The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
How befitting is it that just days ago, Amy Siskind called on Palin to embrace her gender. This week, she’s begun to capitalize on women’s outrage, and with that she may be painting that once red elephant, pink, all the way to 2012.
Some people wouldn’t put a conservative like Sarah Palin under the traditional feminist category. Then again, is there such a thing as a traditional feminist? Leave it to Gov. Sarah Palin to break any perceived notion. Earlier this week, to a clamoring crowd of thousands, Palin noted that it was “mostly women” who were leading the growing tea party movement and that (referring to a pink elephant campaign button) “Someone better tell Washington that that pink elephant is on the move, and 2010 is shaping up to be the year that conservative women get together and help take back this country.” She alluded to women a couple more times in her endorsement speech of, ironically another woman, Michele Bachmann, who which Sarah said was “leading the stampede!” of women (skip to 3:45)
And today, she criticized Obama for his lack of support of Iran who are “fighting for freedom and women’s rights.”
Is she revising the feminist movement? Making it more inclusive and opening it up to women of differencing political views? She’s certainly in the off sets of doing so, and it might be just what she needs to put her over the edge.
I saw that speech and immediately thought of Amy’s article about Palin embracing her gender!
I respect Sarah for her willingness to speak truthfully to power, especially obama who has been coddled and protected since he started running for president. There are those in the “obama media” who are claiming she “mocked” obama. I disagree. She simply pointed out what the rest of us know is true — obama was less qualified than she was to be president but got away with it ONLY because he was a man chosen by the power elite to prevent Hillary from getting the nomination. We all know that an AA woman with the exact same credentials as obama would NEVER have been considered as a viable candidate to run for president, much less be president!
Sarah is doing what the democratic women have failed to do because they are bound to allegiance to obama, lest they be attacked as Hillary was. What a horrible existence that must be! I know, as a former life-long democrat, I left because I couldn’t support obama, first because he was woefully unqualified and second, because he silently stood by and watched the sexist attacks against Hillary continue unabated every day by his supporters and the MSM. It was then that I took a close look at Sarah and her record as Governor. It was evident that she had gotten to where she did in politics on her own grit and hard work and obama was helped and carried every step of the way by those who wished to use him as a puppet to do their bidding. Sarah was the complete opposite and even went so far as to take on her own party to prove her independence and commitment to serve her constituents, not special interests! I don’t care what party affiliation one is, when a politician takes on their own party and confronts corruption, at the risk of their own political career, I have no choice but to admire and respect that person because such integrity is all but non-existent in D.C.
I can’t help but believe that people are drawn to Sarah because she has this political courage to do what the media should have done way back in the primary and that is calling obama out not only for his lack of experience, but for not living up to his campaign promises. Sarah’s standing up for women as the leaders of the Tea Party movement and standing alongside Bachmann is timely and could very well make the difference in our taking back our country. At the very least, to see such an image of women standing together and supporting each other, instead of criticizing each other for the smallest thing, is exactly what this country needs to see because the men in power have failed us.
This is the kind of courage and resolve our country so desperately needs right now.
Dane,
Thank you so much for this video – it brought me back to 2007-2008 and all the countless rallies for Hillary that looked just like this – it brought tears to my eyes for what could have been.
I’m so glad that Palin in embracing her gender. There is no one that can doubt this woman’s strength, power and courage. She can have her cake and eat it too!
Palin has always embraced her gender. What a load of crap to even put Hillary in the same category as Palin. Palin gives God the Glory she builds up the greatess of USA, not Alinsky Markist credit to dismantle the USA.
Kathleen, great post- if it is a woman presidential candidate women want, they have one in Sarah. Now thr question is, do they really want one? Or will they make excuses such as” she is not the right one”, ” I dont like her view on xxxx”? Will they allow agendas dictated by others to remain dominant? Will they set aside their” agendas” to break the ceilng HRC wasnt allowed to do by the Dems? The answer to these questions will answer whether or not we will have a woman candidate as their party’s nominee for president in my lifetime.It will also anwer how important having such a candidate is to the various women’s movement and groups. NOW are you listening?
Your headline is misleading. By her own words she’s leading a stampede of “conservative” women.
That leaves me out.
What a joy to see her speaking out … “if you want something done, ask a woman.”
Thanks for posting!!
