To all those women who are so excited about Sarah Palin and furious with those pesky reporters who want to question her, I have to ask:
Where's your outrage?
We keep hearing about how groundbreaking her candidacy is, how she's shattering the glass ceiling that Hillary Clinton only managed to crack. Lots of chatter over her moose hunting and wolf shooting, too.
We hear a lot of complaints, as well, about how sexist the coverage of her has been. How dare those reporters ask her about, well, anything ?
But if fairness and equal treatment are what you want, why aren't you demanding that Palin be treated just as the guys in the race are being treated? Why aren't you insisting that she, too, grant the interviews and take the live questions? He may be prone to gaffes, but that hasn't stopped Joe Biden from giving nearly 90 interviews so far. As of last week, Palin had granted exactly three.
How fair is that? I don't understand.
Or maybe I do.
In a sit-down with Katie Couric — interview No. 3 since Palin's candidacy was announced four weeks ago — Palin was asked to offer evidence to support her argument that John McCain is the guy to bring reform to Wall Street.
Couric: "But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more."
Palin: "He's also known as the maverick, though, taking shots from his own party and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about — the need to reform government."
Couric: "I'm just going to ask you one more time — not to belabor the point — specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation."
Palin: "I'll try to find you some, and I'll bring them to you."
Hmm. Maybe there's good reason for Palin's fans' eerie silence.
Interviews with women in crowds, which are as close as reporters can get to a female interview at a Palin event, include proud assertions that Palin is just like them.
In most cases, she really isn't, but these comments reflect a deep desire of so many American women who long to see themselves reflected in the leadership of this country. We look at who holds most seats in Congress and state legislatures, who sits behind most governors' desks, and it's easy to understand some women's initial excitement over Sarah Who.
The problem is since her candidacy was announced, we still don't know much about the who in Sarah. The little we do know may explain why Palin's numbers are starting to dip in the polls.
Increasingly, she's asking to be the exception. Rules for her debate are stricter than for the presidential debates. Unlike Biden, she won't reveal her finances until after the debate. And we know virtually nothing about her first-ever, closed-to-the-press discussions with world leaders over two days in New York last week.
The campaign refused to allow coverage of Palin's crash course in world diplomacy and offered no details of her talks. Media access was limited to photo ops, which were less than presidential, to say the least.
As cameras rolled, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told Palin she was even more gorgeous in person, gushing, "Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you."
When she said an aide wanted them to pose together, Zardari beamed. "If he's insisting, I might hug."
The Wall Street Journal reported that Palin answered only two of dozens of questions that reporters shouted at her during the two days. Both times, she gave her reaction to the meetings.
"It was great," she said Tuesday.
On Wednesday, she was even more effusive.
"It's going great," she said. "The meetings are very informative and helpful. A lot of good people share an appreciation for America."
That is all we get from the woman who wants to be president-in-waiting?
Now that's an outrage.
Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and the author of two books from Random House: "Life Happens" and "… and His Lovely Wife." To find out more about Connie Schultz (cschultz@plaind.com) and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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8 Comments | Post Comment
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I more than agree with your take on Sarah Palin. I can't believe that the women asked for their input of Palin are in the majority. Are women that stupid? I am constantlly amazed at the lack of logic, and critical thinking skills of so many Americans. I also blame the media for not doing their job. They need to demand that Palin be interviewed by reporters or get off the ticket. They need to demand that McCain release his medical records to the public. They need to demand that he to answer questions and not allow his campaign to control the media either in the "lower 48," or in Alaska as they are doing everyday.The media is cowed, and this country suffers for it daily.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Janet Gaudiello
Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:13 AM
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Well said, Connie.
I have been wondering what was going on with Gov. Palin. Stranger still to me is why she and Sen. McCain seem to go everywhere together when it seems like more ground gets covered when the two candidates go in two different directions. Especially when the race is as tight as it seems to be. I have to guess they don't trust her on her own. Why is that?
IF I were to vote for the Republican ticket I sure would want to know who is the back up just incase. You're right not knowing is an outrage!
Thanks,
Glorya Johnson
Comment: #2
Posted by: Glorya Johnson
Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:28 AM
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The following makes no sense at all. I have no idea what she is saying. I really wish I knew, but I just can't make heads or tails of it. This is what we have to look forward to for the next four years...
COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
**** Now this is a very very basic question. This is a question that any politician should hit out of the park ***
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
*** what???????****
Comment: #3
Posted by: Gauss
Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:19 PM
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What a relief to see a female columnist writing this article and reader comments supporting it. It is completely disheartening for as voracious a reader as myself to find the blind support given to Sarah Palin by women in general and female columnists, in particular. Brings to mind when the NOW was taken over by such extremely radical feminists I no longer was able to recognize why it was such a good thing.
I enjoy your columns, thank you for writing this article.
