Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sarah Palin: Viable Candidate or Publicity Hound

 Sarah Palin has once again placed herself in the “crosshairs” of American politics.  Last night she subjected herself to another soft ball interview with Sean Hannity.  Once again she took great pains to project herself as the victim in the Tucson Shooting.  She defended her use of “crosshairs” imagery with the time tested argument that everybody does it.  She used the tragedy as an opportunity to rail against those who she said “was trying to shut her up.” In so doing she portrayed herself as the self proclaimed poster child for those who feel that their opinions are being unjustly silenced by the “lamestream media”.
Sarah Palin is tone deaf.  She just doesn’t get it.  At a time when the country is mourning the loss of innocent lives she has attempted to make it about all things Palin.
In her defense, any one of us would be rightfully upset if we found ourselves the victim of the torrent of criticism that rained down on her within minutes of the Tucson shooting.  But being a strong leader means that you have to remain cool, calm and reasonable when everyone else runs around with their hair on fire.  You have to weather the criticism and offer reasonable explanations for your beliefs.  And you have to have compassion and the ability to empathize with your constituents.  Sarah Palin has not demonstrated the capacity to do any of those things.
Is Sarah Palin a viable political candidate or a publicity hound cashing in on her celebrity? 
Sarah Palin has a large constituency.  She is a formidable player within the Republican Party.  She has said that she might consider running for President in 2012.  Is she a serious candidate for public office?  Or is she a serious candidate to be the next Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck?  Many have already written off her political career.  However one need only look back to 1979 when a former governor that many discounted as “too dumb” and a “B grade actor” won the White House.  Ronald Reagan had the last laugh.  Will Sarah Palin?    

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