See if this helps and I pray that it does...
Let's say that you're a salesman at a local car dealership in a large city. You have a wonderful General Manager that you work for. Almost everybody at the dealership and most of the custermers as well, REALLY like the guy. Trouble is:
The mayor of this city wanted a 'REALLY special' deal on a new car but the GM, because of his personal scruples would not play. Next thing you know, the Mayor has a personal vendetta and takes out a very public smear campaign on the GM.
Next thing you know, because of public misconception to what's really going on, nobody is selling any cars anymore. The public has decided to take their business elsewhere.
The GM, even though he has done no wrong, decides to pack it in and take his talents elsewhere so that his salesmen can get back to selling cars and providing for their families.
Yes or no, is the GM a cop out? Is he a quitter?
I'd really like to know your answer, tuckrdout.
My answer is, that Sarah was the “Mayor”! She was bigger than a mayor, she was Governor...she was in charge. She had the bully pulpit—now she doesn’t. Your analogy doesn’t fit the situation.
Let me tell you a true story. My father owns a business. He won a large contract. One of his competitors had a friend in the organisation that awarded the contract. The competitor and the friend DID go on a smear campaign against my father. They bad mouthed and lied about my father day and night—to anyone who would listen. The friend found fault with the way my father did his business, and completed the contract. He filed complaints. Should my father have quit? It was a huge hassle and caused him much heartache. Do you think it would have helped anything if he had given up the job and validated what the competition had to say? Because that is what happens when you quit. It validates your critics.
Well, instead my dad just did a great job. In the end, the competition and the friend, just looked like idiots, as each charge against dad was refuted and proven wrong. The friend had to retire.
You fight wrong, by doing right. Not quitting.
That’s my answer.