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Why women are (or are not) reading Sarah Palin
The Christian Science Monitor ^ | December 2, 2009 | Marjorie Kehe

Posted on 12/02/2009 9:03:33 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

“When women talk about Palin,” points out Lisa Belkin, “it’s not just politics, it’s personal.” No kidding. And that at least partially explains the fervor of Palin fans like cousins Nicole Colter and Stephanie Jefferson who drove 4-1/2 hours (Colter) or flew six hours (Jefferson) to Springfield, Mo., to get Palin to autograph their copies of “Going Rogue” and then to hear her speak at the College of the Ozarks.

But Belkin, who published a piece called “Why Women Can’t Let Sarah Palin Go” in The New York Times, sees at least as much animosity as admiration in the female response to Palin. She believes that hardworking, educated women respond to Sarah Palin the way they did to the head cheerleader in high school. (Even though in fact Palin was not a cheerleader but the captain of her high_school basketball team.)

“Pretty and popular, with no apparent interest in studying, she’s the one who industrious girls were tacitly promised would not succeed in the real world,” writes Belkin.”Whether we voted for Hillary or not, we weren’t about to let Palin breeze in, with her sexy librarian hair and her peekaboo-toed shoes, conforming to every winking, air-brained stereotype, and sashay to the front of the line.”

And yet, she admits, “Which is not to say we didn’t like her for a moment. We were intrigued by this woman who could govern a state and raise five children and field-dress a moose; who seemed to do what the rest of us could not manage – to have it all.”

Eilene Zimmerman, writing for True/Slant, says she sees an even more basic reason for women (or men) to dismiss Palin: “[S]he’s simply not smart.” And yet Zimmerman has trouble reconciling that perception with this fact: “She’s sold a million books in two weeks.”(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at features.csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bimbos4rinos; bimbos4romney; goingrogue; greeneyedmonster; jourbalism; madamepresident; misogynist; misogynists; misogynists4mitt; palin; pds; presidentpalin; presidentsarahpalin; sarahpalin; theyarejealous; waronsarah; women; womensvote
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To: OldDeckHand
However, finding success in the Senate - especially National success - requires making frequent media stops on the morning news shows, and answering lengthy and detailed policy questions,”

Yeah?
So tell me...what “lengthy detailed policy questions" did 0bozo ever answer in his time at the US Senate, where he spent more time campaigning, than doing any actual work? The guy is the biggest waffler in the business, with his "uhhhhh's" and "ummmmm's" and whatnots.

something that Palin hasn't demonstrated an appetite for, or excellence in.”

Next you are going to tell us, it was Sarah Palin’s twin sister who did the governor thing in Alaska, and was such a great governor that she had sky high approval ratings of over 90%, at the time, the highest in the country. You don't get those kinds of ratings if you can't answer detailed policy questions. Even at his highest poll ratings, 0bozo never even came close to that figure.

You may not be old enough to remember, but Ferraro was fairly well known - from one of the most densely populated districts in the country - before being picked by Mondale. “

Ferarro was fairly well known in New York City sure. But outside New York, in say Kansas City or Birmingham, Alabama, who the heck knew of this woman? She wasn't exactly a nationally well known in the House of Reps was she?

Palin and Hilary have one other thing in common - incredibly high negatives. “

Difference: Palin has had the most vicious attacks ever by the media on any political figure in contemporary times.
Hilary Clinton? Why the liberal media loved her. Women like Margaret Carlson, positively drooled over her in their write ups of her.
Palin has had the exact opposite treatment, yet her poll numbers have risen strongly since her book went on sale. As at right now, she is polling the same as 0bama amongst independents, so she is no worse than 0bama when it comes to approve/disapprove poll ratings. In fact Rasmussen has Sarah Plain with better approve/disapprove right now than 0bama.

