Pit Bull Palin

When Sarah Palin joked about herself and her fellow hockey moms as pit bulls with lipstick, she may have revealed more than she intended. She made it sound a compliment--portraying herself and her peers as ordinary mothers who look good but are tough, tenacious, and defend their family at any cost. But do we really want a potential president whose prime trait is an eagerness to bite your throat at any pretext? We already have that: Dick Cheney.

There's a reason why pit bulls have been banned for their lethal belligerence from England, Norway and France, to Miami and Springfield Missouri. They attack indiscriminately, whether other dogs or children or an elderly Seattle-area woman two of them nearly killed this past week. There's a reason you don't say, "Great, a pit bull just moved in. How nice for our neighborhood." Even people who want some protection usually pick other breeds, like German Shepherds, because they know pit bulls might turn on them.

Now some of us admire their tenacity, and that's a virtue, but other dogs are also tenacious - -you can pick them up by the sock or rag they're playing with. But they aren't loose cannons that just might maul your neighbor's five-year-old. You don't want pit bulls running your block, much less the United States. Pit bull presidencies don't work for issues like terrorism, global warming, our declining economy. You can't solve them by simply ripping your enemy's leg off.

Pit bulls have their uses, as junkyard dogs, but most of us reject them for our home. We've seen all too much what a "my way or we'll destroy you" approach has done to our country in the past eight years. The single-mindedness of a pit ball can be useful, but it can also be disastrous. The Cheney crew had this in their obsession with attacking Iraq, even as they were dismissing Clinton-era reports of the threats from Bin Laden. If they hadn't been so focused on attacking their enemies, we might never have embarked on the disastrous Iraq war.

Yet Sarah Palin seems to relish the pit bull role, with an attack dog's taste for blood. Her high school classmates called her Sarah Barracuda. She won her first race as mayor by bringing in the state Republican Party to a nonpartisan contest and focusing on guns, abortion and how she was a true Christian and the incumbent wasn't in a race that normally focused on roads and sewers. She fired the Wassila librarian who resisted her suggestion that some books might have to be banned and the police chief who didn't support her candidacy. She fired the head of the Alaska state patrol who wouldn't fire her ex-brother-in-law. She sat laughing while a shock jock interviewer mocked one of her political opponents (a cancer survivor and fellow Republican) for her weight, and called the woman a "bitch" and a "cancer." And then there's the convention speech that catapulted her to superstardom. Not only did it repeatedly distort the truth, it embodied every character assassination scenario from the past 30 years -- taking the polarizing politics of Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, George Wallace, Lee Atwater and Karl Rove, and dressing it up, with lipstick, in Palin's charismatic package. She even attacked the very idea of citizens working for change when she mocked community organizers.

If we read the polls, Palin's pit bull approach may well be working. Pit bull politicians can be great campaigners -- especially when their prime goal is to bloody their targets whatever the cost to truth, U.S. politics and ultimately, to our country. But do we really want a pit bull as vice president?

We should already know, because we've had one for the past eight years. Palin is younger, more attractive, and a better shot. But she has a similar ruthlessness, bellicosity, and eagerness to destroy anyone who gets in her way. She's similarly secretive and controlling beneath the disarming charm. Despite her image as the outsider reformer, she has her own ties to pay-to-play politics from serving as one of three directors for the political action committee (PAC) of corrupt Alaska Senator Ted Stephens, to fighting for the Bridge to Nowhere before it became politically untenable, to hiring a lobbyist (when Mayor of Wassila) who not only was a former Stephens Chief of Staff but also worked for now-convicted crooked Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. And she's just as beholden to a hard political right that denies reality: from global warming to seeking to ban abortions for rape or incest victims.

Not every Republican embodies the pit bull ethic -- I'll be voting for a Republican Secretary of State who's meticulously fair and has played by the rules even when he's taken heat from his own party.

Likewise, many once respected John McCain across party lines for what we thought was a departure from the Karl Rove, Lee Atwater politics of personal destruction. We assumed he'd learned its cost after the Bush campaign defeated him in a South Carolina primary by doing push/polling phone calls about his role in the Keating S&L scandal and spreading rumors his having two illegitimate black children. He was the rare current Republican who spoke out against torture and condemned reckless tax giveaways for the rich. Now he's disavowed all this and hired one of the prime architects of the Bush campaign's South Carolina attacks on him to help prepare Palin's now-fabled convention speech. His own speech was also full of repeated falsehoods. He even embraces the chorus of contempt toward Obama for daring to say that America is better of when we observe international rules like the prohibition on torture. And his encouragement of Palin's distortions speaks worlds about his prizing politics over country.

