Hating Sarah Palin: Elections, Fear and Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair's Scathing Article About Sarah Palin Stirs Debate -- Again
Just Another Sarah Palin Gossip Piece?
Although he has denied the charges, Gross reveals a bias against Palin early in his article titled, "Sarah Palin the Sound and the Fury." The Vanity Fair writer manages to paint a picture not so much about the sins of Palin, but his desire to make her look bad at any cost. The first paragraph includes this telling statement:
"Following the former Alaska governor's road show, the author delves into the surreal new world Palin now inhabits 'a place of fear, anger, and illusion, which has swallowed up the engaging, small-town hockey mom and her family' and the sadness she has left in her wake."
What follows is a series of assumptions and hearsay backed only by anonymous sources who, according to Gross, "fear she [Palin] will exact revenge, as she has been known to do." For example, Gross is forced to fill the article with not-so-important revelations about Palin, such as her hotel tipping habits, the number of BlackBerry phones she uses, and the type of undergarments she wears.
Faith in God and Prayer Warriors
Even though the piece is mostly fluff and vivid storytelling, one disturbing part of the article is the author's attempt to demean Palin's faith. On page three of the post, the writer introduces a section titled "Angels and Demons." In the section, Gross discusses Palin's use of the term "prayer warriors" and lists various situations when the former Alaska governor asked for prayer or received spiritual support from pastors or other Christian leaders.
Gross says of Palin's faith:
"Whenever I heard Palin speak on the road, her remarks were scored with code phrases expressing solidarity with fundamentalist Christians. Her talk of leading with "a servant's heart" is a dog whistle for the born-again. But it is Palin's persistent encouragement of the prayer warriors that most clearly reveals her worldview: she is good, her opponents are evil, and the war is on."
Sarah Palin is the Perfect Distraction
Michael Gross and Vanity Fair are not the first to reveal their obvious, unexplained fear of Palin. The real question is why publish the piece now? Is it a coincidence November elections are just around the corner? What about the Ground Zero Mosque debate, coupled with a recent Pew poll showing a growing number (18 percent) of Americans think President Obama is a Muslim? Or how about the daily fear being expressed by average Americans concerning unemployment?
Whatever the reason, emotions still run high when discussing the former vice presidential candidate. Political bloggers and smart columnists know Palin is the gift that keeps on giving. Perhaps Gross and Vanity Fair simply wanted to sell a few more magazines. On the other hand, maybe they wanted (if only for a moment) to take the focus off the embattled president, the struggling Democratic party and our failing economy.
Published by Kim Linton
Kim Linton began her writing career in 2001 as a contributor for Ministrymaker Magazine. Kim's work has since been published on a variety of websites including Woman's Day and Intel, and featured on several... View profile
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58 Comments
Post a Commenta well constructed article :)
Am I the only who can see that Palin loves all the attention she's getting, whether it's comming from her opponents or surporters? Believe me, if everyone were to ignore her, she would create an incidente that would re-direct attention back to her. Her abrupt resignation as governor comes to mind.
Like you, KIm, I am a believer, but I can easily see through the fakery of a charlatan who clothes himself (or herself) in the armor of God to distract people from his or her moral and intellectual deficiencies. Whether the press is or is not unbiased, it is an irrefutable fact, this woman resigned the office she was elected to fill for no apparently valid reason. That alone makes her totally unfit for higher office.
Come to think of it, maybe the name of this magazine says it all?
I like Mike Hatz's comment! It may soon be revealed Palin's mother wears army boots. Perhaps she scratches a lot and has hives or maybe her books are always overdue at the library. The public has a right to know!
Great Kim...just fabulous!
Loved this line:
"Political bloggers and smart columnists know Palin is the gift that keeps on giving."
The strange thing is, people DO seem to care about her tipping habits and undergarments, which is why stuff like the Vanity Fair article keeps getting published.
I hope you will not let the possible intellectual dishonesty of that writer distract you from the hard reality that Sarah Palin is unfit to be the President of the United States, period. Her abrubt resignation as governor of Alaska, at best, meant she couldn't take the pressure of even that job. At worst, it meant someone had something on her that was going to come out if she did not step down. Either way, it makes her unfit for higher office.
Notice how any attempt to vilify someone (esp. in politics) includes a bunch of minutia like their tipping habits and their alleged temper and stuff like that. I reckon soon it shall be revealed that Palin used to pick her nose in the second grade. Ya gotta love the hypocrisy of folks who crucify someone they don't like for the very same since they probably commit themselves (ah, but to hear the Libs tell it, all their peeps are as pure as the wind-driven snow).
editor of the Fire Island Gazette (not that there's anyting wrong with that..:)) I suppose one day all of Michael Gross's work will be compiled into a Gay Lit Anthology and be required reading for public school kids.