I don’t care about Sarah Palin, but given what I do I am forced to read and think about her much more often than I would like to. Similar to Amanda, I don’t think of Palin is a martyr or someone who was so heinously treated by the media that we should pity her in any way. I have yet to see any evidence of her being humbled about being wrong and an asshole, and while attacks against her have also been sexist, that is not the bulk of criticism around her. Palin hates women (at least that is what is apparent through the little legislation she has worked on) and has used her teenage daughter to score political points, only one of her many asshole moves. And frankly, using your teenage (mom) daughter for political gain, while stuffing words in her mouth about abstinence, well that doesn’t score very high on the feminist scale.
I was especially struck by this rather optimistic (or misguided, I am not sure) piece by Michel Martin at NPR about how complicated Palin is.
Can I just tell you? I do not know a single working mother who does not dream at some point, even if just for a minute, about packing up that desk and heading for the homestead, even if that fantasy is about as realistic as the one about supplementing unemployment with Powerball winnings. And I bet that’s why so many mothers, who work outside the home or not, were rooting for Sarah Palin, at least at first.
Whether you shared her politics or not, Palin was somebody you wanted to see in the game, trying as she was to balance a very demanding job with the equally demanding job of raising five children and maintaining a decent relationship with her husband. She seemed to have so many attractive qualities. She seemed practical, honest, unfazed and down-to-earth, exactly the qualities people hope newcomers in general and hopefully women will bring to public life. And she is making no judgment at all about the whole campaign shopping spree thing, stylish, which I for one appreciate.
I never felt any of this. I never wanted to see Palin succeed and I certainly didn’t think of her as a good mother, especially after she unapologetically used Bristol’s story for her own political gain and I have no doubt she will continue to do so. Maybe I can’t relate since I don’t sit at home wishing to be a stay-at-home cat mom, but I think this romantic idea that Palin is somehow quitting the Governorship for familial reasons is giving her way more credit than she has proven to deserve. I for one am not looking forward to her future political moves because I know they are only going to aggravate me further. Not to be too pessimistic or anything, haha.
186 Comments
Yes, I’ve heard the claim made before, just never with evidence.
“Op-Edna explains:
A rape kit is a sexual assault forensic evidence kit, used to collect DNA that can be used in criminal proceedings to assist in the conviction of those who commit sex crimes. The kit is performed as soon as possible after a sexual assault or attack has been committed. It is usually humiliating and uncomfortable for the victim-imagine enduring that and then paying $1200 just so that the criminal who assaulted you might be caught.” is not proof that Palin did it.
“blah blah blah Sarah Palin blah blah blah” is certainly an apt title for this post, for that is the conversation it inspired!
Sigh. There sure are a lot of garbage comments on this thread.
And people ignoring the fact that I sure as hell am going to call anyone an asshole who thinks they know what every marriage, every evening of sex, and every family should look like in the whole goddamn country. Samhita wasn’t accusing Palin of being a generally bad mother. She was pointing out the blatant HYPOCRISY of Palin not even living the things she’s trying to force on everyone else.
I try not to make judgments on political candidates until I’m knowledgeable about their positions on the issues (e.g., many Dems are anti-choice, some Repubs are not as wingnut anti-choice as others, etc.), but once I picked up on Palin’s platform, no, I never once “secretly wanted her to win.” What the fuck? Are women so fucking comfortable in their lives they don’t realize the enormous THREAT people like McCain and Palin pose to reproductive (and other women’s) rights? Would we all like to regress to being denied our birth-control pills at the pharmacy counter? Would we all like to regress to not being allowed legal abortions past the first trimester? Would we all like four or eight more years of gays being pushed into the corner? Because THAT is what Palin stands for.
Dude/tte, this doesn’t even work. Hillary has worked harder in her career than like 95% of Dems to improve health care and reproductive access for women and to give women MORE (not fewer) choices in their lives. It’s nonsense to even compare her to Palin.
And you seem to forget it’s not exactly Hillary’s fault that divorced women are looked upon as diseased carrion in politics.
I don’t really know what you’re talking about.
The girl says “cootch” which makes me blush and giggle.
COFFEE! ^_^ Starbucks is my drug of choice. And thank you
*shakes hand*
Just trying to do a little exercise to see what would happen if I turned the tables around.
Obviously, Clinton and Palin are drastically different, but I think when you say stuff like that, you’re no different than the other guy on the political spectrum.
I find the argument “that’s what politicans do” weak. Palin is using her connection to her daughter to influence others, what else is new? I highly doubt someone could get elected these days without being married and having kids. Clinton guarded Chelesa, McCain lets Meghan do what she wants, and Obama let EXTRA interview his kids once, like, big deal. Can you tell me Palin’s opinion on Iran?
