Sarah Palin's Unnoticed Empowerment of Women

Governor Sarah Palin has been blown off the front pages by the financial crises, which has spread across six columns of almost every newspaper. Wall Street has overtaken Main Street. Her credentials slim to begin with, appear even more flimsy under the blinding light of a financial melt down.

Still, the Palin factor has not disappeared. Polls continue to show that after the Republican convention white women have been swept to her side with the force of a tidal wave. Obama had a strong edge with women before Palin became McCain's running mate. Now women are virtually tied between McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden. But "tied" is not good enough. In my recently published book, Pearls, Politics and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead, I note that women supported the Democratic candidate for President by as much as eleven points in the last twenty years, and that has made the difference.

Why aren't women more supportive of the Obama/Biden ticket which speaks to so many women's concerns--equal pay for equal work, health care, education, and of course, choice. What does the Palin factor mean, especially for white married and white working class women who continue to strongly support McCain/Palin?

There is a group of women whose support for Palin does not have much to do with the issues or whether she is qualified to be President. Only 3 percent of likely women voters deemed her most qualified and prepared to be President.

I hate to think that these women are supporting her just because she is a woman and "is like me." But to some extent that is true. Almost all women have experienced--in a wide variety of ways--life-long forms of gender bias, both overt and subtle, in their families, at work, and in society. Most women have not had the opportunity to express their frustration or, their outrage. Turning the other cheek, remaining silent, denial, or smiling sweetly has been the most common rejoinders for many polite, conservative and liberal women.

Now, with Sarah Palin, they have a chance to vent their frustrations in a positive way by cheering her, supporting a woman who is not "like them" in most ways, but is enough "like them" in some ways so they can see themselves in her, and share in her present triumph.

Some of these same women cheered Senator Hillary Clinton--who is in most ways the exact opposite of Sarah Palin. She was prepared to be President, and she was vetted in a 16-month primary campaign. She spoke directly to women's issues and was strongly pro-choice. But for some women these issues did not matter; they cheered her stamina, her grit, and her willingness to be in the political fight. In some odd, inexplicable way, Hillary made them feel stronger, more capable of standing tall at home and on the job. I got that message from a variety of women after I was first elected Governor in 1984. They felt proud to be women. They, to use a now well-worn phrase, felt empowered by my campaign, and my election.

A similar phenomenon is happening with Sarah Palin. Just watching her stand and speak before a huge cheering crowd, giving "them" hell, is rejuvenating. It is as if we are hearing a long exhale from women who have had to suppress their true feelings about being put down all these years. It doesn't make sense in terms of the issues; it is not logical. But it is a reality that whether she is prepared for the job or not, whether she is right on the issues or not, some women simply are enjoying the moment of seeing her there at John McCain's side.

Even I, a former Hillary supporter and now an enthusiastic Obama supporter, occasionally feel a little thrill when I watch her, even though I disagree with almost everything she says and would never vote for her.

What Democrats underestimated was the rumbling sound from women which could only be heard if you put your ear to the ground. Women have been waiting and waiting for their turn ever since Geraldine Ferraro was the vice presidential democratic nominee twenty-four years ago. Yes, she is the wrong woman at the wrong time, and if the McCain/Palin should win the election, it would hold women back, rather than enable them to move forward to further equality. And it is becoming increasingly clear that it is the wrong ticket for the country in these precarious financial times.

The Obama/Biden ticket is right on the women's issues, and the bread and butter money issues that are roiling the economy.

The challenge is to make these issues the focal point of this election--and not the fact that Sarah Palin is "like me."

Madeleine M. Kunin is the former Governor of Vermont and was the state's first woman governor. She served as Ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and was on the three-person panel that chose Al Gore to be Clinton's VP. She is the author of Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead from Chelsea Green Publishing.

Comments

[ajax2]

Because of Palin's obvious lack of qualifications she has set the clock back.

[KiwisCanFly]

Thanks Madeleine, for yr perspective.

A gender bias for Gov Palin based solely on her being female is so self-defeating for all those women who have striven to win on equal gender ethic reform.

To deny Palin's suitability to competently fulfill a role as VP is akin to the delusional and once held belief that women were not smart enough to vote.

New Zealand was first in the world to give the vote to women. NZ has had two female prime ministers, one current. For a period of time, all our highest offices were held by women.
When these women were elected, it was back to business the next day.

I have a lack of confidence that Palin is up to the job. My priority is to have the best team in office. Obama chose wisely someone who could be POTUS should the need arise and who can preside over the Senate with independence from experience and with wisdom.

Gov Palin, I suspect will be supervised, and her decision making may be in the hands of unseen controllers. This idea is offensive to me.

From the day she was announced as VP pick. She has been cloistered away, from media and even the public scrutiny. This reinforces for me that she is not her own person. She is a tool for others. I don't like this at all!

[riley85]

Madeline
Thank you for having the courage to admit that Palin does make you feel pride as a woman even though you don't agree with her policies. You have something so many people these days lack--integrity.

