Everybody in America should feel insulted by John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his candidate for vice president. Women should feel diminished not because he didn't select them but because of why he selected her. As has been said by so many, it was done to bring women voters to his side. As one Iowa delegate to the Republican Convention said, "It's a stroke of genius! We'll get the female vote." It demonstrates how little respect McCain has for women voters: He believes they support candidates not on the issues but on gender. How shallow he must think they are.

Conservatives are euphoric because a far right, perhaps even ultra-conservative, NRA member is on the ticket. Do they not realize they are just being used by McCain? They have disliked McCain intensely for quite some time and the feeling has been mutual. Do they think McCain has suddenly had a change of heart? In reality, they are just being used in the same way George W. Bush used them. It reminds me of Lucy pulling the football away just as Charlie Brown tries to kick it for the hundredth time. They should be insulted McCain has so little respect for them.

The rest of the country should be offended because he thinks so little of us he selected someone unqualified to run with him, simply to get elected. And make no mistake: Palin is not qualified to serve as someone who could quickly become president. The conservative media has thus far treated her as gently as a newborn but it is impossible to overlook her lack of experience and limited understanding of foreign and domestic affairs. Serving as mayor of a town of less than 10,000 and a two-year stint as governor of a state with less people than Austin, Texas, is insufficient background to be leader of the most economically and militarily powerful country in the world.

Over the years, I have developed some respect for Sen. McCain. He has served the country diligently since the '60s. While a staunch Republican, he was not afraid on a few occasions to buck his party. I would not call him a maverick, even though he likes the title, but he is occasionally his own man. Sadly, he has been seduced by the lure of power and the possibility of becoming president. Perhaps his convictions are not as strong as he wants us to think. By selecting Palin he has chosen to put the best interests of John McCain above the best interests of the country. Shame on him.

Of course, it is not unusual for a presidential candidate to select a running mate who might create balance and attract voters. Obama selected Joe Biden precisely to counteract charges he had limited foreign policy experience. Ronald Reagan selected the elder George Bush to provide geographic and ideological balance. Eight years later, Bush then picked Dan Quayle to balance his ticket. All of these choices can be criticized but at the least, the candidates have or had something resembling a political career. Even the inept Quayle had to deal with national issues in the Senate.

This is what makes McCain's choice so egregious. There are a number of qualified conservatives and a number of qualified women he could have selected. In fact, even a number of qualified conservative women. That he selected an attractive woman who is an unattractive candidate says volumes about his priorities. That he would sacrifice principle for the presidency seriously calls into question his own judgement and qualification for the presidency. Sorry John, in our world, the end does NOT justify the means.

One final comment. McCain's age and health have not become an issue in this campaign but the selection of Palin screams for them to be brought to the forefront. Even though I wish him well and hope he lives for decades, the cold, hard realities of actuarial life expectancy tables tell us otherwise. While anyone could die at anytime, the probability that McCain, if elected, will complete eight or even four years in the White House is substantially less than for Obama. Thus, Sarah Palin has a much greater chance of becoming president than previous VP's. And that is a possibility that should make Americans very, very nervous.