The Strategies of Palin
Posted on June 17th, 2009
by Sean Scallon |
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On the surface, the tangle between David Lettermen and Sarah Palin may seem like celebrity tripe. But it has more substance than just a tabloid feud because it reveals a possible strategy Palin will adopt if she decides to run for president.
That’s why I don’t think this “dispute” over a dirty joke Letterman told about Palin’s family just “happened.” It was something that fell into Team Palin’s lap and they exploited it for full effect. The strategy is to make Palin a victim of someone who is part of the media’s elite, i.e., Letterman, right from his New York City studio, and then claim martyr status for her and what she supposedly represents, i.e., “the base.”
Other comedians have told jokes about Palin’s family and have gotten away with it, but this has more to do with timing. As governor of Alaska, she faces daunting logistical challenges in running for president, the first of which is the distance between the state and the media centers of the country. She had been out of the news cycle for the past seven months and her recent trip out east was designed to put her back into the spotlight. Indeed, Letterman’s joke was a godsend for her. Before he shot off his mouth, Palin was being dismissed in many GOP circles in Washington and was in fact accused of plagiarizing Newt Gingrich in a speech (if such as thing is even possible).
Then Letterman comes along with his crude joke and all of that is swept aside and Palin the Martyr takes center stage, vicitimized by the cruel and snarky eastern media elites. Ranks begin to close. Letterman becomes a target and is attacked by the whole party. He eventually is made to apologize but instead of doing so right away, he waits, allowing Palin to soak up as much of the spotlight as possible. Thus Letterman allows himself to be used to further Palin’s prospects and it’s too late to do anything about it.
This little dust-up should be a word of warning to all those who wish to critique the governor of Alaska. If such critiques are to be made they must be made on the substantive side, for it is on that side Palin has done little to burnish her image. Her handlers are on the lookout for any kind of statement or joke or anything said in a personal nature they can use to rally “the base” to Palin’s side under the strategy of victimization, because they know it is an easy way to draw attention to her and an easy to build up support.
It sure beats coming up with a 15-page proposal for dealing with health care.
Filed under: Politics
Yes, but at the sake of her daughters? That’s the question I wonder in this debate between me, an Anchorage-based journalist, and a writer for Conservaties4Palin:
http://alaskadispatch.com/palin-watch/1244-palin-letterman-debate-goes-on-here-
Palin and her defenders have exposed the conservative movement for the empty shell it truly is. They now defend single motherhood, a Mother of five working outside the home (not to mention governing a state) and scream sexism more vociferously than any feminist.
Last year’s shotgun wedding between Levi and Bristol I think gives us a pretty good indication of how political considerations work within the framework of the Palin family. Now it may very well be that the Palins were led around the nose by the control -freak McCainiacs. But speaking for myself, I would have never let those YR flunkies interfere in family decisions no matter the political cost.
I’m sure that’s all true, but if - and its a pretty big if - Letterman or anyone else was trying to draw Palin into this it was to make her the Republican nominee in 2012, which even before the election the liberals were salivating over. The Democrats are looking at 45-49 states against either her or Gingrich.
My liberal wonkish friend thinks it’ll be Romney as a consensus candidate, which means the best the Republicans are hoping for is Mondale over the Palin/Gingrich McGovern.
[...] #8: Sean Scallon in TAC: That’s why I don’t think this “dispute” over a dirty joke Letterman told about [...]
Ha ha, ’supposedly represents.’ Good one, She is illiterate, ignorant and the common census among learned, experienced and accomplished journalists thus far is she is not ’so bright.’ The GOP would be incredibly stupid, and foolish for ONE to support her, now. Although most politicians have committed adultry, been caught in some type of scandal or lied, She did it in such a way as to drag an innocent man through the mud, by inferring, implying and misleading. Which actually mostly reminds me of a soap star, If I ever watched any of them. It is a sad but true statement, I, as a registered voter who can read newspapers, listen to talkshow radio, and watch news programs on the tv (Such, as Matt Lauer, who gave Mrs. Palin a chance to backtrack her cruel deception.) might have actually listened to her. Might have actually liked her, might even~~Maybe after some very serios thought~~come around to vote for her. Now, NO WAY JOSE. She is the pot and she called David Letterman a kettle. It could have been different. It might have been different. What I know, now, is she is cruel-calculating and cold. She is 1/2 the woman compared to many politically successful women.
Mally,
I agree that there are all sorts of problems with Ms. Palin, but your spelling and grammar disqualify you from making any judgment about her alleged “illiteracy” and “ignorance”.
Might your personal distaste for her be a reflection of your political distaste for her, and if so, do you think that is healthy?
Note to Sean “Last year’s shotgun wedding between Levi and Bristol I”, get your facts straight. They never got married.