About The Cover

Out of hand, I dismissed Sarah Palin's claim that Newsweek's cover shot is sexist because she posed for the picture and has made a rather obvious habit of deflecting substantive criticism with calls of chauvinism. To my bewilderment, Media Matters is actually playing defense for Palin:

Like her or not, Palin is a former governor and vice presidential candidate. She deserves the same respect every single one of her male counterparts receives when they are featured on the cover of the magazine. I must have missed the cover of Vice President Joe Biden in short shorts or of Mitt Romney in a bathing suit.

What nonsense. It should go without commenting that Biden and Romney have never posed in short shorts or a bathing suit. The pictures don't exist. Just like a picture of Hillary Clinton wearing make-up and spandex doesn't exist. And the reason those pictures don't exist is because those politicians don't want to market themselves that way.

This image of the athletic woman who is never far from her Blackberry, American flag or running shoes is a spot-on illustration of the very do-it-all, multi-tasking hockey mom caricature that Sarah Palin has worked hard to create. I have yet to see an interview with Palin that doesn't involve her mentioning her hectic day, her patriotism and her need to run away the stress. That this picture could be construed as sexist is more of an indictment of the persona Palin has carved out for herself -- one that is stereotypically feminine -- than it is on the judgment of Newsweek editors who are merely reflecting Palin's own marketing campaign. Palin wants people to focus on her life as a governor and mom. She hasn't shown any interest in having people focus on her plan for reducing the debt or engaging in multi-lateral talks with Iran. And that, as Newsweek asks, is the very problem with Sarah. She has ascended because of a celebrity following built around her personality and not her proposals. Which is exactly what this picture speaks to.

Of course, none of this would have happened without Palin bringing attention to the photo. Instead of focusing on a tough article from Christopher Hitchens with loads of worthy criticism, Palin has gotten us to focus on her role as victim. Which also happens to be a major part of the persona Palin has created for herself. In that respect, this picture and the subsequent fallout has captured Palin as both a hard-working mom and victim of the media. Palin wouldn't have it any other way.