Don’t You Wish Your VP Was Hot Like Me?
I have a confession to make: I have a strange affection for Governor Sarah Pailn. I mean, I find her really compelling and charasmatic. And that’s difficult, because I really hate her politics.
If you want to feel what I’m feeling, just imagine for a moment that Palin was on our side. Imagine that she was pro-choice, pro-environment, and all the rest of it. Now how excited would you be that we had a woman running for the highest political office who could raise 5 kids and govern a state at the same time? Who was some sort of Annie Oakley, moose-wrestling frontierswoman? And who could give a speech like nobody’s business?
I, for one, would be thrilled. Hillary Clinton, as a candidate, was not ever really my cup of tea — for my money, I would have loved to have seen a woman like Ann Richards get elected President. And Palin is a character like that. No, I know her politics suck. I really do. But I also know that quite a bit of the backlash she’s been experiencing seems, to me, to be simply about the fact that she’s just too female to be able to be president. She’s a soccer mom! How could a soccer mom ever be president? (I ask: why not? We’ve had actors as presidents, frat boys as presidents, etc etc) She’s a mother, she’s pretty she wears skirts! All of that put me on her side to start with. But then I saw her speech at the RNC and oh lordy, she did me in.
When I was trying to explain my fascination with Palin to a close friend last night, he said, ‘you can put her together with your obsessions with Madonna and Courtney Love; none of these make any sense.’ But then, today I found out that Camille Paglia wrote an article for Salon about how Palin might very well be the new Madonna , and I thank her so much for helping me to clarify my thoughts (I wrote the Annie Oakley/frontierswoman stuff up top before I’d read Camille’s entire article and it turns out she makes the same exact comparisons to Pailn). I mean, Hillary was always the ideal second-wave vision of feminism: career gal, pantsuits, asexual, needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle, etc. etc. But with Pailn, we have something entirely different: a girly-girl who hunts. An ex-beauty queen who governs. A politican who’s not afraid to flaunt her soccer-mom-ness. To flaunt her hot husband (male politicians do this all the time). I know she’s not what we’d call a feminist (although she does call herself one), but her character, her persona, in politics, is breaking through some long-held stereotypes, and I can’t help but feel somewhat excited about it.
Hate on, sisters, but I know I can’t be the only one: doesn’t anyone else out there harbor a secret fascination with this pitbull-in-lipstick?
(This has got to be the most amazing Sarah Palin picture, ever)
You just like her cos she’s cute and looks like Tina Fey! I can’t separate her from her crazy beliefs. The woman actually believes that there is no such thing as global warming, and that Creationism should be taught in public schools! Not to mention the whole reproductive rights and abstinence bullshit. I could go on…
Jeez, you’re telling me! I have been feeling this for some time now, being a born-and-raised Alaskan and all. I have had mixed feelings about her since she was elected up here. That’s okay though, there’s no reason you can’t like someone and still strongly disagree with their politics. I think Sarah Palin is probably a really interesting and fun person. I wouldn’t want to be reduced to *just* my politics, and I won’t do that to her or anyone else, either. ;)
YES! THANK YOU! I have been defending Palin on all the feminist blogs I read, and this was so refreshing.
She’s not a feminist in any of her policies, and if the republicans do win then a lot of the laws that made room for a politician like her to exist will go away. There’s always room to respect female politicians who break glass ceilings regardless of their politics, but getting too caught up in the idea of her as a symbol is to be distracted from what’s at stake in the election. I’d rather elect a real feminist - male or female.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll bet if you had to work with her or be around her much your affection would dwindle quickly. This is not a woman who takes a back seat to anyone. She’s gnarly and gritty and absolutely convinced of her own worth on the world’s stage. She is disgusting and I am appalled that you would be fascinated by her at all.
WTF? Please tell me this is all in jest!
This woman is not only a complete right wing, morality crusading psycho, but she is also the most patronizing pick for VP in recent history. I just can’t believe that people aren’t seeing right through this.
How can you feel so warm and fuzzy about someone who is going to make it her mission to discriminate against homosexuals, tell you what you can do with your body, destroy the concept of protecting endangered species or land or earmark further federal funds for her own benefit?
Because, she’s cute? Well, shit, I’m cute too. Make me VP.
Q: What’s the difference between a pit bull and Sarah Palin?
A: Sarah Palin can stand on her hind legs.
