Oooh, Anna!

Quindlen announces that the GOP has just discovered sexism. Well, no: we've known about sexism all along. Which you might realize if you interacted with real Republicans, and not just the far-right fringe and those little cartoons inside your head, Ms. Quindlen.

When Democrat James Carville said he found the choice of Palin perplexing on the merits, Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann said she found that "offensive to American women." I found her offense offensive to American women . . .

Well, I'm offended by your offense to her offense. So I win, right? Apparently, the prize goes to the most offended . . . For the time being, I've got you outflanked.

. . .since at its core was the notion that Governor Palin should not and could not be judged by the same standards as her male counterparts.

No; at its core was the old adage that, to be considered equal to a man, a woman has to be twice as qualified. (Usually answered by some wag-ette with the line "luckily, this is not difficult.")

Governor Palin has more executive experience than any of the men on this ticket, including Senator McCain, but the Hard Left is twisting itself into pretzels trying to discount that experience under any gossamer-thin pretext it can find.

In fact, all the cries of sexism suggested that, yet again, the Republicans had underestimated the ability of women to lead; when the governor finally took center stage, it was clear that she needed no protections or excuses. If she is as sharp and self-assured as her convention speech, the first thing she will do, in the parlance of the sport she played under the nickname "Sarah Barracuda," is to slam-dunk the notion that she can't take an elbow. She certainly knows how to give one.

That was, in fact, what she did. But that doesn't mean that it was warranted to attack her family. In her article, Ms. Quindlen brings up the passions that the Clintons inflamed during the years Bill Clinton occupied the White House. They were certainly high—but the efforts to "slime" the Clintons were not conducted by the mainstream press. And—more significantly—no attacks were directed at Chelsea Clinton, either before she turned 18—or 21—or afterward. In fact, Chelsea Clinton never endured what the Bush twins have gone through for the past eight years, either. As long as we're talking about double-standards.

John McCain has been no advocate for women; when asked during the primaries, on the subject of Senator Clinton, "How do we beat the bitch?" he responded, "Excellent question." (Note to the GOP: that IS sexist.)

Nope. First of all, Senator McCain expressed disapproval of the phrasing before he answered the question. Secondly, the word "bitch" was used by a woman, so if it's a slur, it was used by a member of the group in question (which brings us back to the "nigger" debate, I suppose). Third, it's no more sexist to call a woman a "bitch" than it is to call a man a "prick." Fourth, the "Feminist" left is applying that exact word to Governor Palin. One can now buy anti-Palin T-shirts from Cafe Press with the legend "a pit bull in lipstick is still a bitch."

Ms. Quindlen, you represent old feminism. There is a new feminism out there that allows women religious and ideological freedom, as well as reproductive freedom. You might want to look into it.

Via a tweet from ConBelle.