iReporters call McCain's pick 'genius,' 'irresponsible'

(CNN) -- Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate has generated a strong response on iReport.com, with some users calling the move "genius," while others blasted him for an "irresponsible" pick.

Palin, 44, was Alaska's first female governor and is the youngest person to hold the job. She was elected in 2006.

Sheryl Langdon of Bedford, Indiana, used to live in Alaska and said she was "very emotional about the pick."

"I was going to vote for Hillary [Clinton], now I will vote for Sarah," she wrote.

Rick Seno, a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama from Austin, Texas, said the pick was a stroke of genius that might win the election for McCain.

"Who better to woo, disgruntled Hillary Clinton supports who said that they cannot support Barack Obama than a working mother of five children, one of whom is in Iraq," he said. iReport.com: Pick a stroke of genius

But Michelle Filipovich, a "staunch Republican" from Newnan, Georgia, said she's furious about the choice.

"No experience, never heard of her. Governor for a year-and-a-half," she said.

She said she had supported McCain, but she won't vote for him now.

Joseph Haller of Chester, New York, said he was leaning toward supporting Obama, and McCain's "irresponsible choice for running mate" sealed the decision.

"If something did happen to him, I don't think this woman is anywhere near qualified to be president," he said.

McCain and Obama are both good men, and he wouldn't want anything to happen to either one, Haller said, but that the country still has to be prepared.

"McCain likes to talk about Obama's inexperience and he may not be wrong about that," he said. "But to take someone with even less experience and put them a heartbeat away from the presidency is just hypocritical."

Jeanne Coleman of Kingston, Massachusetts said Palin "came out of nowhere," but said she was thrilled with her positions on abortion and the Second Amendment.

"My main concern was that McCain was going to pick either a liberal like [Sen. Joseph] Lieberman or [Tom] Ridge, or a flip-flopper like Mitt Romney," she wrote.

Coleman said Palin will solidify the conservative base of the party and might pick up some Clinton supporters.

David Dunmeyer, a Clinton supporter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said he was impressed that McCain was "man enough to pick a woman."

"I'm definitely going to vote for McCain now. I think him showing that he is willing to pick a woman when my own party wouldn't reach out to her... that cements it for me," he said.

Dunmeyer, a lifelong Democrat, said he didn't like the way Clinton was treated during the campaign.

"I've really lost faith in the Democratic Party," he said. "It's sad."

Below are more reactions from the iReport community. Some have been edited for length and clarity:

Jason Jewett of Denver, Colorado: "Shame on you John McCain, not for choosing a woman, but for thinking America is stupid. It's pretty clear this is nothing more than a political game. All this is is a gimmick."

Kassie Mays of Seguin, Texas: "This is a big positive and shake-up for the campaign. I have been researching her for the past week. What a remarkable and courageous woman. Five children, one being deployed to Iraq and one with Down's, fighting to change the status quo in her state."

Katie Brown of Kent, Ohio: "I have never been this excited about politics in my life. I am so pleased that John McCain has asked Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Not only does this lock in the Hilary Clinton supporters but we now have our foot in the door of Alaska and drilling. Many people don't think that this has helped him but John McCain has made a great decision."

Courtney Lester of Spring, Texas: "Now I feel more comfortable voting for McCain. A woman brings a lot to the table and I look forward to getting to know her. I think her inexperience in foreign affairs is very similar to Obama's. I believe she will bring the change this country needs."