Sarah Palin's Obama Obsession

Today marks the one-year anniversary of John McCain's introduction of Sarah Palin to the international stage, in Dayton, Ohio, a political battleground that the Republicans desperately needed for another shot at the White House. They lost Ohio big (by more than 300,000 votes), and they lost the election even bigger--mostly thanks to Palin's erratic, if not downright bizarre, performance as the vice-presidential nominee.

In many ways, it seems longer than a year. Much longer. Palin went back to Alaska, where her life turned into a nasty soap opera. There were revelations from McCain's staff about her behavior on the campaign trail; she was hit with a myriad of ethics charges (some of which, contrary to Palin's claims otherwise, stuck); she bailed on her relationship with the state's legislators and played politics with the federal stimulus plan; she got into a dog fight with Levi Johnston; she began a series of odd Twitterings, replete with a four-part ramble on Mama Bear; she resigned amid chaos and deception, only to return as a diva on Facebook.

And through it all she has been obsessed with Barack Obama.

I've just returned from Alaska, where I conducted interviews and archival research for a book on Palin, and many of those I spoke to in the Last Frontier, from across the political spectrum, noted that Palin was fixated on Obama. "It's like she's back in high school and someone is more popular than she is," said someone who worked closely with Palin during her 2006 campaign for governor. "It's unnerved her. She can't let it go."

Recall her recent interview in Runner's World, where she bizarrely bragged about being able to beat Obama in a foot race:

Could you beat the president? I betcha I'd have more endurance. My one claim to fame in my own little internal running circle is a sub-four marathon. It wasn't necessarily a good running time, but it proves I have the endurance within me to at least gut it out and that is something...So if it were a long race that required a lot of endurance, I'd win.

Palin has been obsessed with Obama from Day One. In her convention speech in St. Paul, she declared that being governor was a little like being a "community organizer--except that you have actual responsibilities" (a laughable claim now knowing about her failed and truncated performance in Alaska). As John Heilemann noted in a splendid piece in New York Magazine, Palin "was unafraid to wield the stiletto" and "seemed to delight in plunging it into Obama's kidneys."

Along the campaign trail Palin hyped up crowds by accusing Obama of "pallin' around with terrorists" and not being "a man who sees America like you and I see America." When those in the crowd shouted out physical threats to Obama, Palin was silent.

Her silence says everything--about her lack of integrity and her reckless ambition.

In the aftermath of the inauguration, Palin jammed Obama about the stimulus package and lied about "purse strings" attached to the federal money. By the end, she was calling them "ropes." In a telling post-mortem on her governorship in Alaska earlier this month, a largely Republican State legislature overrode her veto, 45 to 14, with many of the legislators openly chastising Palin for playing politics with the state's economic well being. They knew her veto had everything to do with Obama and nothing to do with Alaska.

Then she completely misrepresented Obama's cap-and-trade energy policy, failing to even mention global warning in her duplicitous WashPo op-ed piece.

More recently, Palin referred to Obama's "death panels" and characterized his proposed health care reforms as "downright evil." It was a typical Big Palin Lie--and even Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski called Palin to task for her characterization. A national labor organization, Americans United For Change, took out an ad on Facebook urging Palin to "Stop Lying."

And now Palin's Obama obsession had taken a particularly dark turn.

In a largely overlooked passage in Time Magazine's cover story on Palin last month, Palin's official spokesperson Meg Stapleton asserted that there is a White House conspiracy behind the anti-Palin groundswell led by none other than Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. "The trail is pretty direct and pretty obvious to us," Stapleton declared.

Not printed in the article, but included in a blog posted by Time reporter Jay Newton-Small, were some additional comments on the alleged conspiracy. "To me," Newton-Small observed, "one of the most interesting aspects of the story is how vehemently the Palin camp blames Barack Obama."

"[Palin] represents the biggest threat to Obama," Stapleton stated. "She's the only one who can get the base excited....I just hope to God Rahm Emanuel isn't using taxpayer money to come after Alaska."

Say what?

Palin's Obama obsession has turned into a paranoid delusion. And like many political hucksters in American history--from the Know Nothings to Huey Long to Joe McCarthy and the Fox TV news clowns--Palin has tapped into the anger and fear of the American electorate. It's the low road to political power in America, and, rest assured, it will only get lower.

This past week, Palin urged her supporters on Facebook to tune into the television show of Glenn Beck, whose paranoid delusions about Obama have come close to topping Palin's own. Beck, of course, made headlines recently by claiming that Obama is a "racist" and that the president "has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture."

That there is an underlying racism that fuels Palin's obsession goes quite nearly without saying. But her ardent support of Beck this week, on the anniversary of her being named to the GOP ticket, says oodles about her obsession.