This is precisely why Hilary couldn't win her own nomination, “

Ummm..one little detail you left out: Hilary Clinton get more of the popular vote in the Democratic primaries than 0bama did. 0bama just managed to get more delegates that's all. So it's not like Hilary was rejected at the polls because of her negatives. And if Hilary had won the Dems primaries, she'd have beaten McCain too, "high negatives" or not.

and is why I suspect neither will ever be President”

I wouldn't bet on that if I were you.

61 posted on 12/03/2009 7:29:34 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: boop
Yes and she is better then them..she has so much on her plate and is HAPPY and they are miserable and the more like them the better
62 posted on 12/03/2009 7:57:59 AM PST by GregB (According to The Constitution Sarah Palin is eligible to be President!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I didn’t read her book as, despite being a heavy reader, I detest most autobiographies. Still voting for her, though.


63 posted on 12/03/2009 8:13:31 AM PST by Eepsy (www.pioacademy.org)
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To: Kickass Conservative

I agree with that. I have seen folks die quite a bit. No One I know ever denied God at the end.

I have a doctor pal who is an oncologist and claims that dying deniers can get very scared..nay terrified at the end by what they feel as they are straddling both worlds.

Vanderbilt educated MD...no dummy the doc.


64 posted on 12/03/2009 8:20:04 AM PST by wardaddy (Angel Flight by Radney Foster on GAC, if you don't tear up then you must be mighty cold)
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To: donna
Why do you accuse everyone with tradtional values of being a hater?

That right there is an example of your dishonesty, you will openly lie in your hatred of the Palin family.

65 posted on 12/03/2009 8:27:46 AM PST by ansel12 (Scozzafava/Romney 2012)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I am reading the book and I would love for Sarah to be president and my wife agrees. I do not know if you can be successful in politics if you are honest. Look at what we have now.
66 posted on 12/03/2009 8:29:27 AM PST by Big Horn (Rebuild the GOP to a conservative party)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I am reading the book and I would love for Sarah to be president and my wife agrees. I do not know if you can be successful in politics if you are honest. Look at what we have now.
67 posted on 12/03/2009 8:29:31 AM PST by Big Horn (Rebuild the GOP to a conservative party)
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To: donna
Sarah Palin, unjustly, allows Republican women to feel less guilty for letting strangers raise their kids.

Hello, did you not read her book? Did you not notice that the younger kids are with her all the time(even at the book signings and the campaign stops? Even if she has to have a sitter once in a while, who doesn't? And did you notice the Todd Quit his job to be a stay at home dad so she can pursue her career(and watch the kids when he needs to)? So when are these "strangers" raising her kids?

68 posted on 12/03/2009 8:43:49 AM PST by The Enlightener
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I agree with a lot of the posters on this thread. Women don't go for Sarah Palin because they are jealous. She's pretty (and knows how to use it), feminine, has a can do attitude and, and I think this is the kicker, has what so many of us want - a hot, strong, faithful man. The fact that she has a brain and has accomplished what she has without needing to rely on the support network just makes it worse.

And sorry, but I'd rather have her defending my rights in office than the likes of Barbara Mikulski.

69 posted on 12/03/2009 8:45:07 AM PST by Desdemona (True Christianity requires open hearts and open minds - not blind hatred.)
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To: grey_whiskers
"To get into the Senate in AK would've been easy."

Into the Senate wouldn't have been the problem. Making a name for herself on the national stage would have been the problem. Once again, you ignore the central point - Palin was a virtual unknown outside of a state that has roughly the same population as Memphis, TN - tell me, who's the mayor of Memphis, TN? See my point?

70 posted on 12/03/2009 9:27:50 AM PST by OldDeckHand (Obamacare - So bad, even Joe Lieberman isn't going to vote for it.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Got the book for my wife. She couldn't put it down, and gave me at least a dozen fascinating anecdotes from the tome.

She's inspired by Sarah, and sees her as a genuine role model for any member of the human race, and particularly American women.

