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Could a Politician Like Sarah Palin Exist in Europe?
September 30, 2008 8:22 AM
Opinion by EVA SOHLMAN, journalist and writer for the Swedish magazine Fokus, covering the U.S. elections
This is what a friend asked me on the phone from Athens, Greece, the other day. Enjoying the view from his balcony that overlooks the Acropolis, heart of European culture and history, the retired Reuters correspondent, Brian Williams, a veteran of covering two U.S. presidential elections, admitted that he, along with many colleagues, was fascinated by the self-described “pit bull with lipstick.”
Judging by the reaction of the European press to John McCain’s pick of the moral conservative who claims to understand Russia because she can practically see it from her window, the answer to my friend’s question has to be a resounding, “No!”
So why is that? Well, ironically, what makes Palin strong in America - her religion and celebrity status – is what makes her impossible in Europe.
It’s not that Europe hasn’t had strong women leaders, or is a stranger to women in politics. Look at Britain’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Finland’s accomplished President Tarja Halonen and the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, whom Forbes magazine rates “the most powerful woman in the world.”
But these are women who rose to power on the opposite strengths of those of Palin. In order to gain respect and acceptance they had to do more than their fair share of time in the political trenches, to prove their abilities were stronger than male counterparts.
Batting of eyelashes, color of lipstick, as well as highlighting private and personal issues like being a moose-shooting hockey mom, were not part of their campaign weapons.
It is not by coincidence Thatcher earned the nickname “The Iron Lady” or Merkel that of “The Iron Frau.” Generally speaking, to succeed as a female politician in Europe you had better suppress the private and personal – yes your femininity in part – and focus on the political. Otherwise you just won't be taken seriously.
Thatcher had her famed handbag but it was perceived to be to hit people with, not a fashion accessory.
On this note, it is not strange to notice Europe’s unease over Palin’s “habit of investing secular matters with religious meaning,” as the German magazine Der Spiegel puts it, in reference to Palin’s statements that a $30 billion gas pipeline in Alaska was "God’s will," and the war in Iraq a "task that is from God."
The fact that she was a member of the tongue-speaking Pentecostal Church doesn’t exactly reassure, neither does her wish that creationism be taught in schools or her desire for schools to skip sexual education completely. In Europe today it is almost taboo to infuse politics with religion.
Indeed, in the Op-Ed “Sarah and the Extremists” Swedish independent daily Helsingborgs Dagblad says the candidate “leaves a foul taste with her extremely conservative politics that includes anti-abortion among other things.”
And while the celebrity factor is something that has reenergized the Republican Party and has been to Palin’s advantage on this side of the Atlantic, it is something that most likely would have marginalized her in Europe where strong parliaments and parties tend to sift out mavericks and too personality-driven politicians.
Perhaps there is one exception: Italy. Its weak party structure has allowed space for beauty queens, fascists and even porno stars. Alessandra Mussolini, the granddaughter of dictator Benito Mussolini and niece of Sophia Loren, is the party leader for Italy’s National Alliance neo-fascist party, and a member of parliament. She also posed for Playboy. Ciccolina, the porn star, singer and former wife of world-famous American artist Jeff Koons, was elected to parliament in 1987.
So unlike my friend, I have not been particularly fascinated by Palin, although there is no denying her impact on the election has been explosive.
Instead, I find there is something very sad about this Palinomania. It seems she has become the personification of the identity struggle America is fighting while its economy is on the brink of collapse. McCain’s pick of her plays straight into what I see as a desperate nostalgia for the past -- a nostalgia fueled by a fear of a future where the world order is changing and America’s role as the greatest superpower is faltering.
It is nostalgia for the 1950s and the American dream when the ideal church-going American family could survive on one salary and still know that its children would be better off when they grew up. Palin, the mother of five with strong traditional family values, and with her 1950s-inspired outfits and hairdos, is a palpable expression of this longing for a past where your dreams could be fulfilled in your own backyard.
So among my European friends there is almost disbelief -- no it is not snobbery -- that anyone, let alone a woman who could be one heartbeat away from the presidency, could have reached her 40s before getting a passport.
But in an era when the buzzword is "globalization," insularity as a strength, does not fit well.
A short while ago, I met with a major fundraiser for the Republican Party in Washington, D.C. First she admitted she had been appalled by the choice of Palin because, “there was a strong sense that there were others who were more qualified.”
But then she changed her mind: “Actually, she has been great for the party and we’ve raised so much money because of her. You know she seems like a genuinely nice person plus I do like her neat little outfits and that hairdo is really cool.”
September 30, 2008 in Guest | Permalink | User Comments (75)
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America is not Europe.
Europe is full of socilaist countries
Can Obama be nominated without any experience and corrupt link in Europe?
Posted by: tom | Sep 30, 2008 8:38:55 AM
Oh yeah, neat little outfits and a cool hairdo....very important for VP!
