Sarah Palin – the Modern Maggie Thatcher

When Sarah Palin was announced as the choice for running mate, misgivings came from both genders within the Republican party, fueled by a relentless press that questioned how someone with no background (they neglected to use Google), could be elevated to such a lofty position. Then she spoke at her introduction and set the Republican base at ease, but not the media (that body she does not court), which works for her in this instance. The worry that a woman would not be able to stand up to the opposition and/or to lead in any event has taken hold of the press, regardless of party affiliation (evident during Hillary Clinton’s candidacy), fell on deaf ears as Palin spoke with television viewership that rivaled that of media darling, Obama. The questions are still there, in the papers, or the blogs, or the cable news outlets – is she capable of sustaining this level of statesmanship?

Photograph of Margaret Thatcher wedding day 1951

Apparently, she is given more credence by the British who have already compared her to their own Margret Thatcher, and with good reason. From the book, “Queen, Empress, Concubine” by Claudia Gold, Thatcher’s life and rise in U.K. politics is given excellent, albeit condensed treatment. Thatcher was the first woman that lead a political party in the UK, her background one of simple means; her father was a local grocer who instilled in her the value of hard work and self-reliance. She worked her way through Oxford, studied chemistry and joined the Conservative party. She won a seat in Parliament, at the age of 34. Thatcher was also a wife and mother, and a reformer. The Press did not treat her kindly. There are similarities – therefore the comparisons.

Women here, stateside, have looked for a strong, conventional, yet independent leader who was in that very mold. Is Sarah Palin another Margaret Thatcher? Humble background, mother, and a conservative streak would lend to the comparison – that said, Palin has an endearing indentifying quality, which leaves no doubt that she will lead with grace, style and yes, wit – but with integrity from a position of strength.

It is not the fact that Palin is a woman that is her political strength - her strength lies in her accomplishments as a reformer, her fearless and capable speech, and her ability to actually indentify with those in the trenches. She just happens to be a woman, and women just happen to have been waiting for “not any woman” but a woman who could lead. There will, of course, be the one issue that separates (or appears to separate) women in the U.S. and that is the issue of abortion. How important is that issue to the independent and unenrolled women? That is the unknown. The committed left and the committed right have already chosen sides on this issue in regards to Palin - ( some on the left going to far as to worry over her hairdo (without first checking fashion trends) as if a choice of hairstyle somehow has relevance to governing. Independent minded and Unenrolled voters look to character, accomplishments, and of course, the entire ticket, and yes personality. In that case, Palin should do quite well; regardless of (or perhaps because of) how hard the left leaning media works to portray her in a negative light.