‘A Tough Cookie’

Written by Joan Khalaf

Tuesday, 09 September 2008 08:06 PM

She’s unapologetically herself – the Republican “breath of fresh air.” She’s a modern-day super hero if you will. Sarah Palin has been criticized by the left for the very thing they look up to – a woman who leads a life equal parts career and children. Prior to Palin’s running-mate nomination by John McCain, Democrats loved that former “community organizer” Barack Obama was supposedly a not-so-elitist American who could understand and bring empty “hope.” Obama supporters are in love with his youth, decent looks and public speaking skills. Palin is all of the above and more, which has liberals running to their corners to regroup. She’s been scrutinized for her inexperience and McCain has been accused of making a rash decision. I think it’s more about the quality of what has been done during time in office and it doesn’t take long to make a decision when you know it’s right. McCain’s gutsy choice was, I believe, to get back the conservative vote he had lost. Palin was right on the money. After McCain’s shocking announcement, Obama’s vice presidential pick suddenly wasn’t a front-page story. Threatened by Palin’s forth-coming nature, the backlash and biased coverage she received has been disgusting and hypocritical. After running a glowing cover story about Obama and his wife, US Weekly made Palin their next target with a cover headline “Babies, Lies & Scandal,” and running negative blogger’s comments inside. In a Fox News interview the editor claimed the publication didn’t have room to publish the other side. Her 17-year-old unmarried pregnant daughter, Bristol, has been watched almost as closely as Britney Spears. Even accusations of her not being the mother of her Down syndrome baby have been plastered on the internet. I think perhaps what I admire most about Palin is that she’s a tough cookie – unafraid of debate or what people think of her – dare I say stronger than McCain. She is just what the Republican Party needs and McCain’s decision to bring her on was the smartest decision he has made so far. Regardless of what anyone thinks of her, she’s not giving up and isn’t that what we all want? — Joan Khalaf is a journalism junior and copy desk chief for The Shorthorn. Views: 1075 | E-mail   Comments (2)  1  You can put lipstick on an opinion colum Written by Gigantic Eye Roll, on 09-10-2008 15:54 If she's so much herself, then why did she allow her first introduction to the nation to be written by former Bush speech writers? The speech was written well in advance, before she was even chosen. It was not representative of her true self, but rather a generic candidate, assumed male.    It is not just "the left" that criticize her choices, but the very people that she is intended to sway. Evangelical women, pastors and political commentators on the right have been just as hard on her for choosing to take up a role that, according to scripture, is not hers to hold.    Liberals are not running to their corners to regroup at all. Most people on the left are barely phased by this decision outside of its current cultural novelty. But it's not the extreme "liberals" that matter, anyway. They would not vote for Sarah Palin no matter who she is. So, if you take away the discourse on the very left (which includes me), the very right (which includes you), the media (which includes nobody but the media itself) and you look at people in the middle, you will find that much of the discussion of Sarah Palin is done in a joking manner and little serious discussion is taking place. And even this discussion will soon disappear and the focus will be on where Obama and McCain stand on issues, not Palin and Biden. A little more discussion of Palin may happen in "normal" circles when she gives some interviews and people can figure out where she really stands on the serious issues of the people and the nation.    In addition, true conservatives are not idiots and as you say yourself, "it's more about the quality of what has been done during time in office." Her views may be conservative, but her decisions have been anything but. Her track record shows that her personal life (which is what everyone is focused on currently) and her decisions in office do not dovetail. When all the gossip dies down and she must account for these decisions, conservatives will see that she does not represent them in the way that it's being portrayed in the media. (By the way, I mean conservative in the true sense of the word, not some negative term to describe a bunch of right-wing extremists -- the two should not be confused. Being an NRA member, hating gays and being pro-life do not make you a conservative and the focus on these issues only serves to dilute the views of true conservatives, which include Democrats, Independents and Libertarians as well as Republicans.)    If you want to examine how the media has covered Palin, how bloggers have covered Palin, how YouTube users have covered Palin or any other group who has the ability to broadcast, then why don't you start here, with your own column. Palin is no tough cookie when it comes to this. She tours with McCain giving the same speech over and over and does not take questions from the people who attend these events or reporters. She signs autographs and jokes about the weather. She has given no media interviews, has not participated in any sort of discussion or debate and her campaign has done nothing but cry foul about the media treatment of her even while she just last year publicly chided Hillary Clinton for this. Talk about hypocritical...     As for your last line: "Regardless of what anyone thinks of her, she’s not giving up and isn’t that what we all want?" I don't even know what that means, double-negative-using copy desk chief. We don't want her to give up? We do want her to give up? Which is it? For me, it doesn't matter whether she gives up or not, but if you're trying to prove a point -- that she's the change the Republican party needs -- you're not doing a great job of it. President Bush didn't care what anyone thought of his war. He didn't give up, either. He didn't care what people thought of a lot of things. We all could use some more of that, no?    This is a student newspaper. You, as cheerleader for Palin with no substance to back it up, sound just as bad as any other media outlet or anyone else who can broadcast. Not much separates you from the Masturbators for Palin on YouTube. How about you use this medium to examine issues like where she stands on education, student loans, balancing motherhood and trying to get a college education, child care for university students, credit issues... stuff that people here care about. Report Abuse  2  Written by Obama B. Lows, on 09-10-2008 22:14 Sarah Palin had someone write a speech for her. Joe Biden hasn't?    Sarah Palin hasn't appeared on the talk shows to answer to the liberal media, and Joe Biden hasn't appeared on the Rush Limbaugh Show to answer to the conservative media.    Sarah Palin appeals to Christains, and Joe Biden appeals to those who don't mind if you kill babies.    Sarah Palin has executive experience and Joe Biden has sat his butt in D.C. and spent my hard earned money for over 30 years.    Sarah Palin scares the left, and Joe Biden is a joke to the right.    Sarah Palin is backing a man who fought for our freedom, and Joe Biden is backing a man who looks down at those who bitterly cling to their God and their guns.    Whew, I'm so glad Gigantic Eye Roll talked me out of voting for McCain/Palin.....that was close! Report Abuse Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

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