Today I did my end of the week round of the beltway Sunday shows because I like to analyze the comments made by not only the guests on these shows but the shows’ regulars or Sunday panel if you will. On “This Week” with George Stephenoupolus they were talking about Sarah Palin and her upcoming book ‘Going Rogue’. Now, before I proceed, yes I am a Palin fan, not I’m not a Palinite, there’s a difference between the two. Anyway, they were talking about the book and Palin in general when conservative apologist and Canadian reject David Brooks of the New York Times called Palin quote, “A joke”. “She’s a joke” he said with an annoying smile on his face, George Will, a man who I respect and often appreciate for the intellectual drubbing he gives liberals offered no defense for Palin other than to dismiss her without actually being dismissive and rude, unlike Brooks who all but gave Barack Obama oral sex when describing his support for the president on Charlie Rose in the likeness of a sixteen year old girl’s fanaticism for Zach Efron….or a Motley Crue groupie back stage at their Dr. Feel Good tour.
I agree with some in our party that Palin needs to hone her policy craft, but I can’t help but to notice this all too familiar position by the figureheads in the GOP, which by the way are all men. Now, am I some radical feminist, obviously not, I’m a guy. But do I sense this tendency by the “Grand Old Party for White Men to sort of dismiss their female colleagues like Sarah Palin, yes, yes I do.
Then again, many of you might ask: “Well what about Michele Bachman?, She’s never been dismissed by her male colleagues in the House.” Well, true, and untrue, for example instead of defending the outspoken conservative women like Palin, Anne Coulter, Bachman and others, more often than not so called leaders like Eric Cantor, Newt Gingrich have to distance themselves, and when asked if Palin in particular could be the GOP nominee for president, they give these sort of dismissive without being dismissive, kinda sorta well, she’s interesting, well you know, sort of dodge the question answer without actually answering the questions sort of answers, which makes them look “mainstream” and makes Palin seem like a far out there right winger on the fringe of the GOP, which is an inaccurate characterization.
You don’t have to agree with Palin, that goes for conservatives, but when your own is being trashed by the left, you have an obligation as not only a Republican but as a proud conservative to defend him or her, period. But unfortunately, when it’s one of your own doing the bashing well, you won’t find many in the GOP who are willing to defend her. And that my friends is sad. In our search for power, we must not search for power just to regain power, but to regain the principled and moral ground. Sarah Palin may be unpolished, quirky, “Podunk” and highly unorthodox, but she’s a principled, moral, and honest woman, and that’s something this Grand Old Party needs, honesty, principles, and morals. Newt Gingrich stands to learn a thing or two about morality. As for Mr. Brooks and the swarm of beltway journalists and pundits who claim to have all the answers to what ails the party: We tried your way, it failed twice (1996, 2008) and even when it succeeded (2002, 2004 with G.W. Bush) look where it got us, and who it drove to the White House. I rest my case.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Let's start with replacing Bob Bennett with a GOP
arc_ut (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:27PM EST (link)Let’s start with replacing Bob Bennett with a GOP Conservative Woman.
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I think WE don't want to start playing identity politics...
JadedByPolitics (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 7:26PM EST (link)I have to say as for women in the Republican Party it has to be HUGE because I listen to talk radio ALL day while I work and 75% or better are women callers. I think as WE continue to the process of WRENCHING the GOP back to the RIGHT there will be more women who filter to the top just because all those old school party elites will be kicked to the curb!
I would personally like to see the NEXT head of the RNC be a woman now that would be a SMACK in the face of the left and NOW..heh!
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I don't like identity politics BUT I do think you have a point
ssohara (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 7:51PM EST (link)It seems some of the most “ballsy” people in the GOP are women. Of course, we have conservative leaders like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity who really do defend Palin, Bachman, etc. I have no idea why the so-called leaders of the GOP are less outspoken. It’s like the air in D.C. turns men into wimps…
At any rate, the reason I like Palin is NOT because she is a woman, though that does add an extra touch of excitement. It’s because she’s the real deal – principled, outspoken, in touch with real people. I really wish McCain had NOT picked her for VP at this point, because I think if they’d let her stay Governor for another 4 years, she could have seriously challenged Obama in 2012.
Well, actually...
jeffreywturner (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:50PM EST (link)If things continue on the current trajectory, ANYONE we nominate will seriously challenge, and probably beat Obama.
It will like in 2008, where any Democrat would have beat any Republican, except in reverse.
We just need to be careful to avoid the idiots in the GOP making the “electability” argument. You know, the same folks who warned Republicans not to nominate a “nut” like Ronald Reagan because he would be “unelectable”, and the same folks who told us we should nominate John McCain because he was so electable.
“Life is too short, can’t we all just eat pork and kill some terrorists?”
regarding women
lycurgus (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:44AM EST (link)I trust St. Paul. The best way to grow this party is to stick to our principles.
not all the fuddy duddy retreads in the Republican party
kyle8 (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:49AM EST (link)are all men, don’t forget Peggy Noonan.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
And the McCain spawn (nt)
Karina (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 5:46AM EST (link)I think the point should be
toni100 (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:18AM EST (link)that GOP leadership gets all mealy mouthed when the name of a GOP Conservative legislator is mentioned. They eat their own. The other issue with the political bobblehead programs is their so-called Republican on the panel is always the left of center Republican whom they call a ‘moderate’. George Will never leaves the Beltway and has no clue what people think beyond the Beltway.
In case you haven’t noticed there are no Conservative GOP women in any leadership slots on Capitol Hill or in the National GOP committees. But then that also applies to Conservative GOP men. All the leadership sway with the wind but when it’s convenient they call themselves Conservative.
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Formerly a MN resident
Toni thanks for explaining that nt
mom2oneson (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 8:15AM EST (link)The gender of the leaders isn't important to me
mom2oneson (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:40AM EST (link)I want leaders that are competent that understand issues and things like that. Good men donot ignore the needs of the vulnerable in who they have influence or leadership over. Women are often so tied with family issues but I say a good man is aware and would make good decisions.
I’ll tell you at the phone bank except for the college aged males and a couple of retired veterans it was mostly women of ALL ages and ALL income levels and educational levels. The men that were over 25 basically showed up on election night and shook hands. This was in the evening too not during the day. Now men could be donating money that doesn’t mean anything to how committed they are but if that small population is any indication of a larger one there are a lot of women out there willing to help.