Though most of the talk surrounding the release of Going Rogue revolves around how it affects Palin's standing as a political figure, including her chances of winning the White House, should she choose to run, the book is as much poised to heighten Palin's profile as a Christian leader. "It's a mistake to frame all this in the context of her potential candidacy," Mark DeMoss, one of the country's top Christian media specialists, says of Going Rogue. "She wants to tell her story and the story of her personal faith journey." At a time when politically conservative evangelicals lack a national figurehead, Palin's ability to connect with them could also deepen her appeal to a key part of the Republican base. "Christian audiences could respond to this like they did when George W. Bush talked about his faith," says John Green, a religion and politics expert at the University of Akron. "This community takes faith very seriously and likes people who talk about their faith journey."Money quote:
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In promoting the book, Palin is building on that Christian outsider theme. She accuses the news media of singling out conservative religious politicians like her for unfair treatment. "I do absolutely notice that some of the conservative Christians who are members of Congress . . . it seems like the leftist media treats them a little bit different," she said during a recent interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network. Such sentiments are likely to resonate with evangelicals, many of whom feel embattled by the secular culture. "A lot of evangelicals say, 'The press covers us the same way—she must be one of us,' " says Green.
"After Palin governed Alaska as a centrist, Going Rogue is helping solidify her national reputation as a poster child for religious conservatives."Read Gilgoff's article unabridged at U.S. News.
- JP
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