Award-winning writer and filmmaker Geoffrey Dunn is at work on a book about Sarah Palin and American politics, to be published by Macmillan/St. Martin's next year.

 

Comments

[mjeffn]

Sarah...yo­u're right about everything and everybody loves you. Now...go away.

[mikebarden]

And some people think I'm paranoid?

[sippewissett]

"It's like she's back in high school and someone is more popular than she is," said someone who worked closely with Palin during her 2006 campaign for governor. "It's unnerved her. She can't let it go."

The is metaphor is not quite correct. Instead, it should read, "It's like she's back in a beauty contest and someone else won the crown." Everything to Palin is about her next beauty contest and never about doing the work associated with the title. (No wonder she supported Prejean in CA!)

[Mark4Boston]

Interesting piece, but it only hints at the Wrong Wing love of Palin.

They love her, they are her "faithful". It does not matter to them if she quit as Governor, because in their eyes, she's not a quitter. The video The Daily Show did of her "farewell" speech was priceless. How can people be SO clueless? And yet they are...

Slinging innuendo and having a poor grasp of facts is all you need to get a Wrong Wing following, as Palin has so brilliantly shown. Just tout the Flag, guns, freedom, and freedom of choice...

I like McCain as a person and I admire him. I totally disagree with him about health reform and many other issues, but compared to Palin he's a real genius. Thank god he chose her. With a bona fide running mate, the race for Prez could have been a lot closer.

[Geoffrey Dunn - Huffpost Blogger]

I most certainly agree with that final line. The GOP operatives claimed they were doomed because of the economy, but had Romney or Pawlenty been in the second spot, it might have been a different ball game. The Democratic pollsters know how much Palin cost the GOP. The Republicans simply refuse to admit their mistake—including McCain.

[robco26]

You say "how can people be SO clueless" and I completely agree with you. Only thing is I wonder how everybody, especially the mainstream media gave our President a pass on all his radical ties. The Reverend Wrights, William Ayers, Bernadine Dorhns along with many others were hardly the type of people you would expect to help shape the views of the leader of our nation.
While I personally am not a republican, they are hardly alone and in fact inferior to the democrats when it comes to "slinging innuendo and having a poor grasp of the facts."
As you tear down those that were and are faithful towards Sarah Palin although you feel she is lacking in substance. You need look no further than your own party to find an equally, if not even blinder group of acolytes backing President Obama.

[Geoffrey Dunn - Huffpost Blogger]

My own party? I've been critical of the likes of Obama and Bill Richardson here recently. The true radical in this mix is Sarah Palin--and her ties to the Alaska Independence Party, her lies notwithstanding. And, excuse me, but where did I say "slinging innuendo and having a poor grasp of the facts"? Have at me for what I write, not what you make-up I write. Thank you.

[cindyperry]

Truthfully I think (these are my thoughts) she is a racist and a bigot and cannot stand the thought of an African American in the White House . That's her base and she will not run from them because she is them.

[mydwyf]

Absolutely true. She could not get over losing Miss Alaska to a young woman of color (who has made a career for herself as a jazz singer). I read somewhere about how Miss Sarah thought she should have won 'because I am prettier'.

I wish that our former Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer (also an accomplished vocalist, i once attended a recital she gave featuring "songs from Alaska's gold rush) had been representing our state on the national stage rather than Miss Sarah. Fran ran for governor in 2002 but lost out to the Republican machine in the form of Frank Murkowski. Then, after going through a huge drawn out search-for­-my-replac­ement on Frank's part to fill his senate seat (it was ridiculous, the papers kept publishing lists of names he released, the first list was 20+ people, then 10, then he was down to the 'final five' or so, including some very credible candidates, and then -- he chose ! his daughter !), Miss Sarah was Optiscanned and Diebolded and Voted into the governorship, ostensibly because people were so disgusted with Murkowski (which they were). But also because certain Murdoch sorts wanted her in that position. There are still very strange discrepencies regarding the vote tallies of that 2006 election. Tony Knowles was 10 points ahead a week or so before the vote.
But he was up against someone being mentored by Teddy Stevens and groomed by Dick Cheney.

[Barbara Schuckers]

I think everyone will take two steps back when Palin comes out. She did more by running Alaska then Obama could even hope for. When he was a Senator he passed on every bill put in front of him. He is appointing all his czars because he does not know what he's doing. He blames Bush all the time when he should be taking the fall. The people are not stupid. His "celebrity" status will eventually die (like his health care bill) and he may decide to be an actual President. That is really the scary part. We are all better when he is in the background. Look at his approval rateing. Down.....d­own....dow­n. He will hit Pelosi's polls soon. Then the right's will have their day.

