There are some who still insist that Governor Palin of Alaska,John McCain’s Vice Presidential nominee, is not ready to assume the mantle of responsibility should McCain win in November. It has already been presented by myself, and surely other individuals, that Governor Palin is more prepared for this office than either Barack Obama or Joe Biden. But rather than repeating the good Governor’s qualifications, I wish to refute these charges with history. It is through history which we may find proof of others with experience like Governor Palin’s, which will demonstrate that she can be a competent and ready leader should this nation need her to take the office of the President of the United States.
Prior to emigrating to the Americas in 1630, John Winthrop had been elected Governor of the colony sponsored and established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop’s election to the office of Governor is a shock to modern students, and even might have stunned some of his own contemporaries. While he had gone through some schooling at Cambridge, he left his education and instead took up the study of law, which he failed to become a member of the bar. Winthrop was nevertheless appointed to various courts during the 1620’s and eventually lead to him being elected Governor of the Colony of Massachusetts prior to 1630. During his life in the colony, Winthrop would go on to be elected to the Governorship many times. Winthrop had only a marginal amount of experience prior to his election, having only served as a commissioner since 1615. There were certainly other individuals more qualified for the position, including two of the men who had helped found the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During his time as an Assistant, and as Governor, Winthrop was closely involved in the direction the government of Massachusetts would undertake. It was Winthrop who initially set this course out prior to embarking on the migration west in his “Modell of Christian Charity” where he calls for the people of Massachusetts to be “as a City upon a Hill.” During battles with fellow colonial leaders, Winthrop would defend his positions in political treatises on a variety of subjects. This man, who had never graduated university and had very little experience to govern a colony had garnered election to the Governorship every year from 1647 until his death. Upon his death the people of Boston and Massachusetts mourned the death of their leader.
Today we are embattled once again, for whatever reasons they have individuals have attacked Governor Palin, claiming she is not prepared to take on the Presidency if she is called to do so. There is no proof of this, but rather there is proof for her ability to take the Presidency should she and McCain be elected in November. Like Winthrop, Palin has the experience necessary to inform her and prepare her for the elevation to a much bigger role. While Winthrop’s appointments to commissions may not have been equal to the office of Governor, his previous experienced informed him how best to go about executing his office of Governor. Palin likewise has experience as a Mayor and Governor, which should she be called to take the Oath of Office for President of the United States, she will have requisite experience to help inform her on how best to discharge her duties.
Yet, on the other side Senators Obama and Biden have never had the executive experience that would assist in informing them on how best to execute the office of President. Senator Obama is a junior senator who only involved himself in politics beginning in 1996 at the state level. Joe Biden was elected Senator at age 30 and has been in the office ever since. Neither served in a position that would require executive experience or authority. It is unjust for individuals to attack Sarah Palin as being inexperienced, while ignoring her credentials. I can only imagine that these Vultures are only afraid to see a strong, confident Conservative woman enter the Vice President’s Mansion. Her experience is like that of John Winthrop and other famous leaders in history, who were able to use that experience to inform them when they were called upon to undertake but nevertheless fulfilled the office with the greatest honor. If being governor is not proper experience, necessary to fulfill the chief executive position in the Federal Government than what is? How can one say that Barack Obama or Joe Biden, two career senators with absolutely no executive experience on any level, are qualified and experienced enough to take the Presidency and Vice Presidency, but a woman with a decade long resume of executive experience is not.
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