T'Aint "Elitist" to Be Anti-Palin

I HATE TO pull rank here. But it seems I am almost the only Republican still standing who can criticize Sarah Palin without being accused by my fellow conservatives of suffering from an "elite education. "

Peggy Noonan, David Brooks, Christopher Buckley, Kathleen Parker and [my husband] David Frum have all had their heads put on pikes by the self-appointed rulers of Conservatism. As Rush Limbaugh said:

These are the people who are embarrassed by Sarah Palin 'cause she's not an intellectual and she didn't go to Harvard or have a college degree from approved universities and she drops her g's from words like morning and says mornin'. She's embarrassing, and I think something else really bothering these people is that they believe that she may become one of the key leaders of the conservative movement beyond 2008 if she and McCain lose this.

Those with degrees from approved universities are capable of mounting their own defense. But what about those of us who did not go to Harvard -- and yet whose eyes still bug out at the prospect of a Palin vice presidency, let alone the prospect of her as a "key leader"in the future?

In fact, not only did I NOT go to Harvard, I have no education to speak of. Not beyond high school anyway (and it was one of those large, urban high schools from which many of the most successful graduates went on to become garage mechanics). To paraphrase Melville, a tabloid newspaper was my Yale and my Harvard (and yes, it is possible to have read Melville without attending Yale and Harvard. It's Sarah Palin's kind of story, too: lots of huntin' and guttin' ).

My lack of post-secondary education isn't something I'm proud of. Certainly I've never been moved to boast about it in public. Honestly, if I'd had more sense at eighteen, I would have gone to college -- preferably, an elite one. But I grew up in a newspaper family and was eager to join the business. So instead of spending my early twenties engaged in discussions of Keynes and Friedman, I found myself knocking on the metal doors of public housing developments, asking residents for recent photos of their murdered children. I never said "Get me rewrite" because, more often than not, I WAS rewrite. And like Palin, I was raised to disdain anyone who thought himself too clever or above everyone else (usually a reporter from the competing broadsheet). In my world, an elite degree marked you as someone with permanently retarded judgment, a reader of The New Yorker -- the sort of person of whom Orwell would write, "Only an intellectual could say something so stupid."

Maybe it's because of my background that I've been wary of Palin from the get-go -- and more than taken aback by those who insist the only reason a conservative could oppose her would be because of intellectual snobbery.

Don't get me wrong: I love the idea of Sarah Palin. She conforms to an early American (and pre-feminist) ideal of womanhood: rifle on one hip, baby on the other. I love her modern incarnation of this ideal, complete with Sex-in-the-Tundra wardrobe and kick-ass Jimmy Choos (even if they are paid for by the RNC). I love the idea she represents "common sense" over fancy-pants theorizing. I love -- and certainly identify with -- her real world, "out there" experience over her opponents' closed-off years in Washington. Truly, there are few women I'd rather share a beer with.

The problem is that the reality of Sarah Palin does not match the idea of Sarah Palin. It's as plain as day -- glaringly obvious! -- that she's unfit for the job she's running for. We wouldn't expect the best darn regional car saleswoman to be appointed the next vice president of General Motors. We wouldn't fly in a commercial plane piloted by someone with a Cessna license because we trusted her gut. We wouldn't follow a woman into battle because she's a crack shot at moose hunting. Why is it unreasonable -- or snobbish! -- to have expected a better choice from our party for the next potential leader of the free world?

And please don't reply with, "The other side doesn't have experience either!" That's an argument you can make without having graduated from elementary school.

Those of us who came of age as Reagan Republicans expected more from ourselves. Leave the left to its demagoguery and name-calling. We'll make the case using facts, reason - -and yes, common sense.

Now it seems my side are the ones circling the wagons, shouting abuse at dissenters -- determined to lose rather than ask ourselves why we aren't winning.

As Orwell once might have said...

Comments

[martinspringfield]

And the funniest line goes to: "Those of us who came of age as Reagan Republicans expected more from ourselves." As if Reagan himself were anything more than the prototype for GW Bush and Sarah Palin. The only thing he had over them was that his charm was real where theirs is not. But in every other respect he was as bumbling and in way over his head. He had a better wingman in GHW Bush and a Democratic Congress to keep him a little in check.

But that mess you see in the economy? That war you see in Iraq? The absurd involvement of far-right Christianists in every branch of government? The rewriting of history in real time? Those are all Reagan legacies.

[Pamlet]

Whenever I hear a Palin supporter defend Palin's infamous Couric and Gibbon interviews by saying she was trapped I just think, "Well, wouldn't a competent politician be able to handle that? What's she gonna do when she's faced with negotiating with Putin, Pelosi or any of the other wiley tricksters out there? Isn't that what politicians DO?" And you don't need a fancy degree to do that -- it's just street smarts, basic stuff. She's not ready for prime time, I'm afraid. Nor even SNL.