[momcat4obama]

oh, barbie, barbie, barbie - still delusional, just like your little sara baby - sara did NOTHING for the State of Alaska. and you want the "right's" to have their day? - wtf do you call the last 8 years under bush/cheney? the right had their way then, and what happened? hummmm, let me think..., oh, I remember - something we call 9/11, an illegal war against someone who did NOT attack us and did NOT have wmd....the­re's more, but my fingers are tired.

[nicole473]

Amazing. Does she use some form of brainwashing/mind control on her unbelievably clueless followers?

Hardly worth responding to you as the lack of intelligence in your post is so startling.

[Horus45]

Yes, she did such a good job running Alaska that she was able to take a vacation for her last 18 months in office!

[SueInCA]

Is Barbara s schuker for Palin? Geez there is so much wrong with her statement, I don't even know where to start LOL

[SueInCA]

who are the rights?

[Susan Gessford]

The 'right's'.­.I mean rights are really the wrongs. They just don't know that they lost the election because of Sarah's antics.

[SharpDressedMan]

Good article by Geoffrey Dunn.

Charles Krauthammer, the conservative Washington Post columnist put it this way when he discussed the health care issues. He said Sarah Palin should leave the room and let others sort things out. That's sound advice that should extend to all issues.

We know Sarah Palin has thoughts and the freedom to express them. But she does more than just talk, she willfully lies or misrepresents. She can talk and we don't have to listen.

[HuffyAmy]

I am not a Palin fan, but I think a few of the author's reasons are a bit flimsy. That statement in her convention speech, for example, was written by speechwriters, and it looks like for the running article the question about Obama was asked of her, not volunteered. I'm not sure I believe she is obsessed with Obama, but I can believe she can't let the election go and truly believed her disgusting attacks were going to be successful.

[nikflorida]

So HuffyAmy, read his book.

[Horus45]

"truly believed her disgusting attacks were going to be successful­."

And still believes they will work!

[sippewissett]

So you think it's okay or condonable that someone speak what a speechwriter has prepared as a script if they disagree with it? Boy, tyranny can't be far behind.

[BuzzingAlong]

Beck interviews Palin about the Obama secret army.


http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/08/happy-anniversary-crazy-woman.html

[RRonin]

Keith Olbermann calls Glen Beck "Lonesome Rhodes", a reference lost on those who refuse to watch old black and white movies. That film, "A Face in the Crowd" serves some useful insights into the kind of personality represented by both Beck and Palin. It's worth watching. Gore Vidal once opined that if this country ever became a fascist dictatorship, it would not be led by a strutting, belligerent little popinjay like Adolf Hitler. Rather, the maximum leader would be a folksy, likeable character (Vidal used the late Arthur Godfrey as an example) who was "just folks"; dropping his g's and all homespun and front porch sittin'. Kind of like Palin.

[Horus45]

You mean like Reagan?

He did more to destroy manufacturing in the US than any other president.

[postman66]

For anyone thinking she is some future political threat, forget it. She now has a total history of being a quitter from start to finish. Her runner's analogy doesn't hold water on the stage of ideas. I predict she will run in the Republican primaries, get beat early and never run for elective office again.

[sippewissett]

I predict she won't run. She has found a new god: money. And her new career path does not require that she be accountable to those pesky voters, just to the lobbyists who underwrite her "op-ed" pieces and speeches. Follow the money...th­at's where Palin will be. She has just discovered that you don't have to be smart to be rich in America.

[Artos]

I think that Palin actually has a major crush on Obama. That is how life works, Love, hate, opposite sides of the same coin. She Pretends to hate him and everything he stands for while secretly adoring and wanting him. Yet she knows she can't have him and therefore she works overtime at making the world believe that she could care less about him, I think her dilemma will result in her having a breakdown.

[BuzzingAlong]

Artos, I have been thinking the same thing for a long time.

[hucklecat]

Love your theory! She is a narcissist and needs to be loved and admired. Obama doesn't even utter her name -- a complete rejection. Talk about narcissistic injury, this is it.

[MikeElPaso]

The only reference to Palin by President Obama, although he didn't mention her name, was when he attended the Alfred E Smith dinner and said that he enjoyed being at the Waldorf Astoria. He was told that if you stood of the front steps of the hotel you could see the Russian Tea room from there. That's the only Palin reference by him that I recall.

[devans00]

Kinda like Palin stealing Obama's pencil so he'll chase her in the school yard.

Except he doesn't. Obama barely register's a pencil is gone as he uses another writing tool and keeps going.

Too funny.

[Horus45]

spot on

[Reefdancer]

Great article.

[GrumpyOldGeek]

Mr. Dunn,
I'm looking forward to reading your book. The psychological analysis of Sarah Palin and those who attach themselves to her is fascinating.

Here's my bold prediction: Sarah Palin will divorce, probably within a year or two. Her inability to honor speaking comittments will eventually result in fewer and fewer invitations. She won't be offered jobs in talk radio or Fox cable talk shows. If she gets a job, she'll quit.