Looking forward to reading it myself.

And watching the liberals heads explode at her inauguration in 2013.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

71 posted on 12/03/2009 9:45:23 AM PST by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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To: SmokingJoe
"So tell me...what “lengthy detailed policy questions" did 0bozo ever answer in his time at the US Senate, where he spent more time campaigning, than doing any actual work?"

So, you're argument is, "Barack Obama is unqualified to be President, so Sarah Palin is qualified to be President?" I'm not biting. It's equally likely that neither have the mental capacity nor the experience to be effective leaders.

"Next you are going to tell us, it was Sarah Palin’s twin sister who did the governor thing in Alaska, and was such a great governor that she had sky high approval ratings of over 90%, at the time, the highest in the country."

She had (had being the operative word) "sky high" approval rating before she ran for VP. They began to plummet shortly thereafter. And, you're entitled to your own opintion, but not your own facts. Palin's approval high's came in the summer of '08. They may be found here. She was at 80%. She was polled in again in May of '09, and those results can be found here. She dropped significantly to 54% - perhaps this is the unspoken reason why Palin resigned. We'll never know.

"She wasn't exactly a nationally well known in the House of Reps was she?"

You must either be very young, or you have a poor memory. Ferraro had a leadership position in a caucus - something that wasn't all that common for women at the time. As such, she did attract the attention of the national media. And, she was a frequent guest on programs like Meet The Press and the like. When Mondale's camp hinted that he might bow to pressure and select a woman, it was Ferraro's name who was at the top of the list. In short, Ferraro wasn't anyone's "surprise" pick.

"Rasmussen has Sarah Plain with better approve/disapprove right now than 0bama."

This is where you and I differ, you seem to be enchanted with Obama, I'm not. He's hardly a person I'd want myself measured against. Palin's approval rating has crept up, but her negatives are fairly constant - right around 43%. Rasmussen's results can be seen here .

I'm sure Palin's popularity will climb on the margins for some time. Then, she'll start to have to answer some direct questions from journalist that are there to help her sell her books. To date, she has yet to appear on a single Sunday morning news show. It's troubling that so many people don't have any problems with that. Every week, I can see possible Republican presidential nominees all over my TV answering questions from hostile media - Michelle Bachmann is a staple on MSNBC. I've seen Pawlenty, Jinal, Barbour, Pence and several others ALL THE TIME, answering tough questions and presenting detailed policy positions on a variety of domestic and foreign issues. But nothing from Palin except a syrupy autobiography and Tweets. This is not the earnest work put forth by someone who aspires to inherit the mantle of Reagan or Thatcher.

America has serious problems, they need a serious and earnest President to fix them. They elected an empty suit whose popularity was built entirely on charisma and charm. They won't make that same mistake twice. "Hilary Clinton get more of the popular vote in the Democratic primaries than 0bama did."

You left out a little point - popular vote total, in national primary or national general elections, don't mean squat - as AlGore can attest to. In this country, we count delegates for the primaries, and electors for the general. Crack open a civics book, and give it a once over, it seems that you need it.

72 posted on 12/03/2009 10:08:01 AM PST by OldDeckHand (Obamacare - So bad, even Joe Lieberman isn't going to vote for it.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just like liberal women to return right back to those mean 14 yo girls they were way back when. They make stuff up and are very mean about anyone not as unattractive as they are, they need to bring them down to make themselves feel better. Too bad they didn’t realize back then that the ugly inside would eventually appear on their faces. I remember these girls, I wasn’t a cheerleader but never went long without a date either.


73 posted on 12/03/2009 10:36:53 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: OldDeckHand
So, you're argument is, “Barack Obama is unqualified to be President, so Sarah Palin is qualified to be President?” “

Nope.
My argument is if 53% of Americans(who voted for 0bama) think 0bama is qualified to be president, then 53% or more can easily vote for Sarah Palin, who in reality has vastly more executive experience than 0bama ever had, to be president too.

