Much has been made of Governor Palin's support for abstinence; only education, rather than safe sex education, with her own daughter's pregnancy underscoring the differences in policy preference. But the Palins have insisted that they are proud of Bristol's decision to go through with the pregnancy, rather than have an abortion, as Governor Palin is extremely pro-life.
In her speech, she also addressed several of her other supposed weak points, each time twisting them into positives.
Discussing the media hype she's been generating, much of it negative, she said:
"I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion -- I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."
Where others have pointed to her Washington DC inexperience as a weakness, Palin framed it as a net positive, claiming she has a long history as a reformer.
"Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reason and not just to mingle with the right people. Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests. The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it? This was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau, when I stood up to the special interests, and the lobbyists, and the Big Oil companies, and the good-old boys."
Image: John McCain and Sarah Palin at the RNC
Photograph: Paresh Gandhi
Also read: Republican Convention opens under Gustav shadow
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