She romatizied you with her rhetoric. I cant seperate the politics from the woman.. becuase the reality is that she is bad medicine, she is anti proggresive. Nothing about this woman excites me accept all of the dirt people are digging up on her. The latest i heard she billed the America people (used tax dollars) for travel reimbursement for staying in her own home. C’mon - this lady makes me sick
OH…I see and because Hillary isn’t “Pretty” and doesn’t wear skirts, somehow the sexism lodged against her is less…what? Cute? What exactly makes her more female than Clinton? Isn’t Hilary Clinton a mom? Or are we measuring quantity? The more children you have=more mom=more female? Wow….disappointing. This woman is the antithesis of feminism–that is if you believe feminism is inclusive of all women, not just the pretty ones, the beauty queens with “hot” husbands, blah blah blah. This is the feminist that will sell women right down the river and we will long for the “second wave” feminists.
PS the lack of logic here is inane twatwafflery. Have you no sense?
I know I know she’s the anti-christ, and as i said, I have no intention of voting for her ticket. Like each of you, I am completely and totally opposed to all of her policies.
But, but….I think that she is an interesting and compelling figure. Hillary had to completely de-feminize herself to be accepted, taken seriously, as a candidate. She had to present herself as asexual, pantsuits and all. She got reamed for crying. Any sign of womanliness was taken as a weakness.
And yet Palin, in presentation, is not the opposite of Hillary. She’s not all pretty and skirty and femmey - because she has those other traits that don’t go along with the femme ideal (hunting, pitbull, etc). I think there is a lot of sexism involved in the criticisms of her, and I’m sure you guys have noticed that too. She’s some kind of image of what a different kind of female in politics could look like. Not just one who has to dress in male drag, or hide anything remotely womanly about her.
And so all I’m saying is, I wish she was on our side. Because she is damn fierce.
I agree with what you’re saying here, Debbie. In fact, I’ve been saying the “I wish she was on our side” bit all damn week.
Of course, her speech at the RNC just reminded me of everything I dislike about her, but I think this was an interesting post. Thanks!
First, I do think it’s important that America is giving respect to a woman for juggling the jobs of “soccer mom” of five kids and as an elected officer/vice-presidential nominee at the same time, and I think it’s great that a former beauty queen is being given credit for her brains (what’s left of them). And I understand there is a difference between admiring someone’s personality/charisma and liking their politics.
However….it’s very hard for me have even a little affection for someone so anti-woman (anti-choice), and so in denial of science and empirical evidence. I also feel that she tries pander to citizens primarily by bashing Obama’s ideas, and I feel condescended to when hearing her speak. Personally, I’m sick of seeing her mug everywhere, regardless of whether the coverage is bad or good. All this attention just gives conservatives more fuel, imho. I only wish Biden were getting this much media attention, okay?
Palin calls herself a feminist, huh? Maybe she should be introduced to some women’s studies courses before making that assertion. I certainly don’t consider her a feminist.
I absolutely agree with you, and it’s a very complex sentiment to get out without being misunderstood! It is somewhat of a pity that she isn’t on our side. I’m a writer, and I appreciate those who are well-spoken. I must admit that her speeches have been clever and articulate, and I actually enjoyed myself while listening to them. I do believe she’s a formidable addition to the Republican ticket, and McCain, although having done so “impulsively”, made a brilliant move. That being said, I think it’s more important than ever to get out and vote this November. I’ve always said about George Bush: “He’s pure evil, but if he were an evil genius, at least then he’d get my respect.” I don’t think Palin’s a genius (wouldn’t she be a Dem, then? Ha), but she’s smart as a whip, and if we can’t beat her brutal politics, at least we can beat her with numbers. Let’s face it– there are a lot of wackos in the U.S.of A., and you better believe they’re going to support her.
On a side note, I wish, I wish, I wish that Obama hadn’t said that whole lipstick/pig thing. Hooo boy.
The lipstick/pig thing didn’t bother me as much as the DEAD FISH thing! I mean, we’re talking about a lady here! Way too much of a vadgy innuendo there to say something like that.
Imagine if we were having this conversation about Barack Obama….”I don’t really like black people but…he’s kinda cute, he’s well spoken, his wife is pretty, he’s educated. blah blah blah.” Folks would absolutely blow a gasket.
No one said squat about McCain making the lipstick on a pig comment when Hilary was in the race. Suddenly the rules have changed ’cause a pretty girl walked in the room. It’s baffling really. There’s a whole contingent of women who out of anger/frustration/whatever are going to vote for McCain-Palin because Hillary didn’t make it on the ticket. It’s really insulting that “any woman will do.”
