'I am a liberal, but I'm blown away by Sarah Palin'

Telegraph ^ | 9-10-08 | Rebecca Johnson

[SJackson]

As American women are drawn to the Republican vice-presidential candidate, US writer Rebecca Johnson explains her appeal

When my cell phone rang on vacation, I eyed the phone number wearily. It was my employer, Vogue, calling. My four-year-old, just out of the ocean and covered in sand, was whining for a shower. My three-year-old was thirsty. My hedge-fund husband was upstairs on his BlackBerry making plans to buy Dubai. I picked up the phone.

It was the publicist from the magazine calling to say that CNN wanted to interview me about Sarah Palin. My initial response was cool. "What do they want to talk about?"

"You're one of the few people who has interviewed her for a national publication," the publicist answered, referring to an article I had written earlier this year profiling the governor of Alaska for the magazine.

"Is she dead?" I asked worriedly. Alaska is notorious for small plane crashes - that's how the politician father of the writer and journalist Cokie Roberts died - and I knew Palin owned a float plane.

It never really occurred to me that she might be the vice-presidential candidate. With so little time in office, even Alaskans hadn't yet made up their mind about Sarah Palin's job as governor of the state.

[Red in Blue PA]

You don’t plan well, you don’t make it through the winter. The wood pile outside Sarah Palin’s parents’ house is half a city block long for a reason. Forget New York City. If you can make it in Alaska, you can make it anywhere. When Sarah Palin says she doesn’t care what we east coast liberals think about her, she means it.

Love it.....and love Sarah!

[goldstategop]

There are liberal women who do support Sarah Palin and think her being named a vice presidential running mate really is a big step forward for women. Most American women are not NOW NAG harpies.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[BornToBeAmerican]

Deriding Palin's modest background and lack of Ivy League credentials will only turn voters off. We should celebrate what is groundbreaking about Sarah Palin: a card-carrying member of Feminists for Life is a big step forward from Housewives for Life. And then we should talk about the issues.

Very well said.... Sarah, you have done more for this country than many can imagine, and you have only just started!! You go girl!!!

[NetSurfer]

Palin isn't shooting moose for sport; her family eats what she kills. If she shops at Wal-Mart for diapers, the vast majority of American women can relate.

Great article!

[bamagirl1944]

Excellent post!

[Bobalu]

[good old days]

Ping!

[listenhillary]

A liberal that isn’t psychotic. How refreshing.

[Liberty Valance]

Great article. Thanks for posting!



Sarah, is that you?

[rabidralph]

I just ordered my back-issue of Vogue, Feb. 2008, with Gov. Palin on the cover. Get ‘em before they’re gone! http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/090108VFEA/ The customer service number is the one to call and after waiting silently on the phone through the automated service, it sends you to a live customer service person.

[Rennes Templar]

Great cartoon!

[BunnySlippers]

[Silly]

Bwaaah!

[BunnySlippers]

Is that Grace Slick?

[Once-Ler]

Great read. Thanx for posting it.

[6ppc]

LOL!

[Freee-dame]

even Alaskans hadn't yet made up their mind about Sarah Palin's job as governor of the state.

For a liberal, I guess an 80% approval rating means that they are still undecided. This after the DBM spent the entire 8years of ex42 stating what "the American people" thought, though the didn't speak for me.

[metmom]

Deriding Palin's modest background and lack of Ivy League credentials will only turn voters off.

That's right because she's a lot more like us than the elitist liberals. And more like us than the elitist liberals can imagine.

They don't get her appeal to us because they don't get us.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Look out Obama, here comes Cyclone Sarah!