Bristol’s Shine Reflects on Sarah

A few posts back, I wrote about Sarah Palin improving her brand by letting people get to know her better:

Even better if the whole family shared some camera time to help take away the “otherness” in her negatives.

Maybe even have one of the kids solo in the spotlight for while. Say, in a competition to show how values and character and spirit were transmitted from mother to child.

That same day, this appeared on Bristol Palin’s Facebook page:

Recently, a left wing commentator named Keith Olbermann attacked me for being a spokesperson for abstinence education and for being an Ambassador for the Candies Foundation, which promotes teen pregnancy awareness and prevention education. He went so far as to call me "the worst person" he knows, apparently, for my efforts to educate teenagers about the real world risks of premarital sex.

Accusing me of hypocrisy is by now, an old canard. What Mr. Olbermann lacks in originality he makes up for with insincere incredulity. Mr. Olbermann fails to understand that in order to have credibility as a spokesperson, it sometimes takes a person who has made mistakes. Parents warn their children about the mistakes they made so they are not repeated. Former gang members travel to schools to educate teenagers about the risks of gang life. Recovered addicts lecture to others about the risks of alcohol and drug abuse. And yes, a teen mother talks about the benefits of preventing teen pregnancy.

I have never claimed to be perfect. If that makes me the "worst person in the world" to Mr. Olbermann, then I must apologize for not being absolutely faultless like he undoubtedly must be.

To Mr. Olbermann let me say this: you can attack me all you want. But you will not stop me from getting my message out about teen pregnancy prevention. And one day, if you ever have a daughter, you may change your mind about me.

Bristol Palin

Sounds like Sarah’s values and spirit are strong in the next generation of Palins. And it’s more evidence of how much the Palin experience genuinely overlaps with the “average American” experience. Where’s the “otherness” in an unplanned pregnancy?

A measured dose of victimhood activates our protective instincts and desire to root for the underdog. Plus, Bristol doesn’t write like a rube.

This kind of thing will not convert Olbermann, but this is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind to start flipping those negative perceptions.

A post over at Maggie’s Farm took up the hot topic of Palin’s prospects, with the conclusion that she is likeable and all, but unqualified to be President. Several commenters joined that opinion, repeating her negatives. I commented:

I’m amused that so many are spending so much energy trying to convince each other of her shortcomings.

Meanwhile, she’s out there working on what might be a brilliant campaign to extend the value of her brand. If her negatives are not rooted in much fact and are more the product of Big Media defining her, she needs more people to see more of her without too much “handling”. Then the eyes will start to contradict the preconceptions and she gains credibility and support.

There are a million reasons to lose and only a few paths to victory. Rather than dwell on all the difficulties, I find it far more interesting to speculate on how she could win. So far, she’s on the path.

H/T: Borepatch