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WASHINGTON -- Allow me to introduce myself. I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a Dumpster, but since she didn't, I should "off" myself.
Those are just a few nuggets randomly selected from thousands of e-mails written in response to my column suggesting that Sarah Palin is out of her league and should step down.
Who says public discourse hasn't deteriorated?
The fierce reaction to my column has been both bracing and enlightening. After 20 years of column writing, I'm familiar with angry mail. But the past several days have produced responses of a different order. Not just angry, but vicious and threatening.
Some of my usual readers feel betrayed because I previously have written favorably of Palin. By changing my mind and saying so, I am viewed as a traitor to the Republican Party -- not a "true" conservative.
Obviously, I'm not employed by the GOP. If I were, they're seriously in arrears. But what is a true conservative? One who doesn't think or question and who marches in lockstep with The Party?
The emotional pitch of many comments suggests an overinvestment in Palin as "one of us."
Palin's fans say they like her specifically because she's an outsider, not part of the Washington club. When she flubs during interviews, they identify with that, too. "You see the lack of polish, we applaud it," one reader wrote.
Of course, there's a difference between a lack of polish and a lack of coherence. Some of Palin's interview responses can't even be critiqued on their merits because they're so nonsensical. But even that is someone else's fault, say Palin supporters. The media make her uncomfortable.
Or, it's the fault of those slick politicos who are overmanaging her. "Let Sarah be Sarah" has become the latest rallying cry among my colleagues on the right. She'll be fine if we just leave her alone, they say. Between prayers, I might add.
Not all my mail has been mean-spirited. A fair number expressed polite disappointment; others relief and gratitude. Still others offered reasonable arguments aimed at changing my mind. I may yet.
In the meantime, this assault and my decision to write about it aren't really about me -- or even Sarah Palin. The mailbag is about us, our country, and what we really believe.
That we have become a partisan nation is no secret. This week has provided a vivid example of where rabid partisanship leads with the failure of Congress to pass a bailout bill vitally needed to keep our economy from unraveling.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave a partisan speech last week, blaming the credit crisis on the Bush administration (omitting the Clinton administration's role in launching the subprime lending debacle). Republicans responded by voting against the bill the first time around.
Everyone's to blame, by the way.
Such extreme partisanship has a crippling effect on government, which may be desirable at times but not now. More important in the long term is the less tangible effect of stifling free speech. My mail paints an ugly picture and a bleak future if we do not soon correct ourselves.
The picture is this: Anyone who dares express an opinion that runs counter to the party line will be silenced. That doesn't sound American to me, but Stalin would approve.
Readers have every right to reject my opinion. But when we decide that a person is a traitor and should die for having an opinion different from one's own, then we cross into territory that puts all freedoms at risk. (I hear you, Dixie Chicks.)
I'm sure it is coincidence that, upon the Palin column's publication, a conservative organization suddenly canceled a speech I was scheduled to deliver in a few days. If I were as paranoid as the conspiracy theorists are, I might wonder whether I was being punished for speaking incorrectly.
Unfortunately, that's the way one begins to think when party loyalty is given a higher value than loyalty to bedrock principles.
Our day of reckoning, indeed, may be upon us. Between war and economic collapse, we have enormous challenges. It will take the best of everyone to solve them. That process begins minimally with a commitment to engage in civil discourse and a cease-fire in the war against unwelcome ideas.
Kathleen Parker's e-mail address is kparker@kparker.com.
Posted by rannc on October 6, 2008 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ankle biter Parker,
Get serious about your views. Electing a President is serious, sober business.
Obama hates this Country as it is. That explains his association with Wright, Ayers, Frank Marshall Davis, George Soros, and the list goes on.
He is not fit to serve this Country as Commander in Chief. Socialists, communists, anarchists and marxists have no place in this Country as leaders.
That's my world.
Posted by whatif on October 6, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lock step or else, and we eat our young...
Posted by g.nicks on October 6, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are a R.I.N.O., Republican In Name Only.
