Sarah Palin - Sexism and Politics - Why the Sudden Respect?

In September, when Sarah Palin was introduced to the nation as the Republican V.P. nominee, the press and the public entered into a love-hate relationship that transcended politics. She was hailed by conservatives, who had followed the Alaskan Governors’ career, as a stalwart conservative who was a breath of fresh air that the party desperately needed. She connected with “the people” at a personal level, a rarity for politicians. On the other hand, the press, and those in the Republican Party who would maintain the status quo, reviled her as less-than intelligent, a “bimbo” who was out-of-touch with mainstream values. The vitriolic reporting drove Palin to a level of celebrity status over night – from false allegations about her youngest child that made daily newspapers read like the worst tabloids. There was a never ending litany of complaints regarding her hair, her accent, her cloths, her religion, ad nausea – There were literally hundreds of negative “Sarah Palin - Google News Alerts” daily – up until November 5th.

One has to ask – What gives? From the San Francisco Chronicle’s Debra Saunder’s defense of Palin against anonymous campaign leaks to the Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby article on Palin’s Political Potential the mood has changed a bit post November 4. There continue to be articles and blogs from the left that recycle, the “Palin as Inept” theory - Democrat Susan Estrich, writing in the Hartford Currant, dissects the choice of Palin as a V.P. pick noting: “The fact that anyone could believe a candidate for vice president was capable of being that ignorant is enough. and going on to rehash the Couric interview. One cannot fail to see the difference between those articles written by journalists and those written by partisan commentators. The difference: Palin no longer represents a short-term threat to Obama, but to another, yet unnamed Democrat in the future.

Two other women, who had reached high in national politics, Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, were subject to more intense scrutiny than their male counterparts, and scrutiny that had little to do with issues – rather the fact that they were women. Although, one would expect that a twenty-four year gap between vice-presidential and presidential candidates that just happened to be women, would have changed the rhetoric – it did not – in fact: “We’ve come a long way, baby”, should be “We’ve got a long way to go”. Clinton was treated to a review of her marriage, her pantsuits, her laugh and her cleavage; which was enough to drive conservatives to her defense, however, transparently sexist as the treatment Clinton received, nothing compared to the evisceration of Palin.

In this past contest, both Vice Presidential Candidates gave enough material to the press to be equally criticized, yet, Biden received a virtual pass. One might be inclined to believe that the pass given to Biden was partisan, however, examining article after article, it was clear that clothing, hair, children, and other feminine attributes took center stage – never the issues - sexism, plain and simple.

In retrospect, both Clinton and Plain although subject to unusual scathing from the press and from members of their own party, came through standing up and standing tall – taking the punches better than many of their male peers may have. It speaks volumes. Some may feel that the “glass ceiling” has become a “cement ceiling” – after all, what woman would want to go through what these two patriots have? One has to believe that both women have inspired, through their strength and ability to weather the “political storm”, others who will shortly follow in their footsteps. It is not that “our time has come”, rather it is that the notion that women are unable to grasp the brass ring, is no longer valid. Palin, who took the brunt of it, a working mother, a Governor, whose political future is now being trumpeted by those within her party as well as those in the press, has proven that women can aspire to and achieve anything. Love her or hate her, depending upon one’s political affiliation, she is owed a debt of gratitude from all women and parents who have daughters. Sexism was used to distract the general public for political gain. It was evident, and women have taken note. Will sexism be used again in politics and succeed? That question remains - hopefully, because of women like Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, the nation will not have to wait another twenty four years before learning the answer.