Why Critics Are Wrong About Palin
Morgen on July 6, 2009 at 12:55 am
While these represent the first words I’ve ever written about Sarah Palin, in general I’ve been a supporter since the GOP convention last summer. Count me among those who thought she was the best thing about the McCain ticket. If selecting Palin wasn’t McCain’s only good decision it was certainly his best. Not only did she inject some much needed vitality into a lackluster (and ultimately hopeless) campaign, she offered a glimpse of a much more dynamic and promising future for the conservative cause.
So of course I was surprised as everyone else was by her announcement last Friday that she would be resigning as the Governor of Alaska. But after reading and watching her announcement, I can’t say that I share the sense of disappointment expressed by most conservative commentators. Partially because on a personal level I am relieved for her and her family. It’s clear that the constant stream of attacks had really weighed on her.
But more importantly I think it was a good strategic decision on Palin’s part. Here’s why. In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve entered a new era of electoral politics. You don’t have to look any further than the current state of the RNC apparatus to realize that traditional party institutions and methods are rapidly declining in relevance. For better or worse, the proliferation of internet communication technologies and a 24/7 media culture have ushered in a new era.
Call it the era of politician as celebrity.
I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think the phenomenon of the Obama campaign was a one-time anomaly. Not only did the campaign include all the necessary elements of reality TV, the show is of course ongoing. And it’s guaranteed to be renewed through at least 2012 .
This was of course the true genius of the Axelrod campaign. He took a candidate with a carefully crafted backstory (and few significant accomplishments), and harnessed the power of a friendly media and Web 2.0 to create a level of popular obsession that most celebrities can only dream of. (Is there anyone in the world with more media mentions than Obama in the last 12 months? Not by a long shot I’d bet.)
And as much as we hate to admit it, we have our own reality TV star in Sarah Palin. And the simple truth of the matter is that she had very little to gain by serving out her term, and a heck of a lot to lose. At least in the realm of popular opinion, which is increasingly all that matters. Between dealing with the frivolous accusations of ethics violations, and fending off the self-serving snipes from her conservative critics, all the while trying to fulfill her (mostly unnoticed) responsibilities as a mother and a Governor – she had no realistic chance at advancing her image and esteem beyond her core base of supporters.
And frankly, I think she is suffering from the bane of every celebrity: overexposure. Within the span of just a few short months she went from relative obscurity to suddenly representing the hopes and dreams of conservatives all over the country. In the process she was put under a constant media spotlight, and came under relentless attack from elements of the left and right. And let’s admit it, many of her own supporters have developed an unhealthy obsession with everything she says or does. (A fact which has been cynically used by many bloggers to drum up traffic by covering all things Palin.)
2012 is a long time from now. I think the best thing Palin could do would be to duck out of the spotlight for a while, focussing on her family and perhaps expanding her grassroots network using new media such as Facebook and Twitter. The value of these types of tools for generating support and fundraising will increase exponentially in the next election cycle. And this is a golden opportunity for her to get a head start on this.
But even if she doesn’t heed my advice and ends up taking a job in television, for example, it will only prove my point. Whether sooner or later, the Sarah Palin show will continue. And I’m looking forward to the second season.
Category: Politics |
Hi Morgen – I’ve admired a lot of your postings here at VS, but I think this is the first one I’ve posted on. I , too, can see sense in her actions – apart from anything Alaska is so remote from the rest of the US that it would be hard to spend enough time there to fulfill her obligations and enough time in the ‘mainland’ to build up the necessary connections for 2012 campaign.
But do you not think she will in some way be tainted with the tag ‘quitter’ from now on?
July 6, 2009 @ 1:09 amThis is of course the risk inherent in her decision. And I don’t think it was a calculated risk on her part. Meaning, that if in fact it does end up effectively ending her political career, she will have no regrets. (Because of the vitriol focused on her and her family, and the harm it was doing to her effectiveness as Governor).
But I don’t think this will prove to be the case. In fact, I’d say that achieving the status of “not being a quitter” was almost all she had to gain by remaining in this role. As you alluded to, there is no further accomplishment she could make as the Governor of a state as remote and politically insignificant as Alaska that wouldn’t be completely overshadowed by the paparazzi level of attention on her personal affairs.
