Forbes: How Sarah Palin's followers are rebranding for the future

Palinistas say that they understand the choice Palin made... but the truth is that some are inconsolable.
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Here is an excerpt from a lengthy article on the mamma grizzly movement in the wake of Gov. Palin announcement that she's not running for president, by Forbes contributor Frieda Klotz:

On October 5 this year, Sarah Palin announced that she wouldn’t run for president. It was just after Karen Allen’s birthday. “That was a bummer,” Allen tells me over the phone. The 41-year-old mother of four is the national coordinator of Organize4Palin, which partners with American Grizzlies United. She wasn’t the the only one to be upset at the news. Tens of thousands of conservative women had rallied behind the former Alaskan governor and many of them were devastated. Organize4Palin was in the middle of revamping its website in preparation for her candidacy. Her decision left all of them with a dilemma: what’s the point of being a Palinista if Sarah Palin is no longer in politics?

The mamma grizzly phenomenon is one of the wonders — or horrors, depending on which side of the aisle you sit — of recent political history. It sprouted in 2008 shortly after John McCain announced that Sarah Palin would be his running mate. Her feisty, flamboyant persona had a dramatic effect on conservatives and in particular on women. Karen Allen explains.

“Everybody sees themselves in her in some way. She’s willing to stand up against the corruption and take the heat and keep on going and not be defeated – that’s why they chose the name ‘Undefeated’ for the movie – no matter what comes up against her she stands.”

For Tami Nantz, the media’s portrayal of the Alaskan governor was the beginning. “I was motivated because of the onslaught of media attacks against her,” she tells me over the phone. “I just started thinking, ‘Okay, all I’m finding is all of the wonderful things that she’s done for Alaska. What in the world makes them hate her so much?’”

Nantz started a blog called Moms4SarahPalin. All of a sudden there were other groups, and a slew of terms like Palinistas and mamma grizzlies entered the dictionary. It seemed to signify the growth of a novel female power on the right. “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy,” wrote Michael Graham in the Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages. ”Forget ‘angry white men.’”

[More]

- JP

Happy Mother's Day!

Because motherhood is political
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- JP

Barbara Kay: The day Sarah Palin kneecapped radical feminism

Thanks to Sarah Palin, the long hibernation of socially conservative feminism is over
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In her column in Canada's National Post Tuesday, Barbara Kay explains why the Marxist-influenced feminists hate Sarah Palin. Those radicals had helped to create a culture that, says Kay, "if not overtly man-hating, is always man-blaming... and their contributions to the family and society trivialized." But that all changed on September 3, 2008, when Sarah Palin took the stage at the RNC convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul to accept the GOP's vice-presidential nomination in a speech which "electrified the nation":

Palin was the first public figure to openly and successfully ridicule the hitherto untouchable Barack Obama. She also was the first American woman to campaign for high office by paying homage, but no ideological dues, to the Sisterhood. This Alaskan small-town huntin’, fishin’ God-fearin,’ abortion-hatin’ mom of five showed that a woman can break through any glass ceiling she wants without the imprimatur of the feminist politburo.

Feminists watching Palin’s stunning performance knew a stake was being driven through their movement’s heart. They went ballistic. Feminist blogger Jessica Grose wrote on her Jezebel web site: “When Palin spoke on Wednesday night, my head almost exploded … What I feel for her privately could be described as violent, nay murderous, rage.” Judith Warner wrote in The New York Times that Palin was an “insult to women.” Comedian Sandra Bernhard riffed on YouTube: “Turncoat bitch! You whore in your cheap f***ing … cheap-ass plastic glasses.” Academic Wendy Doniger opined, “Palin’s greatest hypocrisy is her pretense that she is a woman.”

And who can forget Canada’s very own Heather Mallick — then of the CBC, now of the Toronto Star — who watched Palin with “my mouth open, my eyeballs drying out, my hand making shaky notes.” From those “shaky notes” emerged a stomach-turning attack on Palin’s “pram-face” daughter, Bristol, followed by the advice: “Turn your guns on [Bristol’s boyfriend] Levi, ma’am.” (And liberals say conservative discourse encourages violence!)

[...]

