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Posted Wednesday, September 10
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Sexism Trumps Racism
Martha Zoller
"She is not appealing to the same women who were really voting or supporting Hillary Clinton on ideological issues but they think that they can peel off some of these working class women, not college educated, who, the blue collar women who were voting for Hillary Clinton and may be more conservative on social causes." -- Andrea Mitchell, NBC News
It's the argument that the press has made since the beginning of time, or at least since the Ivy Leaguers took over the media. "We (the Andrea Mitchells of the world) know what's best for you and if you don't agree with us, you are uneducated." In the very short time since the death of Tim Russert, the working class voice of the mainstream media, people sitting at his table and in his chairs are back to looking down their noses at average Americans.
I am still learning about Sarah Palin -- her positions, her history and her rise to power. I believe that her conservative, small town, middle class roots give John McCain the freedom to be John McCain while she rallies the base. I can relate to Sarah Palin and I am tired of being told that holding the views that I have on "social causes" somehow makes me dumb. The left and especially the lefties in the media thought they were successful at pitting so-called stay at home and working mothers against each other. But they failed because all mothers are working mothers and the mothers at home are just as busy are the women who to work everyday. Sarah Palin represents all of this and it scares Andrea Mitchell, Maureen Dowd and Sally Quinn.
All you have to do is look at her enemies and their willing accomplices in the media to see their sexism in reporting on Gov. Palin. First, it was Sally Quinn of the Washington Post questioning whether she shouldn't stay home with the kids. Then, Maureen Dowd of The New York Times called her the "Trophy Vice." Then Campbell Brown of CNN argued against her qualifications. Finally, a spokesman for Senator Harry Reid said after her out-of-the-park home run speech that she was "shrill and sarcastic." Shrill is one of those words that is held out for women who don't know their place and that was the straw that broke the cycle.
After hearing "Sister Sarah" speak last week, Campbell Brown of CNN came off her high horse and called Senator Reid to task for calling Gov. Palin "shrill." Then Sally Quinn went on Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor and admitted that when she criticized Gov. Palin, she really didn't know her and after hearing her speak realized she was a force to be reckoned with. She still questions Palin's family priorities but now thinks Palin is qualified.
There were calls after the speech for apologies for criticizing Sen. Obama's years at a "community organizer." Sen. Palin said, "A small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except you have actual responsibilities." I say to that, get over it and get a sense of humor -- political conventions are about drawing lines between you and your opponents. Hockey Mom Sarah carved a distinct line in the ice.
You know the Obama campaign recognized the resonance of Gov. Palin's speech. Bill Burton said her speech was "well-delivered" but filled with the same partisan attacks we've heard from George Bush for the last 8 years. But George Bush never did a good job defending himself, conveying his message and attacking his critics in the mainstream media. I can guarantee you he has never delivered a speech as well as Sarah Palin did last week in St. Paul.
You have to love the media if you are a John McCain supporter. Everyday they compare Sarah Palin to Barack Obama, it calls to light the experience issue. When they compare our second to their first, it's a good day for McCain, I don't think they've quite figured out to compare her to Joe Biden -- remember that guy, Barrack Obama's running mate?
To paraphrase Sarah, she's not a member of the permanent Washington culture on the political or the media side. The media, especially, doesn't like it when their presumptions are proved wrong. They thought it would be two old white guys against the Democrat ticket and McCain shook things up. It doesn't matter if she was his first choice or his last choice, she is his choice and things will never be the same.
Monday night I spoke at a local Republican Party meeting to update them on the conventions and on Gov. Palin. The room was overflowing, standing room only and it is Sarah Palin that did that. This may be the only time in history where a Vice-Presidential candidate is a game changer. Everything is new again and the newness is on the right. Move over Andrea Mitchell -- the women of America have a new icon.
Ms. Zoller is a political analyst and conservative talk show host for WDUN AM 550 in Gainesville, Georgia and syndicated with The Georgia News Network (georgianewsnetwork.com). She is one of the Talkers Magazine "Heavy Hundred" Talk Shows in America for 2005-2007. She can be heard on Rightalk Radio and seen regularly on cable news. She is the author of "Indivisible: Uniting Values for a Divided America." You may contact her through www.marthazoller.com.
WDUN News/Talk 550 AM
Martha's Official website
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