Somebody Like Me?

Much has been made of how the recent election is important - in part - because for the first time many people can see that "somebody like me" is in charge.   Hat tip to Ann Bares for sharing this quote from Peggy Noonan's article in the weekend WSJ:

"It is a matter of profound importance that everyone in a nation know that with whatever facts they start their life, there is a clear and open route to rise.  It is a less great country in which routes, and heights, are closed off or limited by things that, if you some day get to heaven, you will look back on and realize were silly, stupid; class, color, condition.  That country will be greatest that offers its citizens the most possibilities in which to find happiness.  There is power to be had in the full unleashing of human capital.  So: a great night for America.  I’ve yet to meet up with a conservative, a Republican or a McCain voter not aware of and moved by this aspect of the election’s outcome."

I am genuinely happy for everyone who finally feels that "somebody like me" can make it.  It IS profoundly important for this country that this event has occurred.  I'm just waiting for my turn to feel that way.

You see, that's partly why I was eager to look for the positives in Sarah Palin.  I saw her as somebody like me.  She is clearly  a bright woman.  She has a lot of potential and talent that is just screaming to be developed and expressed.   But Sarah grew up in the wrong place, participating in the wrong extracurricular activities, and went to the wrong schools.  Her work-family existence wasn't a clear cut path.  Instead it was a hodge podge of taking time off for kids, spending a lot of time volunteering, going for it with career opportunities when they did come along, and always trying to grow and use her talents.  She had a habit of talking too much and was open and unashamed about her faith.  Frankly, it's a lot like how my life has come together.  And lo and behold it seemed like that ad hoc approach just might add up to something big.

But the media and other detractors were quick to point out that she lived "on the wrong side of the tracks" so to speak, her education was deficient, and her family life simply not good enough.  In short, she was from the wrong social class.  Yes folks, feminists proclaim to be concerned with issues of "race, class, and gender" but the dirty little secret of the recent political go-round was that class matters in a BIG way, and if you are from the wrong social class, you'd best mind your place or you will be skewered and mocked for daring to dream big. 

I found the attacks on her accent to be particularly telling.  Were Sarah Palin from India, the Middle East, or Harlem, it would have been UNTHINKABLE to mention her accent.  But because she was from Alaska and spoke with the flat twang that those of us with rural backgrounds understand instead of those condescending errs and ummms that distinguish "elite" speech, her manner of talk was fair game.  If you don't like her politics, fine.  But to highlight her accent?  Could you be any more transparent in your disdain of those of us raised working class?

But there were plenty of other mothers who were prominent figures in this election.  Surely I  identified with them, right?  Not true.  Hillary Clinton is a working mother, but she had an elite education and a clear career trajectory from early on.  Nope - not a bit like me.  Michelle Obama is also a working mother.  But profile after profile pointed out that although she grew up with limited financial resources she came from a loving home with parents who encouraged and supported her in setting and going for big goals.  I'm happy for Ms. Obama, but that experience in no way mirrors my childhood.  Rielle Hunter?  After all, she talked openly about her spirituality!  Ahhh, let's not go there...

Further evidence that social class matters for ambitious women more than ever these days?  Check out 85 Broads- they proclaim themselves to be the "smartest women in the smartest companies worldwide"   Big diss to oh so many of us who were born and raised "cracker" through no choice of our own.  Despite the fact that I am working on my 2nd graduate degree, I do not qualify for membership because none of the schools I attended is an elite school. 

Yet, despite the overwhelming odds I still believe it when Peggy Noonan says that for anyone in this country, "With whatever facts they start their life, there is a clear and open route to rise." 

I have to believe it, or else go back to bed and stay there.

Comments

[Alex Beamish]

I know the reason I wasn't crazy about Governor Palin was that she didn't appear to be that knowledgable about the world and about current affairs. Choosing this woman appeared to be more of a tactical choice than one that would have worked well, had Senator McCain been elected President.

If Governor Palin is serious about running in 2012, she's got plenty of time to improve herself.

[Karl Staib - Work Happy Now]

I think we all have to believe that anything is possible. I know I wouldn't be trying to do what I want to do without blind faith. The thing is I have this feeling inside that I'm going to succeed, nothing can stop me. I cultivate that feeling and keep on trying various angles to help me reach my goals.

I'm not going to stop until my business is flying high.

Great article and good comment by Alex. I thought his words were balanced and honest.

[Stella Commute]

I know what you mean about "like me" -- I grew up very poor (no heat in our house, no dental or health care, often no car) in a very small town (Wasilla would have looked like a big city to me growing up). But to say that Sarah Palin is from the wrong side of the tracks because she grew up in a small town is not really true: both her parents were employed. Her father was a school teacher and thus had health insurance, a secure job with if not lavish, certainly above minimum wage pay. Her parents had enough money to send her to several schools -- that none of them was an "elite" school was most likely a matter of choice (or reality based on SAT scores). Poor people don't fly their daughter to Hawaii to attend university, and then fly her back when she doesn't like it. Poor people send their children to community college and hope that they'll be able to go to the local state college when they figure out what they want to do.

Nothing in Sarah Palin's background sounds like the "wrong side of the tracks" to me. In fact, many people educated at state institutions like the University of Idaho have gone on to great careers and prominence -- including the VP Elect, Joe Biden, a University of Delaware alumnus.

The problem with Sarah Palin is that she hasn't yet taken advantage of opportunities to educate herself. She seems largely content to rely on what she believes to be true, rather than having the discipline to seek out varied sources and form an opinion based on fact.

Her responses to direct questions about issues that should certainly be within the purview of the Governor of a large state are wanting. You can argue that working two jobs to support a family might keep you from exploring the world more fully, but when your job is governor of a state, you might should be familiar with Supreme Court cases that directly affect the well being of that state -- like one that was handed down in June 2008 that drastically reduced money coming to the state as a result of the Valdez spill.

I'm sorry, but being able to speak clearly, remember facts that you learned more than five weeks ago, and think on your feet are fundamental job requirements for Vice President. Sarah Palin did not demonstrate these basic skills. If you interviewed a job candidate who did such a poor job tying her previous experience to the specific requirements of the new job, you'd show her the door, no matter how much of a rapport you felt.

[erotik shop]

I think we all have to believe that anything is possible. I know I wouldn't be trying to do what I want to do without blind faith. The thing is I have this feeling inside that I'm going to succeed, nothing can stop me. I cultivate that feeling and keep on trying various angles to help me reach my goals