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Posted
Tuesday, September 09, 2008 3:49 PM
| By
Rachael Larimore
Wow, so many arrows aimed at Sarah Palin today that I'm not sure I can catch them all! First, let me address Dahlia's post about fabricating records and the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. From everything I've read, it's more of an exaggeration than a fabrication. And what politician is not guilty of highlighting the more flattering parts of his or her record? Yes, Palin said she supported the bridge when she was running for governor. (I'm not sure it helps her that Ted Stevens, of all people, came out and said he thought she never supported it.) And yes, Congress had decided against federal funding for the bridge by the time Palin did anything about it (over the objections of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, it's worth pointing out). But Palin DID put the kibosh on the bridge as governor, saying that the ridicule would hurt the state and they'd find another way. And really, if it's a crime against feminism to fabricate your record, I'd call Palin's a misdemeanor while Hillary's tall tale of sniper fire in Bosnia more of a felony.
As to Melinda's point that Palin pre-emptively played the victim cards of "gender, class, and media bias," I think it's safe to say the media bias HAD set in by the time she delivered her speech in St. Paul, Minn. If you don't believe me, take David Carr's word for it in the NYT:
Before Gov. Sarah Palin came flying in from the wilds of Alaska for the Republican convention in St. Paul, there was a lot of sniggering in media rooms and satellite trucks about her beauty queen looks and rustic hobbies, and the suggestion that she was better suited to be a calendar model for a local auto body shop than a holder of the second-highest office in the land.
And Sally Quinn questioned Palin's ability to keep a demanding job while taking care of a special needs infant and a grandchild. (Is that a double whammy for gender bias and media bias?)
Finally, while Rosa has already addressed the issue of taxpayers paying for her children's travel expenses—and I agree the per-diem expenses are kind of sketchy—the fact remains that, as the Washington Post points out today, her travel expenses of $93,000 were quite a bit less than the $463,000 that the previous governor chalked up, presumably on that private jet that Palin sold on eBay.
If I've been surprised by anything since Palin joined the ticket—and like everyone else, I've been surprised by many things—it's my newfound understanding of the hard-core Hillary supporters, who clustered around her protectively as her campaign was falling apart. I have my own quarrels with Palin, and I'm quite confident that she can take care of herself (she does know how to field dress a moose, after all), but the more people go after her, the more I'm going to put aside those concerns and support her. Maybe that explains the poll about the white women moving toward McCain.
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