Pella is the original center of the Dutch immigration to Iowa, and it's much closer to major statewide media (i.e., the Des Moines Register and Des Moines TV stations) than a similar event would be in other key Dutch Reformed communities such as Orange City or Sioux Center. In the parts of Iowa that the Dutch Reformed dominate, they have a far greater influence than Southern Baptists have in places like Alabama or Georgia — and those places tend to be among the most strongly Republican parts of the whole state of Iowa. I think this is a clear effort by Palin to present herself as the conservative Christian candidate for a constituency that can do her a great deal of good, but which will need some serious convincing due to the unfortunate issues with her daughter's pregnancy, as well as due to her Pentecostal theology.
While the two main Dutch Reformed denominations, the Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church in America, have both lost their battles with liberalism on the national level, that definitely is **NOT** true in Iowa. People who are theologically moderate or even liberal by CRC or RCA standards tend to be pretty conservative on political issues. I personally know some Christian Reformed women elders who take strongly conservative stands on abortion, homosexuality, and the other hot-button concerns of Christian conservatives despite being considered out-and-out liberals by the standards of the CRC. Let's just say that with a strong history of women's activism in both conservative and liberal churches (think of the roles of Dutch Reformed conservative women like Laurie Vanden Heuvel, a key opponent of the ERA ratification in Iowa, as well as Gertrude Hoeksema and Fredrika Pronk in their own smaller denominations), there won't be any bias against Palin's gender, and perhaps even some strong advocacy of putting a conservative woman into political power.
The Dutch Reformed have a strong history of aggressive involvement in the political sphere dating back to Abraham Kuyper, a prime minister of the Netherlands who also founded a Christian university, a Christian newspaper, and a denomination which rapidly became the second-largest Protestant church in the Netherlands. Their immigrant heirs have well over a century of aggressive Christian engagement in American secular politics — one which long predates the modern Christian conservative movement.
However, to say the Dutch have a tendency toward being insular and clannish is an understatement. (Don't get the Vandersomethings together to shoot me — I grew up in Grand Rapids, I'm a Calvin College graduate, and I know what I'm talking about.) For an outsider to gain the trust of the Dutch Reformed, that outsider needs to begin early and work hard to convince lots of tall blond Dutchmen that a pretty Pentecostal from Alaska with family troubles is a good candidate. It's definitely not impossible, but it will be challenging — the Dutch, unlike some parts of American evangelicalism, are not known for their willingness to be forgiving of moral issues in the home. I know people who only two generations ago were ordered by their parents to wear black wedding dresses when premarital sexual relations resulted in a “forced marriage.”
On the other hand, once the Dutch Reformed are convinced that somebody is a good candidate, they'll work double overtime for that candidate, and in Republican caucuses in Iowa, delivering Pella and Northwest Iowa is a major step towards victory.
I wouldn't be surprised if somebody tries to get a photo of Sarah Palin in wooden shoes carrying tulips during a Tulip Time parade. There are better ways to win the Dutch vote — memorizing the Heidelberg Catechism might be a good start, or at least understanding the applicability of Q&A 1 to the life of any Bible-believing Christian regardless of denomination.
However, I think Palin’s handlers understand the importance of the Dutch vote in Republican Party politics in Iowa — especially in the conservative Christian wing — and this Pella event is intended to help introduce her to that constituency. Palin’s views of Christian political activism are not those of Abraham Kuyper, but I can't think of very many other candidates in the race who stand a serious chance of getting strong support from the Dutch Reformed as an organized constituency.
Of course, I have no inside knowledge and could easily be wrong. But if Palin or her handlers didn't plan this deliberately, they sure got lucky and hit on a really good idea by accident.
Love and respect for historical settlement patterns and the role that the various denominations often played and continue to play sounds just like her to me.
Is there another who could even remotely approach this matter in this way and be taken seriously? Can’t really think of one. Me-too would do it too if she could, but she’s in Waterloo.
Palin doesn’t have handlers.
I’m not complaining, just very curious about how these things come about. How did I get pinged to a thread I haven’t posted on and regarding a topic for which I’m not on any ping lists? I’m not quibbling about it, only curious. Anyway, thanks for the ping...I think.
Thank you for that insight.
Sarah doesn't have any handlers, which contributes to her appeal. She makes her own plans and decisions, with Todd's input.
Very interesting analysis. I do not believe this is an accidental situation, just an astute politial move.
The rest of the Republican foeld is going around debating and getting “exposure” for name recognition, whihc Governor Palin already has.Instead of joining the Republican RINO circus, she is busy securing community support across the nation.She is way ahead of the standard “game.”
Thank you for this post. It is extremely informative and perceptive. Having seen Sarah Palin in action all along the way, I would say you have hit on something quite plausible here. Evey move that Sarah makes is well thought out and designed for the most major impact possible. And the way she has done it is nothing short of remarkable. Her timing is brilliant. So what you have said here would not surprise me in the slightest.
Consider yourself highly commended!
As someone who has lived for many years in Minnesota and in Iowa, and even occasionally spoken with Dutch Reformed churchmembers on occasion, may I venture to comment?
Pella is the original center of the Dutch immigration to Iowa, and it's much closer to major statewide media (i.e., the Des Moines Register and Des Moines TV stations) than a similar event would be in other key Dutch Reformed communities such as Orange City or Sioux Center.
I hadn't known that Pella was the original center of Dutch immigration to Iowa, but I do know it is fairly close to Des Moines (50 miles or so). So if this is true, it is a brilliant example of Sarah's famous "retail" politicking at the small-town level while not denying access to the closest thing Des Moines has to MSM.
