"We have to take into consideration that this is a private family matter, and the family was hoping it would remain a private matter. ... I'd just hope that the private family matters would remain just that." - Tucker Bounds, McCain campaign spokescritter on PBS, 9/02/08

"And government is certainly not the church" - Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), Republican National Convention speech, 9/02/08

"We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby ..." - press statement by Sarah and Todd Palin, 9/01/08 (via)

I'm glad that Republicans are finally, kicking and screaming all the way, coming around to a feminist point of view. It's glacial, but you can see the cracks around the edges in the way they defend themselves from attacks like the agreement of former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan that Palin's not the most experienced choice and that the selection decision was based on "bullsh*t".

While the Republicans have tried to obscure the truth, these are all feminist and pro-choice positions: That medical and parenting decisions should be made by individuals and their doctors. That the government should not act as a church, making illegal all that is held by some to be immoral. That teenage women, like all women, should have the right to decide whether to become parents, whatever their choice may be. That they should be supported in those decisions, by their families and the larger community, rather than shamed, hidden away or shunned.

Not least, Republicans like corrupt serial adulterer Rudy Giuliani can say that Sarah Palin is being attacked because she's a parent all they want. They can suggest that Democrats and feminists look down on her because she's a mother of five. But what more needs to be said in response to that than, 'Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House.' The idea that a mother of five can be qualified for a tough job in public life is one that we've been championing for a long time.

So as I mentioned, and as irritating as the zealotry of the newly converted always is, I'm glad to see that they're starting to come around.

There's more...

Going on right now in St. Paul, and it's got a pretty great line-up: Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Mos Def, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, The Pharcyde, and Atmosphere.

There's more...