She had (had being the operative word) “sky high” approval rating before she ran for VP. They began to plummet shortly thereafter”

Because 0bama’s lawyer vermin started a jihad against her with fraudulent, bogus “ethics complaints” everyone of which was ultimately dismissed out of hand. Even the FBI themselves came in and declared they had never investigated Sarah Plain for ANY ethical violations EVER.
Not to mention the word was sent out by the Chicago 0bama machine, to all Democrats in Alaska, who had previously strongly backed Sarah Plain's policies, to cease all co-operation with her.

And, you're entitled to your own opintion, but not your own facts”

You might consider taking your own advise. You are the one that claimed that Senators had to answer “answering lengthy and detailed policy questions,”, when in reality, 0bozo never had to answer any hard questions while in the Senate, and spent most of his time there campaigning.

Ferraro had a leadership position in a caucus - something that wasn't all that common for women at the time”

Quick, tell me (without looking it up that is): Who are are the Democratic/Republican leaders in the caucus in the House TODAY?
Go to Time Square right now and ask a 100 people at random that question, and you will find out that at least 90% won't have an idea who they are.
Ferraro was known in New York because she came from here. Go to the heartland of America, and part from the hard core political junkies like those of us on FR, few people had ever heard of her.

As such, she did attract the attention of the national media. And, she was a frequent guest on programs like Meet The Press and the like”

There are plenty of House members who have appeared on TV programs that few Americans even know or care about. Heck most Americans couldn't even give you the names of even 20 US Senators (and there are only a 100 of them) or the chairmen of the Senate Committees, let alone some caucus leader in the House

74 posted on 12/03/2009 10:39:47 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: Scotswife

Your mom sounds exactly like my mom.

Considering my mom was anti-Palin and has now rethought that position is a step in the right direction.

I can’t imagine they’re the only ones, either.


75 posted on 12/03/2009 10:44:43 AM PST by stylin_geek (Greed and envy is used by our political class to exploit the rich and poor.)
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To: OldDeckHand
This is where you and I differ, you seem to be enchanted with Obama, I'm not”

Chortle!
No thats just where you are wrong.
Bottom line: 0bozo is the president, He is the one we have to beat in 2012. He is the only one that is worth polling aspiring Republican candidates against.
Who you gonna poll against? Pelosi?
She won't be running for president in 2012 will she?

He's hardly a person I'd want myself measured against.”

Fine.
But then that's cause you won't be running for president in 2012.
For those who are thinking of running for president in 2012, 0bama is the one to poll against.

Palin’s approval rating has crept up, but her negatives are fairly constant - right around 43%. Rasmussen's results can be seen here”

Again, her disapproves right now are better than 0bama’s negatives. From the same Rasmussen, 0bama has a disapprove ratings of 54% from today's daily tracking poll, which was posted here this morning.
Makes Sarah Palin’s 43% look pretty good doesn't it?

76 posted on 12/03/2009 10:51:00 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: SmokingJoe
"You might consider taking your own advise. You are the one that claimed that Senators had to answer “answering lengthy and detailed policy questions,”, when in reality, 0bozo never had to answer any hard questions while in the Senate, and spent most of his time there campaigning."

No, I said "Senators who wish to be successful and nationally known, had to answer detailed policy questions". Senators, during the course of Senate business, ask the questions, not answer them. But, if they want a national stage, then they're appearing on national news shows. The joke in Washington is "the most dangerous place in the world is the space between a Senator and a camera".

Obama was campaigning for the Presidency almost immediately since taking office. He did that by making countless media appearances and talking about contemporary political issues. No one was asking about Barack Obama, the man - in fact, the media still hasn't 'till this day.

The exact opposite is true of Palin. She has made almost no media appearances where she's fielded policy or topical issue questions. She's only spoken about herself, her family and the events leading up to and immediately after her nomination. I know more about Sarah Palin's family, than I do about my own family. It's ridiculous.

