Rachel Maddow Sees 'Palin Effect' for What it Is: Bullsh*t

On her show last night Rachel Maddow took an uncommon approach to the issue of women voters in the 2008 election. Instead of hysterically ranting about crazed 'Hillraisers', or condescendingly pontificating about the confused, female multitudes so awestruck by Palin's vagina they would vote against their own interests, Maddow looked at some actual polls.

Based on the numbers, Maddow concluded that the "Palin effect" -- the idea that Palin's addition to the Republican ticket was a stroke of genius that would pull women, en masse, away from Democrats -- is " ... an interesting storyline ... If by interesting, you mean not at all true."

Maddow found that picking Palin did not make McCain more popular with female voters. In fact, "Obama leads McCain by 16 points among women." Among white women, Palin's addition to the ticket has resulted in a drop in support for McCain, with Obama leading by 2 points.

Concluded Maddow, in faux disbelief: "Might it be that women care less about a candidate's gender, and more about a candidate's position on the issues?"