Did you watch her speech? If not, you must, though I warn you in advance it’s a little rough. If you’re like me you too find it incredibly draining at a psychic level to be lied to repeatedly, and to have your own perfectly good, perfectly American values mocked and derided by implicaton.
While she delivered a speech written by speech writer(s) for McCain and therefore can’t really be held totally accountable for the content, she sure seemed to wear it well, filled with enmity and mocking contempt as it was, didn’t she? Tsk, tsk. So much snark, so little moral authority. “Tonya Harding with speechwriters,” said Barry Crimmins.
One of the most insightful analyses of Palin’s speech — and attitude — came from DUer paxmusa who says these kinds of derisive, belittling attitudes are what she experiences whenever she spends time with her family of origin:
I am absolutely fuming angry this morning. The atmosphere in which I grew up and must continue to deal with regarding my family is now being played out on a national, political stage.
My immediate family members are rapid (sic) Republicans who:
barely finished high school
were pregnant as teenagers or were responsible for getting teenage girls pregnant
are very prejudiced against all ethnic groups
are anti-feminist and anti-gay
have had numerous extra marital affairs
have been divorced several times
have children who barely finish high school and get pregnant outside marriage, marry, then divorce
have drug and alcohol issues
have big family blow-ups with guns and restraining orders involved
have no desire to live or travel beyond where they grew up (Northern CA)
are not involved in community activities or political activities
wholeheartedly have supported Bush and Cheney and the Iraq warsnip
SARAH PALIN, in all of her grand hypocrisy, panders to this group, mocking and deriding Obama and the very principles of social justice. It is really pissing me off. We cannot have this mindset involved in running our country.
Pandering to this group is scary. “This group” are the folks for whom anything is acceptable in the service of winning. “This group” are the kinds of people who would stage mock protests to stop the counting of votes of Americans. “This group” are the types of people who would steal elections, and see nothing wrong with it. “This group” is the type that relishes and promotes an “us against them” attitude.
Were it not for “this group” and their psychological need for an “us against them” attitude, a far more united citizenry wouldn’t vote Republican. Again and again the Republicans find they have to divide us — on aborton, gay rights, immigration, and so forth. If it weren’t for these wedge issues, the entire citizenry would overwhelmingly vote for the democratic policies they otherwise prefer. That is the real threat of Obama: that he really is a unifyer.
Barry Crimmins had another insight that pulls it all together:
,,,she fortified the luxury bunker where the rich and powerful hide. The creepy thing is that she did it in the guise of an American every woman.
Well, it’s not creepy at all — or rather, not unusual at all and not the least bit unexpected — when it’s one of Patriarchy’s Women that we’re talking about: defending and promoting Patriarchy at the expense of their own (and ALL of our own) best interests.
Bob Moser over at The Nation correctly identifies “this group” and refers to them as cultural populists, a darned good assessment, and points out that they are part of the Republican base. I call them the “ignernt and proud of it” crowd.
You might not think that averageness would qualify a person for the second-highest office in the land. But if you might not think that, you haven’t been paying attention to the way Republicans have won presidential elections for the last forty years. Palin is the logical extension of the cultural populism that has warped our politics–and for which the Democrats have, as yet, found no good answer.
snip
It’s all about firing up the non-ideological center–which can only be done by drowning the economic sufferings of average Americans once again under a wave of whitebred, flag-waving, faux populism.
A comparison of the two conventions? Stark. From a Canadian DUer:
One was inspiring in such a good way (filled with so much hope for the future)
One was amazing in such a bad way (filled with so much hate/exclusion-ism for your fellow countrymen)One lifted you up
One put you downOne showed and explained to you what the future can become
One mocked and made you fear what the future can becomeOne made me cry tears of joy
One made me cry tears of sadnessSo many differences….I as a person who can not participate, other than to express my views,was shaken to the core after watching the applause given to Palin and the words that came from her mouth.
How is it possible that people can be so mean while placing themselves upon a pedestal.
The political pundits seem to be taken in by her, but not everyone is. (More on that later, possibly after the weekend, depending on my schedule.)
Actually I like all four presidential contenders.
McCain is a maverick.
Palin is inexperienced, but a quick study, and nobody’s fool.
Obama is dedicated to helping Americans on the home front.
Biden has a long history of experience with foreign affairs.
What it comes down to for me is:
WHICH CANDIDATES PROMISE TO END THE HUNDREDS
OF BILLIONS OF OF DOLLARS BEING POURED DOWN
THE DRAIN in Iraq, and which want to continue the war effort,
no end, no horizon in sight.
For that crucial issue, the Obama team wins hands down.
My humble opinion.
Sorry, Sarah!
Does the “ignernt and proud of it” crowd vote?
I have family in small town Oklahoma who fit this description. They’re probably loving Sarah Palin, but it doesn’t worry me so much because I’m 99% sure they don’t rock the vote.
What do you think?