Sarah Palin’s Priorities

BY TAYLOR MARSH

via Emily’s List

The… er, rantings analysis of Peggy Noonan.

Because she jumbles up so many cultural categories, because she is a feminist not in the Yale Gender Studies sense but the How Do I Reload This Thang way, because she is a woman who in style, history, moxie and femininity is exactly like a normal American feminist and not an Abstract Theory feminist; because she wears makeup and heels and eats mooseburgers and is Alaska Tough, as Time magazine put it; because she is conservative, and pro-2nd Amendment and pro-life; and because conservatives can smell this sort of thing — who is really one of them and who is not — and will fight to the death for one of their beleaguered own; because of all of this she is a real and present danger to the American left, and to the Obama candidacy. She could become a transformative political presence. So they are going to have to kill her, and kill her quick.

In an interview with the Washington Times today, one of the things I pointed out was that Palin could have spared everyone all this drama. She obviously knew her daughter was going through a rough time, so the compassionate and selfless thing to do was to put her daughter first. Palin didn’t. Ambition exceeded her own daughter’s needs and privacy. That is Sarah Palin, which should give all Democrats pause. This isn’t a woman who came to this party to fail. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

But hearing people like Rush and Sean Hannity pontificate about what feminism means is beyond hilarious. Like these two Neanderthal wingnuts would know anything about women. Rush has been divorced three times, never had children, and to my knowledge rarely skips golf on Sunday to go to church. As for Hannity, the way he rails against Democratic women, but comes to the aid of a right-wing conservative, reveals his convenient conservatism. But as for feminism, fughettaboutit.

As for Sarah Palin and her own crowd, you know you’re in trouble when Dr. Laura is aghast at your inexperience, as well as your priorities.

For me, the truth is that feminism was never about the fantasy Rush and Hannity are pushing, “having it all.” Feminism was about having the same choices as men, and being able to choose what suits your life and soul journey best. “All of the above” was never meant to be one of those choices. Ask many modern women the price they’ve paid for trying it. Certainly, you can make this decision, but someone is going to suffer, likely many will suffer due to it. So it’s absolutely just that Palin’s priorities and decisions are being scrutinized.

Tonight’s the biggest moment in Sarah Palin’s life. It’s also the biggest opportunity the Republican Party has had since George W. Bush ambled in to town sitting backwards on a mule. The hall will be energized. Anyone underestimating what Sarah Palin can do for John McCain but also for the Republican Party, starting tonight, better strap themselves in.