The Palin factor

What is the draw of Sarah Palin?

As difficult as it usually is to understand the perspective of those of the opposition, the choice of Palin as a vice-presidential candidate is perplexing to the point of disbelief. So I take it upon myself to play the devil's advocate (no reference to the current administration intended), and attempt to validate the Republican's choice.

In the last eight years, the Bush administration has managed to disenfranchise fiscal conservatives and libertarians, which constitute a large portion of the Republican votes. Difficult as it is to imagine from all the pious talk, the administration together with the republican leadership in Congress also sidelined religious right-wing voters, who were so instrumental in bringing about the return of the Republican party to power in the last twelve years. Despite the talk, the religious right saw no action.

The McCain campaign is doing everything possible to distance their candidate from the current administration, and is reaching for those key groups. For his part, McCain is highlighting his record as a fiscal conservative, but he can't do anything to draw in the religious conservatives. His own record is dismal from their perspective, and most such voters strongly supported Mike Huckabee, even claiming that they will not vote Republican should McCain win.

In waltzes Sarah Palin. She is all about religious conservatism; her conservatism frankly spills over to fanatical. But that's not the only thing she brings to the ticket.

Sarah Palin is anti-feminist. Her projected persona of a former-beauty-queen-turned-hokey-mom-who-just-happened-to-fall-into-politics, and even her displayed ignorance on most key political and economic issues, is utterly non-threatening to the patriarchal structure. She does not hide her ignorance---of course not, it's an asset; rather, she highlights her keen ability to emotionally connect with the audience. In that way, Palin acts more as a First Lady would, a gracious and sympathetic host, willing to be coached as necessary. As vice president, she would not assert herself on major economic and political issues (as Hilary Clinton did when she was the First Lady). Instead, she would occupy her time on pet projects---fishing and game rights, gun laws, abstinence-only education, making abortion illegal---thus at the very least giving the impression that the administration is implementing the conservative values.

So as we watch the Palin v. Biden fiasco, remember: she is not speaking to us. Her real audience hears her loud and clear.