Palin reaction shows American Feminism lacks feminine appeal
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 By David Hansen
Harvey Mansfield writes wonderfully on Forbes.com about what can be learned of American Feminism from the reaction to Sarah Palin’s selection as running mate to Republican John McCain.
Sarah Palin was appealing and accomplished, with the force of a man and the grace of a woman. But while reaching another, higher first for women, she expressed no gratitude to the women’s movement. She has had good words for women politicians like Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, but she showed none of the features that betray the feminist in action. On the contrary: She spoke proudly of “my guy,” grateful to the man who was hers–implying that she needed him, and that any woman needs a guy of her own. She introduced her children, especially little Trig, the one with Down’s syndrome. She was displaying a mother’s unconditional love, as opposed to the conditional love that insists on a “wanted” child. She did these things unapologetically, quite unafraid of seeming to be a normal, healthy sexist female: one who knows what it is to be a woman and enjoys it.
My own overall take is that the Palin selection among other things has helped to change the election from a partisan oriented election, that is, a retrospective economic performance referrendum, to an ideologically-oriented contest featuring a prospective assessment of the cultural direction of the country. This is an election framing which clearly favors McCain-Palin. And just as the Bush victory in 2004, it refutes the prevailing mindset of Ohio Republican leadership which abhors broad-based conservative ideology and freedom-based policy principles.
HT to Wiliam Kristol writing on the Weekly Standard’s blog.
Tags: Conservatism, Kristol, Mansfield, Ohio GOP, Palin
