Or, indeed, much of anything happening these days in politics – Roger Kimball writes:
…The hatred and contempt lavished upon Sarah Plain, from certain conservatives as well as from the Left, presents a dispiriting and, to me, hard-to-fathom spectacle. That is, I understand that the Left would regard her as a political threat and would therefore dislike her. But why the contempt? And why the contempt (and hatred) from the Right? I have several times explained why I admire Sarah Palin. Please note that I did not say I want her to run for the Presidency. But what (a locution that comes up often among her admirers) a breath of fresh air she is! Here you have a woman from a working-class background who, by dint of her own energy and ambition, becomes Governor of her state—a good Governor, too, by all account not tainted by The New York Times. She espouses good conservative principles: self-reliance, fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense. And, on top of all that, she is a courageous and loving mother to a passel of children.
What’s not to like? That she chose to keep and love a Down Syndrome child? That sets the teeth of many on edge, I know, though they are loathe to come right out and admit it. Granted: She’s not a lawyer. She’s not from the Ivy League. She’s not part of the Washington Establishment. Heavy liabilities, what? I acknowledge that her performance in front of Katie Couric and other barracuda-like interviewers was poor, embarrassing even. But put that and all the other charges in the scale on one side, then put her virtues on the other: which side wins out?…
Of course, to the left as a whole – and elitists conservatives, as well – it is the very fact that Palin lacks either a degree in law or journalism which is a flaw. Additional flaw: having more than one or two designer children. Really bad flaw: being married to a regular guy whom every other regular guy in the US wouldn’t mind going fishing/hunting with while not being willing to go within a country mile of, say, Al Gore (if she does become the GOP Presidential nominee there will be fierce competition among outsdoorsy GOPers for the VP slot…fishing trip to the Alaskan outback with Mr. Palin via Air Force One, anyone?). Final flaw: she doesn’t care what the left and sundry elites think of her.
Anyways, they won’t understand her. They are incapable of such comprehension because to understand Sarah Palin – and her appeal – is to understand the United States out side of the elite enclaves. It’ll be very fun to watch how this pans out over the next two years.
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