Let's hope we finally reject the pit bull approach this time around, no matter how shiny the lipstick looks.

Paul Rogat Loeb is the author of The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, named the #3 political book of 2004 by the History Channel and the American Book Association. His previous books include Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time. See www.paulloeb.org To receive his articles directly, email [e-mail] with the subject line: subscribe paulloeb-articles

Comments

[PITifulBULLdogLover]

Wow. As far as I am concerned, you have just lost all credibility.

From www.atts.org:
A look at temperament tests taken on our vicious bully friends by the American Temperament Test Society (Percentages are the amount of dogs in that breed that passed the test with NO issues):
AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER 84.3%
AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER 83.4%
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER 88.8%

For comparison, some other canine pals:
BEAGLE 80.3%
BICHON FRISE 79.3%
BORDER COLLIE 80.3%
CHIHUAHUA 70.3%
COCKER SPANIEL 81.7%
GREAT DANE 79.2%
MINIATURE POODLE 76.6%

Get your facts straight. I doubt Palin is anything like a real "pit bull" (aka APBT, AmStaff, Staffie)... although it would be funny to see her hiding from small dogs, rolling over for belly rubs, and "viciously" licking and cuddling with children like my three pits do. The only defending my dogs would do if a burgular broke in is maybe trip them when they're rolled over on the floor with their huge tails wagging. So if Palin really is like a pit bull then her sweet, generous, and honest spirit would do us well... so we'll just see what she was thinking of.

[bushtool]

Your comments about Pit Bulls reflect the inaccurate media bias towards these animals and imo a correction is warranted.

From PitBullLovers.com

1. Pit Bulls are commonly used as therapy dogs. Whether they are visiting a senior care facility or helping someone recover from an emotional accident, Pit Bulls are making a mark as outstanding therapy dogs.

4. Pit Bulls are great with kids. They weren't referred to as the "nanny's dog" for nothing that's for sure.

5. Pit Bulls are not human aggressive. The American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed is not human aggressive. In fact, quite the opposite is true of the breed. They are gentle and loving dogs. Like any dog individuals can be unsound and have behavior problems.

6. The Pit Bull was so popular in the early 1900's they were our mascot not only in World War One, but World War Two as well. They were featured on recruiting and propoganda posters during this time period.

9. Pit Bulls score an 83.4% passing rate with the American Temperament Test Society. That's better than the popular Border Collie (a breed who scores 79.6%). View the ATTS stats here.

10. They are dogs not killing machines.

[fnygy]

Just a factual correction: Mrs. Palin did NOT fire the librarian - she TRIED to fire the librarian. Also, FYI, pit bulls are not the number one breed for dog bites - Rottweilers are.

[StellaRay]

Brilliant Mr. Loeb. You gotta wonder about speech writers who thought this was a good idea. Like you said, who thinks a pit bull is an added attraction to any neighborhood? And i say so with some apology to pit bulls, love the hell out of dogs and think most dog violence can be traced to the humans who "raised,"
it. Still, Sara knew what she was saying, knew what the term "pit bull" means to most people, said it anyway. Who wants a pit bull next to the phone at 3am?

[Bitsko]

"Vote '08: A Presidential Forum" hosted by Columbia University (Senator 0bama's alma mater by the way) is on public television tonight here in New York City on Channel 13. Hope you can see it where you live.

[JennyJay]

Pitbull -- Smitbull -- McCain would have picked a snake, a weasel, a horse, a cow, a house , a car.
McCain would have done ANYTHING, including murder and torture to get elected.
He doesn't know or even care what issues are on the table. He doesn't have a clue the price of
gas or people losing their homes, or banks going under.
There is only one issue that he ever thinks about and that is -- getting himself elected.
Pity this country ,and our future, if the little runt succeeds.

[pinefarmerva]

I could not stomach watching her speech, but when I read about the Pit bull line, the image that immediately came to mind was one with McCain holding her on a leash which she is straining to get loose from, drooling, snarling with bloody vicious fangs exposed, both staring down a sea of reporters.
The caption reads "Do you accept Sarah Palin as your personal savior?"

