Simply, criticize her on the same level that she criticizes Obama or Biden. Can't get in trouble that way; and if either McCain or Palin cries "Foul!", he and she can be called a hypocrite for criticizing the same level of criticism they're dishing out. This is not an election to be "respectful" when the GOP certainly isn't going to be. After all, I would've thought Cheney outright telling people that the U.S. would likely get attacked during a Kerry presidency was going too far, yet not a whole lot of Democratic anger came of it, without them simply countering that the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history happened during a Republican administration.

"But even the stalest cliches (tough men are leaders; tough women are bitches) and prejudices (pretty women aren't smart) can still resonate on a gut level."

Minor point, but there's a lot of research showing that attractive people are actually perceived as being smarter.

Also, I'm curious as to how the Reagan campaign dealt with Ferraro in 1984 (I'm too young to remember it).  Any lessons to be taken away there?

Maybe we should just leave it to the guys that just beat Hillary Clinton in a democratic primary.  I'm sure they know how to deal with this.

Alan  SP:

Good that you ask about the campaign of 1984. At the Vice-Presidential debate George H. W. Bush was blatantly condescending to Geraldine Ferraro and even gloated about it the morning after ("Kicked a little ass last night").  As I recall, the electorate took this all in stride; it may even have reassured some voters who had doubts about Bush Senior's machismo. Biden, if anything, has the opposite problem, and he will probably bend over backwards not to patronize his opponent.

There are a lot of theories about what this choice says about McCain.

I'm interested in what the following says about the media:  so far I've seen two photos published featuring:

A) Sarah Palin's great gams.

B)  Sarah Palin's great gams but with an emphasis on her chic open toed shoes.

In parallel with this, it's been noticed all over the place that she's a hottie.  There was already a sorta sex scandal attempt by Koz saying the Downs Syndrome baby was really her daughter's.  

Followed by a retro Peyton Place style sex scandal-- aforementioned 17 year old daughter is five-months pregnant and intends to marry the father.

Now, Obama sex appeal has also gotten some attention.  And his wife's, too.

But, it's rare for a Republican pol to get touted as a hottie.  Sarah P has almost instantly become the It Babe.  

Pretty soon she and Scarlett Johansson will both be IMing Obama--  maybe simultaneously video IMing in a hot little trans-racial, trans-party ménage.

Is this not THE best presidential campaign EVER?!

Truly Chan. Heretofore I had been fairly pleased with the shape of the race and all of the various issues come to the fore. Then McCain, apparently dissatisfied with the contours and shape of our show, decided to interject his own intrigue.  I guess the first black nominee wasn't enough. Let's throw in a good looking Babe that probably wouldn't be offended by such a reference into the mix.

A lot of convergences in our constellations, neh? The Warrior and Sheena v Worldman and Sancho. It doesn't get any better than this.

Here's some thoughts from a Republican.  She's chosen to run in the big leagues, treat her like a big leaguer.  Let the debate performance answer the question: not if she is "ready on day one" but whether her performance under pressure gives promise that she can grow into a Truman or shows that there ain't no there there.  Quayle proved, again and again. that there was no there there.

Obama has shown he is a gentleman; Biden will too.  That's all they need to do; they should pray that the assassins on the blogging Democratic left don't give her an inadvertent boost (and I pray that the assassins on the blogging Republican right don't give Obama an inadvertent boost).  

The media are likely to pull a Bush-Musharaff number on her (who is the president of wherever, or what is the location of whateverstan in relation to nowherestan)?  Obama should remind his pals there (if they care) that such  games were no help to the well-informed Gore.  

Given my political proclivities, I am inclined to cut Ms. Palin some slack:  her executive credentials may be thin, but they point in the right direction: some executive experience; adherence to political principal; and a reformist instinct.  I have a healthy dose of skepticism, but I'll wait and see what unfolds.

To Ms Palin I quote Truman: If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.  To Democrats who wish her, McCain, and the Republicans every ill, I advise don't give her a chance to look Trumanesque. I look forward to seeing what unfolds.

Am I the only person who, before reading through the post, got set off by the title into humming a certain melody from "Camelot"?

www.youtube.com/watch

Not that the ending of the song really applies here, mind you...

boxo, why don't we just all admit that this ain't politics, this ain't important, it's just entertainment.  It's sports for people who find sports boring.

I really think everyone needs to chill on the how does Obama run against a woman.  If I remember correctly, he's already done it.  Quite successfully if I remember correctly.  And while not all of his supporters said the right things, Obama was very good at making the race about issues, not gender or race.  I wonder if a white male could have pulled this off on the first try, or did it take someone who is more sensitive to the code words used against others.

"Obama was very good at making the race about issues, not gender or race"

He didn't win the primaries talking about  issues. He won by personal attacks on Clintons.

Another key in this case -

You don't so much go after Palin directly, but go after McCain for picking Palin.

"Maybe we should just leave it to the guys that just beat Hillary Clinton in a democratic primary.  I'm sure they know how to deal with this.

Unfortunately, these "guys" too often used methods that made women question their candidate's commitment to traditional Democratic values of "respect and dignity" for all, equal political participation and representation, and long standing issues of vital economic importance to women and their families. It brought the long-held perception that the Democratic Party had a greater commitment to women and equality (than Republicans) into question , dampened his support, as time went on, in the primaries (leading to a almost too close to call result rather than a clear and overwhelming mandate), and forced the nominee to spend much of his convention repairing the damage.

Worse, it gave support to Republican claims that Democrats are hypocrites on the issue of gender equality and provided an opportunity for the GOP to repair its image with women as the party of the "angry, white male"  (as many so-called "progressives" were revealed to hold equally troglodyte attitudes).

The problem for the party is this -- none of the offensive behavior and tactics these "guys" (and some gals) indulged in will do one thing to lessen the negative gender gap the party has with men, most specifically white men. But, byoffending and chasing away some independent and moderate-conservative women, it may lessen the positive gender gap the party has had with women. And that would be a very bad thing for the party's future.

When women split their vote between the Dems and the GOP, the Dems lose.

How about just saying that John  McCain has insulted "Everyman/woman," the ordinary guy/woman in the street of America, with his Vice-Presidential nomination.  Palin's possible presidential entrance onto the world stage is an insult against our intelligence, our experience, our security and survival.

Oh please people. Let's advance the state of the States. How do you run against a woman? The way you run against an opponent.  Focus and question what has been done and the rationale.  Set up hypotheticals and see if good judgement is in evidence.  Hammer the REAL negatives. Give a little credit where credit is due.   Elected office is gender-neutral.

It is 2008.  We gals can take it which is why we are everywhere.  And if one can't, she isn't letting down the enter gender--just herself and her supporters.