Anyway, can’t we talk about Palin as a national politician? All we care about here is her opinion on Roe v Wade and abstainance-only. Of course, that’s important, but geez, nobody talks about Palin’s other political beliefs, or as I like to say, non-opinions.
Palin’s social views aren’t any different from the majority of Republicans–omg! let’s head for the hills!
The reason why Palin fails is because it seems that those are the only causes she espouses at a national level.
In other words, Clinton won “political points” for staying married?
I’m just saying it’s unavoidable for a politicans to use their personal life in some way.
Moreover, I could care less whether she “uses” Trig or Bristol, I care *what* she says more.
Wrong about what?
Anything, I imagine. The point of the quote is to demonstrate that Samhita did indeed call Palin an asshole, contrary to the impression someone had that she did not. Now I share the sentiment, although asshole seems like a masculine insult to me. But the belief that Samhita had only accused Palin of doing assholey things is clearly mistaken.
That’s okay, we’re all on the same team now.
Eh, contrary to television dramas and sitcoms, your water breaking does not instantly send you screaming into active labor and wash out a baby within an hour. If it was me, and I had access to my own jet, I wouldn’t rule out flying cross country to my own health care providers who are intimately familiar with my medical history and current pregnancy rather than delivering at yon random hospital.
But what am I saying, everyone knows that women aren’t qualified to make decisions about their own reproductive health.
I wrote a post on my blog back during the election about feminist responses to Sarah Palin. Basically, it bugged me that the prevailing media narrative at the time was that Palin represented a conundrum for feminists who support woman candidates in general but despised Palin’s politics. Meanwhile, no one was looking critically at how Palin’s personal life challenged conservative assumptions about a woman’s place being in the home.
I have always believed that knee-jerk support of a woman candidate just because she’s a woman is just as sexist as non-support because she’s a woman. I have no problem with Palin as a person – none of my business – but when her supporters claim that her executive experience supervising a large family qualifies her for office, IMO it demeans the real work that other women in government have done. It’s not fair for Palin to use her children as resume-builders (doesn’t anyone else remember her implication that having a son in Iraq trumped Biden being head of the Senate Foreign RElations Committee?) and then expect that no one will call her on it. From the very beginning of her turn on the national stage, Palin has behaved as though she’s special and immune from the things that other political figures have dealt with. To me, that makes her un-feminist. Just my opinion.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but my antipathy for Sarah Palin is in direct proportion to her supporters’ insistence that I worship her, when she’s done nothing leadership-wise that would impress me.
I really don’t get the criticism of Tina Fey. She’s a comic whose job it is to lampoon public figures. It’s part of Palin’s job not to give Fey any material.
Palin is hardly the first politician to be parodied on SNL. Gerald Ford, both Bushes, Bob Dole, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Ross Perot… none of them complained that SNL picked on them.
Wow, that was mean.
Oh, please. You are seriously comparing Jackson’s and Palin’s parenting? Aside from odd names (although it’s hard to top “Blanket”), I think that’s completely disingenuous.
Interior_League,
I just wanted you to know
your posts make my day.
Do you think I’m criticizing Tina Fey? I’d cheat on Natalie Portman with Tina Fey. Sarah Palin’s reason for existing is to give TF material.
I asked her her name she said blah blah blah…
Yeah, and useless. Boo to people who comment just to attack the editors. Dialogue, folks.
I don’t get it.
Who are you defending, Jackson or Palin, ’cause I think they’re both pretty shitty parents, and at the same time, both have very …unique names for their kids.
Either way, I was comparing the two methods of parenting – I was merely saying that we are consistent in questioning the parenting styles of both Jackson and Palin – and that, further, talking about certain public figures being bad parents isn’t inherently sexist.
Oh heavens!! Radical feminism! Fetch me my fainting couch!
This comment has been deleted.
I’m tired of hearing very little about the sexism towards Palin (AND Clinton) from so-called feminists. It’s like, “Yeah, people are sexist towards her but what we’re talking about here is…” Sexism was brushed aside during the entire election process and it still is. This election actually made me very jaded towards liberals, and I was once Queen of the Liberals. Feminists brushed off both of the women involved with it. We have shown the world that we can overcome racism, at least in part, but not sexism. Not even clost. Most of the “feminists” I know were as bad as, if not worse, than men when criticizing Clinton and Palin. It’s bullshit and I’m tired of it. I think they should run together in 2012. I’d vote for them in a minute. At least they get shit done, whether you like what that shit is or not.
