Sarah Palin’s Personification Of Narcissism

When John McCain named her as his running-mate, the presidential campaign was effectively over. After last Friday, she has reached the point of no return. She comes across as very delusional—to actually think she has any realistic chance of being a credible candidate for president.

[National: Political Commentary]

During last year’s presidential election, Alaska governor Sarah Palin infamously accused Barack Obama of “pallin’ around with terrorists.” 

Of course this was an outright lie.  So, after last Friday’s press announcement that she was resigning her position as governor, one might rightly conclude that she has been “pallin’ around with incompetence.”  But, in her case, this much is true.

When John McCain named her as his running-mate, the presidential campaign was effectively over. This will go down as the worst vice presidential pick in history. She brought absolutely nothing to the ticket.  If you are still trying to solidify your base of support in August before a November election, you are in big trouble.  

A young, 45 years old, somewhat decent looking female who could read a teleprompter fairly well, was supposed to help win an election? What did that say about John McCain’s judgment and the Republican Party?  It showed how desperate they were.

Palin had little experience, no vision, and was and is politically tone deaf. From a PR perspective, she needed –and never received—voice training. Her voice is very irritating to listen too because of it’s pitch. She misuses the English language; folksy talking may work in Alaska, but it doesn’t come across well in a national campaign. 

She also should have been told to leave her children at home. Her using her children as props was very weird. Dragging around her infant Downs Syndrome child was bordering on abuse. How do you justify dragging around a newborn on planes and having him on stage after 10 p.m. exposed to thousands of people? Some people will do anything for power.

She demanded that her family be off limits, but she constantly injected them into as many campaign activities as she could. After the campaign it got worse. She and her family had all manner of family issues debated in the media. Again, this was of her choosing.  As opposed to acting like the governor of a state and a mature adult, she got into a pissing contest with the 18 year old father of her grandchild. 

Last month she got into another pissing contest with comedian David Letterman.  In both cases it involved Palin’s family.  Again, she tried to use her family as pawns and in both cases it backfired on her.  

So, it should be no surprise that she would make another bad, irrational decision like resigning in the middle of her first term as governor.  Last week’s press conference was the most illogical, rambling, embarrassing political event I had ever seen.

If she ever wants to be taken seriously, the first thing she needs to do is shut up. Every time she talks, she continues to confuse even those who are trying to be open-minded about her.  The more she talks, the dumber we get. 

She looked idiotic being interviewed in fishing garb—waders, shortly thereafter.  What was she thinking, allowing herself to be interviewed in that type of attire? She needs to stop granting interviews and just disappear for a year. But, after last Friday, she has reached the point of no return.  She comes across as very delusional—to actually think she has any realistic chance of being a credible candidate for president.

Even if she were to get 100% of the conservative vote in a primary, that is only a third of the Republican vote—by 2012, this number will be down to about 25%. How does she get to 50%? She doesn’t. She has totally repulsed women, independents, and suburban voters. There is no viability to her at all.

If she is the future of the party, then I am the past. What does it say about the state of the Republican Party when people continue to say she is one of the “leaders” in the party?  What is that based on?  Name examples of her showing leadership.  
 
She is the personification of narcissism—totally self absorbed.  Someone in the party needs to sit her down and have a heart to heart meeting with her to let her know that she is damaged goods.

Is her political career over? 

“You Betcha!”

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC, a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm.

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