If there is one issue that illustrates the bright line between revolutionary feminism and Palinite feminism, it is abortion. The unfettered right to abortion is an irreducible feminist dogma. It wasn’t always the case. The Suffragettes were political pioneers, but social conservatives. Thanks to Sarah Palin, the long political hibernation of socially conservative feminism is over.

One thing we all know is, you don’t want to stand between a Mama Grizzly and her babies. And these Mama Grizzlies happen to like babies a lot. The born ones and the unborn ones too. Exciting political times ahead.

[More]

- JP

Media strategy firm promotes its Palin videos

PassCodeCreative is rightfully proud of its work:
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h/t: Adrienne

- JP

Paul Hollrah: Ten ‘Mama Grizzlies’ and a ‘Fat Guy’ Are the GOP's Future

The strongest leadership potential in the GOP is in its women and minorities
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Paul R. Hollrah, a senior fellow at the Lincoln Heritage Institute, in a guest post at fellow Oklahoman Bob McClarty's blog, bemoans what we here in neighboring Texas like to call the modern Republican Party's "spinal gap." But he also recognizes that the GOP has a small but strong core of fearless leaders that can help rebuild it into a political army of the willing and able:

On the Republican side of the aisle in Congress we find few truly courageous and outspoken members. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, and Jim DeMint of South Carolina are notable exceptions.

[...]

As matters now stand, the shortage of testosterone among conservative and Republican men has become so critical that, as Republicans move to capture the ground that Democrats have relinquished, the strongest leadership potential in the Republican ranks is to be found among women and minorities.

Among the most effective and outspoken conservative elected officials, dubbed “Mama Grizzlies” by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin are Senator-elect Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.); Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-Minn.); Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.); Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi (R-Fla.); Gov. Jan Brewer (R-Ariz.); Governor-elect Mary Fallin (R-Okla.); Governor-elect Nikki Haley (R-S.C.); Governor-elect Susana Martinez (R-N.M.); and Congresswoman-elect Kristi Noem (R-S.D.).

[...]

They are joined by a growing number of strong and eloquent black conservatives, including former corporate CEO Herman Cain; Republican political strategist Angela McGlowan; Lincoln Institute President Jay Parker; conservative columnist Star Parker; conservative author, Rev. Wayne Perryman; National Black Republicans President Frances Rice; Congressman-elect Tim Scott (R-S.C.); Congressman-elect Allen West (R-FL); and economics professor Walter Williams.

[...]

Other than Newt Gingrich, the only man in the ranks of Republican leaders who appears to have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with liberals, Democrats, and their bought-and-paid-for special interests, is Gov. Chris Christie, the “fat guy” from New Jersey.

[...]

On Feb. 28, 1854, some 30 devout abolitionists, opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, met in a small one-room schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisc., to create a new political party… the Republican Party. And if a lack of strong leadership and a departure from Republican principles demands that we do it all over again we have a good beginning. We have ten Mama Grizzles and a fat guy from New Jersey to build on.

[More]

- JP

Mama Grizzlies Raise Real Money

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Chris Cillizza at The Fix:

Former Nevada state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R) raised an eye-popping $14 million between July 1 and Sept. 30 for her challenge to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D), a stunning number that far eclipses the cash-collection totals of other prominent candidates seeking Senate seats next month.

ABC's The Note:

Tea Party-backed Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN, raised an extraordinary $5.4 million in the third quarter, possibly smashing a congressional fundraising record for a three-month period while pushing her total fundraising haul for this election cycle to almost $10 million.

- JP

Sarah Palin: 'Corruption is never compulsory'

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Here's Gov. Palin on Fox Business' "Follow the Money" with Eric Bolling, in a Monday night segment captured by Palin TV:



Support Palin TV

- JP

Quote of the Day (August 24, 2010)

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Armstrong Williams at The Washington Times:

"The results of this summer's primary elections have political pundits declaring 2010 to be the year of the woman. This may be true, but the real story is that this is the year of the conservative woman... Of course, the conservative queen-maker and 'tea party' standard bearer was Sarah Palin. Two of the primaries biggest winners, Mrs. Fiorina and Mrs. Haley, were endorsed by Mrs. Palin. Recently, Mrs. Palin threw her support behind three more female GOP candidates, whom she called 'liberty-loving mama grizzlies.' For the first time in history, the conservative movement and the Republican Party are headlined by women rather than middle-aged white men. This marks quite a change."