So, I can’t think someone is a bad parent because she’s a woman? What does that have to do with feminism? Am I supposed to say “rah rah go women!” to all mothers, no matter what they’re doing to their kids? I think Sarah Palin put her child at totally unnecessary risk by flying back to Alaska after her water broke, when she could have had him in Dallas, a place with many hospitals and fine doctors, and I believe that putting your child at totally unnecessary risk is bad parenting.
And I feel free to criticize her parenting because it’s such a big part of her image as a politician. I didn’t start it, she did, by pushing herself as this wonderful working mother and politician. If she kept her parenting out of the political sphere, as many female politicians do, I wouldn’t have said anything.
I’m a feminist and a liberal, but I have to say the way that Clinton and Palin have been treated has made me recognize that a lot of what is called “feminism” is actually “progressive liberalism”.
Feminism is always first-and-foremost a tool of leftist marxists. It will always play second fiddle. It grew out of that whole movement, and was completely informed by 60′s radicals. It will take generations for feminism to overcome the adverse effects that those lame, ridiculous people placed on our backs. The legacy of baby boomers is ultimately one of naïveté and elitism. Feministing at times is just unwittingly playing out it’s part. I think posts like the one Samhita made are sad examples of feminism being the second fiddle.
Really?
“Sincere criticism vs. ‘gotcha!’”,
http://www.feministing.com/archives/016007.html
http://www.feministing.com/archives/016134.html
I assume you’re satirizing, but if not could you explain what they get done? Then could you tell me what governing policies a Clinton/Palin ticket would advocate?
You’re a feminist who’s apparently never heard of “suffrage,” which was in fact not at all “informed by ’60s radicals.” And many feminists have thoroughly criticized Marxist theory for including basically zero women’s voices and for claiming women’s issues would “naturally” solve themselves after capitalism dissolved. Plenty of Marxists were infamous womanizers. So were plenty of capitalists, and plenty of Christians.
Neat, huh.
Testing the new comment moderation policy are we? Good luck with that.
While the specific criticisms you leveled could perhaps be considered valid, why present this in a way that is all but guaranteed to get you moderated/banned?
“mean-spirited hipster douchebag” did get a chuckle out of me though, even if it is pointlessly snarky. That’s just a nicely put-together phrase.
But she is an asshole, douchbag, ect? Why cant we call a crap politician what she is? I think its sexist to hold her to different standards we and coddle her just because she’s a female politician. I think feministing readers would say the same thing about any male politician that ha sthe views Palin has.
Second wave feminism absolutely grew out of the awakening anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist consciousness of the 1960s. That consciousness was absolutely informed by Marxist ideology. At the same time, rampant sexism existed within these groups, which resulted in the offshoot that was the Women’s Movement of the 1960′s and 1970′s.
That said, they really are similar. I shouldn’t have implied that they were out-and-out Marxists. In fact, there’s a bourgeois element that is rampant in both camps that I’m sure Marx would have despised. Nevertheless, liberalism is the prevailing ideology in these parts, even though Jessica uses this platform to shamelessly peddle her wares.
But I see what your saying. You make a valid point.
I’m just testing the boundaries.
I should lay off the personal attacks, though, because I actually do admire the people who run this site, Samhita included. I really don’t want to get kicked off, because I think I serve a useful purpose in edifying some of the arguments around here by playing devil’s advocate.
I just feel like someone should keep this place honest so it doesn’t become a cult of personality. That’s all. No harm intended.
BTW, I think it’s cool that Jessica uses this platform to peddle her wares. I like capitalism. Heck, I like marxism, too. Just saying.
Jackson had numerous allegations of child molestation.
What a ridiculous comparison.
Again, good luck with that. I’m inclined to believe that you’re sincere, but frankly, I’ll be rather surprised if you’re still around by this time tomorrow.
On the upside, you’ll make an excellent example of why tone really does matter in online discourse and why telling people that they’ll accomplish more if they try to be a little more pleasant is actually an accurate assessment of the way the world works rather than a silencing technique.
So rest assured: throwing yourself beneath the wheels of moderation policy will not be in vain, Courtship_Dating! Your legacy will live on! =)
(I hope I’m not being too facetious – but if I am, and you call me a douchebag, I swear to Eris I’ll use the “Report Abuse” button on you.)
Females in power face more criticism (often in the form of crude, sexist remarks) than males. There’s no doubt about that. However, I disagree with the prolifers I’ve spoken to on the matter that Mrs. Palin has suffered more badgering than any other politician. She’s been USED more than most, true.
The conservative side used her as a beauty queen (seeing her looks as more important than her skills and insisting that being pretty makes her somehow a better leader).
The liberal side trashed her for her looks (I’ve come close to kicking the shit out of some so-called “liberal” ass over some of the sexist comments I’ve seen/heard about her looks either making her a MILF or a hollow, pretty political trophy).
