Palin, abstract art, and American Idol

I recall the stories of New York elitists who, in 1968, couldn't believe Hubert H. Humphrey had lost the Presidential election. "How could Nixon have won? I don't know anybody who voted for him," they all remarked. And that, in a nutshell, is their problem. If leftist elitists hang out with no one but leftist elitists, they will advocate nothing but leftist elitist programs – and they’ll fail to understand the average American (who doesn’t use his vote to seek approval from leftist elitists).

Ten people can stand together in a museum looking at a work of "abstract art,” fooling each other with comments about how it signifies "man's humanity to man," but finally one person comes along and says, "This is a piece of crap." Suddenly, seven of the 10 realize they no longer have to continue trying to impress the "elites," and walk over to view English landscape which they prefer anyway. Sarah Palin is the person who calls the abstract art a piece of crap. That is why the left despises her - they can't win elections when only three out of 10 stop believing their socialist claptrap.

People who find Sarah Palin appealing and refreshing are the same people who like Simon Cowell on “American Idol.” Just as Palin won’t pretend to admire another crackpot scheme that takes income from those who earn it in order to give it to those who didn’t, Cowell doesn’t pretend to see talent when it isn’t there. Cowell understands that you’re not doing your teenager a favor by telling her she’s the next Mariah Carey when she sounds more like Ernest Borgnine. No, you encourage the youth to develop the skills and talents that exist in non-singing areas. Palin understands that you’re not doing the poorest of the poor any favors by adding $2.25 to a minimum wage so that employers look for workers with more experience - you support low taxes that enable businesses to grow to a point where there’s a demand for more workers, and you develop a voucher system to enable the children of the poor to go to better schools where they can get the education necessary to flee the slums.

Barack Obama, of course, is the Paula Abdul of the judging panel, eager to promise wonderful careers and astronomical salaries for everyone - regardless of the facts. Joe Biden is the Randy Jackson of the trio, the affable buffoon who exists only to give “street cred” and amiable support to Abdul/Obama, and to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. McCain, like Ryan Seacrest, is the calming force, holding things together and keeping things on schedule. But Palin and Cowell are the stars – with good reason.

It doesn’t matter whether you like Cowell’s T-shirts or haircut - what’s important is that he tells it like it is, and speaks for the vast majority of viewers who’d like to slap Abdul/Obama around once in a while. Likewise, it doesn’t matter than Palin hasn’t personally met every world leader on the planet and hasn’t appeared on “Meet the Press” 175 times - what’s important is that she speaks for the average American when she tells the media to “stuff it” and is willing to expose Obama for what he is, a two-bit hustler from the Chicago political machine.

The leftists, not surprisingly, can’t stand Palin. “How dare a woman succeed through hard work and by following moral principles, rather than depending on the Democrat Party and affirmative action?” How will they react if Palin runs for President with Michael Steele as her running mate? “How dare a black man run for high office without being a member of the Democrat Party and following our agenda?” The 2012 or 2016 election night coverage should get even greater ratings than the “American Idol” finale. And, thanks to President Palin, we’ll all be able to go back to enjoying English landscape paintings.

Don Fredrick

September 13, 2008