What Do We Believe In?

Rhetoric, mistruths and turning blind eyes to facts are all part of politics and rallying the base.  But one line in particular during Gov. Palin’s speech last night really rattled me.  It showed the true colors of the new Republican party and how far we’ve drifted from our once great principles.

“Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America … [Obama's] worried that someone won’t read them their rights?”

The fact that Gov. Palin and the subsequently hootin’ n’ hollerin’ conventioneers seemed to find this worthy of mockery is appalling.

Our country has historically attempted to take the higher road.  We used to believe that ALL MAN, not just Americans, have been endowed with certain inalienable rights.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, in case you’ve forgotten over the last eight years.

As citizens we’ve held our government and ourselves to a higher standard and expected the same from other sovereign states.  We cared about doing what is right, like believing in the presumption of innocence, rather than what is easy. We need a leader, for the first time in my lifetime, who can bring us back to these ideals.

A leader is principled and holds herself to a higher standard.  A leader isn’t perfect, but she recognizes the power she holds and is careful not to abuse it.   A leader respects the rules of the game and doesn’t try to change them mid-course out of convenience.

Gov. Palin is no leader.  And neither are those within the new Republican party.

Oh, one final piece of advice to the leaders of this new Republican party:

If you’re going to respect a life before birth, respect it also during life.

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