I'm sure you will be wildly criticized for complimenting Palin at all, but you took the risk and I appreciate it so much.

I was a Hillary supporter, now a Mccain/Palin supporter. I do not agree with Palin on all issues but I am voting for who I trust more, who has a proven record of character, judgement, strength. I have never trusted Obama because of his arrogance, thin record and questionable associates in Chicago.
McCain risked his whole campaign to give a woman a chance. Women appreciate that.
Obama wasn't willing to take that chance.

You know, the 5% of AA not voting for Obama because they disagree with his policies--still are proud of him as an AA that did so well.

It's too bad that woman, even if they disagree with Palin, don't have the integrity to at least feel pride in another woman for making history.

Thank-you

[MM216]

Well, I DON'T feel pride in Palin and I have plenty of integrity.
Sarah doesn't speak for me and you certainly could not possibility speak about my integrity nor of other women who feel like me....and there are women out there who don't feel pride in someone who's belief system is diametrically opposed to their own.

I am voting for Obama because I feel he will protect my rights....as an American and as a woman.
He is a candidate I can believe and feel pride in.

And I speak as a white woman.

[vernonbc]

But Sarah ISN'T doing well in the polls. Her numbers are dropping in every one I see. Most have her negatives now higher than her positives. She has the lowest rating of the four candidates.

In today's WaPo-ABC poll, they said "Among independent women, the decline was particularly sharp, going from 65 percent to 43 percent. Her favorable rating among whites without college degrees remained largely steady, but among those with college degrees, it dropped nearly 20 percentage points." That's in ONE week. So please, stop giving credence to the right wing claims that Sarah Palin is wildly popular.

And another lovely lovely number from todays poll, among likely voters, Obama has INCREASED his lead to 52-43 and among registered voters 52-42!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/23/AR2008092303667.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008092303897&s_pos=

[mcgreen]

I'm out canvassing and working phone banks - women are glad for Sarah Palin as another woman with caveats. Some people make a point of telling me they would never support her policies - that choices her family has made are easy when you have a six figure family income, the others make a point of telling me how much they dislike her.

The good news is 'great' she can represent the vote that shares her worldview, the rest of us that don't share her world view are voting for Obama.

[peacegurl48]

I am a State employee and if I misused my personal email, cc'd my husband on business issues, misused per diem or used my position as a manager to settle a personal score I would be fired despite my 38 years on the job. Palin's record speaks to her judgment and integrity. She is already refusing to cooperate in her ethics investigation and clearly has little regard for the truth when so many of her statements have been debunked by both sides. She does not seem intellectually adept enough to fathom the enormity of the task nor the problems of our complex world. I would not want her as VP if she were a man, it is about character not gender.
We've have 8 years of this type of governance and that is more than enough.
Her selection is truly an affront to women.

[harriscrl3]

What does it means it means they are racist and are looking for an opportunity to jump ship without feeling the guilt. I do know this if Obama loses the democrats can FORGET about counting on the AA vote in the future to put their White Candidate male or female in the WHite House cause it aint gonna happen. They will stay home. Without the AA vote they dont stand a chance in hell of getting that white house again. We wont forget.

Carol

[PumaAnn]

I pay attention to actions, not words. The Democrats literally blew off women. That is not a party that respects women.

[valkyrie607]

You know what I hate? When people use the word "literally" to mean "very" or "really" or "completely."

"To blow someone off" is a metaphor. How can you literally do something that is actually metaphorical? How does one "literally" blow anyone off? Is it like what the big bad wolf did to the little pig's house? Do you use a giant fan?

I think you're a troll.

p.s. voting Republican is bad for you if you're a woman.

[KiwisCanFly]

PumaAnn u are so biased it askews yr logic!

How can I say this? I read yr profile comments!

[rzan1]

It is the only party that respects women. Obama/Biden have a pro-female platform. Words are extremely important . They are thought and ideas made understandable to others. I like some thought process involved in those actions of which you speak. To act without thinking is dangerous.

[MM216]

That, IMO, is one of the silliest comments I've read. The Democrats have done nothing but fight for women, FOR YEARS.
If you think McCain/Palin can do that, I have "A Bridge to La-La-Land" I can sell you cheap!

[Nia1999]

These are some nice comments. We need to go the local state newspaper's websites and post these comments on their 'letter's to the editor' section, the blogs, and the comment sections. Especially those newspaper's that lump all women as Palin supporter's. I know, the Detroit Free Press, Detroi News, and the other newspaper's here in Michigan are tired of me.

[Nia1999]

What I don't understand is, who's actually taking these polls. If these women that support Sarah Palin live in mostly rural areas hit by high unemployment, low-income, and barely getting by, how are they able to afford a computer or have access to the means of taking a poll. It seems to me, someone else is taking these polls to manipulate the odds or keep the number's close in order to this election exciting until November 4th.

[PumaAnn]

*blink*

You think people don't have phones or computers?

