Press confronts Palin

The Washington Times ^ | 9-11-08 | Mona Charen

[JZelle]

She was a recently elected governor and the mother of five children, including a handicapped infant.

The scorn from the mainstream press and the left-leaning blog world was both intense and instantaneous. Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic immediately began circulating rumors that Trig was not the governor's baby - that she had engaged in a huge charade to cover up her teen daughter's illegitimate child. The New York Times reported on Page One that Mrs. Palin had been a member of the Alaska Independence Party. Eleanor Clift of Newsweek described the reaction of most newsrooms to Mrs. Palin's elevation as "literally laughter." US Weekly rushed out a cover story picturing Mrs. Palin holding her baby son with the headline "Babies, lies, & scandal."

And that was just the throat-clearing phase. NBC's Brian Williams wondered whether she could discharge her responsibilities with all those kids. Sally Quinn of The Washington Post asked, "Will she put her country first, or will she put her family first?" Mort Kondracke called her a "wacko right-winger."

Now it hardly needs mentioning that Brian Williams and company would sew their own lips closed before ever uttering such heresy about a liberal woman candidate. Nor would it even occur to them to question any male candidate's fitness because of the number of children he had.

How do the media poobahs explain it? They say (and to her credit, Sally Quinn has apologized for her comments) that Mrs. Palin's inexperience prompted their contempt. But aren't these the same people who had just the week before been defending Barack Obama's thin resume?

[parisa]

Sarah palin does not fit the mold of the Christian fundamentalist wacko right-winger that the left has tried to ingrain on the public conscience. Isn't that their forte, to demonize anything and anyone they disagree with??? Now here comes this strong, confident, articulate, beautiful, smart, (and yes, even sexy and fit) Conservative woman with a beautiful, charming family to boot, which has broken the lefties' mold of conservative "fly-over country", and they loathe her for it.

They are flummoxed by her presence and truly frightened of what she is about to do to American politics.

Sarah palin is going to win this one for Republicans and I truly believe nothing will be the same for our party again.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Mortuary humor is hard to explain.

[Taffini]

she’s on my $hit list

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>Eleanor Clift of Newsweek described the reaction of most newsrooms to Mrs. Palin’s elevation as “literally laughter.”<<

Who’s laughing now?

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>Who’s laughing now? <<

You beat me to the punch

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

[MHGinTN]

In case this image doesn't register at FR, here's the addy: http://scotthong.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palinrocks60.jpg

[Political Junkie Too]

She apologized for saying a dirty word.

-PJ