Infuriating Comments of the Day: The Virtues of the GOP

Instead of doing something productive, I am watching MSNBC. David Schuster is interviewing spokespersons from the Obama and McCain campaigns over the $150,000 wardrobe.

Schuster asks the McCain supporter about the clothes, especially since a number of RNC supporters are upset over the expenditures, especially when the money could help down-ticket races. Here is the spokesperson's response:

Schuster: Are you embarrassed [over the expenditures]?

McCain supporter: Not at all. First of all, she is worth every penny. And I think most of the people in the Republican party and those writing checks for this campaign and the RNC would agree that she is. Sarah Palin is a...

Schuster (interrupting): Do you think most independents and moderates in this country would agree?

McCain supporter: Yes I do, quite frankly, if they were given a fair shot to really looks at the facts at this, which I do not think they have. Palin has been taking this beating in the media.

Schuster: [I'm paraphrasing] Well, lay out the facts.

McCain supporter: Well, when you look at what type of family that the Palin's are, they are not a wealthy family. And I think when you are put on the national stage and running for the Vice-President you are expected to look good and it takes more for women and we all know that. I do not think anyone has a problem with that. Sarah Palin...

Obama supporter, interrupting: I do not think anyone is begrudging her new wardrobe.

McCain supporter (responding to the interruption): I'm making my point. The fact of the matter is Sarah Palin didn;t the cash in to make a lot of money on a book deal to become wealthy, like the Obama's did and the Clintons quite frankly. So she doesn't have the wealth behind her. Plus the women just gave birth in April and doesn't have a wardrope. She had to come up with this quickly.

I don't think there is any problem with this. I think that it is petty that people are looking at it like this. And I think that if she were not an attractive woman, that she didn't look good in those clothes, we wouldn't be talking about this.

Schuster: It was her choice, or the RNC's choice, to shop at high end stores.

Using this conversation as the representative anecdote of the McCain campaign and Palin supporters, we can see the virtues of the modern day GOP.

First, it does not matter what the facts of the candidate's personal life. Palin is an averaqge "Joe" or "Jane" "Six-pack" even though, according to the Anchorage Daily New, she lives in a $552,000 home, her family owns a small plane, as well as other recreational vehicles. I know a lot of "average" people with her level of income, personal net worth, and recreational vehicles.

Second, intellectual achievements, such as receiving a book deal or writing your own book, are virtues that need to be scoffed at and publicly ridiculed.

Third, what matters most is not how much money was spent but how the candidate looks and, does Palin looks good even as it diminishes her ethos.

Fourth, it's the media's fault. They just aren't fair. [They should be like Fox News.]

I will give credit to the McCain spokesperson for one thing: pointing out that it may be difficult to have clothes that fit after pregnancy. However, by connecting to the importance of appearances and diminishing intellectual capabilities of individuals, the modern day GOP appeals to those who care little about coherent arguments, especially in a reality-based community.