Yes, she has lost some respect amongst many serious-minded conservatives. And in the short-term her decision has only provided more fodder for those who’ve based their entire existence on gleefully mocking everything she does.
But sticking with my “politician as celebrity” theme, Americans love a come-back story. And let’s face it, for her to be considered as a serious Presidential contender she needs to significantly broaden her base of support. The best way for her to do this IMO is for her to drop off the mainstream media radar for a bit and regain the sense of purpose and enthusiasm that attracted so many to her to begin with. (It also wouldn’t hurt for her to deepen her knowledge base and fine tune her position on some key issues).
Subsequent to or even concurrent with this she can engage with and likely broaden her base of popular support using social networking tools. She is a unique talent and while it grates on many over-educated elites, her representation of traditional American values and her general “folksiness” appeal to a broad swath of the electorate.
If she can expand on the Axelrod/Obama playbook and use the internet (and a few well-chosen media appearances) to expand her base of support and start raising money, she will be well on her way to being a serious factor in the next election cycle.
July 6, 2009 @ 8:11 amThanks, Morgen, for your comments regarding Sarah Palin. You expressed quite eloquently some of my rough thoughts concerning her and her decision to resign as Governor. Whatever the reason or reasons for her resignation, I must admit that I like her independent spirit. She doesn’t play the game the way it’s ‘supposed’ to be played. She doesn’t say what politicians are ‘supposed’ to say. She stands on principles, not on what’s politically correct. And as such, she represents a threat to the status quo. I wouldn’t blame her if she chooses to never return to the political spotlight; whether she does or doesn’t makes no difference to me. It is enough to have heard her express her views so unashamedly and so impressively.
July 6, 2009 @ 9:58 amFrom Mike Allen’s POLITICO Playbook this morning:
“BUT THE MEDIA WILL BE CONSUMED BY:
–Sarah Palin. Our sources say lucrative offers have poured in from left, right and center. So far, the skeptical coverage from the MSM (‘Morning’ Joe Scarborough called it ‘a jumble’) is HELPING her with her base. Danger: She has to be sure she doesn’t become a self-caricature. In addition to giving paid speeches and raising money for candidates, she plans to raise money and awareness for issues that include treatment of the troops, energy independence and opposition to abortion.’
July 6, 2009 @ 11:16 amWhat I’m thinking is that Palin’s move puts yet more pressure on Obama to finally get some results, as the soaring rhetoric isn’t hypnotizing the plebes like it used to.
Last week Helen Thomas, Colin Powell, and Warren Buffet all turned on him. Polls are looking droopy for The One lately.
And Obama’s porkulus program is a train wreck, all it’s done is bump interest rates and tank the dollar. We are being laughed at by bad guys like Tehran, Pyongyang, and Al Qaida who amazingly turned-down Barack’s friend-requests.
Palin could trounce him in 2012, when Americans would vote for the Gipper-in-Heels in droves- while begging for lower taxes, free enterpise, a defense posture with some backbone… an end to the radical, anti-American nightmare we’ve got now.
Go get ‘em Sarah-
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
July 6, 2009 @ 5:01 pm“But more importantly I think it was a good strategic decision on Palin’s part. Here’s why. In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve entered a new era of electoral politics. You don’t have to look any further than the current state of the RNC apparatus to realize that traditional party institutions and methods are rapidly declining in relevance. For better or worse, the proliferation of internet communication technologies and a 24/7 media culture have ushered in a new era.”
Well said. It reminds me of Dean’s success at internet usage as well.
July 8, 2009 @ 10:37 amSave for the Journal, they are ALL wrong. Her resignation was one of the most unselfish acts anyone could perform. She had 150 FOIA requests in front of her. As governor, she was utterly paralyzed because she had to answer them in a short time as demanded by Alaskan law. Further, they would have bankrupted her. She owed no one that.
She will draw both money and crowds to candidates of her choosing. She is an enigmatic figure.
Just watch.
July 8, 2009 @ 6:13 pm[...] of AK was a calculated move on her part to further her political career. However, as I noted in my post on this topic at Verum Serum, I do think that her resignation will ultimately prove to have been a good move towards this end. [...]
July 10, 2009 @ 3:37 pm