The Coddling of Sarah Palin
Lets not coddle her – she wants to run with the big dogs, not sit on the porch
While America waits with baited breath for the Vice-Presidential Debate on October 2, it is timely to look at the phenomenon of the coddling Sarah Palin. Supporters of Palin, mostly some women’s advocacy groups, are calling foul over the protectionist treatment of her because she is a woman.
Such groups believe that Palin needs time to adjust to the world wind speed at which the November election is coming. She deserves time to catch up on the issues and the Republican doctrine as it relates to global issues. What these coddling advocates are suggesting is that because Sarah Palin is a Sarah not a Sam, she comes with the handicap of being female, oppressed by society and undeserving of hard hitting scrutiny.
The result is exactly opposite to what these feminists think they are achieving; that is, it makes women look weak and incapable and further ensconces male superiority in the political arena.
Palin’s ‘handlers’, mostly republican men, have her surrounded by an invisible shield. Her speeches are written by Bush staff and a teleprompter keeps her on track when she delivers these carefully crafted speeches. Media pundits are complaining that there is little, if any, access to Palin without a full contingent of her handlers making it difficult to raise questions and have Palin personally answer them.
Earlier, McCain said that Palin will do an interview ‘when they feel that she is ready’. Palin was in fact interviewed in Fairbanks, Alaska, by Charlie Gibson on September 11, but not before the McCain camp hand picked the interviewer and the questions that were allowed to be asked. It is clear from this that McCain believes he has to protect his own interests by shielding Palin from real critique.
One example of a question posed by Gibson was “…I'm talking about somebody who's a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?” Palin replied, “I have not…”
