Palin Was Terrific

 
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/01/17/palin-was-terrific
 
 

Palin Was Terrific <http://spectator.org/blog/2011/01/17/palin-was-terrific> 

By Quin  <http://spectator.org/people/quin-hillyer> Hillyer on 1.17.11 @ 9:58PM
I continue to believe that Sarah Palin is not yet qualified
<http://spectator.org/archives/2010/04/19/the-problem-with-palin>  to be
president <http://spectator.org/blog/2008/08/29/palin-a-disaster> , but my
admiration for her continues to grow. Her interview with Sean Hannity, just
aired, was almost pitch-perfect. It was dignified. It was well-modulated. It was
strong. And it was thoughtful. She kept her composure even as Hannity put on the
screen some of the vilest, most vicious attacks against her -- the sorts of
things that were so bad that if they were said about me they might shake me to
my core. She explained her thought process after hearing about the shooting in
Tucson, and explained the timing of her videotaped message, and explained her
use of the term "blood libel." She insisted, rightly, that strong and honest --
but respectful -- political debate should not be stifled, and noted that it only
seems like the right is asked to stifle its views. She was correct on all
counts.
The truth is, there is almost nothing this lady has ever done or said that
merits the sorts of venomous vitriol to which she has been subjected. Her
rhetoric is sharp but not hateful. Her views -- and even more, her actual record
-- are mainstream conservative, not extremist. And her story of a plucky,
self-made rise from unlikely (for a politician) origins, on the basis of hard
work and gumption, is remarkably admirable. And, frankly, whom has she hurt
along the way? The feelings of those who are appalled that she wouldn't abort
her Downs Syndrome baby? The ideology of those who thought she should force her
daughter to get an abortion? The corrupt old-boy network who plagued (and
effectively robbed) Alaska, whom she defeated in fair-and-square elections? The
self-important worldview of those who believe that women who aren't liberal are
illegitimate political actors? Go ahead: Show where Sarah Palin has been
mean-spirited, abusive, or hateful? Can't do it. She hasn't been.
Sarah Palin has been libeled for the past nine days, and indeed libeled ever
since John McCain announced he was choosing her as his running mate. Amidst all
the slings and arrows, she has retained remarkable composure. She's not my
choice for president, but I would be happy for her to continue, at any time she
wants, to put leftist folly in her verbal gunsights.

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