McCain must jettison Palin – now

Sarah Palin

News that Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s already-curious choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as vice-presidential running mate has a 17-year-old unmarried pregnant daughter threatens to hand the election to the Democrats and Sen. Barack Obama.

It’s probably too late, but Palin has to step down as the VP choice, and the sooner, the better. Social conservatives’ views on Palin are shattered. Just as Hurricane Gustav crashed the Republican convention, the pregnancy of Palin’s daughter has shattered the GOP’s presidential hopes.

Thomas Eagleton, left, and George McGovern

This is reminiscent of 1972 when Sen. George McGovern, the Democratic nominee for president against Republican incumbent Richard Nixon, chose Sen. Thomas Eagleton as his VP running mate – only to unload him when Eagleton’s background revealed the fact he underwent electric-shock treatments for depression.

McGovern later lost to Nixon in a landslide, winning only one state, Massachusetts, the home state of McGovern’s second VP pick, Sargent Shriver.

John McCain

So after only three days after Palin was chosen, she is out. McCain can’t afford to keep her a single day longer. As at least one political commentator stated, Palin won’t last the Republican convention.

It’s over, and so is the McCain campaign.

Obama will now walk into the White House.