(Via Hot Air):

I thought that conservatives scoffed at the idea that American society systematically blocks accomplished women from advancement. But within less than an hour of the vice-presidential announcement yesterday morning, the diversity epidemic had spread rapidly in the Republican political machinery, including among analysts for whom I have only the highest respect. Talk-show host Laura Ingraham enthused about Palin’s identity profile: “A lot of women are calling in excited,” Ingraham said. “The women of America will see that she might be the first woman vice president.” Palin’s identity-based advantages go beyond gender, in Ingraham’s view: “Palin has an Eskimo husband, a Down’s Syndrome son, an Iraq-bound son.” CNBC host Larry Kudlow echoed Ingraham’s assessment: “This is a breakthrough for the stodgy Republican party.”

&c, &c, &c…

Heather MacDonald has a point here, although she flies off the rails somewhat in the rest of the article, but more about that later.

She’s right to warn about the dangers of appearing as complete hypocrites if we make it “all about gender, all the time.” Not only is it a grave insult to Governor Palin’s very real, very non-chromosomally linked qualifications, it’s also everything that we supposedly stand against. The color of a person’s skin is irrelevant when it comes to determining his or her suitability and qualifications for a job. So is his or her chromosomal makeup.

Sure, the fact that she’s very much a woman is a bonus from a purely political standpoint in that it leaves the opponent in a decidedly uncomfortable position. With their misogynistic knee-jerk reflexes that everybody saw in action in their treatment of Hillary, they’re bound to fuck themselves up now that they have to deal with Governor Palin. Heck, they already have with their implied “airhead bimbo beauty queen” reactions.

But if that, her gender, is to be the central plank in the platform from which we try to elevate her to the Vice Presidency, then you can count His Imperial Majesty out. We don’t play that game.

Heather goes on:

True, Palin brings traditional political strengths—such as gun enthusiasm and a pro-life record—to the ticket. Her fight against self-dealing in Alaskan politics counters the inside-the-Beltway corruption that damaged the Republicans in the 2006 elections. And her stance on drilling for Alaskan oil admirably bolsters the Republican Party platform on energy issues. But admit it, fellow conservatives: none of these attributes pushed her over the top. Your enthusiasm for her is driven in large measure by the fact that the McCain camp has beaten the Democrats at their own game, and in so doing, driven Obama’s moment of glory off the wires. [Emphasis ours -- Emp. M.]

I will admit no such thing, because nothing could be further from the truth. I wouldn’t be in the least excited about her nomination and certainly not as excited as I am if I thought that her main, if not only, qualification is her possession of ovaries. Which it isn’t.

Even if she were as indisputably male as Ted Nugent, she’d still be more qualified than the rest of the candidates. All three of them. For one thing, she has the executive experience that all of them lack. With the possible exception of McCain who, it can be argued, had some executive experience from the Air Force Navy, but hardly the kind of national executive experience that is needed for the job of Executive in Chief of the most powerful nation on Earth.

For another, her positions on the value of life, faith and individual rights are exactly in tune with mainstream America and they are what has been completely absent from the McCain ticket up until her nomination.

Her experience with battling corruption and party establishment “business as usual” graft and pork barreling is also exactly what mainstream America has been waiting for. Not empty campaign trail promises about what she’s “going to do” if elected, the American people has had it to their back teeth with that sort of thing and know exactly what they’re worth (hint: Exactly nothing), but actual, concrete bona fides of what she has already done. Done, in many cases, against members of her very own party.

Change that we can believe in.

And, of course and really needless to say, her energy policy is entirely in tune with what the American people wants, needs and demands. Well, 70% of us anyway, and growing.

All of that combined and she could have TWO Y chromosomes and still be the best qualified candidate in the field.

So no, Heather, I will admit no such thing. I will admit that her gender is a nice political bonus in the battles to come, but even without that bonus she’d still be head and shoulders above any of the alternatives.

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