It seems now that every time Palin speaks, millions are crowding around and waiting for something to criticize her about. Anything from her daughter, to her family issues, to her lack of experience, to her very awkward and embarrassing statements. Palin was given the vice presidential debate as her last real chance to redeem herself. Many thought the hole she had dug herself was too deep. Some thought she could rebound by giving a mediocre performance simply because her standards had been lowered so much that any outcome that would not be disastrous would be acceptable. Going into the debate, Sarah Palin seemed primed to debate very safely and not exceed her borders. And she did.
Other than a few very awkward statements and the fact that she overplayed her hockey mom narrative, she came out alive. However it become so apparently clear, if it wasn't before, how much of a strategic pick this was that lacked substance. McCain is just going to throw her up there and make sure she reaches out to the specific fan base that he was targeting when he picked her: the middle-aged woman. Palin is a very charismatic woman young enough (Hillary Clinton could not have passed with that wink) that she can be a role model for women, but also catch the eye of men (Joe Biden being one). But the question has always been, is Sarah Palin ready to run?
It is here that I would like to point out the subtle bias that I may have picked up from moderator Gwen Ifill during the debate. Ifill openly chose to point out the general consensus that Palin does not have enough experience, something that surprised me during the debate. While at first glance it may be nothing, the comment seemed out of place and may point to some of her own political views, seeing as she wrote the questions herself. Ifill is author of the book "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama", something that some conservatives have been taking issue with. I had no knowledge of her book until I saw the debate and heard her comment which prompted me to research her. Overall I think she did a fair job of moderating, but to the close eye there was some bias, there a few other minor places. Anyways she raised the issue of Palin's experience, which is very important.
Palin, akin to Obama in this sense, is very easy to like, but is that all a Vice President (or President) should be? Out of the four, (McCain, Obama, Biden, and herself) she seems the most down to earth, everyday person; someone who we all can relate to, strangely the kind of person the other 3 claim to be. Her narrative is becoming less and less suitable for the White House and more for somebody we would want to be friends with. Her narrative is the only thing keeping her hope in this race alive at this point.
So yes, she has reached a low point where everyone is lining up waiting to catch her next blunder. Yes, it is pathetic that a sub-par performance is looked upon as a success because of her past screw-ups. Sarah Palin could be the one true everyday person that everyone is looking to follow. But not our President. Not yet at least.
6 comments:
I think that what Professor Stenger is doing is great!
Got his facebook message and decided to check it out. This being the first post I saw I decided to comment.
I missed the first 30 minutes of the debate however when I did come in I felt Sarah Palin sounded like she was dictating memorized answers versus providing thoughtful answers. While she does come across as a regular everyday woman for White middle-class surburban women, she is not someone I would even call a friend.
The Republican campaign was hoping that she would help them win over White women. Palin would never be my friend nor any other progressive Black, Latina or Native American woman I know. Many progressive women of color who are about the politics, not the racial or sexual allegiance of the candidate, would not even consider Sarah Palin a friend in the White House or in their life. I would never invite Sarah Palin into my home or even praise her. I do have empathy for her; I think she has a lot of growing to do and is merely being used as a puppet. I am not sure I would ever want her to be my president. I would never follow her nor would anyone I know.
While I do think the moderator always has their own perspective and agenda, their job is to do their best at being objective. I think the moderator tried to do her best at that but obviously a hint at her bias will show up. I do wonder, however, had she been a White woman would the same judgement call be made. Will the other moderators be as scrutinized for the questions they ask? Will people look into their background further to see where there political allegiance lies?
Why do you assume she is a friend? For whom are you making that assumption? Just as the moderator in your mind should have presented their bias so should you. I think this is a great beginning to thinking critically about the race but positioning ourselves in the context, even in critique, is just as important. Especially if we are critiquing someone else for not doing so. What does not doing so say about our transparency?
I am myself a supporter of Obama - more so some of the policies he represents. I am a woman of color coming to this conversation with a critical set of eyes on race, gender, age, sexuality and class. I filter all information with these lenses.