I’ve always been convinced that in order to make the loss of women’s rights more palatable, it needs to be served up by a woman. Betrayal from one of our own. “See she’s a woman and she doesn’t mind giving up her reproductive rights! What’s your problem?” All women are not feminists, all feminists are not women. Palin reminds me of one of those other “feminists” from the olden days, Phyllis Schafly.
i don’t think palin is a feminist. Strange thing though, is that she thinks she is - uses the F word and everything: she’s a member of feminists for life. Now go spend some time on that site and see what you think: http://www.feministsforlife.org/
it’s an eye-opener.
this is compelling, but I still think she’s just gross and phony. I love the idea of an Alaskan frontier woman, but I’m not seeing it. I’m seeing an unqualified suburban PTA member.
Especially interesting that we’ve got the first VP candidate to bring special needs issues to attention because she’s got a kid with Down syndrome. But, shit-she’s on the wrong freaking side! Last time I checked, conservative, right-wing republicans weren’t really into public welfare and social services.
I can understand- she’s got an amazing amount of charisma, can wrap any audience around her dainty pinkie, and is playing the media like a fiddle. SHe’s fascinating- and that’s what’s scaring the crap out of me. The average woman is looking at her and seeing a girl who made it and can be rallied around, and yet Palin has yet to discuss her history, experience, and platform in depth (and won’t any time soon, as she’s waiting for the media to treat her with “deference”). They’re not seeing the scary ideology or how much she wants to curtail our freedoms and rights. Whatever “it” is, Palin’s got it in spades, and I just wish she’d use those powers for good.
I can understand, as Obama has expressed, how this woman has a very compelling life story. And hey we’re all here writing about her–she’s definitely caught in the spotlight. It is exciting that a woman could be potentially be VP and inspire young girls. It is true that we’ve had Animal-House frat boys and actors in power…why not a beauty queen/hockey mom? The republicans often pick candidates that require a suspension of disbelief!
I’m happy for her accomplishing everything she’s accomplished and congratulate her on that.
But I’m not completely buying the whole frontier woman thing. How many real hunters would shoot a wolf from a private plane? I mean she’s playing up this image to appeal to people and get elected just like any other politician–her being a woman doesn’t mate her any different or more genuine. It’s just like George Bush putting on the drawl and being that guy that many Americans could see themselves having a beer with.
And…it’s pretty hard to feel any affection for someone who is anti civil-rights and could potentially make decisions that would limit US citizen’s rights. Being a feminist is not being about a women in a high place, it’s about defending civil rights like the right to choose or the right to marry the person you love despite their sexual orientation.
My hugest fear is that because she’s anti-abortion, that men in power will say, “See, denying a women’s right to choose isn’t sexist! Women support this too! It must be in their best interest!” And use her as an example of feminism, undercutting the advances that our sisters made before us.
I have to say it - I don’t see the charisma, I don’t see the charm or the unusually high intelligence. I see a woman who read a speech (full of one-liners and no substance that took 5 days for other people to write) off of a teleprompter with had “nuclear” spelled out phonetically.
Please explain this so-called hold she has over the American people!!! ‘Cause I just see her as another brainwashed right wing psycho looking to breed with other members of her flock.
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a little obsessed with Sarah Palin. I’ve blogged about her a few times (ok, more than any other candidate). I agree, she IS attractive. Sure, she DOES have her own “Action” Figure. -but at the end of the day, to me, Sarah Palin is the equivalent to the pretty, popular girl in high school that was really just a raging uber-bitch underneath it all!!!
From her first introduction to America, I was totally unimpressed. I especially didn’t care for her comparison to a Pitbull! I own a pitbull and I’ll be damned if the only thing that spares her from being Sara Palin is lipstick!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally supportive of a woman being in the White House, as long as she’s worked to get herself there. There’s something to be said about the work that Hilary’s done to get herself where she is today and I can’t say that Palin has done the same! Let’s face it, Palin is a strategy, not a candidate. The fact that McCain slipped her into his campaign at a choice moment insults my intelligence as a person, and more importantly as a woman!
P.S. How long do we have to wait to see Tina Fey spoof Palin on SNL!!!
WTF? this just adds to the swiftboating of Obama. I certainly did not think I would read that here.
i think its fascinating how much people are thinking about a VP candidate. mccain has really let his thunder get stolen. at first the tactic bewildered me but look how everyone is focusing on her and not how similar mccain is to bush? people are being tricked into thinking they are seeing “change change change” with the very different (in appearances not politics) palin and forgetting that its actually mccain who will be the president. its kind of like the reverse– loveable bush with evil Chaney “running things” … now weve got evil mccain with loveable palin deflecting what is really going to go down.
