Why does the media, the responsible “mainstream media”, give Sarah Palin so much prominence? And why do we pay attention to it?
Because of her credentials?
When you quit part way through your elected term as a governor and say it’s because you can do more for Alaska when you are not its top elected official, you raise hopes. Sarah, what have you done for Alaska in the year-and-a-half since you left office, besides leaving office?
Because she was a recent Vice-Presidential candidate?
Failed vice-presidential candidates traditionally and deservedly slip away from public notice.
Because the substance of what she says deserves attention?
There isn’t a lot to truth-check about what she says, mostly because Sarah is so stupifyingly shallow. She relies on the dog-whistle phrases of the Tea Party Right, a few words that require no additional thought to induce fervent reaction. And she doesn’t get called out for it because to do so extends beyond rote reportage. She won’t grant interviews to journalists who are up to engaging her in depth. (She is getting away with it and others are learning the trick.)
Because she is so good at manipulating publicity about herself?
Yes, well, the press does seem easily manipulated. The first seven years of George W. Bush’s term demonstrated that, to the enduring shame of the mainstream media. Sarah’s being good at pandering to the press is the media’s meme of the week and it, too, will pass.
The real problem for the media is that so many members of it act as if their job is over when they give air or ink to polar opposite sides, when two extremes call each other out and reduce the argument to their own proven catch phrases. Moreover, the notion that there is “news” reporting and opinion commentary and nothing in between, has reduced covering policy issues to a pull and tug about the politics of the moment.
Because she is a leading figure in the Republican Party, the farther Right one looks?
... and therefore, we should know what Sarah is saying, doing, thinking? This is what can pass for political discourse ... if we let it. The field of Republicans and Tea-Partyists is chock-a-block with glib talkers, luring the rest of us with opportunities to get off easy by blustering back with our own tired and thought-free epithets. This cedes too much territory. Centrists and liberals need someone responsible to push arguments against. Otherwise, we sound a lot like extremists ourselves.
It shouldn't be about Sarah.
Regarding Sarah as the opposition worth following is to box with a shadow. Gertrude Stein’s memorable phrase about Oakland applies to Sarah: there is no there there. Today, we need responsible, articulate opposition. It will make us better. We will have to respond with reason and thought, not hyperbole. Voters, particularly self-declared independents, deserve reasoned debate about issues and candidates, either to convince them or steady their made-up mind on the subject.
Let’s not be reduced or distracted by Sarah Palin. Let’s remind the media why it shouldn’t, either.