Sarah Palin deserves respect even though she’s a disgrace.
She’s a disgrace to America, because her popularity proves that being from a non-contiguous state and having funny names (Track, Trig) is no problemo as long as you’re white; because nobody would give a damn about her if she were a dumpy-looking wart; because her party, her supporters, and presumably she are more proud of her for being a wife and mother (and hot) than for being a governor.
She deserves respect because nobody should lower themselves to the Palin level.
The Palin level is that of her and her supporters – it’s the level outlined above, the one that stridently champions the white lady whose lifestyle proves women can kick ass but it’s okay because they can look fuckable while doing it (whew!).
New Feminist for one is not going to engage in little “critiques” of Palin’s clothing, hair, and so on, or focus on her motherhood or parenting skills. Those articles were sexist when they about Hillary, and they are no less sexist now. However gleefully satisfying it may be to take advantage of the way Palin’s party values her to point out hypocrisies and inconsistencies in those values, the fact is that having those discussions allows the debate to take place on conservative ground, and it’s important to move away from that ground.
So let’s all give Palin respect; let’s discuss her only as a mind and a candidate, and stay away from the rest.
