“Bible dipping” helped memoirist Augustin Burroughs answer some of life’s difficult questions. Apparently, Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin read special significance into the printed matter on her Starbucks cup.
In a speech to conservative Californians yesterday, Gov. Palin declared it "providential" that her Starbucks mocha cup carried a special message from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. (Mis)quoting her source, Palin said, "There’s a place in Hell reserved for women who don’t support other women." And after making that inflammatory statement, she laid down a gauntlet for the media. "[L]et’s see what a comment like I just made, how that is turned into whatever it’ll be turned into tomorrow with the newspapers." (video here)
To her credit, Palin did finally reveal one of her daily reads. But God help me, I hope I’m missing her point. Is she really suggesting that women who don’t support the McCain-Palin ticket should plan to spend eternity in hell? And is she twisting the former Secretary of State’s statement as proof?
Ignore, if you can, the dog-whistling. Put aside for now the fears Albright expressed about Palin’s candidacy, and the fact that Albright’s quotation refers to helping other women, not supporting them. When the smoke clears, Palin’s abhorrent record on women’s issues (right to privacy, equal pay, and victim protection, among others) speaks for itself.
I think it’s pretty obvious how newspapers should treat this affront to women. Fight fire with fire, I say. Madame Secretary, I hope you’ll come to the microphone today and help us out.
Edited to add Ms. Albright’s response: Though I am flattered that Governor Palin has chosen to cite me as a source of wisdom, what I said had nothing to do with politics. This is yet another example of McCain and Palin distorting the truth, and all the more reason to remember that this campaign is not about gender, it is about which candidate has an agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans, including women. The truth is, if you care about the status of women in our society and in our troubled economy, the best choice by far is Obama-Biden.
I just read about this. I’m so very tired of her and the dog whistles.
I find most offensive the dog-whistles that make (not-so) oblique references to religion.
It’s pretty ironic considering the rights she’s trying to strip away from women.
Is it tongue and cheek?
Lol re: now I finally know one of her reading sources…hahah!
You are so right. It’s ironic in a not-funny-at-all kind of way.
I know, right?
So scary.
I didn’t see it myself, so maybe I’m misinterpreting; from your description here it almost seems like she’s just baiting the media to see what they do with her statement, more than an actual statement that she really believes this. Maybe she feels like her words are being twisted, and she’s reacting.
Playing games with media gossip doesn’t make me feel any better than the idea of getting one’s life goals from random messages on coffee cups, though.
You know, there are women who make great heads of state. They usually have some credibility. Personalities like Angela Merkel (German chancellor) or Hilary might rub some people wrong, but at the same time, there’s no denying that they also come across as legitimate leaders, people to be reckoned with. Alas, I’m having a really hard time imagining Palin sitting down with hardcore leaders who don’t like us very much.
I do think she’s baiting the media. It’s also a thinly-disguised dog-whistle to reel in certain constituents.
I so agree with you about strong role models who represent women well. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine her sharing the same room, much less the world stage.
Somebody better start stoking the fires for me then…
LOL!
That’s a joke, right?
“There’s a place in Hell reserved for women who don’t support other women.”
I wonder if Palin’s reserved spot faces the fiery pit or the maw of the abyss.
She certainly has the right to judge herself/her ultimate destination against her religous beliefs. But I think her (deliberate?) misrepresentation of Albright’s words — and especially in this context — is completely out of bounds.
I absolutely agree. I can’t decide whether Palin is a political savant who is out of her league or a diabolically clever manipulator of public opinion. I wish that she and Hillary Clinton would debate. I didn’t support her for president, but Senator Clinton, I believe, would have no difficulty exposing Palin, which the Democrats, for whatever reason, decided not to let Biden do.
It would’ve looked too “mean” to let Biden expose her weaknesses.
Which says more about the situation than I can articulate.
Yep, yep. This just about says it all. Also.
I bet that was scripted for her also!
I read all your links — the one about Madeline Albright — was dated Oct 1st – I think –soooooooo
I betcha Palin didn’t even drink the coffee or even see the cup — some nasty McCain Staffer did and it went into Palin’s speech as a way to get back at Madeline Albright’s remarks about Palin
just like that ‘say it ain’t so joe’ remark Palin made at the debate — she ‘looks’ best when she has memorized a speech — by the same speech writers that wrote this Bush’s speeches in the 2000 and 2004 campaigns.
