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Yes, Palin is Loyal, but to What and to Whom?
NewsReal ^ | 2010-04-07 | John R. Guardiano

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.


TOPICS: Editorial; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: az2010; derangedpalinistas; loyalty; mccain; mccainiacs; mclamesrinoparty; palin; palin4mccain; palin4rinos; palinhate; palinsrinocircus; paulestinians; pds; rinoapologistsarah; rinos4palin; sarahmcpalin; sarahpalin; scorpions4mccain; trashingsarahpalin
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To: rabscuttle385

“Friedersdorf”

.
Lordy...you’re reading C...O...ONE N...O...R?

Says a lot about you...

I’m waiting for the latest Frum posting in...

5...4...3...


401 posted on 04/07/2010 11:50:24 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (WE DAT!)
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To: Pelham
"Did someone forget to lock the gate over at WideAwakes? It looks like that crowd of losers has slunk back to FR."


That is exactly why I don't log in here much anymore. I don't need the aggravation. Obama has filled that void...

402 posted on 04/07/2010 11:53:57 PM PDT by dixiechick2000
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To: dixiechick2000

Smart! I may follow your lead.


403 posted on 04/08/2010 12:53:40 AM PDT by presently no screen name ( Repeal ZeroCare!)
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To: CAluvdubya; rabscuttle385
“Do you believe in the war against those that will have us eliminated? Do you believe in protecting our country against Muslim terrorists as President Bush did?”

What makes you think Bush wanted to defend us from the Saudi-backed “Religion of Peace”? Was it when he refused to enforce visa overstays or was it when he actively encouraged Muslim immigration to the US? Was it when the wife of Bandar “Bush” financially-supported Al Qaeda or when or when he put the FBI in bed with CAIR?

404 posted on 04/08/2010 4:52:53 AM PDT by Favor Center (Targets Up! Hold hard and favor center!)
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To: rmlew

Her children have a wonderful dad. He has always helped with them. As first husband, I am sure he still would. But I doubt Sarah will run for president. She is making a difference now and she is making a lot of money. I watched her with Michelle Bachman on Hannity last night. The two of them together are great. If she does run, maybe Michelle could be her running mate.


405 posted on 04/08/2010 5:39:21 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: presently no screen name; Pelham

“Smart! I may follow your lead.”

Uh, don’t look now, but the allusion to WidwAwakes was directed at YOU.


406 posted on 04/08/2010 6:14:13 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops....and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: rmlew

Don’t forget: Reagan’s number one fan was Nancy. Their two bio kids turned out shall we say...less than perfect. A Mom at home has nothing to do with how kids turn out. Millions of welfare moms can prove it to you.


407 posted on 04/08/2010 7:45:01 AM PDT by eleni121 (For Jesus did not give us a timid spirit , but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline)
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To: Issaquahking
It’s been suggested that Gov. Palin “chose” to use her personal counsel to defend herself instead of using the Attorney General or the Department of Law, and therefore it’s her own fault that she has accumulated over half a million dollars in legal debt.

I never suggested any such thing. I do believe that ethics charges would continue to hound her if she happened to win the Presidency. Not because of any actual ethics violations on her part, of course, but because the left hates her.

I like and respect Sarah Palin. But I hope she stays a private citizen instead of trying to run for President. I simply believe she can do the most good in that role.

408 posted on 04/08/2010 8:16:23 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: jonrick46
So you think Palin is not “up to the Presidency.”

I think the problems that caused her to resign as governor will only increase were she to win the Presidency. No one has given me any information that indicates anything has changed in her life since she resigned, so that says to me she isn't up to the Presidency. I'd love to have her as President, but only if the issues that caused her resignation are resolved.

Then, tell me who do you think is “up to the Presidency.”

It's a little early to say. Not many have declared their candidacy at this point. :)

409 posted on 04/08/2010 8:19:24 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: ari-freedom

I guess in your view, I’m a feminist as well. I believe in equality in the workplace. Equal pay for equal work and all that. But when I say “equal work”, I mean it. The women have to do the same work and pass the exact same tests as the men. If they can’t, then they can’t have the job.


