Since being announced as the running mate to Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, Gov. Sarah Palin has suffered the onslaught of the liberal left - and survived.
I know it's not easy knowing that just about every rumor that's ever been told about you is now repeated across the internet - instantly. But it's even harder when it's your children they're talking about.
Tonight's speech shows she's got what it takes to not only survive such attacks, but also how to hit back. And she did so with a velvet glove, using soft words in a strong way.
As the mother of a member of the military, she has a unique perspective, but one shared with hundreds of thousands of other mothers. And when she speaks about a commander in chief, her words carry extra weight.
"He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years, and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight.
And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief."
With opponents making fun of the 'fly-over' area of the United States, Palin reminds us just what is so special about all those small towns.
"A writer observed: "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty, sincerity, and dignity." I know just the kind of people that writer had in mind when he praised Harry Truman.
I grew up with those people.
They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America ... who grow our food, run our factories, and fight our wars.
They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America."
And she works in a small dig relating to Michelle Obama's comment about being proud of her country - but in a way that draws a contrast between what the majority of American's think, and what the wife of her opponent thinks.
And then she takes the gloves off:
"When I ran for city council, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too.
Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.
And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.
I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.
We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."
Wow - I love it! A comparison between a mayor/governor and a 'community organizer' combined with pointing out the elitism exhibited by their opponent when it comes to those middle America values.
She also takes on the media, showing she's not afraid of them and can certainly hold her own.
"I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment.
And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.
But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people."
One of Pres. Ronald Reagan's great accomplishments was to go directly to the American people with his ideas, ideals and proposals. He did this successfully, knowing that the real power in Washington is not in the elected officials, but in those they are supposed to be serving. Palin does the same thing and I expect the American public, especially in light of the 'news' stories the last couple of days, will respond similarly - embracing those ideas as their own while rejecting the know-it-alls in the media and the capital.
While she details many of her accomplishments she's achieved in Alaska, perhaps the most recognizable success story was her rejection of a particular pork project.
"I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves."
Being from a state overflowing with natural resources, she certainly speaks with authority when it comes to gas and oil.
As I've said before, campaigns are all about contrasts. After telling the American public what she's done, she then points out what Obama hasn't:
"We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers.
And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.
But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world."
And when it comes to change, and why McCain is a better choice than Obama, she hits a home run.
"In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.
...
Among politicians, there is the idealism of high-flown speechmaking, in which crowds are stirringly summoned to support great things.
And then there is the idealism of those leaders, like John McCain, who actually do great things. They're the ones who are good for more than talk ... the ones we have always been able to count on to serve and defend America.
...
My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of "personal discovery." This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer.
And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely.
There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain.
...
For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words.
For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.""
Strong words from a strong vice presidential candidate, delivered with humor. Palin has handled tough opponents and tough races before, and tonight we saw that she can handle the 2008 election as well.
Pundits are saying that 'a star is born' in the GOP. I'd say that the GOP actually has many such stars - but they've been overlooked by those pundits because they're usually in the small towns and cities, just serving in the best way they know how.
