Posted on 04/07/2010 1:32:58 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
Conflicting loyalties seem to have resulted in some surprising political decisions by Sarah Palin.
On Monday here at NewsReal Blog I argued that Govenor Sarah Palin’s active support of John McCain’s Senate reelection campaign makes no sense. Palin, after all, doesn’t owe McCain anything. Whatever debt she might have owed McCain she paid off during the 2008 presidential campaign.
In fact, if anything, it seems to me that McCain is indebted to Palin. This because his ‘08 campaign really did her a disservice, and also because McCain staffers have since betrayed the former Alaska governor with malicious and disparaging leaks to the media.
Many of the commenters to my post don’t disagree. However, they write, there is one laudable reason why Palin is actively supporting McCain: loyalty.
Fair enough. Loyalty is important. But it seems to me that Palin has competing loyalty obligations; and that she chose to be loyal to McCain when she just as easily could have chosen to be loyal to other people and other principles instead.
For example, Palin knows that some of her most steadfast supporters in the conservative and Tea Party movements have very profound and important differences with McCain.
These Palin supporters believe that on too many critical issues — including free speech (aka “campaign finance reform”), military modernization, and illegal immigration – McCain is a liberal wolf in a conservative sheep’s clothing.
What about loyalty to these people? What about loyalty to their issues and concerns? Why does loyalty to one man, one politician, outweigh loyalty to millions of dedicated conservative and Tea Party activists?
And why does personal loyalty to a man (McCain) outweigh loyalty to a set of conservative political principles?
No one’s saying that Palin had to actively oppose McCain. That might, indeed, have been awkward and ill-advised given that she was his vice presidential running mate.
But why did Palin have to go out of her way to actively support and campaign for McCain? Why couldn’t she have praised both McCain and his challenger, Rep. J.D. Hayworth, while remaining neutral in the Arizona Senate race?
I can think of two possible explanations offered up, respectively, by journalists Conor Friedersdorf and Matthew Continetti.
Friedersdorf says that Palin simply may not be the conservative her steadfast supporters think she is. She may, in fact, be a John McCain Republican. This would mean that she is liberal on some issues, moderate on others, and conservative about a few things.
Continetti notes that since being thrust into the national limelight, Palin has “become incredibly rich.” It may be — and this is me speaking, not Continetti — that because of her newfound riches, Palin feels an understandable debt, literally and figuratively, to Sen. McCain.
If true, that’s fine. Making money to support one’s family is honorable. But that’s a different type of loyalty, I think, than many of the governor’s defenders have in mind.
John R. Guardiano is a writer and analyst in Arlington, Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter: @Guardian0.
For the children. The children are doing just find. Tell the men to stay home and take care of their children.
I am sick and tired of these stupid stories about McCain. Get over it! McCain, McCain, McCain, get over it. Palin is not McCain’s all but end. The man has been winning his senate state for a hundred years. We don’t need McCain but we damn well need Palin. 11,000 people for a rally with Palin and Buchman today. 11,000 names, phone numbers, people that will donate, work the ground, man the phones and go that extra yard to get the people to the polls. STOP being stuck on stupid. Get the H-E=L-L over it.
Apparently, you’re not concerned about Marxist Obama and the demonic democrats.
McCain and his minions are Democrats.
“To: stephenjohnbanker AKA SARAH IS THE ENEMY.
Do you actually think anyone would listen to you when it comes to TRUTH? You’re a leftist pawn - coming against a conservative.”
I have 41,000 posts that PROVE I AM A DUNCAN HUNTER CONSERVATIVE.
You are not intelligent . You shouldn’t even post.
He’s some kind of self proclaimed Moby, a disruptor of first proportions, someone who doesn’t care if Obama rules as long as no one from the GOP gets in (other than Ron Paul). A pretty sick fellow.
And you're right about the Paul people (especially poor rabs). Their entire purpose seems to be to harm the conservative movement.
I repeat to rabs........either join the fight against the left, or GET OUT OF OUR WAY. Stop trying to harm the conservative ascendancy occuring in America. It's going to save the country from Marxism, and you seem bound and determined to do what you can to stop us in our tracks.
(btw, we won't let you).
Read post 41.
:-)
You are absolutely correct. We must now organize a campaign to “out” those who associate with the socialist, Soros-backed former Alaska Governor. Let’s start with Michele Bachmann. (/sarc)
YOU are NOT worth it!
No need to debunk your posts - THE TRUTH does. You are listed under NOT CREDIBLE. You cockroaches of the left are busy today - YOU LIE like your leader.
GO SARAH - your name is like a ‘light’ for it brings the cockroaches out.
Honestly, this guy has a great point.
Sarah hasn’t said where she is a a huge variety of topics.
We know where Michele Bachmann stands, though, on a great many issues. Thanks Michelle!
And for Sarah, you’d better decide what you are before endorsing another Rand Paul or John McCain, or you’ll lose some of that great goodwill given to you by myself and others.
LOL Chump.
You? Fighting the left? By what, getting kisses from a RINO president who was the biggest spender in Washington since LBJ?
Quote:
It was then that he walked right in front of me, and I said, "I'm praying for you and Laura every day." He looked right at me......we were face to face.....me with the President of the United States of America......and he said, "Thank you. That's the kindest thing you can do for me."
THEN, he hugged me, and gave me a kiss on my left cheek.......which has not been washed since! :o)
and
What a thrill!! How thankful we are to have this great, yet humble man as our President! It was obvious in just a moment that he really was listening to me.....that he really does care about us little guys......and that he wants and needs our prayers! I felt like I could have been the only one in the whole room when he looked at me, and spoke in soft, gentle tones to me.
and
And we need to be on our knees from now until Tuesday for this election, so that he can more effectively do GOD's WORK for this country!
Source: FReeper OhioWfan, 02 Nov. 2002, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/780592/posts?page=205#205.
Stop trying to harm the conservative ascendancy occuring in America. It's going to save the country from Marxism, and you seem bound and determined to do what you can to stop us in our tracks.
Replacing one bunch of statists (Democrats) with another (RINOs and RINO enablers) isn't much of a step towards "sav[ing] the country."
Well, she’s loved by Ron and Rand Paul, and she endorsed the son.
Seems she is doubling down on “Stupid.”
PaulBots, it ain’t going to happen. Paul is old and his better days have passed him by. So why don’t you PaulBots go and chase down his better day. Still running, still looking.... Still running, still looking.... Still running, still looking....
Still running, still looking.... Still running, still lookin.... Still running, still looking.... Still running, still looking.... Still running, still looking....
Ah, so you want censorship of those you disagree with?
You are a liberal.
So what? Sarah supports McCain is news?
You think you got some more ammo? You trying to hide behind Sarah’s skirt, also, carrying Barry’s water.
TO: stephenjohnbanker AKA SARAH is THE ENEMY.
YOU ARE NOT BETTER than Obama — A commie going against a conservative.
You’re the chump as your are Barry’s slave - carrying his water.
Keep at it chump. The TRUTH shall set you free.
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