Abortion and Reproductive Rights - Supports Full Ban:
Palin, a member of Feminists for Life, supports overturning Roe v. Wade (1973), and the enactment of a full federal ban on the procedure with no exceptions for rape, incest, or a woman's health. While she described herself as "pro-contraception" during her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, her views on birth control access and emergency contraception are not entirely clear.
Death Penalty - Expansionist:
Palin has regularly asked for the reinstatement of the death penalty in Alaska, which abolished capital punishment in 1957.
The First Amendment - Book Banning, Church-State Problems:
When she took office as mayor of Wasilla, Palin began her tenure by proposing bans on certain books in local public libraries. She fired a librarian who refused to cooperate, though it's not clear whether or not this was the reason the librarian was fired. Palin has also advocated the teaching of creationism in public school biology classes.
Immigrants' Rights - Opposes Comprehensive Immigration Reform:
According to About.com: U.S. Conservative Politics guide Justin Quinn, Sarah Palin told right-wing talk radio host Laura Ingraham that she opposes comprehensive immigration reform proposals, including McCain's. "{S}he’s not for comprehensive reform, I can tell you that right now," Ingraham said. "She’s sick to death of this immigration nonsense in the United States."
Lesbian and Gay Rights - Opposes Same-Sex Marriage and Domestic Partner Benefits:
In January 2007, Palin spoke out against a state supreme court ruling granting domestic partnership benefits to same-sex partners of state employees. She later vetoed a bill passed by the legislature to overturn the ruling; while she agreed with the bill's intent, she argued that it violated separation of powers (as it represented an attempt by the legislature to overturn a supreme court ruling by simple majority). She has stated firm opposition to same-sex marriage, and supported a 1998 constitutional amendment banning it in Alaska.
Race and Equal Opportunity - Unknown:
Palin's views on affirmative action, civil rights bills, and other issues pertaining to racial justice are not yet clear.
The Second Amendment - Strongly Pro-Gun Rights:
Palin received an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) when she ran for governor in 2006.
War on Terror - Unknown:
Palin's positions on counterterrorism issues pertaining to civil liberties are not yet clear, as her role as governor of Alaska did not require her to write policy on these issues, nor was she in a position to do so on her own while functioning as John McCain's running mate in 2008.
Tom's Take:
Sarah Palin is something of an enigma, as her experience has been strictly executive--as mayor of a small Alaska town, and then (for 2.5 years) as governor of the state. My primary sources of information on her civil liberties platform are news reports detailing the 2006 Alaska governor's race, along with statements she made while serving as John McCain's presidential running mate in 2008--campaign promises, in other words.
That said, she is conspicuously socially conservative by Alaska standards. Her complete commitment to outlawing abortion (even in cases of health, rape, and incest), banning same-sex marriage and state employee domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples, and promoting the teaching of creationism in public schools mark her as a candidate of the Religious Right.
If your only issue of concern is gun rights, then she's a fantastic candidate; it doesn't really get any better than an A+ from the NRA. But on most other civil liberties issues, she is discernibly more authoritarian than most of her opponents. We don't know much about Sarah Palin yet, but one thing we do know is that civil liberties aren't her strong suit.
That said, she is conspicuously socially conservative by Alaska standards. Her complete commitment to outlawing abortion (even in cases of health, rape, and incest), banning same-sex marriage and state employee domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples, and promoting the teaching of creationism in public schools mark her as a candidate of the Religious Right.
If your only issue of concern is gun rights, then she's a fantastic candidate; it doesn't really get any better than an A+ from the NRA. But on most other civil liberties issues, she is discernibly more authoritarian than most of her opponents. We don't know much about Sarah Palin yet, but one thing we do know is that civil liberties aren't her strong suit.
