You may remember when conservative feminist-bashing columnist and author of Save the Males, Kathleen Parker, came on the show and got quite huffy with me back in June. Well, she's called for Sarah Palin to drop out to "save McCain" and we do have to give her credit for being one of the few conservative columnists to speak honestly about Palin:
"Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I've also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does...Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first." "
Having read Parker's dreadful book -- though she accused me of not reading it -- I must say that it's understandable why Palin is an insult to her intelligence, as Parker is a woman who is up on domestic and foreign policy, even if she is wrong-headed about it. While Palin might be adored by all those religious right church ladies, she clearly is an embarrassment to conservative professional women (like Kay Bailey Hutchison, who you remember was shocked at the pick) who worked hard to prove they were intellectually on a par with their male colleagues, actually believing they and other women would be treated as equals.
The humiliation is particularly acute because women like Parker bash feminists but in fact Palin proves one of the critiques feminists make: Conservative white males elevate and put out front women who are willing robots spouting the party line -- kept in a little box for use whenever necessary -- and bypass smart, independent women who might threaten them.
So, add Parker to the list of David Brooks and George Will who've criticized Palin.
Will more be jumping ship?
|