The Palin Factor: Shaun Hautly

I think Palin is an underdog for many people. Being a woman, and a younger woman, no less, stacks the odds against her. People cheer for that automatically. She has a child with down-syndrome and another that got pregnant as a teenager. She gets pummeled by the media every time she opens her mouth, it's not hard to feel bad for her as a person. However, her political opinions seem archaic to many people: the nuke-em-all, drill-baby-drill, no-homos, and other strong conservative views turn many people off. The 1774 republican is slowly going extinct and she may very well be just the martyr they need.

However, regardless of my political opinions, there is no doubt something incredible about Sarah Palin. Something still makes her a threat to democrats and keeps us talking about her. One of the reasons democrats consistently put her down is likely because she's a legitimate threat. Bullies always picked on the kids they were jealous of, and this is no different. It's a complement to her every time we address her. She has a legitimate following just like Obama did. I know her supporters seem stupid and misinformed sometimes (and as they're portrayed in the media), but I know first-hand, Obama supports were just as dumb and he got elected. I interviewed hundreds of people in tons of US cities, all of them said, "Change!" I asked, "how?" they responded, "uhhhhhhh." People latch onto a relatable image, and our voters just aren't smart enough to see beyond marketing. That's why Axe Body spray is so popular, not because it's a great product, but because it makes you a man.

That's what Palin is to many people, a sub-par product that's marketed correctly. However, that didn't stop Obama. This is what our system produces, candidates and separation. Rivalries and unhappiness. Palin may get elected and make just as many people happy as Obama did, and piss off the same number. I'm anxious to see what Palin does in the upcoming months to solidify her status as a genuine politician ready to take America to the next level. She did Jay Leno, and who knows what's in store. Obama made his rounds, now she's making hers. Let's see where this goes.

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