The National Organization for Women's Los Angeles chapter president, Shelly Mandell, introduced Sarah Palin this past weekend at an event in California.
"America, this is what a feminist looks like," stated Mandell. She was not speaking on behalf of NOW, but "as an individual, as a woman's rights activist for 30 years who has worked for all those years to see this day".
Shelly Mandell let it be known that she does not agree with Sarah on many of the issues, that she is a lifelong Democrat, but that she "is proud to support Sarah Palin, a woman who will fight for women's rights...a woman who will, Lord knows, shake things up". "I know Sarah Palin cares about women's rights, she cares about equality, she cares about equal pay, and as Vice President she will fight for it. She cares about our children and she cares about women's lives. She's an athlete and she knows what Title Nine did for girls like her."
I find this interesting! Randi, the CNN reporter who interviewed me yesterday, asked me why I thought Democrat women were beginning to get on board with McCain/Palin. I explained that, in my opinion, it has less to do with the issues and more to do with Sarah's authenticity, her toughness, her willingness to do what's right no matter what. Democrats or not, many people still respect that.
While I disagree with nearly everything Shelly Mandell believes in, I admire her for her guts! I am certain she will be tarred and feathered for her support of Sarah Palin, and that she was willing to take that risk says a lot about her. It will be interesting to see how things play out on this one.
