Is Sarah Palin the new Teddy Roosevelt?

John McCain announced his V.P. running mate today and it turns out to be an excellent choice. Sarah Palin is the current Governor of Alaska and, although most people haven’t heard of her, she brings a lot to the ticket. The more I read and hear about her, the more I’m reminded of Theodore Roosevelt.

Although she’s relatively young she has quite a few layers of experience. She’s a former champion basketball player, beauty pageant contestant, PTA member, city councilwoman and Mayor. Her husband is a commercial fisherman and union member who cares for their five children. She’s a life member of the NRA and a pro-life, conservative, hunting, fishing, conservationist. Governor Palin has fought corruption within the Republican Party and has one of the highest approval ratings of any Governor.

Teddy Roosevelt also had a wide variety of experiences before winning national office. He had a reputation for doing what was right for the people, not for himself. As President he started the National Park system to conserve land for future generations. Unlike environmentalists, who believe the environment should be protected at all costs, conservationists believe it should be protected in balance with the needs of people. Both President Roosevelt and Governor Palin represent an understanding of that balance, coupled with an appreciation for all of our natural resources.

The most impressive connection I find between the two is a great strength of character. This is the quality we should all look for in our political leaders. This is what causes someone to do what’s right, even if it’s not popular. Strength of character will cause you to point out wrongdoing, even when your associates tell you to look the other way. This quality helped make Teddy Roosevelt popular and will serve Sarah Palin well, wherever her future lies.