Comment: #4
Posted by: liz
Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:28 PM
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Ma'am;... I can remember when I was in the seventh grade, and there was an election to class president and a girl ran for the office, pretty enough, smart enough; but of infinitely more interest, she was the first girl of all to sprout breasts. As she walked to the podeum to give her speech the class clown shouted: "It's what's up front that counts", which was a cigarette commercial slogan of the day. Now, things have changed much in the intervening many years, but womanhood is just like any other situation people find themselves in. Either they carry it well, or they hide behind it. The Russains had their Iron curtain to hide behind, and she can have her business dress. I do not expect she is going to tell everyone to treat her exactly like a man. I know she doesn't want that... It is not so strange for her to want the power of a man. To have gotten her to give up as much life as it takes to become a student of national and international affairs, not as talking points, but to really grasp the relationships behind all the formality was either not attempted or not achieved. It isn't that the presidency cannot be handled by a woman. I'd put my wife up for the job, and be the first in line with a vote. But she is never going to be a woman as desirous of power as any man, pretending to be a woman with a woman's sensitivity. I think Mrs. Palin desires power, but she is too idealistic. She talks republican, and her ideals are republican, but she has clearly not stopped to examine their implications for women as a woman. It is easier to talk the talk than to think the thought, because to get your ideas right is to get them reasonable, not pat, not easy, not simple for the multitudes to feed upon, but to really examine and understand the fundamentals of the philosophy behind them. The problem with her, in my opinion, the thing that makes her dangerous, is not that she is completely new, but that she is more of the same, as uncritical of the ideals she is handed as she is uncritical of her religion. She has the dogma, and she has the doctrine, but does she understand them, their cause, their effect, and their meaning??? We have had enough of ideas running our country. Ideas are not the cure, but the illness. Free enterprise is a great idea that only works in theory. Because it works in theory people will not surrender the idea no matter how fully it fails in fact. We have seen how she talks about foreign policy. Where is her measured regret and revolt at the thought of human life wasted for a failed diplomacy???. Like Mr. Bush, she puts the last resort first. We have had that!... No; I don't believe any man with respect for women would mind a woman president. If you would not marry a stepford wife; why elect one??? Thanks...Sweeney
Comment: #5
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:21 PM
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It's a paradigm, sis. I'm a Palin supporter and I'm neither outraged nor surprised. I've been working with you and your kind in faculty lounges for over twenty years. You don't get it and have no idea that you don't get it. I stopped explaining myself years ago as I realized they knew nothing beyond their office doors. Sad, isn't it. I wouldn't give the time of day to Barbara, Barbra, or Katie. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. I have yet to have a "liberal" friend try to understand me without the sotto voce mock. And that's okay. I'll go to your baby and wedding showers and say good morning, and I'll pick up your kids when you can't make it. I love you and would help you out in any way I could. But philosophically? It's always a one-way street for you folks. Can't we just get along? C'est la vie.
Comment: #6
Posted by: neveragain
Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:46 PM
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It's a paradigm, sis. I'm a Palin supporter and I'm neither outraged nor surprised. I've been working with you and your kind in faculty lounges for over twenty years. You don't get it and have no idea that you don't get it. I stopped explaining myself years ago as I realized you know nothing beyond your self-aggrandizing Truman's World. Sad to be all alone in the world, isn't it for you? I'd make a better VP than Sarah and I wouldn't give the time of day to Barbara, Barbra, or Katie. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. I have yet to have a "liberal" friend try to understand me without the sotto voce mockery. And that's okay. I go to your baby and wedding showers and say good morning, and I'll pick up your kids when you can't make it. I love you and would help you out in any way I could. Even knowing you hate my guts and positions. But philosophically? It's always a, sigh, one-way street for you folks. Can't we just get along? C'est la vie and vote. And let others. As for Judeo-Christianity, "Love one another." Take the time to mow your own grass, plant a garden, take in a meal for somebody - even a Republican. Breathe.
Comment: #7
Posted by: neveragain
Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:54 PM
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Re: Janet Gaudiello; No! Women are not stupid, and certainly not that stupid. But, many republicans are just like many democrats in not thinking through what they are told, or even what they see. If they a see a woman from a small town who pulled her self up by her pantyhose to be governor of a great state they can believe she is as good and virtuous as themselves, hard working and honest; and UNDERSTANDING. When people talk as they should, you and everyone assumes they mean what they say. They say they love the sinner and hate the sin. Surely they love the sinner who says they hate the sin. In fact they are willing to accept a great deal of immorality if it comes with an ethics lesson.... I am with Jesus in this, and he said: do as they say, and not as they do, in reference to the powers and priests. Our powers and priests have a message for us, and it is a good one. No one ever goes to church to hear bad news. After 911, our priest got up and told how much death we export; and the bishop made him apologize. People don't want to hear that they might be behind some great injustice or evil parading behind a banner of good. They want to be confirmed in their good, so they can be blind to the evil. To democrats and republicans alike, ignorence is the best defense. What we don't know will not hurt us; will it? What goes on behind our backs while we battle evil will not hurt us; will it? We wish to correct our fellow human beings. No one wants to correct the system that pits our fellows against us. So, whether it is Mrs. Palin, or some other one that has made a living helping themselves with the help of government, as long as they talk alright they must be alright, and more so, if they look like us, and talk like us...Thanks...Sweeney
Comment: #8
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:43 AM
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