Palin's star still shines despite shabby treatment

Pantagraph.com, letters to editor ^ | Monday, February 16, 2009 12:37 AM CST | Perry A. Klopfenstein

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

In the aftermath of the presidential election last November, one thing stands out that does not bring distinction to our political process. It was the objectivity-challenged behavior of the media toward the candidacy of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. It was both shameful and no way to treat a woman.

The press, who seemed to virtually fawn on Mr. Obama's every move, went out of its way to undermine Sarah Palin. Manners, chivalry and courtesy took a hike. In fact, the liberal media gave her the full 3-D treatment - discredit, deride and defame.

Sarah Palin came on the scene as a woman of ability and accomplishment. Her presence as a principled conservative annoyed the left wing in America. They threw the book at her.

Her bringing a mentally-challenged fetus to term was too much for the narrow-minded ``liberals.'' Indeed, her kind, motherly support for her pregnant, unwed teenager became fodder for the negative press. They even ridiculed the cost of her campaign wardrobe.

Gov. Palin brought a strong dose of respectability to John McCain's struggling and lackluster campaign. Her selection to his ticket electrified the GOP base, and had Sen. McCain had even the slightest coherence of a clear message, he might have become president - thanks to the Palin presence as his running mate. Without her, he very well could have suffered a McGovern-like loss.

Palin's star has not lost its glow. She can cast a triple A treatment right back at her discourteous opponents - accomplishment, ability and ambition. These values, along with her unique ability to articulate in a way that inspires everyday Americans, puts her in a position to someday be a significant national leader - perhaps becoming our first female president, the left-leaning media notwithstanding.

[Al B.]

One might say that a young Margaret Thatcher had a way to go before she became Lady Thatcher.

Exactly. John O'Sullivan, formerly a Thatcher advisor and editor-in-chief of the National Review wrote about this at length in an excellent piece in the WSJ. In it, he spoke of Palin's potential and as an expert on Thatcher, he commented that in the beginning, "Margaret Thatcher was not yet Margaret Thatcher".

Like Palin will have to do, Thatcher prepared herself before being elected PM, and as O"Sullivan points out she took a lot of abuse, including being dismissed by the intellectuals in her own party as a "Daily Telegraph woman", Brit-speak for "narrowed, repressed suburbanite" Sound familiar?

At any rate, O'Sullivan is extremely high on Palin. If you haven't read his book "The President, the Pope and the Prime Minister" I highly recommend it.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

[Tax-chick]

I think Gov. Palin has a lot of potential as a national leader, and it will be excellent if she pursues higher office again.