I have been meaning to do a blog post for a while on Sarah and her haters, but there are so many facets to cover, it’s almost overwhelming. As evidenced by the recent credit card attacks and SarahPAC hacking attempt, there are plenty of folks who go out of their way to manifest their hate for the Palins. As a matter of fact, there is a ridiculously complex website called www.democratichub.com that seems to have devoted a lot of time and energy to creating a page tracking Sarah Palin’s “Gaffes,” “Lies,” “Incompetence,” “Negativity,” and so on. The people who contribute to it must suffer from equal parts paranoia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and unemployment. One of the tag categories is “negative behavior.” It seems that Sarah’s reality show on TLC would fit into that category just about every week according to these folks.
Sarah Palin's Alaska is what's on my DVR.
In the first episode, Sarah, Todd, and family go salmon fishing and rock climbing. In the second episode, Sarah, Todd, and Bristol visit the range to shoot clays, and Sarah and Bristol go halibut fishing. The third episode focuses on passing along the leadership of the family’s salmon fishing operation to Track, the oldest son. In the fourth episode, Sarah shoots a caribou.
And the reaction to all of this “negative behavior” by the left and the Sarah-haters? Predictable.
An animal rights group was outraged by the halibut clubbing in Episode 1, which is par for the course on a commercial fishing vessel.
Aaron Sorkin recently called Sarah Palin “deranged” and her show a “snuff film” because she shot a caribou on a legitimate hunt.
Having given too much attention to the perspectives of the Sarah-haters, let’s pose a question: What if she’s for real? I think that’s what Sarah Palin’s Alaska on TLC is trying to answer.
The Sarah Palin I see is the person who was thrust into the spotlight as a hail-mary by the McCain campaign. Like many of us, she made some mistakes and wasn’t perfect in front of the cameras. I can’t imagine standing up to that kind of scrutiny. It is sad that one of the first “real” (i.e. non-Washington insiders) people to run for that high of public office was so vigorously targeted by the media and the left that she so naturally and easily threatens.
The Sarah Palin I see in TLC’s show is a loving mother much like my wife. As a matter of fact, our families have some things in common: we enjoy the outdoors; we participate in activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, and kayaking; we believe in the sanctity of human life; and we love our kids to death. In addition, Sarah and Todd’s relationship is very similar to ours. My wife is the organizer and the brains behind the operation in many ways, including our finances. She is outgoing, energetic, and makes things happen. I am more laid back and tend to take things as they come. I admire Todd Palin and his support of Sarah in her endeavors with politics and TV, and I would like to think that I would do the same thing for my wife.
So what is wrong with this typical Alaskan family that works hard and plays hard? And why do they deserve titles such as “hate monger” and “liar?” The answer is that they scare the living heck out of the left and they don’t apologize for their beliefs. I’ll be watching the show, since I not only get to see the Palin family, but a reflection of my own. Sarah, Todd, Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, Tripp and Trig are all interesting folks and I find it hard to believe that they’re all acting out a script as part of a one-hour weekly campaign ad.
