by Clifford F. ThiesAlaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the subject of an almost 10,000-word hit piece in the August 2009 issue of Vanity Fair. It’s one thing for pseudo-intellectuals of the left to dump on Palin, it’s another thing for Senator McCain’s presidential campaign aides to do so.
According to the article, while it is conceded that Sarah Palin is beautiful, it was said that her good looks lost as many votes as it may gained. Such a stupid statement reveals something about the person making the statement. The role of Vice Presidential candidates is rather limited. Typically, they are tasked with rallying the base of the party, while the Presidential candidate busies himself seeking independent and swing voters. Or, acts an the attack dog of the campaign, allowing the Presidential candidate to appear to be presidential. Or, helps with a key state or demographic. Clearly, Palin rallied the base, and helped the Republicans keep the presidential campaign close in a very bad year for Republicans.
The Republican presidential campaign did much better in 2008 than did other the Republican campaigns of that year. For example, here, in Virginia, McCain-Palin only lost by a few points, while our Senate candidate was wiped out. The Republican presidential campaign out-performed the predictions of the mathematical models given the economy and other factors. Although it may be hard to accept, McCain and Palin lost but they beat the spread.
So, why is it that certain mainstream Republicans join with the elitists to viciously attack attractive conservative women, specifically because they are beautiful? In the case of the flaming Perez Hilton, we might suspect that it is due to a personality disorder. When the smarmy David Letterman calls Palin a slut or that asshole preacher calls the former U.S. Secretary of State “Condasleeza,” we know that they are objectifying conservative women, which we know is sexist and hateful.
They go after women for the same reason the Islamofascists go after women. It is because they lust after power and do not respect the equal dignity of all persons. So, you de-personalize others, treating them not as individuals, but as members of groups, judging them by the color of their skin, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. And, when you do this, you remove a woman’s beauty from her entire personality, In contrast, when you appreciate the whole person, then you see people’s strengths and their weaknesses as part of an integral package the whole of which is lovely.
Editor's Note - Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia. He is a former Libertarian National Committeeman and longtime National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus.
21 comments:
One observation about Sarah Palin that sticks deep inside like a dagger: Palin fits the description of an NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) to a tee. This fact, which should frighten the bejesus out of everyone, is also the one that Kristol fears most, as its the first one he trots out and dismisses not at all convincingly:
"Is there any real chance that "several" Alaskans independently told Purdum that they had consulted the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders? I don’t believe it for a moment. I’ve (for better or worse) moved in pretty well-educated circles in my life, and I’ve gone decades without “several” people telling me they had consulted the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."
Anyone with enough experience in life has encountered dangerous people like NPD narcissists and ASPD sociopaths -- Palin's documented behavior closely fits both diagnoses, which often run in tandem.
For a partisan Democratic example, just look at Jonathan Edwards, another pol who fits NPD traits to a tee (http://www.slate.com/id/2213740):
"John Edwards outed himself as one when forced to confess an adulterous affair. (Given his comical vanity, the deceitful way he used his marriage for his advancement, and his self-elevation as an embodiment of the common man while living in a house the size of an arena, it sounds like a pretty good diagnosis.)"
Palin is very probably NPD, and maybe ASPD too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASPD). Based on this alone, her political career should be dead, no matter what people think of her actual politics.
Note that "ted" received his PhD from the University of Wikipedia. He didn't even have to send in a matchbook cover.
Ted,
to be fair, I think that most politicians have narcissistic personalities. I mean, I think it takes at least a little bit of hubris to think that you can convince thousands or even millions of people that you can make good decisions on their behalf.
That said, Thies shows he is absolutely clueless about how politics works and how sexism manifests itself.
#1 - The horrible anti-Palin attacks show the fear she inspires in the left.
#2 - There is extensive sexism in both parties. When Palin was nominate a right-wing GOP friend went nuts and attacked her as a Barbie Doll. Many men of either party cannot stand a woman candidate.
Its fine to be a woman in politics as long as you're shit-ass ugly.
That's the standard. Palin is hated because she is attractive.
Gary,
"The horrible anti-Palin attacks show the fear she inspires in the left."
Uh, no. If that was the case, then it would also be evidence that the reich-wingers are deathly afraid of Hillary Clinton.
In reality, much of the criticism of Palin came from within her own party. Heck, a lot of it came from inside of her own campaign.
Chuck, and the standardebearer for female attractiveness for the Democrats?
Debbie Stabenow.
Amazing isn't it that Staben-cow and Barbara Mikulski are viewed as "intelligent," simply because they are butt ugly. Ugly as sin, as a matter of fact.
