The title of Susan Reimer's column "A woman - but why this woman?" (Sept. 1) proposes a legitimate question: Does one-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have the necessary qualifications to become the first female U.S. vice president?
The answer is yes, partially because one-term Sen. Barack Obama's nomination for president has lowered the bar considerably, as less than four years ago he was an unknown state senator, and he still has zero executive-level experience.
However, Ms. Reimer's column crosses the line with outlandish commentary of the sort that one would expect to find in the nether reaches of the blogosphere, not in a big-city newspaper such as The Baltimore Sun.
In fact, not even the most partisan backers of Sen. Barack Obama would use Mrs. Palin's Down syndrome child to make a point ("You want to look good to the evangelicals? Choose a running mate with a Down syndrome child").
Why do The Baltimore Sun and columnist Susan Reimer believe is appropriate to critique the qualifications of Republican candidates, especially in such an undignified manner, and then conveniently overlook Mr. Obama's lack of executive-level experience?
David Richardson, Bel Air
Susan Reimer's column "A woman - but why this woman?" is one of the more patently offensive pieces printed in The Baltimore Sun in some time. While Ms. Reimer is free to support any candidate she pleases, her puerile and shallow rant against the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCain's running mate should not pass by without rebuke.
In one disturbing swoop, Ms. Reimer takes unnecessary cheap shots at Mr. McCain's age and health, Mrs. Palin's gender, Mrs. Palin's education at a public university and, most shockingly, Mrs. Palin's young child with Down syndrome.
It is unacceptable and inappropriate to demean Mrs. Palin in this manner, particularly when her qualifications, experience, ethics and judgment far exceed those of Sen. Barack Obama.
Brian Griffiths, Pasadena
The writer is president of the Anne Arundel Young Republicans.
Apparently Susan Reimer has never learned how to disagree without being disagreeable.
It is one thing to question Sen. John McCain's choice of an inexperienced woman, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate; many people do.