- JP

More Quote of the Day Honorable Mention, Part 97

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Special "Woo hoo Wookie woman, she got the moonbat in her eye" Edition...

Jackie Gingrich Cushman at Townhall.com:

"Palin's focus is on the will of the people. Her visuals are positive and uplifting... The Emily's List video's unidentified growling women in grizzly suits come off more like mean girls than mama grizzlies. The juxtaposition between Palin smiling and hugging people, and the Emily's List growlers is almost too good to be true -- for Palin."

VotingFemale:

"Honest to goodness! This Obama Mama Wookies video saying Sarah Palin does not speak for them is a RIOT! I nearly fainted from laughing at them!!!"

The Daley Gator:

"The latest pathetic Liberal attempt to smear Sarah Palin... this awful video, and by awful I mean worse than 'Natural Born Killers'... So, basically, the entire video is dedicated to women, dressed in corny bear costumes telling 'bear-faced' lies about what Sarah Palin stands for."

Jane Jamison at Uncoverage.net:

"The length and breadth and extent to which liberal leftie women will go to attack Sarah Palin…is bordering on psychotic."

Nice Deb:

"These are the weakest and ugliest mama grizzlies I’ve ever seen. These feministas fail miserably at the most important trait of the mama grizzly bear, the trait that pretty much defines a mama grizzly’s character. She fights to protect her young. She doesn’t advocate killing them... These mama grizzlies are just as fake as they look. A better analogy would be worker bees – infertile collectivists who believe that the rights of the individual should be forfeited for the good of group."

Samuel Gonzalez at The Last Tradition:

"Never underestimate a Liberal's capacity for stupidity."

Kempite at White House 2012:

"Instead of using their resources to support their fellow liberal feminists, the group invested their time and money into even creating a website for their new anti-Palin campaign... On the site you will find one of the most asinine and embarrassingly vindictive videos imaginable. It is complete with tired old liberal cliché, after cliché, and in my opinion sets the feminist movement back twenty years..."

Doug Brady at Conservatives 4 Palin:

"There is nothing quite like angry liberals dressing up in really bad Halloween costumes and saying stupid, incoherent things."

Rufus at threedonia.com:

"I honestly feel sorry for the women in this ad... There is no logic to their statements at all. They are free to protect their children. They are free to buy medicine for their children and they are free to hire physicians to care for their children’s health. They are free to purchase health insurance. They are also free to hibernate with any number of consenting bears they may find. And there isn’t a single statement Sarah Palin has made in objection to any of these things."

Moe Lane:

"Seriously, though: what the heck is it with Left-feminists, anyway? Every time they speak out these days it’s apparently their goal to cater to yet another sexual fetish."

Cassy Fiano at NewsReal Blog:

"EMILY’s List decided to make a video trying to hijack the term mama grizzlies from Sarah Palin. This plan radically backfired, and they’ve been the laughingstock of the blogosphere ever since... Sarah Palin doesn’t speak for these women. Sarah Palin is a pro-life conservative Republican. These women are pro-abortion lefty femisogynists. The major difference? Sarah Palin wouldn’t likely tell these women that they can’t call themselves feminists or that they aren’t true women."

theblogprof:

"Palin Derangement Syndrome is alive and well..."

Merv Benson at Prairie Pundit:

"Even Palin's offbeat male endorsements are shrewdly picked to work on her behalf if she chooses to run in 2012. Liberal women have always seen her as a threat. That is because they are liberals first and feminist second. The Emily's List crowd just recognizes that the "Mama Grizzlies" campaign is a existential threat to the election of liberals."

Jessica Grose at Slate's XX factor blog:

"I think liberals must cede this round in the debate to the sassy Ms. Palin. The Emily's List video wasn't gathering liberals around an electrifying idea—it was attempting to co-opt Palin's very effective rallying cry."

Jedediah Bila at Human Events:

"I’ve said it before about Sarah Palin and I’ll say it again: that earmark-slashing, fiscally responsible, 10th Amendment-upholding, veteran-loving, pro-Constitution, cost-cutting, transparency-advocating, fetus-friendly, oil and gas aficionado is a menace! As entertaining as the EMILY’s List video is—and I truly do thank you, ladies, as I’ve been waiting with bated breath for something to induce a fit of laughter besides Keith Olbermann speaking—there’s much more fun to come... The EMILY’s List ladies are certainly entitled to their opinions. This is America, after all. But misrepresenting policy in order to market propaganda shouldn’t be the trademark of any organization, be it on the left or the right. Now I’d love to stick around, but I’m about to get suited up in a donkey costume for my “Party of No” video on the DNC. Hee-haw!"

