Going Rogue: Why Must Stupid Rule?

The Newsweek cover is out with Sarah Palin prominently displayed in runner's attire next to the ingenious headline, "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?". The cover has been called sexist by Palin and a gaggle of Republicans and Palin supporters. One of the most common arguments against the cover is that it undermines her intelligence. Seriously? It seems to me that no one has undermined Sarah's intelligence more than she.

Sarah Palin does not have a competitive advantage in the brains department. How anyone could argue otherwise is beyond me. I would argue that attending 5 schools to get a degree in journalism and repeatedly speaking about the economy, structure of government, and world geography in a fashion that demonstrates she isn't smarter than a 5th grader is irrefutable evidence in support of my statement.

In Sarah's defense, it is obvious that you don't need to be an intellectual or well read to be elected to public office. Sarah Palin's popularity leads me to ask an elitist question: Why don't voters care that idiots are being elected? Why is it that Sarah Palin is popular because she is in touch with "Real Americans"? Why do we have the euphemism "Real Americans" to describe uneducated Americans who don't understand economics, political theory, or the United States Constitution? Why, Why, Why??

Now I do understand why pro-life supporters love her, truly she is the poster child for the movement. I can also understand why Second Amendment supporters love her; where else are you going to find a female politician that shoots Moose? The problem is that guns and abortion are wedge issues, salient with a small fraction of voters, and when politicians focus on these issues they do so at the expense of the issues that really govern the economy and our collective well being. Republicans know this. That is why they don't care if she's smart, she needn't be to serve the purposes of the party.

Because I know Republicans understand what her real role is, I was baffled at first by the notion that these are sexist attacks. Why make it about her intelligence when you cannot win that fight? After some consideration, I am of the opinion that Republicans are doing this to fool people into thinking she is smarter than we think she is. If you talk about her intelligence enough and cry sexism perhaps no one will actually question her intelligence.

In the ultimate irony, its a bit like what has happened with President Obama. Republicans argue that when they criticize Obama they are called racist, even when they have legitimate reasons for their critique. Now Republicans can counter every criticism of Sarah Palin with the argument that it is sexist. Brilliant!

The problem is that criticizing Palin isn't sexist. Criticisms of her are based on fact not sexism, much like most criticisms of Obama aren't racist.

Without sex, Palin doesn't get votes. White middle aged men love her because she is attractive and will help them keep their guns. If she were ugly she would be a political non-starter. She doesn't have the intellect, temperament, or savvy to survive in politics without her looks. That is not sexist, it is fact.

Sexism is better described by a situation where a highly intelligent and competent woman doesn't get the opportunity to succeed because she is a woman. If that woman doesn't get the opportunity to succeed because she is a woman and ugly than I guess that is sexism and uglyism combined. These women do not get elected.

Sarah Palin and the Republican Party should be grateful for sex* and female stereotypes. Without em, she's got nothin, you betcha (;

*And by sex I am of course referring to intercourse between a man and woman in a loving committed marriage with the intention of making babies.