And insult to the American people that either one of these DOGS! serves in the US Senate.
Stabencow, Mikulski, PUT A FUCKIN' BAG OVER YOUR HEADS ON THE SENATE FLOOR, PLEASE!!!!!
"One observation about Sarah Palin that sticks deep inside like a dagger[blah blah] NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) to a tee. This [opinion], which should frighten[blah blah]"
Oh, f^ck ^ff Ted. Surely Dr. Kristol (psychiatry?) would have noted the same syndrome in Obama at dinner? Hmmm? Joseph has you pegged.
"Uh, no. If that was the case, then it would also be evidence that the reich-wingers are deathly afraid of Hillary Clinton.
In reality, much of the criticism of Palin came from within her own party. Heck, a lot of it came from inside of her own campaign."
Um, YES. Conservatives and Libertarians loath Hillary as the Progressive statist she proudly and outspokenly claims to be. I fear her more than Obama because, quite frankly, she seems to me far more capable. Could be wrong.
Note, though, that Palin is reviled by liberals and squishes - such as those in the McCain campaign and Kristol. The Republican Party abandoned real Conservative and Libertarian policies decades ago in the glow of the mythical "big tent." Duh, this very blog is an attempt at recovery badly needed.
Do avoid the use of the term "reich-winger" until you've done a little reading into European state corporatism.
Ted:
Actually better cases have been made about Obama having a personality disorder:http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
As far as Palin goes, she's a late comer to the game.
As far as McCain's camp dumping on her, they were doing that before the election was over.
Ran,
"Um, YES. Conservatives and Libertarians loath Hillary as the Progressive statist she proudly and outspokenly claims to be."
Or it could simply be your regular, garden-variety sexism. Ockham's razor suggests the latter.
"I fear her more than Obama because, quite frankly, she seems to me far more capable. Could be wrong."
Logic fail. The issue was whether or not a negative reaction to a female candidate is proof that they are frightened of her. There are several reasons why someone might not like a female candidate. The issue has nothing to do with whether anyone is afraid. Some are. Some aren't. It's presence isn't enough to prove causation.
"Do avoid the use of the term "reich-winger" until you've done a little reading into European state corporatism."
Perhaps you are used to women following your commands, but I'm not anything like the ones you are clearly accustomed to. Instead, I'll continue to speak and write whatever I please. Feel free to go fuck yourself, though. :)
Eric,
"Amazing isn't it that Staben-cow and Barbara Mikulski are viewed as "intelligent," simply because they are butt ugly. Ugly as sin, as a matter of fact."
Thank you for proving my point about Republicans. How a woman looks obviously has nothing to do with whether she is the target of someone's sexism. No matter what a woman looks like, a sexist will be a sexist. No matter what a woman's views are or what political party she belongs to, sexists will still be sexist.
This sexism has nothing to do with women and everything to do with insecure men. Guys who are really confident don't need to try to put women in their place. Now, when they understand that a successful or self-confident woman would want nothing to do with them, it's no wonder that these guys start to think that they need to take us down a notch.
Eric, as a native Michigander, I have to agree with you on this one. Debbie Stabenow is arguably the dummest fucking person in the entire United States Congress, regardless of party and viewpoints. She also looks like a Ronald McDonald Tranny...
I also have to agree with Bint that many men are uncomfortable with strong women.
I don't know whether being ugly necessarily gives a woman in politics more respect moreso than her being assertive.
Margaret Thatcher was assertive and well-respected. I don't know whether I can say the same thing about Palin.
"I don't know whether I can say the same thing about Palin."
Which speaks to your lack of character; not her lack of competence.
Bint:
Hillary has so many issues outside of being a progressive or a woman that makes it almost impossible for me to support her. I am beginning to think that the primary qualification for political office, appointed or elected is to be nuts.
Bint, just because you can talk like a /b/tard doesn't make you one of them, or even cool for that matter.
The Right Guy,
"Hillary has so many issues outside of being a progressive or a woman that makes it almost impossible for me to support her."
You know, that's a reasonable position. A person can refrain from voting for a particular woman without sexism having anything to do with it. However, when a man starts with the insults about how a woman looks, it's a sure sign that they aren't very secure.
"I am beginning to think that the primary qualification for political office, appointed or elected is to be nuts."
Well, you won't catch me arguing against that!
anonymous,
"Bint, just because you can talk like a /b/tard doesn't make you one of them, or even cool for that matter."
Thanks for proving you have no idea what you're talking about, wannabe-Anonymous.
Post a Comment