SARAH PALIN - EVERYMAN

September 15, 2008

I read an interesting article in The Economist this week. It was entitled, “The Triumph of Feminism” and in it the author makes a case that “Mrs. Palin…represents the fulfillment of the feminist dream.” While outraged by this statement, I did really stop and think about it. Could the author be right? Does Sarah Palin and all she stands for signal the end of the feminist cause. After careful consideration, the answer is clearly, “Yes…and No.”

If achieving the feminist ideal means that women should be EXACTLY like men in all ways, then perhaps the answer is yes. Sarah Palin certainly seems to fit the bill. Consider the facts:

• She accepted a high-level job with little if any consideration for the effect it would have on her spouse or children.
• She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association who enjoys hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.
• She talks about “God’s will” as if she has a direct pipeline to the Source of the Universe – the Alaska pipeline is “God’s will,” the Iraq War is “God’s will” and so on.
• She apparently makes people want to sit down and have a beer with her.

If on the other hand, achieving the feminist ideal means that the most qualified WOMAN would succeed to the highest office in the land, then the answer is no. In this case, there were more qualified women (i.e. Hillary Clinton, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Elizabeth Dole Kay Bailey Hutchison to name a few all but one of whom McCain could have picked), but just like back in high school the popular boy overlooked them for someone who was:

• Younger
• Prettier – She was after all a runner up for Miss Alaska
• Not quite as smart
• Friendlier – She was after all Miss Congeniality in the Miss Alaska Pageant.

If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, I am a bit unclear as to which planet Sarah Palin has come from. I know I am risking the wrath of men and women by pointing all of these things out. But truth is truth. Mourning the defeat of Hillary was difficult enough, following that with the circus that has become the candidacy of Sarah Palin is almost too much to bear.

When exactly do we begin the election process? When do we address the real issues facing this country? Our economy is going into the toilet. The war in Iraq will have us bankrupt if we do not have a plan in place quickly to get out of that country as soon as possible. While that is happening, the Taliban is taking over Afghanistan. Global warming is destroying our coastal cities. I for one would like to hear Obama and McCain, Biden and Palin discussing those issues instead of lipstick, Vietnam-era smears and sex-ed for pre-schoolers.

Thanks for reading,

Kathy B.