Great post and comments. I kinda sorta affiliated with the Democrats throughout my life, although I had no illusions about politicians in general. The events of recent years have compelled me to do some soul-searching. I believe that Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were abused and vilified in an atrocious manner by a party purporting to be for women’s rights. There was such a clear disconnect between supporting women “in theory” and the practices Democrats engaged in during recent elections.
Meanwhile, love or hate Glen Beck, he recently provided a forum for Conservative African-Americans, a minority within a minority usually castigated as “toms”. The participants evidenced a strength I also see in Conservative women. I will always believe abortion is a right to privacy issue. Yet, otherwise, I am extremely impressed by right-wingers I had once stereotyped as “greedy fundamentalists”. I am registered as an Independent. But I am both stunned and thrilled that Republicans have actually provided strong women with a voice and a VENUE. Amazing.
Bruce,
Thanks for your kind words and your ongoing, public support for women on this site. It is greatly appreciated and hopefully, will catch on with other men!
I agree with your assessment that it comes down to whether women are ready for a woman as president or not. It takes unity and a willingness to work together and forget about petty complaints that don’t amount to a hill of beans, when it comes to competing for political office. Unfortunately, women have been conditioned to find fault with other women that they would never notice in a man.
For example, Bluelyon is already complaining that Sarah is only speaking to “conservative” women and so she’s left out. BlueLyon totally ignores the real point…Palin is recognizing women as leaders of the Tea Party movement. That, in itself, is unprecedented because women rarely, if ever, recognize each other with the same passion they would show for a man who was leading such a movement of this calibre!
From my own experience in the election integrity movement, I can say with absolute certainty that it has been women who were the first to recognize the importance of election reform and proceeded, long before the men got involved, to blaze new trails on this issue. They’ve also done the lion’s share of the field work, research and organizing while the men have come in behind them and taken their work as their own. People automatically ssumed that the majority of work done on the election reform issue has been done by men!
Sarah is doing something very important. She is openly and publicly acknowledging the important role of women in the Tea Party movement and by doing so, is empowering women of all political persuasions. The Tea Party movement is filled with independents and democrats who are ready to fight for their country. So, IMO, Sarah is speaking to ALL women.
If all women recognize the courage and power it takes for Sarah to make such a statement on behalf of women, maybe for the first time, women will start believing in themselves and recognize their own power.
There is no leftist equivalent for Sarah Palin. There are certainly many strong liberal women, but in order to be a part of the Dem party they must serve The One and toe the party line. If they don’t they are driven out, called racist, bitter, stupid, etc. There can be no woman leader on the left right now because thinking independently gets you kicked out. You must serve the party and the president and not upstage him. But Palin only has to serve her conscience and her country.
It’s a real dramatic difference between the two parties right now. Show me a liberal female maverick? There aren’t any because the D party won’t allow it. The fact that they won’t allow it is enough to piss me off and send me running over to the other side.
Thanks for posting this, Dane. I’m welling up and I haven’t even viewed the video yet. I come from the same position as Kathleen Wynne and I couldn’t have said it any better than her. As a woman, Sarah Palin makes me very proud. Whether you agree with all, some or none (although everyone can agree on SOMETHING) of her beliefs, she is one courageous woman. More power to her!
yttik, I agree with your statement. So sad really. I can’t sign up for either party though. Think I’ll just hang out in the middle.
Thank God for Sarah Palin, if not for her the American people would not have a voice. She is not going to sit down and shut up as told by the good ole boys nor the elite in politics. She is in it for the United States of America, because she wants this country to be the best it can be, she is in it for those who defend our country everyday, she is in it for the elderly and those yet to be born. She is in it for you and for me. She is the only one taking a stand for the American Patriot and will continue to do so regardless of what others think she should or shouldn’t do. Her priority is to take this country back and not her political career. She is the only one not tip-toeing around Obama and his administration like all other politicians that are worried they will offend the opposition. Sarah Palin has more courage, than all the political men getting in line for 2012. America will be the greatest once again with Sarah Palin as President of the United States of America.
Thanks for the post Dane! Indeed it seems like Sarah is engaging in a conversation with women. I was amazed when I was watching the event in Minnesota. It appeared as if Sarah P. was replying to Amy’s post! Hopefully we can contribute to continue this dialog among women, and extend and get men enthusiastic about a woman president, and women in leadership roles.
