I'm not sure Dreher really does respect Sarah Palin, though. From what he writes, it sounds like he turned against her very early on -- a few weeks after she'd been nominated, back when the rest of us still found some hope and something to praise in her. If Dreher had respect for Palin, he would have left out some of the things he's said about her.
When I said Dreher respects Plain, I didn’t mean he favored her especially amongst the pack of Republican candidated. I just meant he did not trash her for her sex, her motherhood, or her conservative values as such. He may have had a solid critique of what she had to offer as a candidate -— without disrespecting her.