Posted by
John Caile on Monday, September 08, 2008 1:30:49 PM
The broad appeal of Sarah Palin has highlighted the utter folly of Republican capitulations to liberalism. Those of us who have lamented the ever-leftward tilt by the party "leaders" have tried in vain to warn them that it was a losing strategy - it only alienated real conservatives, and didn't get one more vote from the middle-of-the-road swing voters who often determine the outcome of elections. Clearly, being "liberal light" hasn't worked for Republicans.
But why? Simple - the vast majority of regular folks don't vote on policy - they vote on character. Unlike the pundits and party "analysts" these people don't spend every waking moment immersed in politics. They have bills to pay, and families to raise. They often don't know or understand the details of complex economic and legal matters.
So they look at the person more than the party, or even policy. And time and again they have gravitated toward men or women who show strength and the courage of their convictions, even when a candidate's views are counter to their own. Remember that it was the "Reagan Democrats" and Independents who gave Reagan not just a victory, but a landslide - he won 49 States.
Many of these voters may have disagreed with him on this or that policy, but it was Reagan's boundless confidence and refusal to compromise that won their vote - he gave them a sense of real security.
Note that as John McCain's and Barak Obama's respective characters become more clearly revealed, more and more of these critical swing voters are leaning toward McCain.
Now comes Sarah Palin, as strong a woman as has ever run for political office. You may disagree with some of her positions, but if you have an ounce of honesty, you will admire her integrity. This is no wishy-washy politician - this is a woman who radiates strength, commitment to her ideals, and courage. In other words, character.
Even the polls are picking up the trend - the McCain/Palin ticket has gotten a tremendous boost in just one week. Again, this is not the result of conservative support, but of a far broader appeal, cutting across all demographics.
Thus the more the pseudo-feminists who inhabit the mainstream media continue to viciously attack Sarah, the more that real women rally to her defense. They don't like it. And come election day, they will show it.
I can only hope that the hysterical harpies (male and female) on CNN, NBC, MSNBC and the rest continue to expose their true colors - it will merely give Sarah Palin more opportunities to show hers.