After 30 plus years of working with alcohol and drug abusers, I've seen dozens of people just like Sarah Palin, not that she's an addict, but that she has similar psychological issues. My impression is that her behavior is more symptomatic of histrionic personality disorder (HPD).

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histrionic_Personality_Disorder for a description.

The overview section describes behaviors such as her style of speech, her frequent job and school changes (six schools to earn her degree), her inappropriate winking during her VP debate, etc. Yes, I agree that there are indications of paranoid delusional disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder, but I think these are secondary.

I disagree that race has anything to do with her behavior other than times when she panders to racists in her audiences. I believe that her attacks on Obama are motivated by plain old jealousy.

And Sarah Palin is my ninth cousin. For real. Aaack pthpthhhth.

[bardgal]

brilliant, and it also says a lot about those who still idolize her.

fanned.

[nailinpalinnow]

This is very good, it really could explain many many unusual incidents and patterns. I'd like to hav

[nailinpalinnow]

sorry...I'­d like to have more info on what the article means by "impressionistic" speech, though it certainly seems like a good descriptor for sarah's salad.

If she did end up having this disorder, and getting helped, I wonder, would her current followers still adore her? She'd be very different, and my guess is they'd not be so interested in a sober ladylike politician who dressed conservatively, tried to direct attention to the issues not herself, and didn't try to sex up politics.

[GrumpyOldGeek]

Let's stick to a general discussion of behavior and symptoms associated with various mental health diagnostic criteria. I suggest, for learning about this subject, that you scroll to the bottom of the wiki page I referenced in my first posting. Read several. There are several slightly different criteria that describes 'impressionistic'. But read about several different disorders.

Realize that everyone has behavior traits that are listed as symptoms of various mental disorders and more than one disorder lists similar symptoms. The DSM is specific, but only trained professionals are qualified to diagnose. It is important to understand that behaviors must significantly affect the life of the person to be considered.

In addition to histrionic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder are very interesting. Think about Bush, Cheney, Beck, Rumsfeld, Limbaugh, and a few of the more rabid posters in these blogs. I find that reading about the disorders and the motivations thought to drive the behaviors, I have developed a more complete understanding of what these folks are about. This is a fascinating subject for me.

Oh yeah. Treatment usually doesn't change a person's fundamental personality or behaviors very much. More likely, better decisions would be made and oddball behavior would be lessened a bit. That's what I've observed, mostly.

[momcat4obama]

excellent post! - fanned...a­nd my sympathies for the relation thing; but it must make for some pretty interesting(?) family reunions.

[GrumpyOldGeek]

Sarah and I share g-g-g-g-g-­g-g-g-gran­dparents born in the 17th century (1650-ish). Every person has just over a million grandparents of this generation. So Sarah and I share less than one millionth of this couple's genes. Whew. I'm proud to be a Geek.

Other distant cousins help me to mitigate the Sarah-cousin thing.
I'm a distant cousin of Sir Isaac Newton, Amelia Earhart, Orson Welles, and a few others of note. My 5th ggrandfather, Capt. Benjamin Walker, is memorialized on the Bunker Hill monument where he was killed by the British in 1775. My Walker ancestors are not related to the Walkers of the Bush family. Another ancestor was in the PA artillery regiment that crossed the Delaware with Washington at the Battle of Trenton. My respect and admiration of our country's pioneer families just keeps growing.

[nicole473]

FYI, for those of you who are interested, there are several Facebook groups for anit-Palin people. I joined all of them myself. :)

Palin's group has close to one million users now.

[haji99]

How ironic. An article about PALIN's infatuation with OBAMA, and just read the comments that follow. It seems there are quite a lot of people infatuated with Palin. I'd question why that is, if she is even half as stupid and shallow as she is made out to be. If she is, she shouldn't be a threat, right? And if she's not a threat why are a million people wasting their time opposing her? And my memory is a little foggy, but weren't there a few people over the last 8 years that were infatuated with Bush & Cheney?

[nicole473]

Tracking and countering a politician who would be a disaster for this country were she ever to be successful in her bid for national office, is not an obsession. It is a practical, wise move on the part of those involved in the political process, and although you're entitled to your opinion, it certainly seems rather shallow.

[mrskorn]

Now that is funny. Spending all your time on Anti-Palin facebook groups. Why do people enjoy hating others, as you obviously choose to spend your time? The saddest part is that you are proud of it.

[nicole473]

Proud of it? Hardly. Spend all my time on it? LOL, I signed up, I do not spend time on it, nor do I post. I simply add to the numbers.

Mrs. Korn, as a member of Palin's infamous Facebook group, you probably should refrain from criticizing others for joining groups to counter her.