the reason why
Image by Getty Images via Daylife I haven’t been thrilled with the way people on both sides of the aisle have talked about Palin and her family but let me see if I can articulate why some of us on the left(ish) side (well, me anyway) are a bit confused and even angry.
The religious right has sought to define what a proper family is - not just for themselves but for the country
The religious right has sought to define what a proper mother does and does not do - not just for themselves but for the country
The religious right has sought to define what a proper woman can and cannot do - not just for themselves but for the country
The religious right has set themselves up as the moral compass for this country. The religious right and the republican party are not one in the same, I readily admit that - however, it seems as though McCain’s people are setting Palin up as the darling of the religious right and her expressed views seem consistent with this so the lense through which I see her is that lense.
When someone seeks to tell others, indeed an entire country, what their values should be and their life demonstrates incongruousness with those values, it is hard not to cry “hypocrite”.
Now, let me be clear, I respect Palin for many things and she seems to have a lovely, healthy family that I’m sure she has nurtured very well. I respect the voracity with which she defends her values and I do not in any way respect her less because she has a pregnant teenage daughter or because she is a working mom. In fact, on the surface, I would respect her more. I also realize that her daughter’s pregnancy does not have anything whatsoever (at least I presume) to do with Palin herself.
My problem lies in the participation she has with a group of people (namely, the christian conservative right of our country’s political process) who consistently attempt to claim moral and religious supreriority. A group of people who look down on certain ones amongst us who choose to work outside of the home with small children still in need of care, a group of people who scoff at those of us who choose to send our children to public schools, a group of people who (in many circles) still think that women are best kept in the home. They judge the left for not being family oriented enough, for not being wholesome enough, for having pregnant teens….and then they lift up Palin as a model?!
This is the same problem I have within the institution of church as it stands today - I do not expect our religious leaders to be perfect - but if they’re going to define perfect and expect others to live by it, I cannot help but cry “hypocracy” when they live a different standard.
Are the media outlets and some democrats being unfair to Palin? Probably. Sexist? Yes, often. Unkind and disrespectful to Palin herself and esp. her 17 year old daughter? Yes. But first of all, Palin isn’t a baby and she isn’t a pansy - she didn’t get her reputation for nothing. She knows what she’s getting into and she chose to take this position knowing what her family is like and what they need from her. Part of her vetting process was knowing how she’d deal with the attention her kids and husband will get. Second of all, if you set the standards, you shouldn’t be surprised if people are a bit irritated when your life doesn’t seem to always reflect those standards. If you are going to attack someone for doing something and then be applauded by the very people who attacked with you, you’re going to attract some media attention.
I just listened to a bbc news interview with some RNC delegates and it was truly bizarre. They LOVE Palin…and they love her for the same reasons they hate liberal feminists.
Now, I don’t like McCain and Palin’s politics, I don’t agree with many of their positions and have no intention of trying to like either of them…I don’t deny that I’m looking through a specific lens here. But hypocricy is something my generation is really really sick of - and this whole thing going on in the right side of the aisle - esp. the religious/christian right, smacks of it.
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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for bravely trying to walk the fine line here.
What … do I hear the sound of a hammer hitting a nail?
I tire of the words liberal and feminist being linked together like dirty and dog poo. Then to have Sarah Palin crammed down my throat as a paragon of feminine virtue is really too, too much.
Really, she’s a mixed bag just like the rest of us … and perhaps a little more power hungry than I’m personally comfortable with. But then most politicians are so that’s nothing new.
exactly, that’s why it’s so damn hard for me to feel anything but disdain for a woman who is applauded by the same people who put down people like me because we’re….ummmm…like her ?! it’s perplexing and annoying as hell.
bob - TRYING would be the key word there LOL
“they love her for the same reasons they hate liberal feminists.”
Nailed it!
