Palin and the Women in Power Problem

You really must read this triumph of a post over at Essential Estrogen, which lays out the splitting headache the Palin phenomenon poses for the "Christian" Right. She goes on SNL, does the book deal, buys lacy undergarments with the hard earned dimes of the parishoners of the RNC. And still she's supposed to be the Anita Bryant of our age, the paragon of all that is virtuous and lens-craftery.

And yet, isnt there something about women being at home when they have children, the helpmeet argument about the woman's role? And what about submission? The Bible is clear on this, that the wife is to submit to the husband. Has there ever been a more overshadowed spouse than Todd Palin? He gets the Denis Thatcher award for standing awkwardly in the background.

So, as the ongoing circus that is Gov. Palin continues to march forth into our living rooms, it is worth pausing to consider the following potential realities:

1. Palin is useful to the "Christian" Right because she spouts a kind of soft, warmed-over theology in her quest for the highest office of power in this democracy. Traditionally, the way this has been preached from the pulpit is that she's "taking the message of Christ to the unwashed masses of America." And in some ways it worked. I have to say, after that Katie Couric interview, I prayed more.

2. Palin doesnt believe a word of the nonsense the now-neutered movement known as the "Christian Coalition" uses in its political indoctrination. But she can read a poll and knows full well that issues like debunking evolution, promoting private schools and no-exception-abortion-criminalization will get you 30 to 35 percent of the vote in a GOP primary. I actually believe the social conservative base of the Republican Party is the easiest "get" in all of American politics. Its like a GOP State Senator once said to me about a mutual acquaintance of ours: "Oh him? There's only a couple things you have to say to get him on board." Remember the Rev. Pat Robertson finished Second in the Iowa Caucuses in 1988, and beat the candidate who would go on to be President. Its not a bad base to manipulate, if that's what you're up to.

3. Palin speaks in the broad themes about values and family because she knows that any thorough exploration or her actual beliefs would freak out mainstream America and send her freezing little tushie right back to the oil subsidy capital of the country. She is a member of an Assembly of God Church that believes in the laying on of hands, the anointment of the Holy Spirit, and the movement of the spirit over believers that sometimes results in the speaking of tongues. (Dont say that explains her speeches. Dont say it, Dont say it . . . D'oh!)

So, reality is actually some combination of these three scenarios. Appealing, right? Oh, and she plays the flute.