My Take on Sarah Palin’s Speech at the RNC

 Cross posted on Grizzly Groundswell

I was one of those people who when John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate asked, WHO? I knew John McCain was going to screw this pick up and his choice of Palin confirmed it for me. But then I saw how quickly the media, the far left bloggers, and even more mainstream Democrats began to attack her mercilessly. The bloggers began to claim that Palin’s fifth child was really her grandchild and she was involved in a cover up. And suddenly the Democrats decided that a woman couldn’t raise a family and have a job at the same time. Democrats began to say that Sarah Palin should stay home and take care of her children. So much for the feminist movement, huh? All of a sudden Democrats want their women at home, barefoot, and pregnant. Politics is a tough game, honey, step aside and leave it for the men became their attitude.

 The quickness that Democrats went into attack mode on Sarah Palin got me wondering why. Why are they attacking her so viciously? I came to the conclusion that they were afraid of her. There is something scary about her to them so they had to immediately discredit her. If they were in such a hurry to discredit her before she even spoke to America there must be a reason. But what is the reason? I just didn’t know enough about her to have an answer.

 It was under this pretext that I tuned in to hear Sarah Palin speak last night. I had set the bar high, too high. I knew that there had to be something about her that had Democrats worried and I expected to hear it last night. I realized before the speech began last night that she could never deliver what I expected. Sure I liked what I heard from her after John McCain announced her as his running mate, but on the national stage in front of millions? No way.

 When her speech was over I was disappointed. I was disappointed for a reason that I had hoped for but never really expected. I was disappointed because the speech was over, I could have, and wanted to, keep listening.

 I thought that she did a great job of defining her family life. She came across as having the average American family, although five children isn’t average. A working mother and father supporting their family. She took a small shot at the media for their attacks on her and her family but didn’t dwell on it. That seemed to be the right angle for her to take, especially after hearing Hillary Clinton play the victim card time and time again during the Democrat primary. Perhaps the greatest compliment was payed to Sarah Palin by Gloria Steinem, although it was supposed to be a criticism, when she said this, “Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton.” in this article. Thank God. Sarah Palin came off as above the fray when it came to the politics of personal destruction.

 She then showed how tough she is, not backing down and going right after Barack Obama and Obama’s criticism that she is less experienced than he. She shot holes in that whole argument. Perhaps my favorite line of the night, and there were many great ones, was ” Barack Obama had the time to write two memoirs but not a single law or reform.” While Barack Obama has talked a good game Sarah Palin has actually accomplished something. She has walked the walk while Obama has merely talked the talk.

 I thought that Sarah Palin came of as a tough, down to earth person. She showed us what the Democrats are afraid of, she seems natural and comfortable in the national spotlight, not overwhelmed. I think that the best description of her that I heard was authentic, and that is sure a rarity in today’s politics.

 Sarah Palin has invigorated the conservative base in a way that John McCain had hoped for but was unable to deliver himself. She was picked in my opinion to sway disgruntled Hillary supporters into John McCain’s camp, and she may be the perfect candidate to do that. While Hillary’s supporters will not agree with her on abortion I find it hard to believe that ANY voters go to the polls with abortion as their number one issue. Therefor I think that her image as an ordinary, down to earth working mother will attract some Hillary voters who can relate to her, but it may also draw the votes of working class, family men over to John McCain also. That is what has the Democrats so worried.

 This campaign has just become very interesting and even though I was cynical of this pick when he made it, John McCain may have the perfect running mate.

 I know one thing, I can’t wait to watch her mop the floor with Joe Biden in the upcoming vice presidential debate.