PunditMom Defends Sarah Palin
No, I did not suffer a severe head injury or have a GOP epiphany since yesterday. My progressive bona fides are very much intact, thanks (I am the Goddess of All Things Liberal, after all!).
But as I was thinking about all the appearances Sarah Palin has had in the media since the Republicans' defeat last week, and the heat she's been taking for it (my own included), I wondered why we would expect her to fade into the Alaskan woodwork.
If anyone of us had an unexpected opportunity to move our careers or our personal and professional brands forward, wouldn't we grab it?
Palin has won the political profile lottery in a way few politicians ever do, no matter where they are from or how long they've been on the scene. Skilled politicos know how to seize the moment and move forward when others say their success is unlikely -- can you say "Barack Obama."
WAIT! Before you think I've lost all my marbles, I'm not comparing Palin and Obama in any sort of substantive way. So many Democrats and Republicans alike have agreed that Palin just doesn't have the experience, know-how or gravitas to move onto the big stage, even with that oh-so-famous "executive experience."
But that doesn't stop people from trying. It never has. And it certainly doesn't stop them from succeeding. As proof of that, I only need to say two words -- George Bush.
What Palin does have is a sense of opportunity, something that doesn't generally come to girls or women naturally in our society. She's got some serious chutzpah, something I wish I had more of. For better or worse, without a dose of that, even qualified women have a tough time getting ahead in any career, especially politics.
Palin has taken charge of this moment that is unlikely to come again and she's making the most the notoriety that was offered her.
I have to say, if I were in her shoes, I'd do the same thing. When it comes to promotion of women in high profile situations, whether it's corporate or national politics, none of the men who are still running the show are going to do it for us. Women have to do it for themselves.
So on this one, I have to give Sarah Palin a pass from my usual criticism. I don't want her anywhere near the White House, but I totally get what she's trying to do for herself and her career.
Joanne Bamberger is a writer and political analyst in Washington, D.C. She is the founder of PunditMom, a blog about the intersection of politics and motherhood. Her political commentary has been featured on CNN, Fox News, BBC Radio and ABC.com, among others.
Follow Joanne Bamberger on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PunditMom
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Though people may not want to admit it, Palin and Obama mirror each other in many was.
In they're mass appeal, natural charisma, both photogenic, youth, can draw crowds and ratings, "coolness" (both played ball), entered with a big splash. It goes on...
However they're poles apart not only in political philosophy but also temperament. Much of Obama's success has been how he is perceived as Anti-Bush. Someone who contemplates and is more cerebral. Palin is more of the "gut-instinct" Bush model. I think she has the appeal and cache for her to run in 2012 the same way an opportunity opened up for Obama after the 2k4 convention.
BUT to win she will need to have the steadiness and campaign operation savvy Obama has. So far she has appeared erratic and had major drama in the only big campaign she was apart of. She'll need to work on that.
http://pun
As the saying goes, "every person will rise to the level of thier incompetence" . However, most can see far enough past the mirror to understand and except what that is and change careers accordingly.
"If anyone of us had an unexpected opportunity to move our careers or our personal and professional brands forward, wouldn't we grab it?"
Well, perhaps. But only in directions that one is qualified to pursue. In Palin's case, this would include talk show host, snowmobile spokesmodel, sideline reporter for Monday Night Football, and beauty pageant coach.
Okay, maybe one more: Dancing with the Stars contestant.
If anyone of us had an unexpected opportunity to move our careers or our personal and professional brands forward, would''t we grab it?
Not necessarily. I would never pursue a position which was beyond my ability. That only guarantees failure. Just look at the dismal record of all the incompetents in this current administration. They failed because they accepted opportunities which were beyond their ability.
Unless one endorses sheer self-promotion with no intellectual strength, geopolitical awareness, or any real competence in governing at the national level, then I fail to see any positives in her attention-grabbing stunts. Contrary to furthering the cause of women, her infamy only insults the efforts of truly deserving women.
Palin won no political lottery -- she maneuvered and manipulated her way to exactly where she is now with apparently no thought of anything but her own gain. I agree with the earlier commenter who recommended reading Andrew Sullivan's blog, which documents her many lies and distortions. I don't know an easy way to link all his postings, but go to:
http://and
and search for "the odd lies of Sarah Palin"
You say, "I wondered why we would expect her to fade into the Alaskan woodwork."
This presumes that grabbing the limelight, grasping all opportunities for more exposure, etc., IS the definition of promoting one's career, be it gubernatorial or otherwise. But that's not the case, is it?