I am utterly and completely dissapointed and confused… Why the f would anyone find Palin at all charming??? She is the most disgusting excuse for a woman I have ever seen??? WTFFFFF!!! Since when does killing animals make a woman cool?? If she killed your puppy would you think she was cool????? ugggh! She is a poor excuse for a mother… too busy with her own shit to have a real conversation with her daughter about the dangers of teenage sex. Seeking the vice presidency with a 4 month old down syndrome son?? My sister in law is down syndrome and I have known her since she was 3 and I can tell you right now, that it takes a LOT of time and patience to raise a down syndrome child- it is completely dishonrable in my opinion that she would seek an office like the vice presidency- which could (presumably) keep her pretty darn busy for the next 8 years. She made the choice to have that baby, and now she is going to entrust his care to someone else??? What kind of a mother is that?? I am all for equal responsibilities at home…but I doubt her husband is going to spend all of his time at home raising the kids. This woman does not have it all, she does not do it all, I think she is ugly as hell… give me Hilary over her any day of the week. Just because she has the ability to get knocked up 5 times (apparently doesn’t believe in birth control) doesn’t make her a good mom, and nothing she has done (imho) makes her a good politician. She is a puppet for the republican party, that is ALL she is.
Pass me some more haterade.
oops, I spelled disappointed wrong.
oh, and I transposed the ????s and the !!!!!s in the second sentence…. ooooh I am just so riled up!! I guess I was so blinded with rage I forgot to proofread :)
I don’t want a woman who took 6 years to get a degree in journalism from the University of Idaho in the 2nd highest office in the U.S.
Give me someone like Michelle Obama… Sexy, smart, and honest.
To be perfectly honest with you, she scares the shit out of me, and that’s BEFORE she opens her mouth. Everyone keeps likening her to Tina Fey, but I can’t see it.
Palin just seems creepy and downright mean. Her lack of empathy makes me wonder if she has some “cluster B” personality traits. As a Canadian, I’m completely baffled by her appeal south of the border.
For example, I read somewhere that when Palin was mayor of Wasilla, she made rape victims pay for their own forensic evidence kits. If this is true, her callousness gives me chills. Not the kind of person you want in the White House (we all know how that turned out the last time).
Okay, I stand corrected. It appears that Palin may not have been aware of the policy of charging rape victims to collect forensic evidence. Fortunately, the Democratic governor changed this policy in 2000.
Palin is just another corporate politician puppet- as are most in politics. Wave a money carrot from special interest groups in their face and BOOM their bought like all the rest. Hillary was bought by the Medical insurance lobbyists who wanted her gagged on Universal Health Care. They succeeded ! If Hillary knuckled under on such an important issue for Women how in the world would you think she would not have caved on other important issues with corporate cock world up her a__!
Is it entirely wrong to vote for someone ‘just because she’s a woman”? People have been using this rationalization in politics and the work place for years when it applies to men. I’m sorry, I don’t agree with ANY of Palin’s positions on the issues but I find myself leaning her way. The DNC and Obama’s dismissal of Senator Clinton was a primary ‘women’s issue’ for me. Women must 1st be recognized and acknowledged before they can succeed at accomplishing anything else don’t we?
How can anyone who calls themselves a feminist support this woman? She doesn’t care about women’s rights at all.
We like our female politicians to fit neatly into one of the following categories: androgynous (or even downright dude-like) or pretty princess. I think we tend to trust more manly female figures more (because they seem less hormonal?) and admire the pretty ones in a sick way that mimics wanting to be friends with the popular girl. Why are we so inclined to scrutinize the brains:beauty ratio whenever a woman is in politics, and make her fit neatly into one of those categories? I think we do this, without meaning to, so that we can understand what she’s doing playing in a man’s world to begin with.
excuse me, Sheila, how could you possibly vote for someone if you don’t agree with ANY of their positions? that seems utterly insane. I dont care if it’s a man, woman or horse, if you are voting for someone based on their race/sex/or religion, you are a damn fool.
I for one am not taken in by this woman. And as for her “speech”, she didn’t write it, she only relayed it, and she didn’t speak on issues, she spoke about the DNC Presidential hopeful. As an Independent, her being “chosen” has not swayed nor impressed me. She also is no prettier than Joe Bidens’ wife. And lastly, why is she getting compared to Mr. Obama? I thought for sure that Mr. McCain was running for president. . .
