The hotness conundrum

This is the kind of story that makes my brain bleed. You all know by now that Gov. Sarah Palin was named John McCain's running mate last Friday. You probably also know that, since then, news has leaked about Palin's daughter's teen pregnancy, her husband's DUI charge and the fact that the governor delivered a Down Syndrome child four months ago and went back to work days later.

But did you know that in 1984 Palin was a Miss Alaska runner-up? That she's been named "America's Hottest Governor" by both the website Wonkette in 2006 and Alaska Magazine in 2007? Did you know that Palin is regularly referred to as a GILF (Governor I'd Like to...well, you know) or, now, VPILF? That "GOP '08: TAKING SEXY BACK!" has been bandied around as a campaign slogan by idiotic McCain enthusiasts? That THIS website actually exists?

Or how about this (unintentional?) bit of suggestiveness in the New York Times:
"[McCain] had his first face-to-face interview with her on Thursday and offered her the job moments later." And this, the lead words in a Bloomberg news piece: "It could have been a match.com ad: Presidential candidate, in need of running mate..."

Ok, Ok. I get it. McCain has picked himself a hottie. And like most men who choose hotties in their elder years, she's much younger than him and a bunch of people want to have sex with her.

Here's the thing: Though I disagree with nearly all of Palin's politics (also? It's more than a little insulting that Republicans are using Palin as some kind of female voter lure--as if women supported Hillary Clinton solely because she has a vagina and not because they shared her beliefs), I still find it offensive when Joe Biden calls her "good-looking." And I don't like getting sent demeaning, Photo-shopped pictures of the Alaskan politician in a bikini or videos of McCain staring at her boobs. .

On the flip side of things, I'm equally scared to see Palin victimized because of all of this nonsense. Nothing honest or good will come if she gains public sympathy and women vote for her just because our country is still full of a bunch of knuckleheads, not because of her political positions.

There's plenty to discuss about McCain's incredibly curious VP choice, Sarah Palin. I'd like to think that as a country we've grown up enough in the past year to remain somewhat gender neutral in this election and stick to the issues. I know I'm thinking wrong. But a girl, a hot one or not, can dream.