Posted by
Dennis Pemberton on Saturday, October 11, 2008 8:06:19 PM
The findings of Troopergate must cause all conservatives, particularly conservative women, to stop, pause and reflect. It's so easy to excuse what happened, if in fact we assume that the findings were fair and truthful and I think that's a big assumption. Ok, so Todd went to his wife's office, used her phone, and called around trying to find dirt on a bad cop that pled guilty to dangerous criminal acts after the state attorney offered the trooper a sweet deal that allowed him to keep his job. For starters, what kind of wild frontier is Alaska where they allow cops who admit to tasing kids keep their law enforcement certification? Is certification even required up there?
But, I digress. When Bill got caught with his pants down with a young White House intern, the liberals and the White House excused his actions citing that he didn't commit a crime. I guess D.C. must be the only place where perjury isn't a crime . . . When Martha Stewart was charged, liberals and conservatives alike excused her actions claiming that she was being singled out as a powerful woman.
But when it's Sarah Palin? Part of me wants to completely (a) disregard the findings and (b) proclaim that they were justified. I see no true personal gain to Todd and Sarah if their ex-brother-in-law was fired. In fact, if he was still paying child support, his unemployment would actually cost those children. And, I do see where a husband would want to come in and make sure that his wife and her family were protected against a dangerous gun-toting, badge-toting maniac who had threatened his wife's father. But, I would be absolutely mortified if my husband went into my office and made phone calls without my permission. Then, if he was calling my subordinates, I would be furious.
So, in the end, as much as I love Sarah Palin, I have to agree that she exercised poor judgment. Maybe she didn't know what Todd was doing, but she created an administration where apparently the Palins were a package deal. Now, unless Alaskans were aware that they elected Sarah and Todd Palin to run the state, I have a problem with this. When I voted for Bill Clinton his first term, back in my stupid-liberal-college days, I didn't vote for Hillary too. And, even though I was a Democrat and initially a Bill supporter, through most of the first term, I never liked that Bill and Hillary ran the White House. That they claimed to be a package deal.
In the grand scheme of things, I think the Palins made a rookie mistake (while the Clintons were/are power hungry.) And, I don't think it will hurt the ticket - - McCain defending Obama is doing enough of that. But, I do think that McCain-Palin team needs to clarify what the role of Todd Palin will be. I think that would put people's minds at ease. And, if he's going to be a homeschooling dad, it would help shore up the base. I will not vote for socialism. I will not vote for socialism.