Local Dems point out differences with Palin

LYNN – They welcome Sarah Palin’s entry into a presidential race already poised to make history, but local women who supported Hillary Clinton aren’t ready to jump ship for the charismatic Alaskan.”Sarah Palin does not attract me as a Clinton Democrat because her ideals are totally different. I don’t align with her philosophically at all,” said state Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein.Reinstein credited Palin with highlighting special needs education in her Wednesday night speech at the Republican national convention, but said the GOP’s “hands off” attitude about her teenage daughter’s pregnancy is a missed opportunity for a debate on a national concern.”If the roles were reversed and it was Barack Obama we were talking about, this would become a big family values issue. The Republicans would have been all over this,” she said.Reinstein said Palin may attract independent voters, including men, but state Rep. Lori Ehrlich said the differences between Palin’s and Clinton’s views are too stark to lure Clinton supporters across party lines.”I’m always happy to see women participating in the political process but I was hoping that if McCain chose a woman she would be well-qualified and well-vetted. In regard to this choice, I’m very disappointed. I don’t think she holds up well to rest of the field,” Ehrlich said.Palin, who was mayor of small town Wasilla, Alaska, and governor of her state for less than two years, disputed similar accusations prior to her speech Wednesday. In an unmistakable jab at Obama, she said, “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.” As a young man, Obama did a stint as a community organizer.In another slap at Obama, she took aim at the central theme of his campaign. “In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change,” she said.Democrat Richard Vitali compared the political outsider stance Palin took in her speech to the similar one Obama took last winter when he successfully sought out votes in the Iowa Democratic caucuses.”There is a thirst out there for a woman candidate and there is a real discontent people feel for Washington,” Vitali said.Vitali thinks the focus on Palin as the “hockey mom” politician will fade as the November election draws closer.”As the race comes down to the final, the shift will be from personalities to issues,” he said.Ehrlich agreed, but added: “No matter who wins I’m glad to see history being made on both tickets.”