Religious Right is Ecstatic about Palin --UPDATED
Frederick Clarkson
Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 04:14:52 PM EST
Sarah Palin, as Chip Berlet writes below was a predictable choice for John McCain, at least in so far as a Religious Right candidate was almost a necessity for McCain.  And as pastordan writes over at Street Prophets, her Religious Right credentials are impressive.

And suffice to say that the Religious Right itself is ecstatic. For example, Fr. Frank Pavone of the militant anti-abortion group Priests for Life said at a news teleconference today:

When asked the question by a member of the press, "How would you contrast Sarah Palin giving birth to a Down Syndrome baby with Barack Obama supporting leaving Down Syndrome babies to die when born alive?", Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life stated, "A lot of pro-life groups will make sure that contrast comes out...it is a very striking contrast....there is also a contrast between Sarah Palin (being pro-life)... and Joe Biden being a pro-abortion Catholic.  I expect that there will be very strong statements from Catholic Bishops all over the country."
Here's more:

Top conservative leaders gave their reactions to the announcement that Senator John McCain (R-Ariz) made today of his Vice Presidential running mate, Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska).  Commentators who participated in a nationwide press teleconference that followed the forum and which was hosted by NewsGuests.com included: Father Frank Pavone, Priests for Life; Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform; Sandra Froman, NRA Immediate Past President; Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List; Ken Blackwell, Chairman for the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and Vice Chairman of the 2008 Republican Platform Committee; and Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom Ring.

"Sarah Palin is the whole package. There couldn't be a better vice presidential pick," said Susan B. Anthony List President, Marjorie Dannenfelser. "Women voters are electrified, and Sarah is someone who is truly in sync with the way real American women think."

Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform commented, "The good news about Sarah Palin is that she is a reformer on spending.  She is one of a handful of governors who by executive order put government spending online and searchable.  Both in government transparency, on spending transparency, on saying no to tax increases and keeping government spending down, she has been a star at the state level."

Ken Blackwell Chairman for the Coalition for a Conservative Majority, stated, "Sarah Palin offers a freshness and she is grounded in virtues that have made our country great.  She is an independent thinker....she believes in human dignity and (the) rights of every person and is a strong believer in the First Amendment and religious liberty and in the Second Amendment....John McCain couldn't have made a better choice."  

A full transcript is to be published here.

Update [2008-8-29 20:14:44 by Frederick Clarkson]: And Richard Viguerie says: "She's perfect." and "Conservatives, the base of the party, have been listless. But, now, nearly all will work enthusiastically for the McCain-Palin ticket. In fact, this is the most enthusiastic conservatives have been since the era for Ronald Reagan."