I’m sure reportes will ask M. Albright for a comment.
Re: I bet that was scripted for her also!
My thoughts exactly. However Palin was actually served up that quote (by a political operative or through divine “providence,” by way of a barista), the way she used it was inaccurate and wholly inappropriate.
As much as I wish Miz Molly was still around, not to mention Ann Richardson, who I really wish was around is the one to whom your post title can be attributed.
Can you imagine what Dottie would have to say about Madam Sarah?
I miss them now more than ever. We have to take up the slack.
I have been watching with jaw-gaping shock every time this woman opens her mouth. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Albright says.
Oh me, too!
I edited the post to add Ms. Albright’s (right on) response.
You go Ms. Albright!
The sheer misbegotten audacity and brainless babbling!!!!
Brilliantly said.
Except I do think there’s a brain trust behind this sort of statement. Surely she didn’t think this up on her own.
The response: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/05/palin-misquotes-albright_n_131967.html
Thank you!! I’ll put this up top.
It’s hard to take her seriously. It’s even harder to believe so many do. When I saw Tina Fey’s impersonation of the Katie Couric interview, I thought she was more together and intelligent than the real woman. The more I see and hear of Palin, the more she reminds me of a really bad Saturday night live skit.
I agree, and I wonder who/what she really represents. Ack! Maybe I don’t want to know.
I think I must be a political moron — when I read Palin’s statement, I thought she was saying that the press would twist whatever she said and make it negative, even though she thought it was a positive statement. Of course, if that’s truly what she meant, then she was right 😉 Or I might just be a political moron, hehe.
You’re so not a moron!
She’s a clever dog-whistler, I’ll give her that much. It’s all about context, I think.
Re: You're so not a moron!
After reading it over, it certainly seems like she’s throwing down the gauntlet, so to speak…a gauntlet she knows will have to be picked up in one manner or another!
Re: You're so not a moron!
You said it clearly, and Albright’s response ices the cake. Thank you. Hoping this all looks like a weird phase by mid-November….
To her credit, Palin did finally reveal one of her daily reads.
You got my first lol of the day!
🙂
Next thing you know, we’ll be hearing sound bites snagged from Snapple lids.
Good to see you again, by the way!!!
It’s the desperation that’s making Team McCain resort to all of these idiotic distortions of the truth, code words to rile up the base and ever-changing positions to scrape up a few more votes. Bleh. They’re getting killed in the polls and the Republicans are taking a beating in the downticket races. If the trends continue, there will be a big Democratic majority in the House and Senate to go along with President Obama.
All of this makes me really, really, really concerned about November.
That being said, Palin is an idiot. Did you know that Afghanistan is our “neighboring country” now?
Are you seriously worried about November? I’m feeling optimistic…the American public is waking up to the important choices/issues we’re facing. We just have to keep nudging our neighbors, lest they fall back asleep before Election Day.
Email me, if you’re still interested in a Monday meet-up in the near future…
*jaw hits floor*
This is the first time I’ve read about this. Just when I think that woman can’t get any worse… Well, I guess I should give her credit for being able to surprise me.
Well, then I’m glad I posted this. There’s nothing so important as an informed vote. 🙂
I usually like surprises, but this one leaves me cold.
Both sides make me sick. This may be the first time I don’t vote. I’m seriously annoyed with both candidates.
It’s an ugly election season, no doubt about that!! But in the end, we’re all equally endowed with the right and responsibility to choose the more capable candidate–or to live with the consequences, if we abdicate.
I believe participation in our democracy matters this year more than ever. Let’s pray for the wisdom of Solomon…
LOL Palin wouldn’t say what newspapers she reads but has no hesitation of mentioning what quotes she read off coffee cups… humm…I wonder if she also gets her information from restaurant placemats?
Would I be too catty if I said off bathroom walls??
She’s relying more and more on hateful innuendo. Facts? Out the window. So yeah, I don’t know where she’s getting her information, but it’s not from credible sources.