[txmasjoy]

If you want to assert that she is unfit for the job, then tell us exactly, why?

Next Tuesday, how will you vote? Why?

I love your writing, Ms. Crittenden, your wit and your style. What I see happening, though, is that commentary like this drives a wedge into the conservative heart.

It splinters our side at the very moment we need to be whole and together, resisting the social and economic decay of our nation.

[BalancedEgg]

Wow! Talk about missing and proving the point at the same time. Good shot, t-joy. FYI...commentary the speaks truth might be exactly what the conservative idealogues need most at this juncture.

[Yermammy]

That WAS awfully Peggy Noonish.

[EseAncianoSharqui]

Nice to see that there are a few smart conservatives left out there not in denial, and willing to spread the word: Palin is categorically unfit for office and will split our party in two, leaving us the stinking rump side.

[MPeter]

For a person who did not go to Yale, you sure know how to make a good argument. It is an excellent article that I wish a brainny Rethug would read.

[Michale32086]

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And please don't reply with, "The other side doesn't have experience either!" That's an argument you can make without having graduated from elementary school.
}}}}

Yes, it's true... It's an argument a grade schooler could make.

And why??

Because it's a simple and, more important, accurate argument.

If "experience" is your litmus test, then it's undeniable that the GOP's #2 has more executive experience than the DEM's #1.

It's undeniable..

As President Clinton himself has said, one can really NEVER get Presidential experience, except by being President.

There are so many things that one can tackle Palin on.. Although, why anyone would WANT to is beyond me.

But the simple fact is, when you bring up the experience card and try to apply it to Palin, it invariably gets dealt to Senator Obama, if only subliminally..

Just my opinion...

In the interests of full disclosure I am a demonstrable Obama supporter..

Michale.....

[SMP]

actually, The Sarah Palin pick reflects very badley on John McCain judgement.

John McCain is bought and paid for by the rightest part of the right wing extremists. That is a fact ( Palin pick prime example, non-vetted, a political pander to the republican base) and one every US citizen should consider when pushing that vote button at the polls on Tues. Nov 4th.


In the interest of full disclosure I am a Older Female PA Obama supporter who strongly believes in equality for all women, and has seen through his life experiences, Sen Obama also believes in womens equality, one look at Michele should dispell any doubts. Sen Obama is not afraid of a strong intelligent woman. He appreciates us and encourages all women to succeed to their fullest potential.

Sue

[Michale32086]

I respect your opinions. I just don't agree with them.

However, in my case, it's not really relevant how good or bad McCain and/or Palin is.

Since I have no intention of voting for them tomorrow, it really makes no difference to me if they are the gods' gifts or the devil incarnate...

Michale.....

[Wiserone]

The problem with the experience argument and applying it to Palin as fi that would make her fit for the presidency is that she has NO PROVEN HISTORICAL INTELLECTUAL DEPTH and that IS the sort of knowledge needed to step into the presidency, if required.

[motherforpeace]

The whole argument of Palin has no experience, but neither does Barack isn't even the issue. It is apparant that Palin is a very smart and savvy woman. But it doesn't cover up the fact that she doesn't even have the basic grasp of the issues at hand and Obama does. This has nothing to do with education. He knows and has proven in debates and through discussion that he possesses the knowledge of domestic and foreign issues.

Palin on the other hand is stumbling all over the place. It is hard to even decifer her answers because they are nothing but smoke and mirrors to distract people from the fact that she simply does not know. She is not ready now and our country needs someone who is ready.
I don't know if Palin likes to be the attack dog or if that is what the McCain campaign wanted her to do, but they missed a giant opportunity here. Instad of constant insults and sarcasm, they should have tapped into what makes the "idea" of her appealing, a mother, special needs mother, career woman, home values. All of that gets smoked out by the red meat they have her throw into the areana every day. But then again, maybe that's what she wants. A strong woman doesn't necessarily have to be the constant attack woman. The fact that she is who she is makes her seem fearless with out having to say it.

[cousinavi]

The term "executive experience" is now, if it were not always, an example of reductio ad absurdum.
The suggestion that Palin's stint as Mayor of Wasilla and short term populist governor of Alaska in any way compares to the experience, intellect, manner, conduct, demonstrated reasoning, insight, character and accomplishment of Barack Obama is ludicrous.
It is to take one narrow assessment - "great team player" or "genius with numbers" and elevate it to an undeserved make-or-break quality - taking it in substitute for the great many qualities that Sarah Palin so obviously lacks AND those she very regrettably possesses.
Palin was a governor. So was Bush...Clinton, Reagan, Carter...Failed businessman, Rhodes scholar, actor, farmer...
Pegging one's support of Palin or rejection of Obama to questions of executive experience is at best thoughtless. At worst is an argument trotted out to justify something ugly, and until recent Palin rallies, mostly unspoken.