Posted by achick47 on October 7, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I found your original column rather offensive. However that is your opinion and I have my opinion. Maybe neither of us is completely right maybe one of us is. Having said that I must say Mrs Palin is a breath of fresh air. Yes she sounds folksey and stumbles in interviews. But her speechs show a depth of intelligence and interest in improving the government. Mr obama also gives great speeches, However when he is speaking from the cuff he stumbles and stutters. Never see you reporters commenting on him. Now is not a time to decide a race for the white house on personality. Sadly Mr. McCain is the one most likely to be able to keep America a country that is free. Mr. Obama has shown poor judgement in his choose of affiliations and the only bill he has sponsered and passed in the Senate has been for Africa not America. That in and of itself speaks volumes for where his loyalities are. You can find his record on the Senate site and he usually just votes present on all bills. Mr McCain also has voted for or against bills in oppositon to my likes, but at least he has an opinion and votes as he feels is right. We will always differ from the politicians but we need to vote for our country and what we feel is best for everyone. Have a nice day
Posted by DB on October 7, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Palin IS out of her league. I will not be voting for her.
Posted by tcat on October 7, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The joy of Sara Palin, what endears her to Middle America and fascinates every woman I know, is her quality that cannot be bottled and sold: Authenticity. It is Authenticity that beat the robotic Gore in 2000 and the mealy-mouthed Kerry in 2004, and Authenticity will beat the empty-suit Obama in 2008.
Posted by junebug on October 7, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, you don't know many women, do you? Every woman I know thinks that Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate is insulting to all women. Let me clue you in, a woman using her sexuality to get ahead is not looked upon favorably by most women.
I could have voted for a McCain/Romney ticket . . . the thought of this woman being a heartbeat away from the presidency is just frightening.
Posted by texasblackhawk84 on October 7, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a woman, I was excited when McCain chose a woman as his running mate. I was even more excited when I heard Sarah speak and heard what she stood for. I think Sarah Palin is a nice change for our government and i'll be voting for her and McCain. IMO, she's leagues ahead of obama and way better qualified in many ways to do the job of Vice President.
Posted by robertwp on October 8, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The joy of Sara Palin, what endears her to Middle America and fascinates every woman I know, is her quality that cannot be bottled and sold: Authenticity. It is Authenticity that beat the robotic Gore in 2000 and the mealy-mouthed Kerry in 2004, and Authenticity will beat the empty-suit Obama in 2008."
You are right! You have made me realize that Palin is Bush with lipstick and McCain is Bush with a bad comb-over. Four More Years! Four More Years!
Posted by s17 on October 8, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does it matter who gets elected? They all blow smoke. We need a government that focuses on our country. We help so many countries and forget those in ours. Don't down a person based on sex. We need someone for the people and that will be for the people. McCain is a little out there and Obama just rubbs me the wrong way. where is Ross Perrot, he would of had a chnce in this one.
Posted by wild_bill on October 8, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't they just run this "retraction" column last week? I didn't know op-ed pieces did re-runs so quickly.
Posted by earl on October 11, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear K,
The problem is not with who ,why , when or how the problem is with the all !
The AMERICAN PEOPLE are once again being told ,not ask to bailout these criminals or else ! Instead of a 700 billion dollar bailout to unfreeze credit ,how about a stimulus for the AMERICAN people ? The figures are to much for my calculator but if we give each American citizen 10 million dollars and all under 18 be put in escrow untill they reach 18 ,the total would be 3 billion dollars ,there would be no need for credit and the kids under 18 would get a heck of an allowance from their savings . We would be paying taxes and utilities and believe it or not the work force would be stronger because we the people would start working for the joy of labor not the necessity ,and of course the wall street thugs could use their 10 million to pay for their attorneys and posh resort stays !
I'm game to try, it is a far less expensive risk than the one on the table right now !
Posted by earl on October 11, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
P.S. : hate hearing the trashy e-mails to you ,it is funny how quickly anger rises before understanding or objectivety to ones right of thought and ideals , keep it coming you are totally on with your opinions ! Just remember that words are the one gift you can never take back!
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