There were definitely blatant and un-American bouts of sexism that reared its head in the primaries against Hillary Clinton.

The same is the case for Sara Palin, and it's quite disturbing. Only this time, it's coming from straight inside the McCain campaign.

I've heard it from friends of mine. I've heard it from Republicans who don't want Palin to further embarass herself, and from Democrats who don't want to appear to demonize her at their expense.

To them I say, get over it.

We all know Sara Palin will be debating Joe Biden on Thursday. There is likely to be a focus on economic and foreign policy. No one doubts Biden's experience and qualifications on this issue, but the more Palin appears on TV, the more it's clear why McCain's staff has stuffed her in Dick Cheney's secret bunker.

Her campaign's banning of access to her, combined with remarks from commentators that Biden must "go easy" on her, and that he shouldn't appear "mean" and "patronizing" suggests that she can't handle the heat. Maybe she can't.

What else are we to conclude? I'm a student of politics, and I can't recall a time when a candidate's party, media commentators, and even the candidate's opposition was told to "go easy" at a debate.

Au contraire.

If Sara Palin can't handle these issues, then I really don't want her as my Vice President. Joe Biden should not yield this point in favor of treating her differently than he did Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton during the primaries. He proved to be experienced, articulate, tough, and showed that had he won the nomination, no one could question his readiness.

So, Sara, what are you afaird of? You agreed to accept the nomination, and you've consistently said that you "have that readiness." Come out of hiding and silence those who argue for your opponent to treat you differently. You should want to be treated like any other nominee.

America should expect nothing less.