Sarah Palin just came to our Conservative, majority Republican, religious little town. To do a book signing for her book.
I couldn’t figure out why there was gridlock on Main Street until I saw the people lined up in the freezing cold, out in the parking lot, hours and hours before she was due. The newspaper then reported people CAMPING OUT ALL NIGHT in order to speak with her. They reported a fanatical typical book-buyer-- “Sarah, you are a gift from God!” said with a quavery voice and tears running down the buyer’s cheeks.
I then saw people walking around with Sarah books clutched to their chests like Bibles, smiling. This is creeping me out. This is celebrity worship on steroids. I am trying to think of similar political cases, but all that comes to mind is Hitler, and the public fawning after his book, Mein Kampf. His message was, “I KNOW the right way for the Vaterland and you must follow me.” People were happy to obey such single-minded, simplistic authority. He was the One.
That is why I am creeped out by this over-the-top “Sarah is the One!” following. It just seems worshipful, and all-accepting of everything this former candidate espouses. Like a female political Elvis.
The last time Sarah Palin came here, during the campaign, 10,000 people reportedly showed up. The event had to be held in an airplane hanger. This town has only 50,000 people, so many had driven in from neighboring states and counties. She draws a huge crowd.
Without a doubt she is amazingly charismatic, and the camera loves her. Kennedy might have been the last politician that was that photogenic.
But where is the substance behind the personality cult?
My feeling is that she cost John McCain many, many votes. Would you have trusted her hand on the helm, as second in command to an elderly President who had already been treated for cancer and had war injuries? Her lack of depth, of thoughtfulness, of intelligence and political savvy was downright scary.
Are you all Sarah fans too? Anyone else looking beyond the dazzling smile?
Furnishedowner