Governor Palin (R-AK) may have been giving a speech to conservative pro-lifers in Evansville, Indiana, on April 16, 2009, but the speech was an arrow aimed right over the heads of the conservatives present towards the hearts of moderate women voters everywhere.Chantrill argues that certain parts of Gov. Palin's pro-life speech, especially when she talked glowingly about Alaska and revealed the soul-searching she went through, from the time she was informed that her youngest son would be a Downs baby until Trig's birth, had a special appeal to moderate women. Her home-state boosterism, he says, resonated with moderate women because "home is where the heart is." But it was the governor's very personal disclosure of how she dealt with the issue of giving birth to a Down's child that really touched moderate women, Chantrill says. Why?
And that, if you ask me, is the future of conservatism.
"...she explained her beliefs using a 'dilemma' theme. Conservative men have principles. Liberal women have issues. But moderate women have dilemmas."Chantrill emphasizes the need for conservatives to win over more moderate women:
"If conservative are ever to break the back of the welfare state, and introduce a horizontal and sociable society in place of the cruel and rigid liberal administrative state, then our task is clear. We have to persuade moderate women that the present setup does a terrible job of helping them care for their children, their mothers, and themselves."Sarah Palin is addressing one of the shortcomings of the McCain-Palin campaign - the failure to win the votes of moderate women. That ticket's vice presidential candidate, now freed from the role the McCain strategists cast her in, is beginning to talk to moderate women in their own language. If Gov. Palin can accomplish this and remain true to the conservative and libertarian principles that so energized the Republican Party's base, she can broaden the appeal of the GOP while other Republicans are mired in endless and useless bickering over the size of the party's tent.
Whether you agree with Chantrill or not, you have to admit that it is refreshing to see something constructive regarding Sarah Palin and moderates, especially after all of the mindless and endless Palin-bashing we have witnessed from "moderates" such as the unfaithful Colin Powell and the sarcastic Michael van der Galien.
- JP
I believe Palin is having a much greater impact than anyone knows. Like you pointed out the other day, 2 stay at home moms in AZ were recently elected to local office, and they were members of Smart Girl Politics, a very Palin friendly organization. The increase in those describing themselves as pro-life is at least partially due to Palin's high-profile and articulate statements on the issue. I suspect many of the events she attends in the coming months will be focused on women, children and family. Her book will probably have a similar undercurrent, and will most likely sell at least 1 million copies in short order. What other potential candidate is the center of so much attention, including college lectures, seminars, and the International Communications Association meeting in Chicago has at least 14 papers, and an entire workshop dedicated to her.
ReplyDeleteHuge impact is the best way to describe her.
Our pastor talked about how in the current secular society that Christians appear to be so out of pace with the world, but the reality is that the secular world is adrift headed for destruction and those swimming away are those that appear to be out of pace. When he said this I couldn't help but think of Colin Powell when he said the conservative base was out of pace.
ReplyDeleteMeh. Just drivel. Moderates are libs who don't want to admit to it. I'm of the Reagan camp. You bring people in as conservatives by selling the ideals of conservatism. The pandering or smarmy machinations are best left to Obama and his ilk.
ReplyDeleteActually, Reagan's winning coalition had many independents and blue-collar Democrats in it. True, many who call themselves "moderates" are actually liberals, but there are also many true moderates. And it is these voters who determine the outcomes of elections. That's why they are called "swing" voters.
ReplyDeleteReagan's message, as I remember it, can be summed up as, "Welcome moderates into the big tent, but don't make them the Ringmasters every time."
- JP