Good luck in the class! I think this is a good start to thinking with a critical lens. I have more to learn and grow as well. The minute I think I have it down pack will be the minute I lie to myself and others. The box will always gets bigger. I will always need to be transparent and self-reflexive.
peace,
diana
thanks for the insight. Yes I have a lot to learn. On the point of the moderator, it has has nothing to do with Gwen Ifill being black that she would show her bias. I feel that Katie Couric was biased too in the way that if she supported Palin she wouldn't have drilled her so hard about things Palin had no idea about and aim to embarras her. Katie Couric is white but she showed her bias. When I said friend, I meant it in the George Bush sense. Someone who is likeable perhaps not on the political scale. Someone we can truly look at and say that you have seen someone like them in everyday life, but as I said in my post that is not all that fits for the criteria of being a president. McCain and Biden have a very politician sense to them and so Obama is the only one comparable to Palin. Thanks for commenting I appreciate it
I think it is particularly interesting how you point out that people were waiting to see if she could redeem herself with even a mediocre performance. I feel that if we can only hope for mediocre from Palin then we should definately be looking for other alternatives. I thought the post was very insightful and intersting, and I like how you caught the Gwen Ifill's comment about Palin's experience, good catch.
No problem! I appreciate you sharing your point of view. :-) I hope you are open to engaging in mine.
I completely understand your point of view on the bias issue. I do find it funny that she has a book coming out. What I mean is, are people, in general, scrutinizing the other moderators political allegiances and their questions? It's a great start to scrutinize one, it's even better to be critical of everyone and everything being said.
I understand your comment about Bush and Palin but again Bush is not someone I would even like as a person nor is Palin. This would be the case for many people I know. Liking him or her as people is relative to one's perspective.
Oh my, then the political is like opening another can of worms - I dislike them further. I would be afraid to have her be my president ever because her politics are so off from mine. Her politics stem from her personal beliefs. Basically, who is she the "one True everyday person that everyone is looking to follow" for? Not for me or anyone I know. What audience are you referring to? White middle-aged women? Conservative White moms?
When you make broad statements as "one true person" you naturalize the White perspective as the way of seeing things for everyone. You naturalize her narrative as if everyone relates to it. Be careful when you impose that view on others who might feel like she is the farthest thing from the "one true person" in the campaign. ie - me and my constituency. This is so important because the rhetoric and power of saying the "one true person" is deep. It equates her to truth. A White mother from Alaska. Again, who's truth is that? This gets to a larger conversation on White privilege ((for another blog post)) which is something I hope you will think about.
I do agree; her White suburban small town mom narrative is keeping her alive in this race with conservatives, particularly White conservative women who want to see a woman on the ticket. It probably didn't matter what kind of woman. The mere fact that (mostly) White women are willing to vote against their own personal interest as shown by their move from Hillary Clinton to John McCain/Palin proves that point perfectly.
Again, thank you for responding and engaging. It is nice to see folk are willing to have these important conversations.
peace,
diana
Diana you're completely right about the issue of perspective. You said it the first time now that I re-read the posts and I agree that I generalized Palin as being the one everyone could follow. Palin is extreme in her views, but she is more down to earth than Obama, McCain, and Biden, when I say that I mean when she speaks she is more sincere. But she has let her narrative take her too far and I think that is something McCain has overly encouraged her to do. The generalization about the white suburban middle aged woman being pursued by McCain is perhaps all that he wants Palin to attract, because as housewives he has their guaranteed vote more than any other class in America, because they have no job to distract them from voting on election day and they make up a very very large part of the population. So if narrative and the image of being the true leader for white housewives works then they will be successful. But that is all they are riding on right now.
I agree; she isnt doing much but irritating people with her narrative and smears towards Obama. I think Obama shouldn't even be worried about Palin so much and should be completely focused on the economy and the swing voters. Swing voters want to know about the issues. He can't challenge the race or gender issue as much but he can speak to the economic crisis. That is what he is doing. Let's hope he is successful!
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