The SNL Verdict: Will Palin's Voice Ever Be Heard?

By Alexis Garrett Stodghill, BlackVoices.com

Susan Walsh, AP

Why have we heard so little from Gov. Palin? According to the New York Times political blog, 'The Caucus,' Gov. Palin is being kept tightly under raps by her handlers within the McCain campaign. She is intentionally contained within a virtual pen of political advisers who constantly intervene between Palin and the press.

Palin has yet to give a full-length press conference, due to these maneuvers. Even Palin's attempts to address reporters while on the campaign trail are forcibly cut off by aides. To gain the opportunity to speak freely, Palin has begun to make surprise dashes away from her campaign coterie for just long enough to make independent statements.

Palin's gender has been used as a weapon to sway female voters, while she is being functionally reduced by her campaign to 'just a pretty face.' Her appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' is the epitome of this treatment. The McCain campaign will not allow Palin to talk to reporters, but did put her on a show that has repeatedly mocked her. What does this say about Senator McCain's potential treatment of women as president?

Regarding Palin's appearance on 'SNL,' Black Voices reader "Fierce" left a very interesting comment:

I never thought I would say this but now I just feel sorry for Sarah Palin. You can tell she did not want to be there, but she was. When you look past that smile, I saw tears... The way the McCain campaign has exploited this woman is not just sad, but it should be offensive to all women... The sorrow I feel for her is the same I feel for young aspiring actresses who went to Hollywood but ended up in porn, because they do not know of another way. Misguided and exploited by men are the parallels I see.

I hope the humiliation of her recent 'SNL' appearance becomes a turning point for Palin. Even though I don't agree with her policies, I hope she breaks free of the sexist treatment she is enduring, and refuses to be used for her gender as a pawn.

If the McCain campaign will not let her voice be heard, and she accepts this double-standard, Palin will prove herself to be the vacuous sell-out that many believe she is.

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Click on the gallery below for more on Palin and other candidates.

Religions of Candidates

Sen. Obama reached a turning point in his campaign when his membership with the Trinity United Church of Christ came under severe scrutiny in the press. In particular, Hillary Clinton's camp whipped the public into a frenzy over Obama's controversial ex-pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Mannie Garcia, AFP / Getty Images

After giving a speech to specifically address the complex issues of race that might force a man like Wright to speak negatively of America, Barack left his church of 20 years on May 31, 2008. But the religious affiliations of other popular candidates are just as controversial. Will these candidates face the same fate?

Getty Images / AP

Sarah Palin is a fundamentalist Christian, but claims that she is not a member of any church. She is not afraid to let her religious views inform her political policies. According to The Huffington Post, Palin has strong ties to The Wasilla Assembly of God, which she was a member of from age 12 until 2002.

Chris Miller, AP

Palin is still close friends with the senior pastor of Wasilla, Ed Kalnins, who believes the Iraq conflict is part of a religious war, that democrats go to hell, and that these are the 'end times' -- as in "end of the world." With a religious confidante like this, should this candidate potentially control nuclear arms?

AOL / AP

According to the Associated Baptist Press: "John McCain has a deep and personal Christian commitment despite his reluctance to speak publicly about it, according to the man McCain calls his pastor,' Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church.

But, in the course of his political career, McCain has made some strange religious bedfellows. This year, he had to reject the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee, pictured here, after it was revealed that the controversial figure believes Hitler was "doing God's will."

Associated Press

John McCain has also been associated with the Rev. Jerry Falwell (1933-2007). Among many controversies, Falwell was critical of the policy of U.S. sanctions against South Africa, an effort to punish the overtly racist Apartheid government during the '80s.

Don Petersen, AP

Sen. Joe Biden actually has one of the more calm and clear religious records of any candidate around. A devout Catholic from birth, if elected Biden would become the nation's first Catholic vice president.

Mark Hirsch, Getty Images

As a Roman Catholic, Biden's religious leader is Pope Benedict XVI. As a pro-life Democrat, Biden has come under fire from his religious community, who tried to pressured former Diocese of Wilmington bishop Michael Saltarelli to refuse to give Biden Holy Communion over the issue.

AOL / AP

George Bush comes off as a "good ole boy," all about family, apple pie and American traditions, including the tradition of conservative religious worship. The support of evangelical Christians has helped him to secure his two presidencies.

Yuri Gripas, Pool / Getty Images