Oprah Bans Palin - How Relevant Is She?

Oprah Winfrey is getting some press out of Sarah Palin. The Drudge Report started the little brouhaha when “sources” indicated that Oprah’s staff was divided over her unwillingness to bring Sarah Palin on the show. Oprah quickly issued a
denial – one that stated Drudge allegations were simply untrue! Her staff was not divided, and she had no intention of bringing on any politician that would interfere with her support for Barrack Obama.

What, one has to wonder, is the problem with that decision?

One has to look at Oprah's background: she made her start in Chicago, famous for losing a ton of weight and pimping overpriced products to those who were home during the day to watch her pontificate about women’s issues. Of course, that’s not really a problem for some of her audience because it must be assumed that those watching have the luxury to stay home. (That is not of course the case, most watching have no other recourse being stay-at-home mothers, or unemployed.) She also sells books, tons of books – she is an entrepreneur – credit is due for her ability to brand herself. Her support of Barrack Obama should come as no surprise; they attended the same church, and most likely share the same political ideology. That said - if she is certain that she is speaking only to the base of the Democrat party, she’ll be fine, but if she errs and those women really want to know more about Palin, they may have to either tune Oprah out or look elsewhere.

Palin dose not need Oprah to further her cause – in less than a week she has risen far about those “celebrities” to become an American Darling (not to mention a darling of the Euro press). The Times (UK) article on Palin and McCain is but one startling example. The fact that the RNC Convention had more viewership in three days than the DNC in 4 is not going unnoticed (with the exception of the NY Times and company). Sarah Palin is the buzz in the office, on talk radio, across the neighbors fence, in urban areas, the suburbs and yes those rural areas – she is crossing party lines and empowering women in a way that not one single woman, including Gloria Steinham (that alleged feminist who married well to prove her point), ever has. The bonus, men like her too.

How then are those so heavily vested in Obama fighting back? – with smears, lies and serious denial. Winfrey is in the later category. She is obviously in denial. NOW, with it’s huge membership of 250,000 plus, is in all three. An article entitled ”Have Conservatives discovered Sexism” is their ridiculous contribution to the Obama campaign. Palin embodies the feminist mold as it applies to those who understand what it is like to work for a living and who have been in the trenches and granted, who have values that include an anti-abortion stance. Palin is one of “us” not one of “them”. Oprah is one of “them”- one who would guide her viewers from an assumed elite position of wealth and media power into Obama’s camp. As the now infamous Palin Cover of US weekly (the tabloid Arm of Obama driven Rolling Stone), has that publication bleeding subscribers and being left on the shelf), Winfrey's refusal to invite Palin onto her show (and it is the Oprah Winfrey Show), is of little consequence. Those who are watching, millions of Americans - seeking one more proof that media, including daytime entertainment, is biased towards Palin - will merely change the channel and those who never have, won't bother to tune in.

Ordinary - Degrees of Moderation and Sanity - Massachusetts Conservative Feminist: Conservative Feminist - Defined

Conservative Feminist - Definition

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.