Make no mistake: I remain a hardcore lefty.
But I am sympathetic with those who support Sarah Palin.
Here’s why.
The economic sophisticates in the financial sector and the super-brains (George Bush aside, there were plenty of highly educated and intelligent people around him) in the White House have unequivocally failed the American people.
New Orleans. Current financial disaster.
Small wonder then that “credentials” and “experience” count for little: they did nothing for the six-pack-American.
Aside: This is somewhat analagous to my money coach clients. Many have been faithfully socking away into RRSPs, never quite clearly understanding what they were doing, but entrusting their precious dollars to their Financial Planner. Two things frequently occur. 1. Their investments don’t do much of anything, and the person remains confused and uncertain, despite putting on a polite, brave face to their FP. 2. The issues of more immediate concern – how to get out of debt, how to spend less, how to manage the day-to-day issues – these are bypassed by the financial “experts”, yet is the area most pressing for many people.
Back to Sarah.
Enter on stage someone who may not be sophisticated in things like “The Bush Doctrine”. But something about her strikes your average person (being average is not an insult! I’m one of them! I refer to all the good people who day in, day out, do the humble or middle-management solid work that keeps us all going) as trustworthy. As someone who won’t dupe anyone with gobbledy-gook language that ends up in economic disaster. And as someone who really might, just might, set aside those very sophisticaterati (my word. dumb, but you get the idea) in favour of principles and straight-talk that ultimately work in favour of the American People.
And here’s another thing. Re: the war and fear-based. I want the US cleared out of Iraq and I want diplomacy to be resurrected. But I also know what it is to be bullied. And I know what it is to have the authority figure suggest we “work it out” which was fine except I was left with either literal or emotional bruises while the bully smirked. What was really called for was a clear demonstration that the bully would not have the opportunity to strike again, full stop. So I wonder if we lefties, with our smooth talk about diplomacy strike others as the “let’s work it out” types while Sarah seems to step up to the plate and say “no more”. If you perceived yourself as threatened, who would you vote for?
I’m not so sure it’s a Republican/Democrat tension in this case so much as a: Who will reflect me, and my humble interests? Who will advocate for me? Who seems, for once, thank God, to not have a vested interest in anything other than the good of six-pack joe-ette average?
I desperately hope Obama is elected and will be heartsick if not.
But regarding Sarah Palin, I think we’re too easily dismissing her appeal. Just sayin’.
