The Palin Effect

By Dimitri Vassilaros
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, July 23, 2007 The spontaneously sprouting grass-roots Internet movement for Sarah Palin might say more about the state of the Republican Party than the governor of the state of Alaska.Mrs. Palin, 43, a former beauty pageant contestant elected in 2006, is like a Rorschach inkblot test for her fans — yes, fans — who see in her what they want to see. They think her the ideal Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008.

Ardent Palinistas stretch from Alaska to Ambridge. They praise her honesty, leadership and for worshipping the state Constitution. But they freely admit they know nothing about her stands on most national issues. One of the most ardent doesn’t want to know, at least not yet.

“She’s a woman, young, very popular and she’s extremely honest,” says Steve Maloney of Ambridge, a small town in Beaver County near Pittsburgh. Mr. Maloney is a former college professor, speechwriter and veteran of many political campaigns.

“She’s a person committed to the Constitution and against corruption in Alaska politics. I do not know what her positions are about the two biggest issues on the national scene: Iraq and immigration. I don’t want her to speak out until she’s approached. I hope Sarah is not locked into these issues.”

Maloney sees her offering a fresh perspective “to get the country off of the food fight about Iraq and immigration. As soon as she says her immigration position, there goes the Hispanic vote. I am much more of a practical politician. I don’t want to lose elections constantly because I have gone off and offended one group after another. We can’t afford to do that, like about immigration.”

Maloney was turned on to Palin by a Colorado university student who created the “Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President” Web site– and goes by “ElephantMan.”

“I decided to do a bunch of research looking for a good running mate,” he says. “Based on everything I’ve seen, I feel pretty strongly that this candidate would be good for national office.”

But other than her position on the “A” word and the “G” word — she’s pro-life and a lifetime NRA member — he knows nothing about her stands on Iraq, immigration, Social Security, Medicare and on and on.

Alaskan Trish Houser is the Web mistress for the Palintology Web site. It’s available online — and gets roughly 800 to 1,000 hits a day, she says.

“I like her. She’s just a good person who cares what you have to say,” Ms. Houser says. “She’s very sweet and interested in what people think and need.” Houser also doesn’t know Palin’s stand on national issues other than the two already mentioned. Palin has not stated a formal position on Iraq, immigration, Social Security or Medicare, says spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton.

Palin publicly blew the whistle on ethics-challenged Republican power brokers, adheres to the state Constitution and vetoes bills that included layers of pork. She simply does her job.

And that makes her look unique — especially from inside the Beltway. Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard wrote Palin has “eye-popping integrity.” Since when did the GOP need a modifier for integrity? Should Lincoln be called Really Honest Abe?

Palin’s fan club asks for little.

Mr. Maloney’s rhetorical question: “Who the hell is the last politician who mentioned the Constitution?”

Dimitri Vassilaros is a Trib editorial page columnist. His column appears Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. Call him at 412-380-5637. E-mail him at dvassilaros@tribweb.com.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review