Sarah Palin is a once in a lifetime conservative talent.
Her speech tonight was eloquent and substantive. She was tough, pit bull tough, but with a smile . . . and as she put it: “with lipstick”. The best political speech, under great pressure, to date in this campaign was given by Senator Obama on the topic of race. It made me cry with its thoughtful exposition of race in America. No group has suffered the horrible oppression of the African-American community.
Tonight Senator Palin made a speech that equaled his in every way in defense of a different group. This group did not suffer slavery, but it has been taken for granted, mocked, ignored, and marginalized. Small town America also is expected to pay taxes, fight wars, and loyally serve and is rewarded by pious platitudes of gratitude by politicians who mock them when their backs are turned.
Sarah Palin spoke for those people tonight.
The small towns of American often surprise us this way. They are ignored and mocked. Politicians come to them and promise big things, but then forget them when they get into power. The self-styled Solons of the day sniff at their schools and their values.
Tonight, from the great North, came the voice of those people. They will be ignored no longer. Sarah Palin has given them a voice. They are smart without intellectualism. They are wise without pretense. They are passionate without being self-absorbed. I have known people like this my whole life, but rarely have I heard their hopes and dreams defended and articulated so well.
Sarah Palin is not merely defending an exotic people group when she defends small town America. She is part of small town America.
Yet like Ronald Reagan, Palin made her defense without cutting off the rest of the American story. She can love her roots without hating the cities. She could recognize in her salute to the accomplishments of Senator Obama that urban America is also ignored and exploited. The difference, as she made clear, was that when she sought office she defied the bosses when she discovered their corruption while Senator Obama did not.
Chicago is one of the most corrupt political machines in America and Senator Obama has never challenged it. He is a great symbol of change, but when he could defy the bosses that help oppress brave and ignored people, he did little. He worked in the establishment.
Palin defied the rural and small town Boss Tweeds and earned their hatred. Tonight she has the admiration of over eighty percent of her state, but the enmity of the establishments of both parties.
Palin is no saint and conservatives do not need saviors, political or otherwise. This was one great speech, but if she continues as she has begun (God willing!), then she will be a major figure in American politics for the rest of my lifetime.