The Daily Pennsylvanian :: Sarah Cantin

It's been one month today since John McCain announced that Governor Sarah Palin would be his running mate. Does it seem like longer to you? We've already witnessed her rise, and it's safe to say that she's beginning to fall - or at least plateau.

Palin's initial popularity had little to do with policy. In fact, most of the convention speech for which she received such acclaim had little to do with policy. Instead, it seemed for a few weeks that all we needed to know about the potential Republican VP was her versatility - she's a former beauty queen and she likes gun-related activities!

As suggested by the popular Saturday Night Live skit, a comparison between the Alaskan governor and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton raises some disturbing questions, namely: Why do we call Palin a babe and a MILF but call Hillary a bitch (www.hillarythebitch.com) and the c-word? And why is either extreme OK in 2008?

Palin is traditionally masculine - and feminine - in all the right ways. She can hunt and eat moose burgers, but she can look demure in skirt suits and pumps. Hillary is masculine in all the wrong ways and never effectively harnessed or marketed her femininity - plus, she wore those despised pantsuits.

"She's a 'ball-breaker', and that's why she was so successful in politics," said professor Shannon Lundeen, associate director of the Alice Paul Center for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality.

Palin is acceptable, Lundeen contends, because, "She's saying 'I'll follow this man' [Senator McCain]. If she didn't fit that feminine model, then perhaps she'd be perceived more like Hillary."

Perhaps this is how we want our female political leaders, then - like men in their hobbies, just not in their temperament.

Governor Palin can escape "bitch" status because she's not trying to take the number one spot that Hillary sought and felt she deserved. Through rhetoric and argumentation, Senator Clinton tried to convince us that she was as smart and capable as any man. Palin's appeal to many, Alice Paul Center co-director Professor Demie Kurz notes, is her "anti-intellectualism" - she's not professing to be superior to us, because she doesn't have to.

Her glow might be fading, but many are still claiming Palin as the latest and greatest model of the All-American woman, a trend that never seemed to catch on with Hillary. More than ever, Palin has made the relationship between a president and vice president resemble a retro sitcom marriage: She's the feisty wife who invigorates her stodgy husband, and though she knows her own mind, she'll let him rule the roost. Or, more bluntly: She knows her place.

The truth is, we've held both Clinton and Palin to double standards. Has anyone been dramatically concerned about Obama's ability to be a good father if he becomes president? Has anyone spent time critiquing the width of McCain's ankles? Hillary's watery-eyed moment in New Hampshire feminized her, and she was simultaneously damned for appearing too weak and praised for finally appearing compassionate.

Overall, as Wharton senior Jennifer Cohen believes "Clinton was made out to be heartless." If Hillary's campaign taught us anything, it's that a heartless woman is no woman at all.

Which is why we'll seriously critique Palin's qualifications and stances, but not her personality. She can be plucky without seeming pugnacious because she's only vying for second in command.

That she's a proverbial heartbeat away from becoming Commander-in-Chief is a troubling reality that's only recently begun to sink in.

Like all public figures of note, the two women have been commodified. The difference? Hillary's doll takes the form of a nutcracker, while Sarah's is a Barbie. Neither seems to be a good option.

Sarah Cantin is a College senior from Boston, Mass. Her email is cantin@dailypennsylvanian.com. Candid Cantin appears on alternating Mondays.

Comments (5)

[QUOTE id="9b4a935a-27c7-40d1-81aa-93264fce2690"]it's hard to see palin as calculating or heartless when shes really just borderline retarded. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-claimed-dinosaurs-a_n_130012.html take pity on this women and her crazy, fire-and-brimstone, alaskan apocalypse upbringing...and pray she doesn't become our president.[/QUOTE] Take pity? I cheer this woman on. Sarah Palin and her philosophy of doing what is right, to hell with the establishment mentality is what makes her the best VP candidate. She fought through a seemingly insurmountable good ole' boys corrupt political network (I know, I am a resident and was living there during the campaign) to be elected governor of Alaska. She beat out the incumbent gov in the primary and then the former gov in the general election. Her approval rating is the highest in the nation (of governors).. much higher than Congress' 9% (Obama, Biden, and McCain all played a part in this rating). Let's be realistic and instead take a look at your Democratic candidates.. For the first time ever, the democratic ticket has a candidate who has made confirmed racist comments and I quote: "... .. The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know there's a reaction that's been been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it..." - Senator Barack Obama Ok, so typical white people are racist, or older typical white people are racist.. hmm now lets add that to the fact that he went to a racist church for 20 years, and referred to the fire-and-brimstone pastor as his spiritual mentor, only finally disavowing him when the political flack from his relationship endangered his presidental chances. Flip that scenario to any other candidate and then tell me then would still be in the race.. Really? Obama is a smart guy, and he does have a few good policies (namely with energy), but he is not the man to lead our nation for the next 4 years. He has the most liberal record in the Senate, is the 2nd most junior senator, wants to expand government to record levels, and has never authored any significant legislation at any level of government. He also sidestepped his responsibility to strike or support legislation over 130 times in the Illinois State Senate (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html). Excuse me but I will take a Senator who has devoted his life to our great nation by serving over 20 years in defense of your freedom, and 30 years in the Senate... Only 2 people have ever unconditionally gave their life for your freedom.. JC, and the American Soldier -McCain/Palin 2008-

The issues at stake in this election are extremely serious; it is probably very tempting to focus away from the issues and on personalities. Perhaps this article attempts to view the election through the view of many in the electorate. However, John McCain represents the same Washington anti-deregulation crowd that has brought us the brink of financial crisis. His politics and potential days in office are, I believe, really more salient than whether Palin has achieved b---- status. Hopefully Americans are a lot smarter than the McCain campaign gives them credit for being. Gerald L. Gilliard SEAS '92

When did credentials and ability disappear from the qualifications to become president? When did personality trump intelligence? When did religious views begin to qualify someone but racial views don't? When did being a solider qualify someone to lead a nation? (not that I am at all discrediting the contributions to our nation that the armed forces make) I'm sorry, I don't want a president who is just like me. I don't want an average president. We need someone who is intelligent, compassionate, level-headed, willing to take advice, cool in times of crisis and unifying in times of turbulence. That is why Im not voting for McCain.... or Sarah "I live next to Russia=Foreign policy experience" Palin

it's hard to see palin as calculating or heartless when shes really just borderline retarded. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-claimed-dinosaurs-a_n_130012.html take pity on this women and her crazy, fire-and-brimstone, alaskan apocalypse upbringing...and pray she doesn't become our president.

Interesting title for an incredibly popular topic. It was nice to get some perspective other than that of SNL and Jon Stewart. I think Hillary was just up against a strong candidate and Palin"s nomination was a little ridiculous, either way, this article had a great angle and I am not really a political enthusiast but this was a very well done article. Great Job CandidCantin. -Obama in 08

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