John McCain’s campaign managers might just be evil geniuses (they are, after all, former lobbyists) for choosing this woman. They know that McCain is old and decrepit. So, they bring in someone young, healthy (she gave birth to five kids! she hunts moose!) and attractive to take focus off of the Crypt Keeper. I’m not taken in by her at all and I think her being chosen is completely transparent. I don’t think she’s a frontiers woman at all. She’s a suburban hockey mom with a huge-assed mini-van. She’s a frontiers woman like George Bush is a cowboy. If you remember, they tried to make W. look like “regular folks” the last time around (he has a ranch! he’s chainsawing shrubs! he’s Texan!), but if you dug deeper, you found out that he’s from Main, he’s old money, he was a male cheerleader and went to Yale. The Republicans are doing this again after the whole John McCain forgot how many houses he owns thing.
hey Wendy -
I hadn’t thought of that angle — about Palin being brought in to counter the charges of ‘elitism’ against McCain. Hmmm….
I am hearing a lot of people voicing concern about her ability to hold down a Vice Presidency and also be the mother of 5 kids, including one handicapped one). (there is some commentary on this thread along those lines as well). Say what you want about Palin, but why does she have to be a good mom? What she wants is to hold down a powerful position despite her family situation, as do many, many high-achieving women, who, hopefully, are married to non high-achieving men who might be better suited to childrearing duties.
I came to post this article that terrified me about Palin and I couldn’t believe I read this here. How terrifying. I hope no one takes it and runs with it.
Here’s the same sentiment of feminism vs. feminism light used for evil:
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/09/14/sarah-palin-feminism-oped-cx_hm_0915mansfield.html?feed=rss_popstories
It sounds like you have been sucked in. She stands for everything that would push the second wave back to the ocean and up to the sky.
I have absolutely no idea where you are coming from. Sarah Palin is not cute and she is not fierce. Sarah Palin is manipulative. Why don’t we see Palin in Hillary pantsuits? Well because, first of all, an unfeminine woman would NEVER be successful in the Republican party. Unfeminine as defined by our society, i.e., dominant, aggressive, and unaware of the female body in both appearance and presentation.
How could you want this kind of woman on our side? Sure, I would love the kind of woman I see as my generation’s wave of feminist: dominant, aggressive, and fiercely “female”, to be a top politician. I don’t like it when women try and ‘fit in’ with men to succeed. But Sarah Palin is a member of the boys club in that she uses her image and her prettiness to fit in. There were a lot of “VPILF” buttons at the Republican Convention, and that’s what they see her as. A woman who approves of all their idiotic ideals, i.e., shooting bears and stopping abortions, and yet still lives up to the feminine standard, i.e., looking fuckable and popping out babies. UGH. I would be ashamed to have a woman like that on my party’s ticket. This woman who panders to a party that is so anti-woman it makes me sick. RAGE!
Not to mention Palin’s comment last night in Youngstown, Ohio that “people in these small towns aren’t quite sure what to make of a candidate like Obama.” (I’m paraphrasing a bit.) She spun it as an anti-gun/anti-religion argument, but it certainly smacked of something far more sinister. I just can’t reconcile that sort of stuff with her image. I honestly don’t care how charming or confident or kick-ass she is, her positions are far too problematic, questionable and downright harmful for me to ever look past.
I completely agree! I’m a far-left, liberal Dem and will vote for Obama/Biden, but Palin is an excellent speaker and very charismatic. You have to give credit where it’s due. I think any criticism of her should be strictly relegated to her politics. I don’t like the sexist comments any more than the Republicans do, because it’s a distraction from legitimate criticism (of which there is much to be found!). Politics should be about the issues and not a person’s sex or color.
Very interesting, Debbie! You are always pushing the envelope and making us question things in three dimensions. Palin is definitely a representative of the messy, complex paradox that it is to be a woman and “feminine”…such a gray area, and Palin is definitely a lightning rod for discussion. If she’s using the term feminist so craftily to forward her agenda, I say let’s be equally crafty and use her to spark discourse on the feminist/feminine debate. Much as I hate her politics, she’s still subject to the same sexist beliefs as any woman who does “hair and makeup,” raises a family, etc. while holding a position of power. But I still think she’s playing up the mixed message element a lot (and semi-covertly, her sexuality), a right-wing ploy. Ann Coulter has been working this angle for a while. It works in advertising and is often seen as “edgy” because people are unsettled and confused by it. So I have no clear answer, because I, too, am confused: do we stamp out our sexuality in politics (Hilary) or work it like a stud (Bill)? Hmmm…still pondering.
Thank you for articulating so well! I have the same fascination with her. I loathe her: her politics, her ethics, her obvious inexperience for such a tremendous job. But… but… she’s cute, she’s girly yet tough, she balances a family and career (maybe not successfully since her teenager is knocked up, but still…), she can handle a firearm and she’s somewhat of a throwback to prairie women of yore.
Too bad she can’t ditch the pro-life Jesus crap and join the progressives. Dems could use more gun-totin’ third wave feminists IMO.