The other piece is that the RNC has been all over Obama’s inexperience as a variable that tells us why he is not ready to lead. Then they pull Palin out of, well, right field and now laud her even deeper chasm of inexperience as something laudable as a “maverick”.
It’s preposterous and annoying.
drew - exactly, it’s hypocritical - I don’t have a problem with Palin as McCain’s pick PER SE - I wouldn’t have voted for mccain anyway
the other thing that annoys the hell out of me is how “amazing” the republicans think she is because she chose to carry her baby to term knowing he had down syndrome - as if a liberal would abort it on principal. I just find the insinuations so offensive - - and they’re coming from both sides.
but still, the most annoying thing is what a superhero she apparently is because she’s an outdoorswoman and a politician while at the same time being a mother - THIS is what so many women have been trying to get respect for from the religious right for DECADES! what the hell?! hypocrisy! Besides, my grandmother was a farmer, mother of 8, devoted catholic, active woman in her community in NORTH DAKOTA and she never got such accolades. Palin is not amazing, she’s not spectacular, she’s not any more special than any of my friends. Now, that doesn’t mean she can’t be VP, but for pete’s sake…
*big breath* ok, I’m done now hehe
Good to heat a perspective from your side of the pond
as an interested observer the UK media seem to be portraying her as either the best thing since sliced bread or a massive political liability… the jury is still out 
I kinda like her myself, but then religion is kept well out of politics here and no one would give 2 hoots if a politician here had a pregnant daughter or a child with down syndrome - apart from the isn’t she human like us angle.
Of course it’s not too late to vote for me instead
see, and I DON’T like her because I don’t give 2 hoots about the family stuff.
you know, if it weren’t for Obama, I’d totally vote for you paul … even IF you like palin
LOL
[...] Makeesha on why she’s not a fan of the whole thing and also why Palin is about evangelicals not [...]
Excellent post Mak. You really hit the nail on the head here. They are so two faced! There again I guess all politicians are! I have no vote as I don’t live in the US, but if I did I would go for Obama. It’s not necessarily because he’s a democrat, although that is where my political thoughts fall. With what he is saying I would want to vote for him if he were a republican too! There is a real passion there will him, he is raw, there is a hope, real possibility and potential - change. Right now I think, and I’m hoping ;-), that Palin is a liability for the republicans - I think McCain is too.
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I guess I don’t ‘get’ most of your rant. Which is fine, but since its here, and I’m here, I thought I’d comment.
What if Palin is just busting through the good ol’ boys club? Not in that she’s running for office, but that she’s doing it WITHIN the republican party?
What if her being put on the ticket reflects a change internally for the Republican part? (yes, I’d agree it was primarily to sway votes but if there ISN’T real change going on in some republicans, then it would likely cause some to NOT vote for McCain)
While I read a lot that seems to support change from within it seems on this issue there is no support at all. That seems a little hypocritical to me.
“pull Palin out of, well, right field and now laud her even deeper chasm of inexperience as something laudable as a “maverick”.”
Deeper chasm of inexperience? No. From what I see she has been called a maverick moreso because she’s a DC outsider. She does have more political experience than Obama. I actually like that she’s somewhat of an outsider, I think that is a good thing - a fresh perspective.
“she chose to carry her baby to term knowing he had down syndrome - as if a liberal would abort it on principal”
Maybe you are reading into that. To applaud one isn’t to state the other would have done differently. Thats a leap. For the record, I DO think its amazing that she chose to carry and keep the baby. Many, on both sides of the aisle, would have aborted that little life.
” Palin is not amazing, she’s not spectacular, she’s not any more special than any of my friends….”
Maybe your friends are more special than you think.
Gracie.
gracie, I can understand how you would see it all that way, and that’s fair, but I don’t
just difference of opinion on the matter. I happen to see it the way I do because I was once an ardent republican from the religious right camp and I know how I used to see it. I made sure to specify I don’t know how Palin thinks and I’m not projecting - I’m just telling you how *I* see it as a leftish person who used to be there. Palin and I have very similar histories family-wise and religion-wise so I’m seeing it through a double lens.
