Whatever your politics, Sarah Palin is good for women. Particularly working mothers, and especially those with young children. The rousing speech by Governor Palin at the Republican National Convention was not just the stuff of great drama but a needed roar for ambitious, talented working mothers everywhere. And I know I’m not supposed to say this. I’m told I should be offended, insulted, and enraged.
As I sat in front of the TV, with my two kids tucked into their beds, I cried and hooted like a sports fan. And I was not alone. Immediately after Palin’s speech, I heard from no less than twenty fellow professional women—of all different political stripes—every one of whom rejoiced watching Palin. Perhaps this is how the older generation of women felt about Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Certainly, I am proud of Clinton and respect her accomplishments. But her campaign achievements didn’t resonate with me like Palin’s. I am a thirty-three-year-old, married mother of two with a successful career teaching at Yale and working on Wall Street. I get how Palin takes conference calls and reads policy memos while heating up baby food and making her kids’ doctor’s appointments. And every time Palin “gave the finger” to the establishment of doubters and naysayers, I stood up and cheered. I’ve been doubted, too.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a registered Democrat with social positions that put me at odds with the Palin platform. For one, I’m strongly pro-choice. But that’s not the only issue that matters to me. I vehemently care about growing a resilient and open economy, instituting needed government reforms, and keeping America on firm geopolitical footing. (Her mention last night of the BTC pipeline in the Caucuses is a project dear to my professional life.) This year’s election is critical for those issues, too. And I’m not convinced the Democrats have their fiscal positions right.
I also don’t underestimate the benefit in shaking up the establishment by running a woman for Vice President and an African-American for President. Path breaking is valuable, and we win either way. In Sarah Palin’s case, even if she “fails” to reach the White House, like Hillary Clinton “failed,” she will have been successful at getting the public used to the idea of a female chief executive. What’s more important, Palin got the conservatives and Republican Party to support the idea. Who would have thought that the far right, evangelical Republicans would be fighting for a working mother to win? And so goes the absurdity of politics.