- JP

Abortion Grizzlies get the 'Red Eye' treatment

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The "Red Eye" rogues dissect the Abortion Grizzlies video by Emily's List:



Yub, yub.

- JP

More Quote of the Day Honorable Mention, Part 96

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Special "Femisogynists, rads and Ewoks, oh my!" Edition...

Jason at StoryBalloon.org:

"Emily's Lists Creates Anti-Sarah Palin Ad Mocking Her 'Momma Grizzlies' Line... This is one of the stupidest commercials I’ve ever seen. I doubt it will change a single person’s mind on Sarah Palin. A bunch of furry moonbats with too much time on their hands."

Christine at A Catholic View:

"It's pretty ironic to hear pro-aborts say 'she doesn't speak for me' about a pro-lifer when they do so much damage to women with abortion. (they also look pretty silly in those costumes :)"

H Hughes at The New Agenda:

"Is this the best that liberal and Democratic women get? Just a negative ad and an ask for money? Just a low budget video with women in costumes? Couldn’t you at least show us one woman’s face, perhaps one who is running for office and very likely needs our support? ... There is a problem here. If any liberals are scratching their heads wondering why so many women view Sarah Palin as an icon for women’s empowerment, this could be why."

Amy at Modern Commentaries:

"Left tries 'Mama Grizzlies', fails horribly..."

David Gianatasio at AdWeek Blogs:

"Emily's List takes the wrong approach in this anti-Sarah-Palin video, showing women dressed up in bear masks and paws... Plus, these women complain and actually growl. Who wants to come home to that after a rough day at the office? No wonder they're raising their 'cubs' alone. Compared to these shaggy whiners, Palin sounds reasoned and thoughtful."

S. Weasel at Weasel Times & Stoat Intelligencer:

"Why is it when lefties really, really want to persuade the rest of us, they always dress up, strip naked or use puppets?"

Frank J at IMAO:

"Liberals counter Sarah Palin’s mama grizzlies by having women dress up as Ewoks and demand abortion... You’d think with the drubbing the left is about to take in November, that would motivate them to act less like weirdos, but it’s possible they don’t even know how to do that. They knew that Palin’s mama grizzlies stuff is popular, so they thought that if they put on bear costumes and whine about the things liberals always whine about, then maybe they would be popular — I don’t really know how their deranged minds work."

William A. Jacobson at Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion:

"I know mama grizzlies, mama grizzlies are friends of mine, and Emily's List ladies, you're no mama grizzlies."

Daisy at Chicks On The Right:

"The chicks in this video hate Sarah Palin so much that they’re willing to look like toddlers on Halloween by dressing up in really bad bear outfits, making bear-like sounds, and talking about how if Palin was in charge, they’d have no healthcare for their kids. And you know, their daughters wouldn’t have the right to freakin’ choose. They haaaate Palin so much, and instead of being examples of REAL independent, self-sufficient women, they’d rather bitch and moan about how the government needs to take care of them and stuff."

Da Techguy:

"The Ewock of Emily’s list, a group that is supposed to exist to advance women in office, hate Sarah Palin so much that they proudly declare their grandchildren expendable."

Kini at E Māua Ola i Moku o Keawe:

"Their hatred of Sarah Palin is downright hilarious and condescending. They want Obama, they want Obamacare, they want government funded abortions, they want socialism, they want bigger government, and they want your money. Nuff said, they all want your stuff."

Robert Wiles at Palin Promotions:

"Sarah is pro-life, so they hate her. Plain and simple. All the attack proves is that Sarah is getting under their skin and is winning the battle."

Stacy McCain at The Other McCain:

"I stopped cold at the woman expressing adamant support for her daughter’s 'right to choose.' Isn’t that kind of creepy? Basically, you’re saying that the abortion of your own grandchild is such a grand idea as to assume paramount importance in your political worldview. Yeah, I know: She’s talking about the 'right to choose,' but the abstract right to abortion can’t be separated from the concrete reality of abortion, and that reality is a gruesome, blood-chilling thing to consider. Philosophical theorizing about 'rights' can’t elude that reality. And neither can bear costumes."