I know we live in a media-focused, celebrity-obsessed culture at the moment, but let us not forget that fame and progress in the media spotlight is not a requirement for doing the job of governor of Alaska. This is not American Idol we are talkning about here. Politicians can be effective governors and legislators without fame.
If Palin wants fame, yes, she is going about doing what she needs to do to keep it. She has that right. But let us not fall into the mental trap of believing any of this is inevitable or necessary. She could become a relatively private person again should she wish, without compromising her work and career.
We totally get it too.
A power hunger Diva who would put a whole Nation a risk to get ahead.
She has no sense of history or knowledge of even the basic forms of Government.
We have had enough would be dictators from the bottom of the class and yes men like Regean and Bush.
I'm amazed at how polarized people still are over Sarah Palin even after the election is over. I agree with you; after being exposed on a national stage and being burned by her own colleagues and aides, I'd be trying to set the media straight, too. That doesn't mean I'd ever vote for her -- it simply means I think she has a right to do whatever she wants in furtherance of her career. Even it it IS in God's hands.
W for all his lack of intellect, spent his whole life in Politics and knew enough to follow the advice of his advisers, like Rove etc. He knew how to run for office in the lower 48. Perhaps Sarah will pick up this stuff, but I doubt it. She will have to successfully run the gauntlet of the Republican Primary before the Dems have to worry about her in 2012.
HuffPo apparently didn't like my post, so I will try again...
Mrs. P a l i n's "serious chutzpah" is ignorance, bordering on s t u p i d i t y, or worse yet, a complete lack of caring. Her verbal communication skills leaves the average listener confused and bewildered, which Mrs. P a l i n mistakes as her own competence. Since she has a degree in journalism, it makes me wonder if it really came from the back of a matchbook or a S a l l y S t r u t h e r s infomercial. This woman should not be allowed to further herself within the realm of politics, as it could eventually affect me. If, however, she goes down the path of entertainer, then I can just change the channel. Please do not give credit when it is not due. You only encourage.
The "me" generation. The "me" society. The "me" nation.
We're a joke. We're the antithesis of what we preach world wide.
If you're knowingly misrepresenting yourself, if you lie, if you take advantage of the nature of you fellow man, you're wrong.
"But everyone else would do it!" "I'm just forwarding myself!" "I'm entitled to be a d*ck, too!"
As long as we espouse these attitudes, nothings going to change. And when it comes to leadership, by God, I want someone who's above self service.
Good for you, Punditmom. You're just another part of the problem.
I agree.
"If anyone of us had an unexpected opportunity to move our careers or our personal and professional brands forward, wouldn't we grab it?"
NO! - not if I had just given birth to my 5th child and my teenage daughter was pregnant..
(she is after fame by the way...this "serving the people is crap..if you wanted to serve, you would bother to know the issues)" KingwoodMom
Right. She looks for the opportunity for HERSELF, not to serve others, but to use others to serve herself.
Very quickly on she decided that the campaign was a vehicle for herself and she ran with it. She always prided herself in how well she delivered an insult and would use that talent to drag Obama down. Only she insulted the wrong man at the wrong time...tha
I'm wondering if one of those "doors opening" might be the back door - to take out the garbage? Yo, Sarah, its starting to stink up that kitchen.
She thinks she is the leader of the GOP now, not blinking - just plowing right along - also.
Larry King couldn't keep her on topic or get her to answer a question, maybe soon the MSM will ask that 2nd follow-up question and insist she answer. That will perhaps cause her to pause.
Answering the question with what you wanted the question to be is an old tactic, but is wearing thin now.
Sorry but Palin was on a losing team. The chief loser has gracefully stepped from the limelight, why hasn't this woman? I am looking forward to the day when her own party slaps her down. Then maybe she will finally get it.
I don't know what shocks me more the fact that women find her as a role model and thinks she did so well. Or someone openly admitting they would do the same thing, or things if they were in her shoes.
I have no love of palin, but I wont insult her to the point others have. It just astounds me that women find this "Role model" appealing.
A mother, with apparently no motherly instinct when it comes to the lime light.. Dragging her children all over gods green earth, an at ungodly hours to parade infront of camera's. Putting them in harms way in a public arena where sentiment may or may not run high about her political career or choices. (Youtube clip of a arena of people booing..)
That tells me quite a lot about her abilities right there, A decent parent wouldn't upset the lives of their children so much... To drag along a child with special health needs here, there, and everywhere
Mrs.Baumbe
Not one of these so called journalists asked her about her associatio
Did you ever watch one of her hate-filled rallies?She is your idea of a role model? Someone to be emulated?
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