Sarah Palin Endorsed by the ITA (Indoor Tanning Association)

Here at the Gritty and the Pretty, we've been a little hard on Sarah Palin, the GOP Vice Presidential nominee. She's irresistible, you have to admit. But with the financial collapse of Lehman, it looks like the election campaign will return to the important issues like the US Economy. That said, how could we ignore this? The Indoor Tanning Association released this statement today applauding Governor Palin's installation of a tanning bed at the Governor's mansion. We don't doubt for a minute it's to combat Vitamin D deficiency. Here is the ITA's offical statement:

"Today the Indoor Tanning Association addressed rumors that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who was recently chosen as Presidential Nominee John McCain’s running-mate, had installed a tanning bed in the Governor’s mansion.

According to online reports, a Palin spokesman confirmed in 2007 that the Governor “did have a tanning bed put in the Governor’s Mansion,” Adding that, “It was done shortly after she took office [in early 2007] and moved into the mansion."

In locations such as Alaska, tanning beds provide important health benefits as a source of UV light. In the bleak winter months, many Americans experience vitamin D deficiency and the best way to manufacture vitamin D is through exposure to UV light. But it is impossible to get the requisite amount of vitamin D from the sun in cities north of 37 degrees latitude for as many as 6 months out of the year; people living as far north as Juneau, Alaska, are deprived of vitamin D from sunlight for even longer.

In addition to increasing the risk of many types of cancer and heart disease, vitamin D deficiency is also linked to many common wintertime complaints such as fatigue, depression and aches and pains.

While partisan bloggers and the sun scare industry will use this as an opportunity to undermine Gov. Palin and demonize the indoor tanning industry, the fact is that Governor Palin’s decision to get UV light from a tanning bed positively impacts her health. Moderate amounts of indoor tanning allow Governor Palin to experience the many health benefits that come with exposure to UV light,” said Dan Humiston, President of the Indoor Tanning Association and candidate for United States Congress (R-NY27). “Especially in dreary northern locations like Alaska, indoor tanning can help guard against wintertime depression and ward off diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Kudos to Governor Palin for standing up to dermatologists and other members of the sun scare industry who are trying to frighten Americans away from UV light."

Tanning beds? I guess there's nothing really wrong with them but.... Owning a tanning bed is like having an above ground pool or a timeshare condo. It's like hot tubs. It's like Wonder Bread or frozen fish sticks with ketchup... It's like fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror.... It's like swinging ... Hmmm, does Sarah Palin swing? by Raoul E. Calleja