Both Democrats and Republicans have been associated with political scandal for years. Democratic standouts include former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer, whose involvement with a prostitute led to his resignation, and Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested on federal corruption charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery, including attempting “to obtain personal gain … through the corrupt use” of his authority to fill Barack Obama‘s vacated United States Senate seat. Recent Republican standouts include, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina who traveled to Buenos Aires for a rendezvous with a mistress without telling anyone where he was going for at least four days, and Alaska Senator Ted Stevens who was convicted of seven corruption related felonies.

Even though these politicians are associated with different political parties, they have two things in common. They were each immoral, and the degree of their failings was not obvious until AFTER they were elected to office. Imagine the absurdity of electing a politician AFTER we were aware of their misdeeds, demonstrated immorality, and their violation of the law and total lack of respect for our system of government. Certainly we would not expect ANY person to endorse a person for political office who was an admitted felon, a person who admitted to a history of intentional abuse of the government, or who herself repeatedly engaged in the very type of behavior that her political party condemned. Sarah Palin, the politically shrewd leader that she is, has amazed us once again.

When Grandma Palin she said she was a “maverick” we didn’t think she meant, resigning as Governor, building dikes in the Gulf of Mexico, or endorsing a woman named “Star”. She did resign as Governor; she did suggest we consult the Dutch regarding building dikes; and she has now endorsed Star Parker. Palin describes Parker’s life as an “incredible story”.

Star Parker’s life story includes:

Any one of these attitudes would be enough to result in an educated, thinking and competent adult become physically ill. However Palin is not sickened by Parker’s views. Palin supports it; she embraces it; she endorses it. If any of these positions were made known AFTER Palin’s endorsement, maybe we would understand that it is hard to determine every view of every candidate that you might support. Yet all of these positions and comments were made by Star Parker BEFORE Palin endorsed her.

Even if Palin didn’t have the political insight to do her own analysis of Star Parker, did Palin fail to consult with the Republican Party’s own website before exercising her own savvy judgment? If half-term-ex-Governor Palin, or anyone on her staff, had spent five minutes doing their homework they would know that:

The California Republican Party website doesn’t even feature Star Parker as one of its candidates even though Parker is running as a Republican for House of Representatives, yet the site does include pictures and information on Republicans running for Governor, Senate, State Treasurer, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and the State Controller.

The Republican Party’s stance on crime includes recognition for the importance of enforcing existing criminal laws, and a mandate for harsher penalties for crimes committed. The Republican Party has especially targeted crimes involving the use of guns. I wonder if Star Parker was ever in their gun sights.

The Republican Party has supported doubling abstinence education funding, and they oppose school-based clinics that provide referrals, counseling, and related services for contraception. Ms. Parker is no longer in school, so why would she care?

The Republican Party supports a “pro-life” Amendment to the Constitution. Thank heavens they do not support “punitive action” against women who have had an abortion. If they did the Party might not be “pro-life” with regard to Star Parker.

Do you think that the Republican Party was targeting Star Parker when it explained that:

“We must decrease (welfare) abuse caseloads and increase accountability in the child protection system. … Government should work with faith-based groups that provide adoption services. We call for local efforts to help the children of prisoners”?

The Republican Party has emphasized the importance of traditional family values identifying families as the “cornerstone of our culture…and the building blocks of a strong society.” The Republican Party offers an “approach based on our common values and our common hopes.” If Star Parker and Sarah Palin represent the common values and hopes of the Republican Party, then the Republican Party is hopeless.