That wanting the 50's back is too scary and whether most Americans like it or not, we are a global economy and need to have good working relationships with the rest of the world. Plus don't knock the socialist countries, can't say that ours is working very well, now can we?
Posted by: adriana145 | Sep 30, 2008 8:49:23 AM
They are preping her over and over she is NOT ready she does not know foreign policy she likes to pretend she does and they are worried so mega hours are being spent ...WOW she is suppose to be ready to to take over as President in a heart beat NO WAY and if her party thiks this what is the public suppose to do???????? What the hell was Mc Cain thinking???????
Posted by: indp voter | Sep 30, 2008 8:57:45 AM
Under the Republican administration, America has a socialist economy, already having given $400 Billion to failed wall street businesses so far this year, and proposing to give another $700 of Taxpayer money to rescue failed wall street businesses.
And who's leading the charge to Socialism? Bush, of course, our Republican Presdint.
Tom, just another republican Hypocrit, you party:
Promises fiscal conservancy, yet runs of $1 Trillion in debt
Promises to keep government small, yet starts stupid $1 Trillion wars
Promises to not Socialize, then Socializes on a grand scale
Promises morality, and delivers pregnant teenagers
Promises pro-life, and kills 4,178 Americans for a lie
Hails the Consitution, yet ignores Separation of Church and State
Promises Freedom, yet enacts "Patriot Acts" to spy on American Citizens
Promises Peace, yet starts war for a lie
Promises Strength, yet alienates our Allies
No Wonder Obama has a 8% lead in all national polls.
And you question, Tom, can Obama be nomimated in Europe? Check the European polls, my friend - Europeans want him to win by an 87% to 11% margin. What does that say about American's standing the world if McWar/Falin were Elected?
Posted by: clifton | Sep 30, 2008 8:57:47 AM
America is Yanus... having two faces.
One is genuine goodness, yearning for justice and human dignity.
The other face is racism, bigotry and big egotism.
Posted by: zen | Sep 30, 2008 8:58:52 AM
This woman is clueless I URGE ALL OF YOU TO WATCH THE KATIE COURIC INTERVIEW and if you do and are still convinced she qualified GOD HELP US WITH THE IGNORANCE OF SOME
Posted by: angie | Sep 30, 2008 9:03:46 AM
People were carried out when Palin delivered a well prepared speech at the Convention. Few people knew her ins and out.
This was like "judging the boook by its cover".
Slowly we are continuing reading the book and slowly we are realising what is inside does not relate to the cover.
Posted by: FM | Sep 30, 2008 9:09:06 AM
Great points, Zen. I think that's what many people fail to realize that America does not necessarily represent what its government sometimes does. Unfortunately, sometimes the majority of people falls for the lies through fear and in the end vote for those who run on that.
Posted by: D | Sep 30, 2008 9:12:53 AM
Shame on John McCain and his campaign for choosing a person completely unqualified to be VP: John McCain DID NOT put country first when he chose Palin. He insults the intelligence of every American with this choice.
Posted by: cdb | Sep 30, 2008 9:53:22 AM
The 1950's were an aberration in social and economic history, and even then far more married women and mothers worked than Americans realize. Who were the schoolteachers, the nurses, and the secretaries? They weren't all single women. Our nostalgia for the 50's is based on false premises.
Europeans, living cheek by jowl with other countries and cultures and having endured centuries of devisive religious conflicts, know better than we do that confusing religion with politics is a recipe for trouble. They've got their problems, no doubt about it, but their countries are more mature than ours is, and they are naturally less impressed by the sort of cartoonish, socio-religious window-dressing in which our politicians feel obliged to engage. Sarah Palin epitomizes our immaturity: someone whose credentials as a mommy and a devout Christian are more important than her education, knowledge, and experience. That's embarrassing.
Posted by: Eleonora27 | Sep 30, 2008 9:58:28 AM
VOTE DEMOCRAT TO ENSURE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
Posted by: Lucy | Sep 30, 2008 10:01:58 AM
Point one: This is America - screw Europe
Point Two: Economy - McCain called this mess 2 years ago and it was the Dems who blocked the solution. Obama wants to raise taxes (He has always voted against lowering them... record of fact). Combine that with his huge welfare socialist state economic agenda and he'll destroy America for good. McCain wants to lower taxes and actually
do things to stimulate corporate growth. You need to raise the tax base... not the amount of tax.
Point three: Energy .... Obama does appear to have a plan. He does not want Oil... drilling for natural gas... Nukes... or anything that we know works. His plan seems to be hope someone figures out something ina few years so he can take credit for it. McCain wants to be aggressive with all of the above.... including clean coal. This plan will lower energy costs and create tons of jobs. Energy costs are the number one problem with this economy.
Point four: National Security - does anyone even need to comment on this with the current state of the world??? A vote for Obama is a vote for increased terror activity around the world and all of our enemies love Obama... Most have publically endorsed him.
