'Stop smearing Sarah,' GOP women tell media

Carly Fiorina at news conference today (WND photo)

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Hours before Gov. Sarah Palin's big speech here, six female Republican leaders denounced "the outrageous smear campaign" against the vice presidential nominee, scolding international media gathered at a news conference for employing a double standard that favors Democrats and portrays the Alaska governor as a "show horse."

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a top John McCain adviser, said the Republican party "will not stand by while Governor Palin is subjected to sexist attacks."

Fiorina was joined on the stage by former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, former U.S. treasurer Rosario Marin and Renee Amore, deputy chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

"I have to say I find all of this conversation about whether or not she is qualified – which I think initially emanated from the Obama campaign – quite stunning," Fiorina said.

She denounced media portrayal of Palin as a "show horse," when the governor is "work horse, with a track record of accomplishment."

As WND reported today, the new issue of US magazine, founded by New York Times Company and owned by Obama campaign contributor Jann Wenner, rips Palin with cover teasers that publicize her teen daughter's pregnancy and the controversy over the firing of Palin's sister's ex-husband, and promises "new embarrassing surprises."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former U.S. treasurer Rosario Marin at news conference today (WND photo)

In contrast, a June issue of the same celebrity magazine featured Barack and Michelle Obama embracing on the cover with the headline, "Michelle Obama: Why Barack Loves Her." The teaser reads, "She shops at Target, loved 'Sex in the City' and never misses the girls' recitals."

Marin, the mother of a Down Syndrome child, reacted to criticism that Palin should not pursue the vice presidency with a newly born son with the affliction.

'I am outraged, I am insulted and I am offended," she said, "and I know I represent millions of working women, women with children with disabilities."

Fiorina said she finds the discussion about Palin's qualifications "amazing," because "no one has been concerned and asked a question about whether Senator Obama, having been in the Illinois state Senate, having voted over 90 times present in issues that were controversial and difficult, having been in the U.S. Senate for a very short period of time, and having run for president half of that time – and clearly being a person who has relied heavily on his campaign staff to advise him on foreign policy matters – that somehow it's all so different for Sarah Palin."

Fiorina said every woman welcomes a discussion about Palin's track record: "Do you agree or disagree with decisions she made as an executive? Do you agree or disagree with her points of view about how to solve the energy crisis? Do you agree with what worldview she would bring to the Oval Office?"

Those are legitimate conversations, she said.

"But it is not legitimate to smear her with falsehoods that have been demonstrated false, and it is not acceptable to say, 'Nice little girl, good show horse, good cheerleader, but not qualified,'" Fiorina said.

'No more foolishness'

A strident Amore, taking direct aim at the gathered media, said the "smears are meant to distract people from the very real fact that Governor Palin has more executive experience than Barack Obama."

Renee Amore, deputy chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, addresses media in St. Paul at the Republican National Convention, with Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., right (WND photo)

The Pennsylvania Republican leader told media that while Democrats "will allow you talk about Hillary the way you did, in a very demeaning way," Republicans won't put up with that kind of approach to Palin.

"You see us up here?" Amore asked. "We are not going to allow you to do that, because we know who she is and what she's about, and she represents women, but not just women of America, young women also, who are seeing how you are displaying this negative behavior."

Do what you want, she told the media, but "we're going to keep coming back to you … and we're not going to have this foolishness."

With tongue slightly in cheek, Amore said she would "use some ebonics" to make sure the message is clear: "We will get with you, when you keep messin' with us."

Amore defended Palin as a "tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be even the president, not just the vice president. Let me make that real clear."

Blackburn also scolded the media when asked by a Washington Post reporter if she wished she had been more vocal about sexism against Sen. Clinton.

"Had we been more vocal, you all would have chosen not to record it," Blackburn said.

The congresswoman, noting Palin has managed the state of Alaska's 24,000 employees and $10 billion budget, defended Palin as an accomplished woman, who has transferred the organizational skills of a wife, mother, businesswoman, community volunteer and PTA chairman to the political arena.

The Tennessee lawmaker said it's important to call to account "some of you in the media" who carrying out the "smears."

"Let's keep focused on the issues, let's get way from the politics of personal destruction," she said.