I also thought it an insult to pit bulls, who are actually intelligent beings (unlike her and her running mate) with more of a heart than she has.
She gets off on shooting wolves from airplanes and their pups in their dens. It makes her hot.

[mommadona]

A Red Queen Moment....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qFHcaJ18pc&feature=related

[mema01]

I had a phone call from one of my artsy friends, who said that she was reading the prognostications of Nostredamus (spelling?) and this friend read his predictions as; I can't quote, that the first female leader of the free world would be a beast, a monster. Does this sound like anyone in the news lately? Silly, but interesting never the less.

[jeanrenoir]

PLEASE get with the program! By choosing Palin, the Republicans have definitively and openly cast their lot, more than ever, with theocratic fascism. Fascists win elections EVERYWHERE by being pit bulls. The mob LOVES pit bulls, because the mob in every country is so enraged and bitter, and so envious of their "betters." Fascists win in Germany, Argentina, or Peoria by being the pit bull voice of mob hatred. The mob can hardly wait to go for the throats of "limousine liberals" or the leaders of Iran. The mob is incapable of thought, so they don't get the way their pit bull politics ruined the country under Bush. The mob just knows the economy's bad. But that must be the fault of "earmarks" if their fascist leaders tell them so. Any logic that will work to blame Democrats and liberals for "pork," rather than Bush and Republicans, or at least good fascist McCain Republicans Against Earmarks, for our economic debacle will do. Anything that feeds the mob the red meat of going for the throat of their "enemies" as designated by the fascists will do. The problem is the mob just as much as the fascists they love.

[mommadona]

I agree.

Let's just call that little pitbull what she is.

[Miravanguild]

We all know what a female dog is called.... "a bitch.." I wonder if the speech writers thought about that when they wrote the pit bull with lipstick line? I agree about the breed, a lot of what has been said about them is unfair, they really are great dogs, unless they are mistreated and are the product of misguided breeding programs.. Sadly they all get painted with the same brush, so again either the speechwriter or Sarah Palin herself show their ignorance by sterotyping the breed..

[blog4um]

I read that she added that line herself. That speech was written a while ago and was not gender specific.

[bolingo]

Paul Loeb: You had me at "pitbulls have their uses, as junkyard dogs, but most of us reject them from our homes. That's one heck of a line..

[tel8034]

If Americans vote for the McCain/Palin ticket, then they deserve all of the heartache, dispair, fear, and empty pockets they will experience for the next 4 years.

[LeftRight]

What about those of us who DON'T vote for him?? And those of us who voted against bushco(tm), TWICE??? Do we also deserve it?

[tel8034]

Then pound the pavements like I do to ensure Obama wins.

I find that sensible conversations re the issues, rather than dwelling on the PERSONALITIES of both candidates, often lead to persons on the fence or who are voting just on Republican party lines, often change their view about Obama.

While I don't have a 100% "conversion" rate, there have been many in my travels who heretofore had not even registered or were leaning to McCain, have now decided to cast their vote for Obama. ................. In follow up visits I have found that they are STILL ON BOARD.

Every journey begins with a single step .................... And I've been "stepping" for the cause on a daily basis since February ................ 50+ days to go.

Every little bit helps and I don't have to wait for the Obama camp to point me in the direction this country NEEDS to go.

[Freesia2]

Yes she has a taste for blood. I can't stand her.....

But I have to say something. Pit bulls are not a dog that anyone should take lightly. They're usually only as good as they are treated, and as well as they are trained by the people who adopt them because mishandled they are a living vise. A 4 legged shark. I wouldn't recommend them for anyone with children unless you absolutely have had them temperament tested. But some of them are gentler than a lamb. I've known a lovely bullie or two, one who shared my name and .....I just wanted to put in a good word for bullies. I understand the need for their reputation. It isn't always deserved.

Sarah's is though. And frankly comparing them to Sarah Palin is an insult to them. She's all bite and no wag. She's also got options they don't have - she chooses to be what she is. Keep your grasping paws off the dog comparisons Palin. :-0

[Rosey]

The only difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney is- A MANICURE!

[LeftRight]

And fake glasses

[ggm68]

The only difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney is when she shoots you in the face it's because she was aiming for it.

What"s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? A pit bull doesn"t know how to get books banned.

In defense of pitties, some of the nicest dogs I've ever met were that breed. Much has to do with how they're treated and how they're trained. Palin got her start with GOPAC, so she's definitely the kind of pit bull you want to keep your children away from.