Phineas at Sister Toldjah:

"On matters of national politics and policy, whom do you take more seriously? A Sarah Palin talking with gravity about empowering women to deal responsibly with the problems facing the nation, or a bunch of women dressed like … a dating service for furries?"

Jill Stanek:

"The problem, of course, is EMILY’s List and its bear-en followers abhor cubs, which makes it pretty hard to portend mama grizzliness. And so the female grizzlies in EMILY’s video make such incoherent statements as, 'Sure, I attack when my cubs are threatened,' and 'But wanna know what threatens me? My daughter not having the right to choose.' Um, no, you depraved, savage female grizzlies kill your cubs, thereby leaving no female offspring to kill their cubs, your grandcubs. Nice try but what idiots."

Morgan at My Two Cents Worth:

"In short, if these women are supposed to be mama grizzlies, they make the poorest excuse I've ever seen. I've seen a mama grizzly defend her cubs; Sarah Palin fits that description, not these women in their lousy costumes."

Dean at Beers with Demo:

"We'd like to take a moment to remind Emily's MGs who it is that is leading the pack among Republicans who like to blaze. In case they hadn't noticed, this particular Alaskan has got a pretty well-defined libertarian stripe running down her back and murky allegorical charges won't stand up to scrutiny. What Sarah and the MGs know and what the rest of the nation is coming around to is that being family values-oriented and not being a social-conservative fire-brand does not an oxymoronic state of being make."

Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony List:

"EMILY’s List is running scared — and it shows."

Conservative Pup:

"I have continued to notice that some of the most horrific crimes and abuse of women all over the world get not a word from NOW. They can’t be bothered to take a stand, unless it involves abortion in some way. Until now. Now they’ve taken a stand against a new foe. Women. To be specific, women who don’t think like they do. To be even more specific, Sarah Palin. And all those other women who are running for office whom Gov. Palin has endorsed. They would rather spend their money and time opposing women who hold a different point of view, than supporting like-minded women like themselves who are running for office."

Matthew Balan at NewsBusters:

"CNN's Jessica Yellin, a one-time 'prominent feminist activist,' helped forward the talking points of the pro-abortion lobby by devoting part of a segment on Tuesday's Rick's List to EMILY List's new anti-Sarah Palin ad."

- JP

RCP: Gov. Palin courting women voters who have abandoned Democrats

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If Gov. Palin makes a run for the White House in 2012, she'll have the foundation of a coalition in place that could be more important than her star power - and the Democrats are beginning to act worried. Erin McPike reports at Real Clear Politics:

From her list of endorsements, to her Mama Grizzlies' campaign-style video in July, to her Facebook message Wednesday commemorating the 90th anniversary of women's suffrage, Palin is courting female voters, the so-called "soccer moms" that have swung to Democrats in recent campaign cycles. The former Alaska governor is already eliciting responses from Democrats, who, through a series of initiatives this week, revealed some fear that she might be making an impact.

[...]

Mary Anne Marsh, a Boston-based Democratic strategist, noted that Democrats have begun to lose the support of independent voters, and that many women are independent voters, especially suburban women. "She's making a clear swing at them," Marsh said of Palin.

"The lion's share of independents are women," she said, adding, "you can't win without them." And looking ahead to the 2012 elections, she noted that EMILY's List and the other Democratic groups are pressing hard for women because, "you can't start soon enough to get them back."

[...]

Beyond the 2010 elections, Palin's efforts could have an impact on her own electoral prospects if she launches a White House bid some time next year.

[...]

None of her potential rivals for the GOP presidential nomination have made similar efforts in courting women specifically, and all of them happen to be men.

Marsh noted that the success rate of each presidential candidate's endorsees misses the point. Instead, she said, the candidates who lose - including the women she supported - will continue to assist Palin if she launches a bid.

Both Marsh and Ralph Reed, a longtime Republican strategist who's now leading the Faith and Freedom Coalition, pointed out that simply because Palin could be the only female in a field of males doesn't guarantee electoral success.

[...]

