Guest post: Forget the policies – bright lipstick and big hair does it for me

Here’s this blog’s first guest post, from my wife Mary, an undecided voter who is looking for the Kiwi equivalent of Sarah Palin.

I’ve been following the run-up to the US election with interest. This has suddenly become a lot more interesting now that Sarah Palin is on the scene as a confident, capable, working mother. I was initially interested, now I’m really interested, because I just like Sarah. I really do. She gets my vote.

I don’t really understand the details of her party’s policies – I know she’s either a Democrat or a Republican – nor do I care. I don’t need to know anything about her policies – I just like Sarah.

If I was living in the US, I’d definitely vote for Sarah. Not McCain, her leader, but Sarah herself (even though she is only second in command).

While out eating our midnight snack of rice risotto with field mushrooms last night, Dave asked me – “So Mary, why would you vote for Sarah?”

Here’s why. She’s a gorgeous woman who’s managed to give birth to five children, one of whom is only a few months old. Sarah is a Mum, like me; she’s also a working Mum, like me.

She’s impressive in the way she manages to turn up looking so glam – I wonder what those last few moments at home are like as she’s exiting stage right into her waiting car. Does her baby ever spew on her shoulder just when she thought she was leaving? How tidy is her lounge? Is she really like real women?

Even if all is immaculate at home – and I’m sure she has a housekeeper to do it - I’d still vote for Sarah. Sarah understands women. She gives us a feeling of strength and courage and optimism for the future. Sarah is confident, happy and her moose-hunting abilities and self-sufficiency sure would come in handy in a crisis. With her bright lipstick and big hair, Sarah is not afraid to be a “hockey mom” one minute, and cradle her baby the next. I’ve been reading about her – that’s how I know she’s worth voting for .

No, I haven’t met Sarah personally. But she is the best PR in politics I’ve seen for a long time.

Unfortunately, there is no Sarah Palin on New Zealand’s voting horizon.

Over here in New Zealand, I’m still working out the nuances of the policies which the politicians and the politicians-yet-to-be are setting before me.

Policies do matter - all politicians have to stand for something. But politicians like Sarah can sway indecisive voters like me. In the face of very little difference between the policies of the various parties, which shade of grey shall I vote for?

At the end of the day, I’ll also weigh up who I just simply like, who I just simply feel is the sort of person that understands real people. Someone who looks the part, presents well, speaks well under pressure. I really wish they had pictures of the candidates on the voting papers – that would make my voting choice a whole lot easier.

I’m going to vote for someone who I think gives me the kind of assurance and confidence that Sarah portrays to so many of her fans in the US.

And if I can’t find that, I’ll find the next best option. Policies don’t really come into it.