I think this is a clear effort by Palin to present herself as the conservative Christian candidate for a constituency that can do her a great deal of good, but which will need some serious convincing due to the unfortunate issues with her daughter's pregnancy, as well as due to her Pentecostal theology.
This is true of Iowa, in particular, more than other states: some will recall that in 1988, Pat Robertson finished in 2nd(!!) in the GOP primaries in Minnesota, sending shock waves throughout the establishment. Iowa is dominated by the Dutch Reformed, who value Christianity, but through the lens of heavy scholastic learning. They will want to see the Palin is "safe" theologically.
Let's just say that with a strong history of women's activism in both conservative and liberal churches (think of the roles of Dutch Reformed conservative women like Laurie Vanden Heuvel, a key opponent of the ERA ratification in Iowa, as well as Gertrude Hoeksema and Fredrika Pronk in their own smaller denominations), there won't be any bias against Palin's gender, and perhaps even some strong advocacy of putting a conservative woman into political power.
It has often been my observation that the women within Evangelical and similar households have long been "the power behind the throne" -- I would not be surprised to find that they identify Sarah as a kindred spirit. "Rugged individualism" and all that.
The Dutch Reformed have a strong history of aggressive involvement in the political sphere dating back to Abraham Kuyper, a prime minister of the Netherlands who also founded a Christian university, a Christian newspaper, and a denomination which rapidly became the second-largest Protestant church in the Netherlands. Their immigrant heirs have well over a century of aggressive Christian engagement in American secular politics — one which long predates the modern Christian conservative movement.
I didn't know this. Fascinating.
However, to say the Dutch have a tendency toward being insular and clannish is an understatement. (Don't get the Vandersomethings together to shoot me — I grew up in Grand Rapids, I'm a Calvin College graduate, and I know what I'm talking about.)
As I have been told by a Dutch co-worker: "If you're not Dutch, you're not much." Do you know if the Dutch Reformed have strong ties to Kalamazoo College or to Hillsdale College (both in Michigan)?
For an outsider to gain the trust of the Dutch Reformed, that outsider needs to begin early and work hard to convince lots of tall blond Dutchmen that a pretty Pentecostal from Alaska with family troubles is a good candidate. It's definitely not impossible, but it will be challenging — the Dutch, unlike some parts of American evangelicalism, are not known for their willingness to be forgiving of moral issues in the home. I know people who only two generations ago were ordered by their parents to wear black wedding dresses when premarital sexual relations resulted in a “forced marriage.”
I am not sure about the "family values" issue, seeing as how her daughter is providing for her child, and the father has rather publicly burned his bridges with the Palin family. Secondly, I think that both her decision to keep the baby, as well as Sarah's decision to bear Trig, will act as a strong advertisement to the Iowans that Sarah can be trusted.
On the other hand, once the Dutch Reformed are convinced that somebody is a good candidate, they'll work double overtime for that candidate, and in Republican caucuses in Iowa, delivering Pella and Northwest Iowa is a major step towards victory.
I think this is crucial, and is where the rubber meets the road. I was at the RightOnline conference in Minnesota last weekend, and Michele Bachmann gave a speech there. She ended up with a long (for a politician) description of Jonathan (son of Saul) and his armour-bearer against the Philistines. Jonathan said to his armour bearer, let's climb up the cliff to the stronghold, and if the Philistines see us and say, "Wait for us to come to you" then we won't attack, but if the Philistines say "Come up to us" we will take it as a sign that God has delivered them into our hands. And so it happened, and God gave Israel a great victory.
Bachmann used this as an illustration of how conservatives should not be afraid politically. It was red meat to the religious right, without sounding "too" kooky to others -- there was nothing explicitly miraculous, and to show pluck in the face of daunting odds is still a trait admired among Republicans.
But more importantly, as I remarked to the person sitting next to me, is it was very Palinesque. Bachmann is making a play for the religious right, partly to claim the now-uncommitted Huckabee voters, and partly to pre-empt Palin before Palin declares.
I wouldn't be surprised if somebody tries to get a photo of Sarah Palin in wooden shoes carrying tulips during a Tulip Time parade. There are better ways to win the Dutch vote — memorizing the Heidelberg Catechism might be a good start, or at least understanding the applicability of Q&A 1 to the life of any Bible-believing Christian regardless of denomination.
Showing up in Waterloo, Iowa to declare is the next step for Bachmann; it is a masterstroke of genius for Palin to steal her thunder by showing up for the film, yet not commit to running (and opening herself up "officially" to everyone else's fire).
However, I think Palin’s handlers understand the importance of the Dutch vote in Republican Party politics in Iowa — especially in the conservative Christian wing — and this Pella event is intended to help introduce her to that constituency. Palin’s views of Christian political activism are not those of Abraham Kuyper, but I can't think of very many other candidates in the race who stand a serious chance of getting strong support from the Dutch Reformed as an organized constituency.
That's the fatal flaw of the left's "Nuts and Sluts" scorched-earth policy against Palin: it makes it almost impossible for anyone to question her religious or conservative credentials.
Of course, I have no inside knowledge and could easily be wrong. But if Palin or her handlers didn't plan this deliberately, they sure got lucky and hit on a really good idea by accident.
Who knows? Maybe she even prayed about it first...
Cheers!
That’s a fascinating perspective—thanks!
As we were preparing for the ceremony I must have been looking particularly grim (probably afraid my betrothed would wise up at the last moment), the minister, an unusually stern-looking man, told me to “lighten up, I looked sober as a preacher.”