410 posted on 04/08/2010 8:21:22 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: Getsmart64
With the knucklehead in the current WH, any dumbass can be President.

LOL That's true. But I'm thinking more along the lines of the impact to Sarah and her family. Whatever problems caused her to resign are only going to get bigger if she were to win the Presidency. If something has changed that would prevent those problems from occurring, I'd definitely vote for her.

411 posted on 04/08/2010 8:27:48 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: FrankR
She didn't leave in shame; she didn't leave because of any crime; it was NOT the Nixon resignation...she simply stepped aside for the greater good.

I understand. But I've heard nothing to would indicate the problems that caused her to resign would not become even larger were she to become President. Instead of being dogged by silly ethics charges as governor of one state, those charges would be multiplied if she were to become President.

412 posted on 04/08/2010 8:30:31 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: TitansAFC
Please feel free to ping me with more PDS quotes!

Obviously, PDS means Pretty Darned Smart. ;)

413 posted on 04/08/2010 8:31:59 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: MEGoody

Sarah Palin made a strong case in her book for stepping down from the governorship. This is why that issue has been moved off the table. Those who raise that issue will have guaranteed their loss in an election.

I think we should be building the momentum for a presidential candidate right now.


414 posted on 04/08/2010 8:42:23 AM PDT by jonrick46 (We're being water boarded with the sewage of Fabian Socialism.)
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To: MEGoody
OK..you win. You don't like Palin, we get it.

I'm out of this debate, I concede, you're right, I'm wrong.

I'm cancelling all my donations to Palin, and set my TIVO to never record her again for the rest of my life.

I promise to discourage her at all costs to not even consider running for President, as everyone knows that Romney or Huckaby would be so much better, maybe even Ron Paul.

/Sarcasm...and goodby.
415 posted on 04/08/2010 9:00:31 AM PDT by FrankR (Those of us who love AMERICA far outnumber those who love obama - your choice.)
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To: ansel12

Best analysis ever.
Bookmark worthy.


416 posted on 04/08/2010 10:14:25 AM PDT by b9 (Nick Popaditch CA Dist. 51 Go Gunny Pop! CHARGE!!!)
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To: b9

Thanks, use it in any way you want, improve it, quote it, or cut and paste it, but I do think that the bigger picture should be introduced on a lot of these threads.


417 posted on 04/08/2010 10:31:03 AM PDT by ansel12 ( Why are the non "social conservative" Republicans so unconservative?)
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To: rmlew

Fashion hint: Wear your tuxedo to this year’s Academy of Really Dumb Sara Palin Slurs award show. You’re a sure winner.


418 posted on 04/08/2010 10:33:46 AM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: MEGoody; FrankR; b9

Aside from the fact of a modest, partly blue collar family being wiped out financially, and the cost to the state in having it’s Governor in a constant battle of mock scandals while trying to continue battling against the Alaskan left, the national American left was counting on Palin being trapped and finished off for good in those remaining 18 months.

As the leading conservative in America, and the most relentlessly attacked and smeared politician that we have ever seen in the United States, Governor Palin would have been finished if she had merely returned to the Governor’s chair in the distant land of Alaska, and she would have taken the conservative gains of the last 17 months with her.

No one could fight her fight with the Networks, the DNC, the Sunday shows, the Romney/Rockefeller GOP, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, and the power centers of DC, New York, LA, and also lead the the conservative comeback and decimate the Democrat ranks as she is doing with her 20 Democrat Congressional take down, while being a Governor in Hawaii, or Alaska.


419 posted on 04/08/2010 10:40:38 AM PDT by ansel12 ( Why are the non "social conservative" Republicans so unconservative?)
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To: ansel12

Excellent post.


420 posted on 04/08/2010 10:49:21 AM PDT by FrankR (Those of us who love AMERICA far outnumber those who love obama - your choice.)
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