In Defense of Defending Sarah Palin

Elizabeth Scalia, a/k/a the Anchoress, routinely gives cause for me to be thankful I often write about something she doesn’t, namely NASCAR. Why? It gives me at least one area in which she doesn’t blow me away. Be it politics or faith, she is a ridiculously skilled writer, fusing mind and spirit into an uplifting whole. She is good. Period. One might even say, and be entirely accurate in doing so, that she rocks although to date she has declined to be photographed wearing any kind of spandex and leather outfit.

She’s written a most interesting political column today about the dangers of creating a cult of personality around a politician, in the course of doing so singling out the obvious subjects, namely Barack Obama and Sarah Palin. It’s well worth a read.

That said, there is a bit of a stretch in one part:

Her supporters do not, thankfully, regard Palin as some sort of transcendent humanoid, but to her base, Palin and her family have become sacrosanct to a troubling extreme that echoes the Obama cult: Jokes made at Palin’s expense are not jokes but “hate.” Constructive criticism (even when rendered mildly, and with acknowledgments of both her strengths, and the savaging she endured throughout the ’08 campaign) is categorized as “hate.” One either loves Palin unconditionally, or one is a heretic; doubt, or even a reasonable reservation, is an occasion of sin.

I cannot speak for all Palin supporters, and yes, I am a Palin supporter through and through. Yes, I do adore her. Not worship. Adore. For this I make no apology.

That said, I strongly suspect there are many here among us who, like myself, do not subscribe to the notion of her being 100% above reproach and everything she says or does is Holy Writ times ten. It’s an easy assumption to make that lack of criticism equals fanboy worship. No, not really. It means someone hasn’t said or done something lately that warrants criticism. If Palin says or does something I don’t like, yes I will say so.

The above duly noted, it warrants mention that a lot of people I interact with on a daily basis, be it in person or online, say and do things I don’t like. I’ve learned to let it slide. Unless their words and/or actions are an egregious affront — and it takes a lot to pull that off in front of this old outlaw — or are a direct danger to themselves and others, why get cranky? Not my style. Not anymore, anyway. I used to view every disagreement as a battle that had to be one at all cost and by any means necessary. Now? Not so much as I’ve embraced my heritage. I’m a California man. Laid-back fun in the sand and sun. Catch a wave and feel the good vibrations. You do your thing, I do mine. I don’t apply litmus tests to people, the least little failing of any earning immediate banishment from the kingdom. Who cares about such things when the surf’s up, dude?

I know more than a few conservatives who can’t stand Palin. It’s not that big of a deal to me. However, should she run in 2012 and win the nomination, I do expect them to 1) shut up about it and 2) fully support her. Also, should she not run, or run yet someone else wins the nomination, I will 1) shut up about it and 2) fully support whoever is the nominee. ‘Nuff said.

There’s a bit of an overstatement further along in the post:

To Obama or Palin cultists, any critique must be invalidated because if you find a fault with them, you are de facto finding fault with the values and ideals of those who have invested so much of their identities into supporting and yes, “believing in” their heroes.

As opposed to the legendary for all the wrong reasons “fake but accurate” meme issued by the New York Times, this comment is accurate but not illustrating the whole picture. Yes, there are people — plenty of them — who immediately go into counterattack mode the moment someone, anyone, says anything negative about Palin. They’ve become conditioned to respond that way given how much of the negativity against Palin comes not from political or philosophical differences, but rather cheap, degrading personal shots. When this inevitably slops over — Palin is dumb, you support her, therefore you are dumb –  what on the surface can appear like fanboy blather is actually legitimate self-defense.

I’m inclined to give Palin supporters the benefit of the doubt in this matter. I believe they are more than intelligent enough to support her based on her track record and political views, not a cult of personality. And, in fact, this is what they do.

Yes, a healthier dose of “eh, whatever” would be welcome when people come down on the negative side of opinion about Palin. However, it’s well worth mentioning this fact: she doesn’t need your approval. Or mine, for that matter. She does what she believes to be best, and more power to her for doing so.

P.S. Speaking of cult of personality…