What is it about her that drives so many crazy?
Long-time White House reporter Carl Cannon “bluntly declared that the political press gave Sarah Palin a raw deal in the 2008 campaign, and seriously failed to scrutinize Joe Biden, especially his fact-mangling and odd statements in the vice presidential debate.”
The political left made the most vicious attacks against Sarah Palin and her family from the moment she appeared on the national scene. Almost everything the establishment media said about Palin was either slander or tawdry innuendo. From Andrew Sullivan promoting conspiracy theories about how her daughter (not Palin) delivered the baby, to David Letterman ‘joking’ about Palin’s 14-year-old daughter having sex with a baseball player. Maureen Dowd said, “Caribou Barbie is one nutty puppy.” You can find more examples of the left’s nonstop hatred and character assassination, including the recent hit piece in Vanity Fair.
The most obvious answer is that she so energized the Republicans in light of an uninspiring McCain, and thus threatened the media’s preordained coronation of Obama. But it goes deeper than that. The pathological hatred of Palin is more likely due to what she represents; she doesn’t just talk American values, she lives it.
Sarah Palin is essentially a middle-class, down to earth, tell it like it is person who reflects real America. She can shoot a gun, is married to a blue-collar worker, can raise multiple children, is pro-life, and can still climb to the governorship of a state. She managed to beat well-funded Alaskan politicians despite not having family connections and great wealth. That certainly takes some degree of smarts and natural talent.
Take a look at some of Palin’s biggest critics. Most come from married wealth, inherited wealth, or politically connected families. Their upper class snobbery is revealed by the contempt and condescension toward her middle-class roots. This is the same attitude the intelligentsia has toward so many other Americans in suburbia.
Palin does not come across as arrogant, nor elitist, and does not talk out of both sides of her mouth. Yet, they viciously attacked her while giving Joe Biden a free pass. Biden is a typical Washington insider and career politician of over 30 years, towing the standard party line - nothing to fear there. They know how to work Biden and what to expect of him. Palin however would be less susceptible to cronyism, lobbyist influence, and corruption in general.
Observe the current Obama administration and you’ll see the politics-as-usual crowd working hard for themselves and their allies. Everything from the broken promises of no lobbyists in cabinet positions to the serial tax evaders, points to an administration of the privileged, by the privileged, and for the privileged. Or is it just a coincidence that the majority of the ’stimulus’ money is going to democratic strongholds? According to this report,
Counties that supported the Democratic candidate have received twice as much money per person from the administration’s $787 billion economic stimulus package as those that voted for Republican John McCain, according to a USA Today analysis.
Obama administration officials are denying a political motivation behind the billions flowing disproportionately to regions that supported Obama on Election Day.
An honest person from Middle America who believes in God, guns, and glory is about as threatening to a secular statist as you can get. The entrenched elite will always attack that kind of authenticity.
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[...] David figure, or at least to draw significant parallels between this parable and his situation. Why Liberals Hate Sarah Palin - thenationalscene.com 07/12/2009 What is it about her that drives so many crazy? Long-time White [...]
Very weak case presented here. Three examples of negative press coverage of Palin, no examples of the critics who supposedly come from married wealth, inherited wealth or politically connected.
And, the fact that 2/3 of the stimulus money is going to blue states. For one thing, more people live in the blue states. Second, at least the contracts are going out to bid, unlike government contracts in the Haliburton — oops — Bush Administration.
I like how you dismissively describe venomous personal attacks as merely “negative press coverage.” And, actually I gave four examples if you count the Vanity Fair piece. My point was to explain why the left hates Palin, not necessarily to document every single example (which would probably be impossible). Although, I have a feeling no amount of examples would have convinced you, so your objection is disingenuous. The Huffington Post is quite popular among the left, and someone there joked about her son Trig’s disability, and that’s just one out of countless examples from liberal bloggers.
Not every person who attacks Palin or others in the middle class (i.e. Joe the Plumber) comes from a wealthy background or a family with connections, but without a doubt many do. This is just common sense. But some examples: Sally Quinn, Washington Post reporter and feminist, is a daughter of a General, and married to the former editor of the Washington Post. Arianna Huffington, married (and later divorced) a millionaire, and even Senator John Kerry, married wealth, and wished Sarah Palin had gone missing. Obama had many shady connections as he rose to power in the web of corrupt Chicago politics. And for those who didn’t come from that background, they are still ultra rich liberal media figures, such as Katie Couric who makes a reported 15 million per year. I didn’t even mention other ultra rich liberals who look down their nose at America, such as the Kennedys. But all this is beside the larger point – the political left’s elitist attitude largely explains its contempt for the middle class, and thus Palin.
As for the ‘stimulus’ money - CATO budget analyst Tad DeHaven describes “All of these formulas – Medicaid, how they distribute education dollars – these formulas are all politically driven.” I’d like to believe it is only because of population, but Obama has repeatedly broken promises and been deceitful since his election. It’s a little naive to believe there isn’t back-scratching going on.
Halliburton no-bid contracts are legal and were necessary because of the time factor and expertise involved. And, Halliburton no-bid contracts date back to oops – Clinton administration.
If Sarah Palin was as bad as Democrats, the far out left and their puppet media make her out to be, they wouldn’t have to bash her. The fact that they continue to find ways to try make her less than she is, simply means they are AFRAID of her. So afraid that they can’t even understand a speech I found very easy to follow. I find that ironic, since they claim to be so intelligent.
That’s a good point. There is a lot of fear behind the left’s hatred for Palin. If they weren’t afraid of her, they’d be critical on substantive issues. But instead of delineating policy differences, they resort to playground bully tactics with personally attacking her and her family. The political left is truly vile in this sense.
SteveK!
Thank you for your article. I am amazed at the way the so-called liberals and feminists continue to attack Sarah Palin. They must be afraid. For the first time in 20+ years of voting…I switched from voting Democratic to Republican…that’s how disgusted I was with Obama and his campaign. I am still confused and more than a little disappointed that Hillary chose to be his spokesperson…after the way both she and her husband were treated by the Obama camp. Could it be she is infected wih a bit of the “Stockholm Syndrome”?????
Hi Barb,
Yes, the feminist attacks were a little strange, considering Palin would seem to be the perfect modern woman who truly can “do it all.” But like most special interests groups, it comes down to ideological allegiance, and since Palin does not subscribe to liberal thinking, she is attacked. Her stance on abortion is also a major factor since children are seen as a hindrance to feminists, and the fact she would even carry to term a special needs child is the ultimate sin to feminists.
Hillary probably didn’t see much choice but to be supportive of Obama if she wanted to remain in good standing within the Democratic Party given his popularity. Although I’m sure she didn’t like the Democrats own tactics being used against her, with the playing of the race card, etc. I guess now she knows what it’s like to be a Republican in that sense. But Hillary is a career politician who craves power, so her moves are very calculated to retain power and stay in the limelight. And playing nice with Obama is the only way to do that.
i admire Sarah Palin because she had done a lot in the area of politics. she has also a good track record when she was still the governor of Alaska.
Sarah Palin is a good leader. i can say that because she did some projects in alaska that helped lots of people .
There are critics of Sarah Palin but in my opinion she is also a very good politician and she also did some good projects in Alaska.
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