Until she demonstrates that she's an earnest and serious person, who's capable of understanding contemporary issues, and articulating solutions for those issues, you're going to have to color me unimpressed. So far, she's much more pop-culture celebrity (exactly like Obama, only appealing to another audience), than Margaret Thatcher.

77 posted on 12/03/2009 10:52:09 AM PST by OldDeckHand (Obamacare - So bad, even Joe Lieberman isn't going to vote for it.)
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To: SmokingJoe

Yes.


78 posted on 12/03/2009 10:55:05 AM PST by apocalypto
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To: OldDeckHand
Then, she'll start to have to answer some direct questions from journalist that are there to help her sell her books.”

You forget.
She run a very tough campaign for governor in Alaska, not just against the Democrats, but against the party machine in her own Republican Party, and WON after a very tough fight, in a closely fought election.
You see, unlike Hilary Clinton (who had the New York Senate seat handed to her because of Bill Clinton), Sarah Palin never had anything handed to her. She had to fight for everything!

To date, she has yet to appear on a single Sunday morning news show.”

Excellent.
Those shows are stupid and increasingly irrelevant anyway.

It's troubling that so many people don't have any problems with that.”

Yeah
Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emmanual appear on them all the time. That's great company right there.

Every week, I can see possible Republican presidential nominees all over my TV answering questions from hostile media - Michelle Bachmann is a staple on MSNBC. I've seen Pawlenty, Jinal, Barbour, Pence and several others ALL THE TIME,”

And how are they polling against Sarah Plain right now after all them appearances on “Meet The Press”?
In just one stroke, with the release of her book, and a few Facebook postings, she has catapulted over all these guys that keep appearing on “Meet the press” into the lead in the polls.
You see, she connects to grass roots America, who don't give 2 hoots about the pompous asses who run “Meet The Press” and what not.
Those other politicians will give their back teeth to have the same bonding that Sarah Palin has with mainstream America,

But nothing from Palin except a syrupy autobiography and Tweets. “

Sarah Plain’s strategy is working.
She is now the leading candidate amongst Republicans for 20 12.
She decided the mainstream media were vile vermin anyway, and decided to go over their heads and talk directly to the American people. And it worked,

You left out a little point - popular vote total, in national primary or national general elections, don't mean squat “

Nope.
It's very relevant because it was in answer to you post where you claimed that both Sarah Plain could never win yon be president because she has high negatives like Hilary Clinton.
I then pointed out to you that the high negatives never stopped hilart Clinton from winning the popular vote against 0bama.
Popular vote is a very god measure of whether someone's high negatives are hurting them or not. People with very high negatives don't win popular votes. So them high negatives, never really stopped Hilary Clinton from getting more votes than 0bama did in the primaries.

79 posted on 12/03/2009 11:12:06 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: SmokingJoe
"People with very high negatives don't win popular votes. So them high negatives, never really stopped Hilary Clinton from getting more votes than 0bama did in the primaries."

You understand that it's Democrats who vote in Democrat primaries, right? Hilary didn't win the primary, and if you don't count Michigan, she doesn't win the popular vote either. Remember, Obama's name didn't even appear on the Michigan primary ballot.

Hilary had high negatives, Obama didn't. Hilary lost the primary, Obama won. It's as simple as that.

Palin is polling better than her Republican counterparts precisely because she's better known - thanks to John McCain. Of course, Hilary Clinton was better known than Barack Obama, who I don't believe polled above single digits - if at all - a year before the first Democrat primary. And, we see how that turned out.

I suspect that the next Republican nominee will be somebody who's relatively unknown and doesn't come with all the oppressive and embarrassing baggage that plagues Palin. You betcha.

80 posted on 12/03/2009 11:30:05 AM PST by OldDeckHand (Obamacare - So bad, even Joe Lieberman isn't going to vote for it.)
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