I’m Conflicted About Sarah Palin

With her memoir in the chutes, and a slate of top-tier interviews on the docket, Sarah is all the rage. Love her or hate her, she is politically front and center. For some, an easy target; for others, an object of adoration.  Nevertheless, as a conservative, I am conflicted about Sarah Palin.

What I Like About Sarah Palin:

She seems genuine — Call it political savvy, but this is a huge part of her appeal. She does not carry herself like a career politician, but like a mother, a neighbor, and a blue collar worker. To the average person — especially one disenchanted by politicians — that matters. Barak Obama was elected in the hope of being this type of “new” politician, someone like one of us. However, with partisanship in full gear in the Capitol, we’re learning that the new boss is the same as the old boss. To me, Sarah Palin seems more like “one of us” than the current guy.

She governed her state well. Being “faithful in small things” is a biblical principle. And keeping a state — even if it was Alaska — in the black, while garnering a  favorable review from its citizens, is a noteworthy feat. She did not leave Alaska in shambles. Even if it’s one of the least populated states in the nation, governing on a small scale is a valuable precursor and measurement to governing on a large scale. 

Her pro-life / pro-family posture. Of course, this may also be the  source of most vitriol toward her. Feminism has come to be equated with a pro-choice position, so Palin grates against this rather militant bloc. Giving birth to baby Trig (a down syndrome child), may be the most heart-breakingly genuine example of her commitment to the sacredness of human life. While abortion is not a political “litmus test” for me, I believe it uniquely illustrates one’s moral and political worldview. In this, Palin wins my vote. The fact that her family appears “traditional” (from being big to having rebellious teens), is also something I can identify with.

She espouses traditional conservative policy and values. As far as I can tell, Palin supports strong national defense, lower taxes, right to bear arms, free market capitalism, and less government. It’s been argued that Republicans have lost their way, in part, due to the abandonment of these core values. One of Palin’s strengths, I think, is that she advocates a return to more traditional conservative policy and values.

She is a strong, articulate, independent woman. The kind of woman that makes men dither. Of course, this may work against her also (see below). The fact that she famously challenged her own party in Alaska and campaigned on a promise of government reform says a lot about her. Isn’t this the type of “independence” people want from their politicians? Furthermore, after enduring what I thought was one of the biggest media smear campaigns in national politics, she has appeared to survive quite well, thank you. Palin is articulate, bright, commonsensical, and pretty. She is the ultimate Feminist.

What I Don’t Like About Sarah Palin:

She is too polarizing. Politicians nowadays must be able to appeal to the “independent middle.” Of course, there is great debate amongst Republicans about how much one should sacrifice in order to appeal to independents. However, even in her own party, Sarah Palin appears to shrink that middle and alienate centrists. But I’m just not sure she can win while pushing moderates in the opposite direction.

The liberal media despises her. Call me conspiratorialist, but after seeing what the media did to help elect Obama, I can’t help but believe they will play a part in undermining a Palin presidential bid. Heck, they hated her when she was running for Vice President. Can you imagine what their full wrath will look like? It is sad that the American media has become so politically biased. But their role in shaping the debate is undeniable. The ridicule, late-night comedy parodies, interrogative interviews, and unfair press coverage were just a sample of the field day that will be Palin 2012.

The question of qualification. This is the big issue for most opponents of hers, that she is not qualified. During the last election, however, I thought the subject was moot, namely because she was more qualified than the opposing presidential candidate. Nevertheless, this question will dog her. Does she have enough geopolitical savvy and foreign policy experience? Can she balance a budget on a national scale? Of course, this is why presidents have cabinets full of experts in this or that field. Then there will be the concerns about how she can be a full-time mother and still run the country. And if she can’t stand up to Charlie Gibson’s smug cross-examination, how can she stand up to foreign leaders? Being a beauty queen, homemaker, and caribou hunter may qualify Palin for entry in the next Survivor competition, but as far as presidencies go, these could work against her.

She’s a woman. Don’t get me wrong, I personally have no problem voting for a woman. However, I think there may be as much — if not more — bias and reticence about a woman becoming president as there was about a black man becoming president. Despite our egalitarian concessions, men still have a hard time taking orders from a woman. How much more on a Hill ruled by men. And if that woman is a Republican to boot? If people wept at Obama’s inauguration, can you imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth that will usher in President Palin?

Ultimately, I’m thinking the GOP’s 2012 ticket will be similar to its 2008 ticket — less than ideal. Don’t get me wrong, I like Sarah Palin. But if the economy levels out and America does not experience another large scale terrorist attack, Barack Obama should get a second term. Either way, the GOP will have to tout its strongest candidate. Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t think Sarah Palin is it.