Posted by: American Made | Sep 30, 2008 10:25:35 AM
Dear Lucy,
Do you even have any knowledge of what the separation of church and state even is???
It is not a bill of rights issue nor a constitutional issue. Thomas Jefferson used that phrase in a persoanl letter to a religious group who was posturing to be the state endorsed religion... which was very commone back then and is still found all over the world. The point Jefferson was making was that there should not be a government sponsored religion - to which we all agree. This idea was never to keep religious people out of governemt... the majority of our founding fathers.... most of our elected presidents, Biden, Clinton, Obama... heck even Pelosi claim to be Christian. I am promised the freedom of religion... you are not promised the freedom from it.
Posted by: American Made | Sep 30, 2008 10:34:56 AM
I really wish the americans vote for a democrat (Obama) this time, because you really need it, not only for separating
religion and politics but also to show
the rest of the world that you have
outgrown the belief that a war made of
lies is a test from god. Vote right
this time and tell the world your
ready to lead again. Otherwise i think (europe) atleast will look to the east, wanting relationships in Asia...even further.
Posted by: Rick | Sep 30, 2008 10:35:57 AM
Lets not forget about European arrogance.
There is plenty of that in this article.
Europeans, like the author of this article, can never stop talking about their superiority to the USA.
This reveals that deep down, that Europeans actually don't feel so superior at all... in fact they NEED to always put down America because for years, Europeans have felt INFERIOR to America...
This is a very immature article that reflects a very immature, simplistic and ugly attitude towards the USA in Europe.
Posted by: Phil | Sep 30, 2008 10:36:12 AM
As a European, I find some of the comments made highly offensive and racist. Very narrow minded too. The comment that a vote for Obama is a vote for increased terror activity is horrific. We would never vote in someone like Palin. Our politicians need to be educated. She was laughable in the CBS interview. Whoever "American Made" is deserves Palin and McCain in power. What some people do not realise is that Palin is not running for Vice Chair of the PTA. Being VP is a real job.
Posted by: Kate Compton | Sep 30, 2008 10:38:14 AM
Der Spiegel might want to get its facts right from Palin with Sean Hannity, and not from the propaganda of pro-Obama press. Unless, of course, Der Spiegel found Obama its mirror image.
With the drive for energy independence, Palin is what America needs. Other less important facts can come later. She can't go to war without Congress anyway.
Posted by: Vir | Sep 30, 2008 10:39:22 AM
In addition, the article should have pointed out that Margaret Thatcher was a chemistry major and Angela Merkel is a PhD physicist. These are people with analytical brains for solving problems, not socially clever minds that know the right word to say to please the masses trained to respond to catch phrases.
Posted by: Mickey | Sep 30, 2008 10:39:47 AM
Palin is an airhead.
Posted by: JOE | Sep 30, 2008 10:41:22 AM
Don't know where some of you get your ideas about the 50s, but I was a teenager in a farming state during that time and EVERYBODY worked! If you intended to make a living on a farm, men, women, and children had to pitch in and work hard!
Would Sarah Palin make it in Europe? No, she would not! She could never make herself as dull as Europe's female politicians!!!
As to Sarah being briefed before the debate, don't you believe for one minute that every politician you have ever known has not had the same treatment! The weeks before a debate are much tougher than those of any college exam! You have all kinds of advisers shoving information down your throat at an alarming rate!
Yes, ALL politicians get thorough briefings. You may not see it in the news media, but Biden is getting his also.
Posted by: Irnotu | Sep 30, 2008 10:43:05 AM
Eleanora, you are right on. I was born in the 50s and the early 60s were my growing up years. I loved it---but I don't want to go back there. Much less taking my children with me! It's VERY embarassing that young girls now are seeing this debacle of a candidate.
Posted by: JD santa barbara WASP | Sep 30, 2008 10:48:47 AM
Irnotu: Perhaps the americans need something else for a change, someone
perhaps educated so she/he has the
knowledge to lead a country, not
say pretty words to people so they
wote for you once more....
Posted by: Rick | Sep 30, 2008 10:55:34 AM
I think Americans (Republicans exactly) interest for Ms. Pain says a lot about their intellegent. I mean, I know many smart Republicans, but most of the smart Republicans misused their uneducated/ignorant fellows for their political interest. It is very hillarious to watch them on TV, especially Ms.Pain and republican voters during her fundraising events. I agree with you, even in developing countries, she will not survive as a politician.
Posted by: basel20 | Sep 30, 2008 10:56:25 AM
great to have a look at the situation from a bright outsider. more please.
Posted by: Bob | Sep 30, 2008 10:58:29 AM
Rick, you will DEFINITELY get change if Osama Obama is elected!
As he stated is his book, he is a muslim when the chips are down!
You are going to see more muslim immigrants, more muslims appointed to government posts, and you are going to regret your choice forever!
I am not a Republican, but I do prefer them to Islam!
Posted by: Irnotu | Sep 30, 2008 11:08:55 AM
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