I've thought all along that the pundit reaction to Palin was in essence one of class.
America doesn't have a class system in the British sense. Nobody cares who your father or grandfather was.
But we're increasingly developing a class system of a type based on diction and education. I thought a lot of the antagonism to Sarah was based on her not having attended an Ivy League college, but instead having the nerve to think she could run for VP when she went to a cow college in ID.
In essence, she was "getting above herself," and those so proud of their own credentials as members of the ruling class felt threatened by her. So she was duly destroyed.
If so, they did a piss-poor job of it. I would judge her the 3rd or 4th most powerful female political figure in the world, based on her influence, stature and the success of those she endorses. Remember, we'd probably be talking about a RINO senator from Texas rather than Ted Cruz if she hadn't got involved and that's just one example. Do you disagree?