University of Oregon College Democrats

It came as no surprise that Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said she would not rule out a run for the presidency in 2012. What is surprising is that she continues to commit numerous gaffes in the public eye, especially considering all the coaching she must be receiving from the folks at the Fox News Channel. To be sure, they have her best interests in mind, and are likely hand-crafting her soundbites to be suited for future political office. The latest ‘mandation’ comment made by America’s favorite hockey mom, attempting to reference a ‘mandate’ in American health-care reform, is yet another display which lacks basic linguistic competency.  These laughable instances echoe those made by former President George W. Bush; a figure whose political skills have returned from the grave and taken a female form. The comparisons between Bush and Palin started when the former stormed on the scene in 2008. For several reasons, however, I think Bush was much better suited for the nation’s executive office than Palin.

I hear friends often say in response to a potential Palin presidency, “Hey, well, American elected Bush twice, and he was just as dumb.” He may be as intellectually challenged, but I disagree with the assertion of this statement; that Palin is as electable as Curious George. First off, she has no history of political saavy. While Bush had his father’s political machine at his disposal and considerable experience around the American presidency, Palin has none. Though there are religious conservatives prepared to flock to her potential candidacy, and republicans undoubtedly organizing on her behalf as we speak, Palin lacks national political merit; concerning herself only with libraries in Wasilla, policies surrounding fish and game, and bridges to nowhere in her past experience. Additionally, at least Bush completed his term as Texas Governor. Palin’s surprising resignation in 2009 discredits her current claim of wanting to devote her life to public service. Bush’s term as Governor may have been destructive, but at least it was consistent. He started out as incompetent politically as Palin, but managed the governor’s office in Texas with steady conservative principles, unlike the roller coast ride that Alaska was subject to. In short, he was coachable. Although he was invariably subject to verbal missteps, it seems to me that Bush actually listened to his political advisors, and these gaffes only came in the context of a concrete, conservative (albeit wrong and harmful) ideology. Sarah Palin seems to have no idea what the hell she is doing. Although Bush was himself deficient, his father’s political acumen and organization surrounded him with people who could get him elected. I’m not sure a parade of hockey moms and teabaggers can do that.

Palin made some other strange remarks recently. She said something along the lines of, “I dont want a law professor running our foreign policy,” articulating instead the necessity of “winning in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Brilliant. Evidently, a journalism graduate who attended four different higher level institutions, including Matanuska-Susitna and North Idaho College, is more qualified to lead American diplomacy than a man who studied international relations at Colombia, and then received a J.D. from Harvard Law School. That’s an interesting precedent. Bush may not have thrived at Yale, and may have only been accepted because of family influence, but at least the man earned a degree from one of the prestigious institutions which are becoming prerequisites for national office, unlike Palin.

In the end, however, it doesn’t matter if I think Palin is less electable than Bush. What matters is not the facts, unfortunately. The frames are the things that matter. Studies show that people respond not to facts, but to frames, or the comprehensive worldviews they subscribe to. If the potential Palin 2012 campaign can secure a broad niche among gun-toting NRA members, religious fundamentalists, single mothers inhabiting middle-America, and other groups, intelligence and verbal gaffes won’t be an isse, just as they weren’t for Obama’s predecessor. That’s what is scary.