President Palin???

When Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin burst onto the scene at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in 2008, she immediately gained attention for being a straight-talking conservative who was a refreshing alternative to the Washington crowd. As days, weeks, and months passed, however, she also gained great criticisms for her political and personal beliefs.

The media, Sarah Palin’s fellow politicians, celebrities, and sometimes the general public, seemed to have no moral value or ethics when it came to commenting on Palin. If anything, many seemed to search for something about which to criticize her. Yet, few of the smears were for her political views, beliefs, or practices; rather, most of the smears were personal attacks on her gender, on her family, and, worst of all, on her children.

Negative comments about Palin’s ability and her level of intelligence have filled the internet, newspapers, and television news shows since the RNC. But, worst of all, Sarah Palin and her family have been submitted to cruel and useless degrading comments that have absolutely nothing to do with Palin’s political agenda.

There has been no other politician who has been submitted to such verbal personal attacks, but the media act as though it is perfectly acceptable in the case of Sarah Palin. For other female political candidates, their ability has not been questioned because of their gender and their focus has not been doubted because they have a family. For most other candidates, any minor children have been off-limits so that the children have not been scrutinized or criticized or degraded. Not so for Palin or her family.

Which can only leave one to wonder if Governor Palin was considered such a right-wing, strong political threat that the media felt that tearing her down personally instead of politically would be the only way to reduce or eliminate that threat. So, the media must have believed—and still believe—that Palin is able to rise to the federal level of government.

And, now, Governor Palin has announced that she will vacate the office of Governor of Alaska over a year prior to the natural end of her term. Speculation has already begun that Palin is preparing for a future presidential run in 2012. However, in her resignation speech, Governor Palin claimed that she was stepping down at the end of July so as to avoid the “lame duck” phase of her term and so that the success of Alaska can continue under the watchful eye of Lt. Governor Parnell.

Perhaps the straight-shooting Palin that the undecided public loved at the RNC is telling the truth. Or, perhaps she is planning to use this time to prepare for the next presidential race. Perhaps, this is an attempt to help insure the election of Lt. Parnell at the next election for Governor of Alaska by giving Parnell some governing experience to promote in his campaign. Perhaps Palin is stepping down simply due to the on-going media attacks against her children. Only time will tell.

I disagreed with many of Sarah Palin’s political beliefs, but I respected her for presenting herself straightforwardly, for not being or acting as though she wanted to be part of the typical Washington crowd, for being an example of a woman able to balance career and family, and for seeming to be an honest, strong woman who refused to apologize for what she believed, particularly in the face of the media negativity.

It’s doubtful that Palin will completely leave politics forever, whether she makes a bid in 2012 or not. And, if she were to run, I don’t know whether I would vote for her or not. But, as with any candidate, I’d be willing to listen to what she had to say and make a decision based on her political plans for the country and not personal issues concerning her family.

Then again, for all of the disagreements I have with her political views, someone in the White House who is not part of the Washington scene, someone who speaks straightforwardly to the people, someone who is strong enough to handle and answer the negative questions and negative comments, and someone who is willing to do what is in the best interest of the country sounds like a refreshing change.