Why Elite Women Hate Palin

Forbes ^ | 10/6/2008 | Ann Marlowe

[markomalley]

"If Sarah Palin is qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, so am I!"

These words spoken by my friend Janet were true. But Janet hasn't put herself in Palin's position by running for office. She's made films and renovated houses, cushioned by inherited money. And since she doesn't have any kids, it's hard to say what would have gotten in the way if she'd wanted to be in politics. She didn't, though, any more than 99% of my women friends and acquaintances; she believes in cultivating one's own garden.

Most women I've talked with about Palin--all certified members of either the media elite or the just plain elite--take her nomination personally. Their animus isn't explained just by her politics; none of them hate Condoleezza Rice, though they disagree with most everything she's done. Nor, for that matter, do they even dislike John McCain. Typically they "respect" McCain but find him too old or too erratic or simply adore Obama.

It's as though Palin were an average girl from their boarding school class--or, frankly, from the public school down the road--who unexpectedly won a big prize. "Why not me?" is the subtext, and it's one I've never heard from men talking about male politicians. Many New Yorkers hate George Bush, for instance, and say similar things about his and Palin's lack of intellectual capability and curiosity about the wider world. But they don't view him as a personal rival.

(snip)

The lesson of Sarah Palin for privileged women is to try harder. And that may be the hardest one to hear.

[Northern Yankee]

Correct. The “ladies who lunch” aren’t fit to clean Sarah’s rifles (and would probably shoot themselves in the process anyway).

Hey... I think you're on to something there.

[Faux_Pas]

::ping::

[MSF BU]

"cushioned by inherited money. And since she doesn't have any kids..."

That says it all.

[Tax-chick]

If Ann's "elite" friends look like her, I think it's safe to say that she's massively overintellectualizing their opposition to Sarah Palin. (And I need a haircut badly, myself ... although not *that* badly.)

People who become writers and intellectuals and artists tend not to want power that badly or pursue it that obsessively, which is what makes us interesting and fun ... Success at the Palin level in politics or business takes a level of blinkered self-confidence that comes mainly to (a very few) men. A lot of the people with this quality are annoying to be around. Maybe they aren't very happy with themselves.

Projecting much, Ann? One reason y'all can't stand Sarah Palin is that she appears very happy with herself, her husband, her children, and her career. Even with living in a place none of your friends has a weekend house. Vice President Cheney seems pretty content, too.

And I'd like to see a show of hands from anyone who finds you and your friends "interesting and fun." Anyone?

[Carley]

I think that deep down many women don’t believe in themselves. They still consider themselves second class citizens.

That’s really sad. We’ve been subservient for generations and even now with our own accomplishments we still aren’t sure of ourselves and don’t have confidence in our abilities.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Thank you! I am so tiredof the casual dual handling of the word "Elite" as opposed to "Elitist" which is a much better descriptor of the women in this article.

Thereis a veritable universe of people on the left who describe themselves as "Elite". Nothing elite about them, of course, but they preen themselves that way.

[Tax-chick]

We’ve been subservient for generations and even now with our own accomplishments we still aren’t sure of ourselves and don’t have confidence in our abilities.

Who's this "we"? I don't consider a word of that to apply to me ... or my mother, grandmothers, or friends.

[SueRae]

Interesting article. I don’t pretend to understand the self-titled elitist women, I see pure green-eyed jealousy. Governor Palin is focused, tenacious and *gasp*, very likeable, something a great deal of those upper crusty snobs will never be. She has worked hard for everything she’s ever gotten and has been successful...and THAT is something that middle America (myself included) can relate to. The effete cannot.

[advance_copy]

Sarah Palin has more experienced and is better qualified to be President than Barak Obama. That is a fact.

[CE2949BB]

What exactly is an “elite woman?”

A woman that has to count the number of abortions she's had?

[dirtboy]

What exactly is an “elite woman?”

Someone who puts the arugula into her cart at Whole Foods without checking the price.

[Carley]

Well, excuuuuse me!

I’m probably old enough to be your grandmother since mine has been deceased for over 50 years and I assure you life was very different back then.

When I first married I couldn’t get a mortgage, credit card, or hold an executive type job anywhere. If you think none of that has any effect on the psyche you are sadly mistaken.

Glad your world is much better now.

[ridesthemiles]

I am convinced that most of the ancestors of these trust fund babies would be very angry at how their heirs have lived their lives.

A well-cushioned in heritance says it all.

[onlylewis]

Well Said!

[Tax-chick]

Maybe you meant something likeWe’ve been I've felt subservient for generations [temporally interesting ...] and even now with our my own accomplishments we still aren’t I'm still not sure of ourselves myself and don’t have confidence in our my abilities.

I'm sincerely sorry you feel that way. I know I've been very fortunate in my life; I've been among women who did not choose to feel limited by outside circumstances. My grandmother would have been 100 next (she died in 1998); in 1940, she bought a house with cash she'd earned.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

There is an enormous difference between—

elite...highly qualified—

and elitist...selfish, arrogant and prejudiced, qualified or not.

[wolfcreek]

“What exactly is an “elite woman?”

One who thinks her chit don’t stink.

I gots news for her.

[TexasNative2000]

What exactly is an “elite woman?”

In this context, they have co-opted the word "elite". Just think . . . . . . "liberal".

[TurtleStink]

just a heads up that Katherine Jean Lopez featured prominently on NRO thinks she is an elite woman of the right. she also carries water for Peggy Noonan. Obviously these two are in the elite republican journalist tank for each other. This morning right after Peggy has once again dumped on us she is talking up Peggy’s last compilation of SH*T.

we may think National Review is on our side BUT IT IS NOT.

Jeez. I hate these months before and election when it becomes so apparent the difference between real people represented by Sarah Palin and our elite political and media overlords who think we SUCK AND ARE STUPID cretins, useful only for paying taxes and buying all their schlock. Cruise my ass! NRO I hope you fall off the outer rim next time. WILLIAM BUCKLEY HAS GATHERED A BUNCH OF SMUCKS TO PROPOGATE HIS LEGACY.

[Leisler]

A lot of elites are grinds.

Which is fine. But, the resent easy charm, luck.

Further a lot of elites become elite to distance themselves from those that are ‘beneath’ them.

Also, Palin has a family, one marriage, lots of children, and what looks to have been a fun life. Something a lot of urban, suburban women must be out and out right hair pulling jealous about.