Some of us are delighted that Sarah Palin is leading by example, proving that women can have families and careers, no trade-offs required. Others see her rather differently: according to Salon.com, normally a rabidly partisan but reasonably civil and thoughtful site, she’s not in fact a woman. On account of, well, there are too many choice quotes here to pick just one. Let the classiness of the following wash over you like the slime from a tipped over dumpster, and if you still think there isn’t a culture war, read the whole piece.
Sarah Palin is a bit comical, like one of those cutthroat Texas cheerleader stage moms. What her Down syndrome baby and pregnant teenage daughter unequivocally prove, however, is that her most beloved child is the antiabortion platform that ensures her own political ambitions with the conservative right. The throat she’s so hot to cut is that of all American women.
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I did not think that women being downgraded to second-class, three-holed chattel would be a pressing concern in my lifetime. I thought it was like polio, or witch burning — an inhumane error that had already been corrected. But after eight years of Republican hegemony, and now the potential ascendance of this sheep in ewe’s clothing, I am so mortally offended I feel like it is really time for women to be angry, hardcore and disgusted again.
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Relax: The war is God’s plan. (Or whatever.) Women, even if they are vice president, can always look pretty, worship their husbands in the fear of God and never, ever resist invasions from unwanted sperm.
Sarah Palin and her virtual burqa have me and my friends retching into our handbags. She’s such a power-mad, backwater beauty-pageant casualty, it’s easy to write her off and make fun of her. But in reality I feel as horrified as a ghetto Jew watching the rise of National Socialism.
Nope, I’m still not a feminist, not as long as this frothing monument to vulgarity and hatred is part of that particular club.
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Brigitte wonders: Why would anybody assume children are necessarily the result of invasive and “unwanted” sperm? What if these women happen to want more kids? Shouldn’t it be their – what’s the word I’m looking for – oh yeah, choice?
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Andrea thinks perhaps the author is Heather Mallick’s sister?
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If Sarah Palin had aborted a baby with Down syndrome and her pregnant teenage daughter had had an abortion, would the writer of this article say her most beloved child was the abortion platform that ensures her own political ambitions with the liberal left? No, then it would just be “her choice” and “Bristol’s choice”.
I hate, hate, hate when people bring in these “all American women” things, as though they really speak for all American women. As the popularity of Sarah Palin illustrates, they don’t – and they never will, either, not as long as I’m alive.
YEs, that one was pretty bad, but Salon almost makes up for it by publishing Camille Paglia’s column– don’t have time to look up the link and post it, just go look it up, everyone. We live in hope.
What’s really driving this type of vulgar reaction to Governor Sarah Palin is really quite simple. Envy, jealousy and fear because Governor Palin has managed to acheive the all American dream while being a married woman with five children, with her youngest child born with Down Syndrome while at the helm as the Governor of the State of Alaska, and then to be asked to be on the Republican ticket as a Vice Presidential candidate in an American national election year.
If this isn’t the all American dream story I don’t know what is. Now if only Hollywood comes knocking at the door with a great script for this all American story about the all American dream in a country that has always been fascinated with its all American dream teams in professional major league sports.
Who’s going to play the lead role of Governor Sarah Palin?
The incredible nastiness displayed by the media toward Palin’s personal life just brings home how sexist and reactionary our society still is. Sure, you can have be smart AND pretty, have a career AND a family, but only if you toe the line and don’t have have any ideas independent of what mainstream feminism tells you to have. (It’s all weirdly patriarchal, if you think about it). It’s hard to believe that a male politician with the same family issues would be subject to such bitter, personal attacks.
I don’t think she is a perfect candidate, I don’t agree with her on all (most) issues, but her family life looks pretty solid and balanced and caring. I wonder why the media can’t stick to the actual political issues? I have to wonder if there will be a reaction to this kind of press. Every time I read this stuff I think, What do you know, the left really IS opposed to family values, working mothers, and handicapped babies! And I edge just a little closer to voting Republican.