paid attention to Palin? Have you listened to her? Have you researched AT ALL her policies, her ideas?

She's a fundamentalist Christian who supports teaching Creationism in schools (more full disclosure; I am also Christian, but I find no conflict with my belief in God and my belief in science).

She's absolutely lied regarding her record. She never said "Thanks but no thanks" to the so-called bridge to nowhere; she removed her support only after Congress decided that the appropriations would go to other projects. And, in fact, Alaska STILL got the money, so she didn't save the taxpayers any money, either.

She is absolutely opposed to legalized abortion, except in cases of rape and incest (notice that the mother's health is not included there).

How, HOW HOW can Democrats consider this woman a step forward? In what way does she support their concerns?

Or do two X chromosomes trump political ideology? Do we believe that we should vote for someone SIMPLY because she's a woman? That she will do a good job SIMPLY because she's a woman?

And if we believe that, how are we any different than certain men (not all, by any means), who believed that there were certain jobs that a woman couldn't do, SIMPLY because she was a woman?

I'm sorry, I don't buy it.

Yes, Palin is female, as am I

Yes, she's a working mother, as am I.

She does not, however, in any way shape or form, believe in what I believe. She is not concerned with my concerns. She does not share my political ideology.

And that, my friends, will never change. Not even when pigs fly.