Sarah Palin - Continues to Take Heat (Sexism) from Press and Partisans

Sarah Palin, Republican Governor of the State of Alaska and former vice-presidential candidate continues to be in the “limelight” and is the most scrutinized, and marginalized political figure by both the press and party partisans. Why all the hoopla over this rising political “star”? Simply put, the Governor is a forceful figure, she appeals to both the cultural conservative base as well as those who lean Republican, she is a favorite to be on the 2012 Republican ticket, and she is a woman. The fact that Palin is a woman who retains her femininity, is pro-life, pro-second amendment, earned a degree the hard way, does not hide her Christianity, and does not speak New York, Los Angeles or Washington D.C. language appears to be the problem(s).

During the 2006- 2008 (longest primary season on record), fist Hillary Clinton, then Palin, we’re viciously attacked by the press and those within their own and opposing political parties, not for policy, rather because they were women. Clinton was never allowed to stand on her own merits: it was either her husband, Former President Bill Clinton, that was brought into article after article as “baggage”, her fashion sense, and her physical attributes, including her laugh that we’re included in most press reports. Once it was clear that Clinton was dispatched from the Democrat contest, the heat came off, (somewhat). It was difficult to determine, during that entire period, what was most insulting to Clinton, however, as married women understand, to be compared to and demeaned because of a spouse, is perhaps most frustrating and denigrating. The fact that the media had not risen above the sexist rhetoric, was surprising – however, the picked a battle, racism versus sexism to support a candidate and in schoolyard fashion, threw every they could muster at Clinton.

Enter Sarah Palin, a Governor of the State that half the population can’t find on a map, a woman on the Republican ticket, and one who for many women gendered excitement, including those who were not in the media’s “Palin demographic”, because she was not the typical politician, she was married, she had children and she managed her job; not unlike the “rest of us”. Although the general school of media thought was that Palin was a poor substitute for Clinton, and would never have been chosen had Clinton been on the top of the ticket – this argument is fallacious. Women, in politics are, to be sure, scarce, however, that said, women are the largest demographic. It is not inconceivable that two women, both with positions in government, could be chosen to run for a higher office, in the same general election – unless of course, the school of thought remains that “the quota has been met.” That seems to be the case.
Palin’s additional problem, besides being a women, is that she is a social conservative with all the markings of a feminist, with the exception of her pro-life stance.

Additionally, Palin continues to generate press, as she goes about the business of her State and her Party. On December 1st, Palin was in Georgia, campaigning for Senator Chambliss – in an article by Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, he complains that “Sarah Palin is reportedly drawing decent but not great crowds in her sweep through Georgia on behalf of Saxby Chambliss.” And then admits: “The turnout is certainly a lot better than any other political figure this side of Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton could attract.” Palin, who was in Georgia campaigning for Chambliss, because she is adept at rallying the base, is then demonized:
“The Saxby Chambliss signs are plentiful, but it’s clear even before you walk in that this is a Sarah Palin for President event, four years ahead of its time,” reports Jim Galloway from the Gwinnett Center.
The enthusiasm and turnout reflect Palin’s appeal to the party base and should be helpful to Chambliss in his re-election effort. But polls say that the same traits that endear Palin to the hard-core GOP are turnoffs to independents and moderates.
“Palin’s image, being the way it is for independents, puts her at a distinct disadvantage from a general election standpoint,” Tony Fabrizio, a veteran GOP strategist, told Politico. “But it wouldn’t be the first time the hard-core base ran off the cliff.””
The idea that Palin could be campaigning early for 2012 is, in itself ridiculous, and should she, in 2010 make a stronger appearance in the most traditional places (Iowa, New Hampshire), and then one might be able to conclude that she might be running for a higher office. The remarks about her “image”, vis a vis independents is not necessarily accurate given that recent polling indicates that republican leaning independents favor Palin and the left, does not. It is as it should be, at this point in the game, just a month past the general election. Should Palin continue to be the popular governor from the State of Alaska (which, due to her rise in politics, more people can find on the map, with a positive net gain for the State in tourism), and continue to connect with the base as well as those who lean Republican, she will present a viable threat to the left in 2012. This is understood all too well. In Alaska, KTUU Anchorage, reported that the Chairwoman for the Alaskan Democrat Party has a few complaints regarding Palin’s travels outside of the state. Palin, who has been absent from the State for a period of 5 days out of 27, should, according to this “party hack” be attending to state business. Palin, who must defend herself consistently, while the governors, both Democrat and Republican, the lower 48, attend the same conferences, take time off for book tours (Massachusetts, Deval Patrick (D), or campaign for members of their own party, do not come under the same scrutiny nor are the subject to this intense criticism. Therefore, should Palin continue to grow, and be seen and recognized by those who both love her or love to hate her, over the next four years, she will become a greater threat to those who would not see any woman as President or Vice President. Palin is doing a service not only to her country, but to her gender, by proving that a woman can govern and be a central figure in a political party, and perhaps in 2012, through her efforts now, perhaps other women will be inclined to seek office, including the office of the Presidency.