[Nia1999]

Ok women, let' s put on our thinking caps and get real. We all know these alleged polls being pushed in the media is just media bs for "we have about 5 weeks more weeks to go in this election, so we need to keep our audience so we can pay our bills". Most of the females I've talked to and asked their opinion about Sara Palin just laugh and talk about their kids needing new shoes, uniforms, their utility bills, car payments, having to stay at home. Their glad that she's on the ticket, but most of them say, they don't support John McCain. Something the media and the polls aren't saying. Just because they like Sarah Palin doesn't mean they like John McCain, who's name is on the ballot.

[CompetenceMatters]

Women, is this how we want to bust the ceiling? I'd rather wait until a strong, qualified woman can break it for me, than go back to the beginning, because this woman is setting us back by decades. It is more important to me to have a good, qualified leader that agrees with my vision for this country and can deliver, than it is to have a president that wears - pearls.

And BTW, being gregarious, outgoing, and shamelessly audacious does not equal STRONG. Sarah Palin is not strong. Would a strong woman hide from the press? Would a strong woman allow herself to be used like this? Would a strong woman abuse her power and fire people that either won't do her bidding or who intimidate her at meetings? No - a strong woman would welcome questions from the media at every opportunity, a strong woman would stand up for herself, a strong woman would work with people with differing views and build consensus for the good of all.

[PumaAnn]

Doesn't matter. The best candidate, the most prepared person, the most respected woman......got treated exactly the same as Pal is being treated.

[mcgreen]

and somehow you see pleasing symmetry in the fact that McCain makes remarks like the press can't speak to her until they appropriately 'defer' to her. Doesn't it tick you off when people say her lack of experience doesn't make any difference since they won't let her make serious decisions anyway?

It's your perogative to vote for who you choose - but please don't parade your choice as somehow being supportive to other women - coming here to snipe at us is pathetic, that's all your vote seems to mean anymore.

[Gidster]

Hill just did not get enough votes...That's all she was not screwed or cheated.
Worry more about Ohio, Michigan and Florida and the vote suppression and just plain Diebold cheating!

[CompetenceMatters]

Are you saying Hillary spent her time on the campaign trail hidden away from the press and was only wound up and trotted out occasionally to be used, that's USED, as a crowd lure, and then paraded in font of some heads of state that are so deeply in our pocket that they will do anything we say, even photo ops with Palin, who looks like a sixth grader who won the local spelling bee and won a trip to New York?

Even you are starting to think, gee, compared to McCain/{alin Hillary looks good. And Obama beat her, so you must really think he's good!

Yes, Gidster, let's get this thing done. Sure is looking good, huh? Make those calls, donations!

[KiwisCanFly]

I think Sarah is complicit in her own cover-up from scrutiny by the media and public alike. She is a skilled politician, she knows how this looks. She obviously doesn't think it will matter to her fan base. But, maybe she is underestimating the independent thinkers.

Her stump speeches are regurgitated repeatedly. Inclusive with the distortions of truth she spiels with a total lack of accountability. Even when it is being publicly acknowledged that certain points she makes are not accurate.

This is not representative of change.

Her gender does not make me any less critical of her political record.
Actions do speak louder than words, especially when evaluating a politician.

[ManwithaParachute]

Women can be sexist too. How Sweet!

[MM216]

Exactly.
Some women think Palin is preferable to Biden....and I don't think it's because they feel Palin is more experienced over Biden!

[Sloane7]

I am a woman I do not find a single thing about Sarah Palin appealing. Nothing. She is opposite of me on every single issue. The exact opposite. Her record in Alaska gets more disturbing with every new release of information. I see Sarah Palin as being the mistake that will negatively impact women in political office for decades. You watch.

If by some horror, she is the VP, she has made it very clear, bad things will happen. She wants war, she wants to end women's rights, she does not support equal pay, she has no knowledge of the constitution, no knowledge of foreign affairs, is apparently so dishonest that McCain is running Alaska and stopping an investigation that started before the nomination and is so poorly informed that McCain is terrified to let her speak to the press.

Sarah Palin is like Door #3. McCain wants you to choose it without knowing what's behind the curtain. No. Thank. You.

[MM216]

Watch out, Slone7....we may be called "sexists" because we're not worshiping with Goddess Sarah at the Altar of Feminisn!

[peacegurl48]

My women friends are of all races and ages and NOT ONE of them is thrilled by Sarah Palin. She is the antithesis of a feminist and a vapid pawn of the the FAR, far right.
I am Black and was never thrilled by Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes nor Condoleeza Rice...it cannot be simply any woman or any Black...that is tokenism.
Read about this woman and you'll see that she is "ready to lead" in the manner that we've been led for the last 8 years: above the law, loose with the truth and ready to go to war.
I think many women are smarter than to relate to a woman who is anti-choice, anti-environment, pro-war, pro-guns, would ban books and thinks that living near Russia gives her foreign policy credentials.