The assault on the family values of Sarah Palin in the Sept. 21 commentary section is typical of the desperate efforts of some liberals to disqualify the Republican vice presidential candidate. The authors, Ralph E. Shaffer and Walter P. Coombs, set the foundation for their argument depicting conservatives of the 1950s and 1960s as being critical of women aspiring to greater participation in the civil rights movement. The authors' claim is that conservatives of that time blamed the murders by Klansmen on the victim who "should have been home caring for her children." Ironically, Shaffer and Coombs arduously take up the later majority of their article supporting the alleged conservative position by criticizing Palin for running for national office when she "should be home with her kids instead of playing politics."

Sarah Palin is taken more seriously by those who know her. These confused professors emeritus at Cal Poly Pomona use the reference "playing politics" in a denigrating manner inferring that women in politics should not be taken seriously. The sexism is preposterous and flagrant. They can't have it both ways. Can women have a moral calling to be politically active in our society, or not?

Palin, like anyone who takes on raising a family, faces many parental duties and challenges. Whether Palin is male or female should not determine the degree of her political aspirations nor limit her to perform solely as a caregiver. Her family matters include issues at all strata of government. Family values and security in her community, be it of a small town in Alaska or global relations, are major concerns of informed parents. All people should be aware of issues affecting families at household and international levels and we should give credit to those who step up to do something about it. I believe that Americans would be better off if these two professors stayed at home.

Dale H. Henderson

Yuba City