Reed argued that Palin is offering a new style of feminism that could ignite a new coalition of conservative, professional women. "I'm fascinated by what that could mean for the future of American politics," he said.

The full RCP analysis is here.

h/t: Roy Y

- JP

Quote of the Day (August 17, 2010)

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Bluegrass Pundit:

"I am not sure [the] video ad, attacking Sarah Palin, by the pro-choice EMILY's List PAC has the desired impact. The women in the ad look ridiculous in their bear costumes and makeup. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when they started growling."

- JP

Ewok's List anti-Palin attack ad FAIL

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What were they thinking?

When we reported Monday that the pro-abortion group Emily's List was launching a campaign targeting (ahem!) Sarah Palin and her Mama Grizzlies, we expected a lot of hate and a lot of lies from their effort. But no way we could have predicted what a ridiculously stupid ad these leftists would cobble together.

Ed Morrissey debunks the lies in the Emily Listers' campaign here. But now for the really surrealistic part...

Here's Ace:

A method of getting an internet ad a lot of views is to make it so strange people just view it for the WTF factor.

Is that what Emily's List is doing here?

If so, they've failed; this makes them look stupid (and... physically unattractive), but it's too cutesy and contrived for anyone to care about.

So here's their big Palin-Hate ad, featuring... Ewoks, which really isn't how liberal women ought to be selling themselves.

[...]

Silly costumes sort of remind people that these women have to play dress up to be Mama Grizzlies, doesn't it?

[...]

If Sarah Palin's so dumb and silly, why is it you who are dressed up in the bear costumes?

Tammy Bruce chimes in:

Ewokie’s List finally came out with their ‘attack’ on Sarah Palin. And let me just say, it’s a very sad day for Mama Ewoks. Or for people who dress up in bear suits. Is this what liberals did when they went to the, er, Coffee Parties that were so fabulously successful at energizing liberals to counter the Tea Party? Yeah, well, it gets hot in those Ewok suits!

KingShamus points out the obvious -- how the femi-leftists beclowned themselves with their pathetic ad:

Did EMILY’s List think Sarah Palin was taking her metaphor of the ‘Mamma Grizzly’ literally?

I guess it’s up to me to point out that Mrs. Palin never donned a cheap bear costume, put some black-out paint around her eyes and delivered a speech about the maternal instincts of conservative women.

The only people who look like amateur hour clowns are the gals that EMILY’s list roped into starring in this goofy exercise.

And Brian Faughnan has the exit question:

Isn’t it a little demeaning to portray professional women in these ridiculous costumes?

Well, yeah. What struck us is the contrast between SarahPAC's beautifully done Mama Grizzly ad and the embarrassingly childish ad that Ewok's... er, Emily's List shot poor Emily in the foot with.

EPIC FAIL

- JP

Emily's List vs. Sarah's List

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Emily's List, the leftist group that raises money to elect pro-abortion Democrat women to office, has declared war on Sarah Palin and the list of "mama grizzlies" she has endorsed:

Leaders of Emily's List are holding a press conference in Washington tomorrow to unveil a campaign targeting Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, and the candidates she has endorsed.

The group says it wants to counter Palin's appeal to women: "Sarah Palin has predicted a rising tide of mothers and women voters will support her so-called 'Mama Grizzly' candidates," says a just-issued Emily's List press release.

"We call upon women -- and men! -- to let their voices be heard and to reject Palin's reactionary candidates and backward-looking agenda."

Tammy Bruce comments:

Yeah, that’s the ticket! Let’s target and try to undermine as many independent Women! as possible to prove that you can stand up for Women! by making sure one particular Woman! you don’t like doesn’t keep inspiring and encouraging, uh, Women! Or something.

Oh yeah, and let’s now take a lot of time and money from supporting women candidates we like by spending it on trying to stop other women candidates from being successful. Because, uh, it’s really not at all about Women! It’s about being shills for the Left, which has been so successful in making sure we finally have equality. After all, Obama and the Dems have finally brought us Equal Pay for Equal Work–no one has a job and we’re all making the same amount of nothing! So Go Women! Or actually, Go Some Women, but not all!! Yea!! After all, if we can’t inspire Women! anymore, why should we allow someone else to do it?

[...]