Thanks for sharing your pov, always good to bring in some perspective.
oh, and I do have amazing and spectacular friends - for lots of reasons
O.k., I had to turn off my iTunes just so I could concentrate through all that. I’m afraid I’m a complete undecided at this point, and I really, really appreciate the different perspectives articulated here, but what I appreciate even more is the respect with which it was done.
As a mostly addle-brained politico (read: complete moron) all the issues and their nuances leave me feeling stupid, confused and overwhelmed. I hope that the next few months brings clarity to all of it.
By the way, you’re all so smart. wow.
well i won’t let it affect our friendship that you’re gonna go with Obama
somethings are more important than politics 
“the other thing that annoys the hell out of me is how “amazing” the republicans think she is because she chose to carry her baby to term knowing he had down syndrome”
Considering that about 90% of women who find out they’re carrying a child with Down syndrome choose to abort, I think you’re missing the point of why Palin is being praised for having the baby.
actually Shauna, I would say that you’re missing MY point. but that’s ok
of course it’s good that she chose to carry the baby to term, I already articulated that in the post.
I’m pretty much an idiot when it comes to politics too Heather, but I’m a news junky and I know where I do and do not currently fall. I’m actually a registered independent (although I was a democrat for awhile so I could caucus for Obama lol) but I’m a left leaning independent which is why I like Obama and am not keen on McCain. In fact, I probably align more with Nader but like I told Dan (who likes nader) I think that’s just because I like the idea of being a pot-head LOL.
the RNC made my blood boil to be honest - for so many reasons and on so many levels.
however, I’m practically a socialist in many ways and would probably be happy if I didn’t live in this country so take it for what it’s worth
Great post Mak!
Politics. They make my head spin and have turned me into a cynic. I admire that you are able to decide on a candidate. My bad attitude keeps getting in the way of my decision process.
Remember way back when Dan Quayle *defined* family values and attacked a fictitious TV character for carrying an out-of-wedlock baby to term? Yet those same people praise Palin and her daughter’s decisions. Aren’t all 3 to be commended (if you can commend a fictitious person)? Older kids need adopting–– but god forbid they go to a stable and loving single parent or worse, a homosexual home! Don’t even get me started on working moms. Some choose a career outside the home and are excellent nurturing parents. Some are forced into it by our wonderful non-trickling down economy. Oy with the christianized politics. I have had friends tell me they could no longer be my friend because I was not part of the Moral Majority and we no longer had anything in common. EXCUSE ME! What about Jesus?? See, I told you I am cynical. Speaking of Jesus––wasn’t he a feminist?
Mak, be careful you don’t lump all homeschoolers together. I have done public, private Christian and homeschool. I never homeschooled for religious reasons. My least favorite form of educating my kids was the private schools that slapped christian lingo into their texts and called it education. This year I have one kid in public and one at home. I have never thought badly of anyone’s choice of educating their kids. Well, I take that back. I disagree with isolating kids from the world or banning books so I suppose I have been judgmental.
Sorry. My comment has turned into a soapbox. Consider it a compliment. You got me fired up!
I don’t lump homeschoolers together Robyn - but stereotypes exist and often for good reason, we all stereotype based on our experiences and I think we all know that when someone makes a comment in generalities they’re not talking about every single person in that group.
and actually, I didn’t say anything about homeschoolers, I was referring to SOME in the religious RIGHT…that’s a relatively small (but too large for my comfort) group. There are other homeschoolers who are judgmental against public schoolers for other reasons - like in our city where many are pagan hippies (and that’s really what they are, not making a judgment about them) and want their kids to learn out in the woods in the mountains.
I don’t care if you homeschool or not, I really don’t - it’s not my thing and I think that many people I know do a bad job of it but homeschooling itself is not something I’m fundamentally opposed to