I honestly can’t stand the woman but my reasons for feeling the way I do have everything to do with her gleeful support of gunning down wolf packs, forcing rape victims to pay for their own rape kits and overall anti-woman, anti-planet politics. I’m sick to bloody death of everything being about her looks or her kids.
Hey, if you can’t intimidate a woman off the podium by treating her like a piece of meat, insulting her looks or insinuating that she’s stupid due to her gender, go for her kids! Maternal instinct might do the trick!
Sick of it all.
You should read reclusiveleftist.com the comments there put these to shame.
Honestly, I am finding the posts and comments here increasingly petty and counter-productive to discourse.
Ha! Well I’m not serving up Apples entirely for the sake of Discord. I like Apples!
Oh, and I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. That said, I honestly don’t expect to be here this time tomorrow, but if I am, it’ll certainly raise my estimation of the moderators and the community as a whole.
Very true.
You’re kind of fun. E-mail is user name at gmail. Keep in touch; at this point I’m pretty certain that you’re a real live human being and not a cabbage or something. =)
I agree with most of what you said, but I have to point out that the rape kit policy is a myth that has been thoroughly debunked. Please correct me if I’m mistaken, but AFAIK, Palin never instituted or endorsed this policy, which is a policy that is no longer in effect anyway. It’s a terrible policy, I agree. Again, please correct me if I’m mistaken.
I hate that I’m coming to the defense of Palin, and I know how that looks, but it’s absolutely disgraceful the things that get said about her. People in this community have referred to her children as piglets. Absolutely disgraceful.
I know that–I was pregnant myself when this happened. I support every woman’s right to have her child in the manner of her choosing, whether it’s in a hospital, at home, with a midwife, whatever. I’m not saying that Palin should have been arrested for what she did. However, I can still disapprove of her choices, even while I support her right to make them. I don’t see why that’s so hard to understand. And I disapprove of her choice in this matter as I think she risked the health of a possibly medically fragile baby. Most labors are routine, it is true. However, some aren’t, and there’s no way to tell which you will have before.
And as I said above–I don’t, as rule, think about the family or private life of politicians. But Sarah Palin has portrayed herself as a wonderful, caring mother in addition to being polic. In this instance–and in others–she has shown herself to be more interested in her image than in her child.
Rape kit fact check:
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_sarah_palin_make_rape_victims_pay.html
Yep. That’s what I thought. I don’t know how these myths get traction. It’s kind of like what Sartre said about anti-semites and jews. People invent things to justify their hate for someone.
You call that debunked?
I hate Sarah Palin because she goes against absolutely everything I believe in. I think she’s an asshole. I think she’s too dumb to be President. I think she’s a scary fundie. That would be true if she were a man as well.
I have made comments about Sarah Palin being the Britney Spears of politics – but she was fetishized and sexualized by her own party (and the Dems to an extent) and I find that interesting/sad/scary. More importantly though, I think her children should have been left out of it.
Despite the not-so-savory way in which she flamed out, to infer that not wanting Sarah Palin to succeed makes one a bad feminist is laughable. In fact, I’d be wary of any feminist who was rooting for that woman. Sarah Palin is a fundamentalist Christian and kill-em-all Conservative hellbent on eliminating access to contraception and abortion. She’s folksy and brutal in the same way Reagan was. We’re still suffering the repercussions of that era. And if Sarah Palin had been a prominent and successful woman, we’d be feeling the aftershocks for decades. I believe she could have pushed through some pretty abhorrent legislation if given the opportunity.
I’m glad she failed. I just wish that failure wasn’t facilitated by jokes about her kids. The feminist in me wanted her to fail because she legitimately failed, not because she was harassed into failing. However, I cannot say that her being gone from politics would be a bad thing. So I’m torn.
I reserve the right to criticize any of her policies but I will not go anywhere near her parenting skills. Bristol Palin is now 18 years old and can decide her life for herself. Todd Palin is also a parent in this relationship. They have an extended family in the state. She is not the first politician to use family as political pawn. Do you think we would have the Chanel-scarfed wives if it wasn’t so important to project the “perfect family” image.
I am hopeful that this is the last we see of Palin, but I think not. I don’t agree with her stand on abortion, creationism, guns etc. But I am leery of this kind of post because I think it adds to the “lefty massacre” the right wing looks for.
Yes I do. She certainly isn’t “forcing rape victims to pay for their own rape kits”, is she? After all, that’s what’s been casually passed around as “fact” for the last 9 or 10 months.
Anyway. I’m not here to defend Sarah Palin. I just think it looks ignorant and uniformed to repeat false information as fact. To me it looks as foolish as the Obama “muslim” lies that get passed around among ridiculous conservatives.