The Emily’s List project? It’s called “Sarah Palin Doesn’t Speak for Me.” Sounds a little…reactionary, no? What is the project? They’re “Launching an On-Line Arena Where Americans Can Speak Out Against Sarah Palin’s Backwards-Looking Candidates.” Great–they’re setting up a forum where Women! can trash other Women! Sounds Progressively Liberally Intolerant and Misogynistically Hopey-Changey-ish to me. After all, Palin’s work has been a forward-looking, positive support of candidates–women and men. In typical fashion, instead of countering that effort with a positive project of their own, the only thing liberals can do is create something to attack and demean others. Keep going Leftists–every time you react to Sarah Palin you reveal yourselves as the panicked cannibals you really are.

- JP

An American mom speaks: Palin’s genius is the message

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Duluth News Tribune reader Shelley Tuttle wrote the newspaper in response to a recent Kathleen Parker op-ed. We believe Ms. Tuttle speaks for many of the moms Gov. Palin is targeting with her message:

The reason Sarah Palin resonates with moms across the U.S. is that deep in our hearts we believe in what she’s saying. Just visit the YouTube site bit.ly/akOoko, and you will see moms holding signs saying, “I love Sarah Palin because she loves my country,” “No government health care,” “Moms opposed to mandates unconstitutional,” and, “Annoy (a) liberal, work hard (and) pay your own bills.” The site also includes sound bites from Palin’s speeches, including, “We don’t like this fundamental transformation,” and, “No, (government takeover of health care and overreaching government programs aren’t) right for our kids and for our grandchildren,” and, “Respecting the will of the people.”

[...]

Palin’s genius is the message!

[...]

Let’s have a show of hands for Nancy Pelosi if you think she’s the one who will bring our country around by offering bridges to nowhere, which she seems to be trying to construct everywhere, and by aspiring to get written up in the history books. Or will your hand go up for Palin, who cares deeply about our country and who is not willing to put its people under the bus for political gain?

Ms. Tuttle's full reader's opinion piece is here.

- JP

Rachel Motte: Year of the Mommy Blogger

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In a posting at the The Evangelical Outpost, Rachel Motte figures if 2010 is the year of the pro-life woman, 2016 should be the year of the smart “mommy blogger.” She reasons that the Republican Party's long term success may well depend on today’s politically aware mommy bloggers becoming tomorrow’s GOP political candidates:

Sarah Palin’s popularity is proof that the conservative grassroots are ready and eager to rally around a female candidate from outside the Beltway. And, if the tea party movement continues strong, chances are good that one of today’s young, politically savvy mommy bloggers will be the next decade’s conservative champion.

While the stereotypical mommy blogger is better known for her potty-training rants than for her politics, an increasing number are intelligent, well-educated former professionals who left the full-time workforce in order to raise their children. Advertisers are beginning to realize that moms are among the web’s most influential demographics, and, thanks to factors like the tea party movement, Sarah Palin, and the rise of digital activism, moms are finding it easier than ever to put this newfound influence to use. Sure, some only blog about their families, but many offer a good mix of the personal and political—and they’re not afraid to act on their political opinions. The popularity of mommy blogger gatherings like the BlogHer Conventions proves that they’re willing to learn how to write and act more effectively for a good cause, and it likely wouldn’t be difficult for existing conservative training organizations like the Leadership Institute to expand their recruiting efforts to include conservative moms who blog. Imagine the impact Sarah Palin might have today if she’d spent the past decade learning the ideas and methods that can make or break a leader—and imagine the candidates the GOP might have in ten years if it started training smart, conservative mommy bloggers today.

The digital world provides a unique place for these women, whose unpredictable schedules and need to be centered in one physical space are perfectly suited to online interaction. They also care deeply about the social issues that have kept conservatives and liberals squabbling for decades. This interest is far from idle or theoretical, and they tend to be well-informed about issues that may affect them and their families—a combination that makes them ideal potential activists. While it is difficult to determine whether the “mommy-blogosphere” skews left or right, we do know that online moms are a force to be reckoned with and that their influence will continue to grow.

Mommy bloggers are, in other words, exactly what the Republican Party needs.

Read the rest of Rachel Motte's opinion piece at The Evangelical Outpost.