Sarah managed to do this as VP candidate, and I am sure she has the capability to do this for a presidential campaign. Why? because she never seems to be apologizing for being a woman. She is never trying to find the right tone, being afraid not to sound to aggressive, or afraid to sound maternal. She is unapologetically aggressive (she really wanted to go after Obama on the issues, and the McCain campaign did not let her, and at the same time she brags about her maternal role (hockey mom, her role with his children,showing herself cooking at her home, and very tender particularly her down syndrome baby).
I don’t like to use the phrase “even though I don’t agree with her on all issues” because it seems we have to make this clarification about Sarah, and not about other politicians. There is not one politician with whom I agree on everything.
I am unapologetically enthusiastic about Sara Palin and her leadership. I hope she keeps her dialog, and that we continue covering her, and other women’s backs.
I think conservative women and liberal women have more in common than many people realize. That is why so many of many were willing to vote for Sarah when Hillary was no longer in the race. I was one of the 11,000 people at Sarah’s recent rally in Minneapolis and it was absolutely wonderful to see her and Michele Bachmann up on the stage.
I really believe Sarah Palin has been mischaracterized so much by the press that many people do not realize that she is the kind of woman who will try to find common ground when working through issues. She is capable of achieving pragmatic solutions and does not allow her personal beliefs to over-ride law or constitution. I remember a while ago hearing her being interviewed about her pro life stance. She made no bones about the fact that she was pro life and that meant she believed life was sacred from conception. Then she said that she recognized there were other pro choice groups that had a different view, but what interested her was the issues they would agree on. She said that instead of battling each other there was probably a lot they would agree on in terms of the risks of early sexual activity, and that she believed they could move forward on the issues they shared common ground on for the benefit of young woman. (I’m not remembering word for word, just the main points of her comments.) This ability to be inclusive for the good of all, without compromising a personal stand, was something that defined her in past leadership roles. It is very heartening to read this article and subsequent comments, which seem to recognize a ‘big picture benefit’ to all women that Sarah Palin had brought, regardless of political persuasion, or where her future may eventually lie.
Victoria,
Absolutely. We have much more in common than our differences (at least in the most important issues).
And just as there are many people enthusiastic about Sarah, and her potential leadership role, there were many of us who lean conservative that were enthusiastic about Hillary. Many of us would have wanted her to fight it out with her nails until the convention. I don’t criticize her for her decision, as that is personal, and she is the best judge as to what extent she wanted to carry on.
However, I think that is what is going to have to take place. Sarah Palin fought her own party boys network, and now add the establishment, self elected “intelligentsia” from left and right.
Cheers to Victoria and this post! Sarah Palin is not only the new feminist standard for America, she is the ONLY feminist standing up to Obama on every level, on every point, on every single issue in the media. This takes the type of courage only a true heroine possesses. I tear up just thinking about it. God I love this woman
this woman has more guts than any man claiming to want to be a leader.how refreshing to hear someone just speak the truth without having to study the polls or have a focus group before speaking what they believe.GO SARAH!!!!!
I love Sarah, and if it were not for the lame stream media, the world would love her as well. She is real, obama is fake. That is the difference. I want a strong, honest leader with integrity and character. Sarah Palin is the only person so far that fills the role.
Is she revising the feminist movement? Making it more inclusive and opening it up to women of differencing political views? She’s certainly in the off sets of doing so, and it might be just what she needs to put her over the edge.
Revising it? No.
Recognizing what already exists all over the country and has for decades? Yes.
See, that’s why she resonates with so many across the country. Her story is their story whether male or female. The individual who sees the need locally and gets involved at the school board level, then slowly ends up moving upwards. It’s a story that’s repeated over and over for years in communities all over this country but most people never get much recognition for just doing their job the way it needs to be done. For serving their cities and counties and states and, yes, their country.
And, you know, until something happens that makes it necessary for their voices to be heard en masse that’s the way they like it because the system actually works. Most of the time. But sometimes they need a bigger voice. The thing is that this Tea Party movement is a major example of the people speaking with a bigger voice just to make sure they’re heard. That’s what she was acknowledging. Has been acknowledging for weeks now almost every time she appears anywhere although not so much specifically about the women involved as in that appearance with Bachman.
So, revising the meaning of feminism? I don’t think so. But recognizing what women have been doing all along? Sure. Because she knows just what women can do once they set their minds to saving their country.
And it has nothing at all to do with the meaning of feminism.