Technically, this is supposed to be a post about Mormon Lit. I even had a post ready to go on whether or not writing can be taught. (Well, almost ready to go. And yes, writing can be taught. Kind of.) But over the last few days I’ve been thinking and thinking about Sarah Palin and my gut-level reaction to her candidacy, and whether that reaction is justified, and why it’s so scary for me, as a woman, to admit to some of the feelings that have been roiling around inside me.

Then I thought, hey, you. Stop being such a chicken. If we women can’t talk about issues like this together—thoughtfully, kindly, with the intent of coming together in understanding—then we’re as good as silenced.

But, first, a caveat. This has nothing to do with party politics, Democrat or Republican, Blue State or Red State. I’m not trying to persuade anyone to vote (or not vote) for anyone else. I’m mainly interested in exploring the issues brought to the fore by Sarah Palin’s candidacy, and I want to know what a bunch of smart Mormon women think, because I like smart Mormon women, and trust them.

So, here goes.

Gut Level Reaction #1: Sarah Palin’s lack of significant qualifications for the job makes me feel pandered to. I firmly believe that a woman can—and should, and hopefully, someday, will—serve as Vice President (or President) of the United States and do a bang up job of it. But it seems to me that Palin’s “womanness” was the main quality that got her picked. Not her background. Not her experience in government. If the governor of Alaska had been a man with the same background and qualifications, would he *ever* have been considered for this post? My best guess is no. So to me, Palin’s nomination seems a like a backhanded attempt at appearing progressive, like the powers-that-be were looking for a woman who was pro-life (check), not bad to look at (check), and appealing to the middle-class (Moose burgers! Snowmobiling! check), instead of looking for whomever would be best for the country.

Gut Level Reaction #2 (and this is the really tricky one): I’m not sure if I can get behind the idea that Palin *should* be the Vice President (and possible President) of the United States given her current family situation. Now, intellectually, I know this is inherently sexist. The argument that a woman can’t raise a family and succeed in the “outside world” is one that we’re all familiar with, and one that (usually) makes me very uncomfortable. I am a mother of four, but I also write, and I also teach, and I am grateful to live in a time and place where such things are possible. But writing and teaching (or working as an accountant, or a small business owner, or even as a doctor or a lawyer) isn’t the same as being second-in-command to the Leader of the Free World, and one heart attack away from being the Leader herself.

When a parent has five children 18 and under—and one is going to Iraq, and one is 17 and pregnant, and one is a newborn with special challenges—it goes without saying that said parent has a lot on his or her plate. And if Palin were a man, the family situation would still give me pause. But as much as it (kinda?) troubles me to admit it . . . not as long a pause. Because, dang it, Sarah Palin is a mother, and I’m a mother, and I know how it *feels* to be a mother, and these feelings lead me to wonder two things. First, is it really possible for Palin to give her full time and attention to the monumental task of running the country when she has so much going on in her family life? And second (and this is the REALLY tricky one, and I’m not trying to offend anyone, I’m just trying to be honest with myself and, now, you): if she IS able to give her full time and attention to her job during a time in her life when her children need her so desperately, what does that say about her as a person? And do I want a person like that as my Vice President?

Ack!! Segullah is usually such a nice, safe, peaceful blog. I hope I haven’t spoiled it. But I’d love to know what you think.