- JP

Quote of the Day (July 26, 2010)

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The Augusta Chronicle:

Palin's endorsement of Haley aided the primary runoff "slam dunk" of a candidate who led by a wider margin than Handel in the primary, said University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock. Palin's endorsement led to the surge of support for Handel in the week before the primary, particularly outside metro Atlanta, but it remains to be seen whether it will carry Handel to a win in November. With each victory by a Palin candidate increasing the strength of the brand, Georgia might see its first woman governor, he said.

- JP

Fox News video: 'Mama Grizzlies' are Fed Up

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Sarah Palin says they're like momma grizzlies. The 2008 vice presidential candidate has inspired a number of conservative women, mostly moms, to run for public office:



- JP

Tures: Is Sarah Palin packing the GOP with 'Powerchicks?'

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John Tures, a political science professor at LaGrange College in Georgia, has written an op-ed for the Southern Political Report intended to explore the question: Is Sarah Palin is trying to boost women, conservatism, or is there something else afoot with her support? Prof. Tures discusses Gov. Palin and what he says are her picks of Nikki Haley, Susanna Martinez, Sharron Angle and Carly Fiorina, then writes:

I like to pride myself on writing about the rise of women in politics in the past few years. But long before I ever wrote a column, back in 2001, syndicated columnist Matt Towery published his book Powerchicks: How Women Will Dominate America with Longstreet Press. It seemed like a risky move, given how few women were in Congress, the Senate, and governor mansions at the time. But you could say it was a decade ahead of its time.

So is SarahPAC an example of a PowerChick takeover? Let's look at the entire list of endorsements first before we conclude that Mama Grizzlies are devouring the male boars of Republican politics, with Sandra Fish's article "Sarah Palin's Endorsement: Curse or Blessing?" in PoliticsDaily.com.

First, she's endorsed plenty of male candidates, like Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, North Carolina Sen.Richard Burr, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, etc. But several of them are running unopposed in their primaries. She's endorsed Rand Paul in Kentucky, but he ran against another man (Trey Grayson). The same can be said for Clint Didier (Washington Senate).

In fact, she's endorsed a few male candidates against female candidates. She opted for Texas Gov. Rick Perry against Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the GOP Primary. And she supports Joe Miller's insurgent campaign against Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski. There's bad blood between Palin and Murkowski, but that doesn't explain why Palin donated $5,000 to Murkowski last year, as Fish noted.

The good professor concludes that, because Gov. Palin did not always endorse the most conservative candidate in each race, the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate's strategy is aimed at a 2012 or 2016 presidential run. While Tures isn't the first person to reach that conclusion (which may indeed turn out to be a valid one), reading his opinion piece leads us to our own conclusion that for an associate professor, the research behind his piece may be lacking some depth.

Prof. Tures wonders, for example, why SarahPAC donated to Sen. Lisa Murkowsky and to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Anyone who has done their homework on Sarah Palin knows that when her PAC was first organized, a number of Republicans made donations to it to help get it off the ground. One of those was Graham, and Gov. Palin was simply paying back the favor. Tures also questions the governor's backing of McCain, but iot should be obvious that she was showing her loyalty, a character trait she values highly, to her former running mate. The Murkowski donation was made to put an end to media rumors which were rampant just after the 2008 election that Gov. Palin would challenge Murkowski for her Senate seat.

Tures also states that Sarah Palin endorsed Sharron Angle, Sen. Tom Coburn, Sen.Richard Burr and Sen. Jim DeMint. Actually, Gov. Palin never formally endorsed any of those four, although her PAC made donations to them and she offered some words of encouragement to Angle via social media. Donations to a candidate's campaign are not explicit endorsements, and even regarding them as implicitly so could be problematic.

Less than rigorous research by the professor could possibly be explained by the fact that it is summer, and he may not have any grad assistants to do the legwork for him. Still, when you are a professor of political science, it would be helpful if you had a better working knowledge of that which you choose to write about than Dr. Tures demonstrates with this opinion piece.

To answer the question posed, no, Gov. Palin isn't trying to pack the GOP with Mamna Grizzlies, although she is obviously working to get more conservative women into office, just like she says she is. By our count, she has made 32 formal endorsements, twelve of which have gone to women. But she may not be through endorsing yet. Plus, her motivation doesn't have to be limited to an either/or proposition and isn't likely to be. She has reasons on more than one level for the endorsements she has made.

- JP