Why is it that women are often other women's worst enemies? The attack by Dorothy Rabinowitz on Sarah Palin ("What Sarah Palin Doesn't Know," op-ed, Feb. 18) is but one recent example. Sarah Palin's common-sense opposition to out-of-control government spending and a mounting national debt is a prime reason she has been so successful. She speaks about these issues in a language all can understand.
I was raised during the Great Depression and know what we are in for if we continue down the path President Obama has so eloquently prepared for us. The catchy line in Ms. Palin's tea party speech "How's that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?" may have displeased Ms. Rabinowitz, but it certainly resonated with many Americans.
As for Gov. Palin running for high office at some time in the future, she had more executive experience under her belt at the time of the last election than did Mr. Obama. This fact escaped many media types who could only laud Mr. Obama's eloquence while ignoring what lay below the rhetoric.
It will be difficult for any intelligent, beautiful woman to achieve high office in this country until we get over the idea that feminine beauty, by nature, indicates a vacuous bimbo, while an inexperienced but charming man who speaks eloquently is, by definition, ready to lead this great country.
Muriel Ross, Albuquerque, N.M.
The vast heartland of America ("the real America") is seething with rage against the political and intellectual elites in Washington and New York. Ms. Rabinowitz seems to believe that Sarah Palin is a "fringe" player who lacks the intelligence to be president. Exactly the same was said of Ronald Reagan. The true outliers of American politics are the elitists who can see no further west than Cambridge or Alexandria.
Jeffrey Folks, Knoxville, Tenn.
Ms. Rabinowitz is offended by the term "the real America," but all of our citizens, if asked, would say they are real Americans, even the so-called elite.
What Ms. Rabinowitz doesn't get is that the elite are well represented in Washington. But those people "out there in the real world with steel-toed boots and hard hats" feel they are no longer represented. Sarah Palin offers a relief from the frustration we all feel about Washington politics.
Frank C. Petrine, Denver
Sarah Palin is on the rise and it is because she is making all the right decisions. She has provided solutions to the problems Washington and Obama are creating. She upsets Obama supporters because Obama is failing miserable and Palin is calling him on it. Obama is so incredibly incompetent, clearly not intelligent and his supporters can see this. Obama supporters are venting their frustration on the only politician that keeps pointing out he is a disaster. So when you see or hear Sarah Palin being denigrated it is always from an Obama spporter.
John Angel, New York, NY
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