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Story Archives: Read my lipstick…


Read my lipstick…
by John Sutherlin - posted Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 @ 11:07 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Ever since Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin was selected by the Republican presidential nominee John McCain for vice president, there has been a full blown media and Democratic (aren't they one in the same?) attack on this mother-turned-politician.

But why?

Because she worked and put herself through college?

Still married to the same guy?

For the reason that she carries a Bible and can shoot a moose? (Not at the same time, although I would not bet on that, and not because she is bitter either).

Perhaps it's because she is an attractive, tough, articulate conservative female that has the makings of a superstar among likely voters?

Anyone who thought that the choice of Palin was simply an attempt to lure females to vote the Republican ticket misses the point. She was asked to join McCain to shore up the conservative base. She makes McCain look better than if he had picked Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani.

Yet, McCain is still a maverick because of his Palin choice. Evidence: Palin has brought in real contributions since joining the ticket.

And take note of this: those most outraged about Palin were never going to vote for McCain in the first place. Also, don't tell me that Joe Lieberman would have been a better choice. Why? Because his record as the number two pick has such a stellar track record? Oh, by the way (and since you asked), Biden sure looks like a smart choice now for Obama! Not even.

Palin represents a major problem for Democrats that were hitherto hoping this race would be celebrity contest and not a bona fide political campaign.

But all is not lost. As political pundit Ed Rollins quipped, "The good news for Obama is the Europeans still want him to be our president. Unfortunately for him, they don't vote here, and the independent voters who do are shifting to McCain-Palin."

Maybe it's not too late to register those 200,000 screaming Berliners ready to be part of the Obama-nation (or is that abomination?). After all, if you learned politics in Chicago, then you are used to juicing the voting roles. I meant 'organizing community activists to facilitate political change'. Whatever that means.

In case you missed it…Obama further stepped into the political guano with his off-handed remark about pigs and lipstick. When I first heard about this, I figured I had missed another county fair, or one of my Arkansas relatives had made the news again. Instead, Obama inadvertently insulted Palin and then went on the Letterman Show to compound this howler with a larger indiscretion.

Still, even when the attacks have been more substantive, Obama misses the mark badly.

He commented, "My understanding is, is that Gov. Palin's town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We've got 2,500 in this campaign. I think the budget is maybe $12 million a year. We have a budget of about three times that just for the month."

Sorry again. Gov. Palin (and that is why she is called GOVERNOR) manages a state with a $13-billion annual budget. Don't compare a political campaign with a state. It's ridiculous.

Let's face it; Palin is here to stay.

That is, unless McCain loses. Then, everyone can pontificate about what a lousy choice Palin was and how transparent this attempt to ensnare female voters was, etc…

Instead, the Obama campaign should hit her where she is vulnerable, the issues and not on experience.

If voters really wanted experience, Hillary would have received the Democratic nomination. Besides, look at where experience has gotten the United States over the past several years. Maybe Washington, D.C., needs less experience and more results.

I think that is something all of us could vote for.

Democrats should leave the lipstick alone. You are missing something important with Palin. It's similar to the way Hillary missed the Obama phenomenon. Moreover, how many veeps are parodied on the opening of Saturday Night Live and this works to their advantage?

Both Obama and Palin have compelling stories told with a certain dramatic flair. These make them both exciting and energetic (especially compared to their running mates).

Ultimately, though, as long as the media focuses on Palin, McCain will be able to skate to the White House.

John W. Sutherlin, PhD, is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. He also is co-director at the ULM Social Science Research Lab. He can be reached by e-mailing Sutherlin@ulm.edu.
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