# Is Palin a celebrity now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 5, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251 "2008-09-05T23:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/1 "2008-09-05T23:47:42Z")
I think she qualifies as the flavor of the week, if not the month, the fresh new face everyone wants to know better, the hot chick, the exciting voice we all clamor to hear…well, you get where I’m going, I trust. Does this mean Obama can now run ads with her amid quick cuts to Beyonce and Tina Fey and Pam Anderson, and replay the tumultuous reception Palin got that the RNC with the crowd going wild greeting her, and ask snotty voice over questions–“Do we really need another celebrity right now?” bbbyyy… Obama won’t touch this with a stick, of course, and I’m not seriously proposing that he should. But he could, couldn’t he? And be perfectly fair doing it, too. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/2 "2008-09-05T23:53:05Z")
Obama even hinting about anything like this would be approximately the most stupid thing he could possibly do. (Not that it wasn’t incredibly stupid coming from McCain, but if Obama did it he’d be blowing his own feet off.) And that ‘celebrity’ crap was more about his massive following than his 15-minutes of fameness. When we see massive organizations of Palinophiles forming, then we can talk. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/3 "2008-09-05T23:57:49Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Obama even hinting about anything like this would be approximately the most stupid thing he could possibly do. (Not that it wasn’t incredibly stupid coming from McCain, but if Obama did it he’d be blowing his own feet off.) > > And that ‘celebrity’ crap was more about his massive following than his 15-minutes of fameness. When we see massive organizations of Palinophiles forming, then we can talk. You mean it wouldn’t be okay if he explained “Hey, get a sense of humor,” McCain-style?😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/4 "2008-09-05T23:58:18Z")
Considering her over-exposure is mostly (say 70%) due to dems not liking her, would this tactic work? “We’ve spent so much time talking about why Sarah is a bad person that we’ve made her a celebrity. Do you want to vote for a celebrity?” He wouldn’t really do it, anyway. It smells too much of a “So’s your mom” comeback. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/5 "2008-09-06T00:00:34Z")
I think it’s a GREAT idea! Bound to be a winner! Also, you guys should next go into a lengthy attack on her hair color and style, as well as how fat she looks in a business suit! I really think you guys are getting traction…don’t give up, keep on keepin on! -XT ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/6 "2008-09-06T00:07:00Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I think it’s a GREAT idea! Bound to be a winner! Also, you guys should next go into a lengthy attack on her hair color and style, as well as how fat she looks in a business suit… I don’t know about all that, but I wish someone would teach her how to wave properly. Her wave is somewhere between Forrest Gump’s and that guy Bob in the Viagra ads. ---
**Author:** ![headshok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@headshok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/headshok)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/7 "2008-09-06T00:08:57Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Does this mean Obama can now run ads with her amid quick cuts to Beyonce and Tina Fey and Pam Anderson, and replay the tumultuous reception Palin got that the RNC with the crowd going wild greeting her, and ask snotty voice over questions–“Do we really need another celebrity right now?” bbbyyy… She’s good-looking, charismatic, and she’s definitely achieved rock star status among social conservatives, so yeah, I think she qualifies as a celebrity. I agree with **begbert2** , though, that attacking her on that score would be a bad idea. He already got zinged on the small-town mayor/community organizer thing, so he would be smart not to open himself up for more attacks on his own (real or perceived) weaknesses. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/8 "2008-09-06T00:21:35Z")
> [@headshok](#): > > She’s good-looking, charismatic, and she’s definitely achieved rock star status among social conservatives, so yeah, I think she qualifies as a celebrity. I agree with **begbert2** , though, that attacking her on that score would be a bad idea. He already got zinged on the small-town mayor/community organizer thing, so he would be smart not to open himself up for more attacks on his own (real or perceived) weaknesses. Oh, it’s a colossally dumb idea, I have no doubt. But it always was. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/9 "2008-09-06T00:56:54Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I think she qualifies as the flavor of the week, if not the month, the fresh new face everyone wants to know better, the hot chick, the exciting voice we all clamor to hear…well, you get where I’m going, I trust. > > Does this mean Obama can now run ads with her amid quick cuts to Beyonce and Tina Fey and Pam Anderson, and replay the tumultuous reception Palin got that the RNC with the crowd going wild greeting her, and ask snotty voice over questions–“Do we really need another celebrity right now?” bbbyyy… > > Obama won’t touch this with a stick, of course, and I’m not seriously proposing that he should. But he could, couldn’t he? And be perfectly fair doing it, too. The above wouldn’t work, but, the fundamental point you bring up is correct. As I mentioned in another thread: I find it extremely funny how Republicans, who made fun of Democrats for “drinking the kool-aid” and falling for a vacuous celebrity with no experience are now “drinking the kool-aid” and falling for a vacuous celebrity with no experience. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/10 "2008-09-06T01:26:48Z")
She’s been a celebrity for eight days. I sure hope it’s the flavor of the week/15 minutes of fame thing. Because if she takes off with the conservative base in the next two months the way Obama did last winter, it may be a very tough election night for the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/11 "2008-09-06T01:50:55Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I think it’s a GREAT idea! Bound to be a winner! [My Fair Lady](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Fair_Lady) was a smash hit when it came out in 1956. Palin is [beginning to look like a remake:](http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/no_interviews_till_shes_ready.php) > [@](#): > > A senior McCain campaign official advises that, despite the gaggle of requests and pressure from the media, Gov. Sarah Palin won’t submit to a formal interview anytime soon. She may take some questions from local news entities in Alaska, but until she’s ready – and until she’s comfortable – which might not be for a long while – the media will have to wait. The campaign believes it can effectively deal with the media’s complaints, and their on-the-record response to all this will be: “Sarah Palin needs to spend time with the voters.” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/12 "2008-09-06T02:26:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Her wave is somewhere between Forrest Gump’s and that guy Bob in the Viagra ads. That’s not fair! Bob Dole can’t wave properly because he was shot in the back and arm in WWII. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/13 "2008-09-06T11:19:24Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > The above wouldn’t work, but, the fundamental point you bring up is correct. As I mentioned in another thread: I find it extremely funny how Republicans, who made fun of Democrats for “drinking the kool-aid” and falling for a vacuous celebrity with no experience are now “drinking the kool-aid” and falling for a vacuous celebrity with no experience. If she had no experience, then I think you’d have a point. That’s not an accurate claim, though. Does she have copious amounts of experience? No, but that’s not the same as having none whatsoever. And I say this as someone who’s not yet sold on Palin. Even though I’m not sold on her, I can recognize an unfair accusation when I see one. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/14 "2008-09-06T11:28:22Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > If she had no experience, then I think you’d have a point. That’s not an accurate claim, though. Does she have copious amounts of experience? No, but that’s not the same as having none whatsoever. > > And I say this as someone who’s not yet sold on Palin. Even though I’m not sold on her, I can recognize an unfair accusation when I see one. I see. Obama has no experience whatsoever. And you “can recognize an unfair accusation when [you] see one.” Sounds fair and balanced to me. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/15 "2008-09-06T11:56:07Z")
The McCain campaign and surrogates have been proudly touting her as “a rock star”. Those folks aren’t just hypocrites, they’re hypocrites with giant balls. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/16 "2008-09-06T14:47:11Z")
Celebrities are allowed out in public. Sarah Palin has to stay in the house until her minders say it’s okay for her to come out and play. Even Paris Hilton is allowed to go on Larry King Live. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/17 "2008-09-06T15:32:21Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I see. Obama has no experience whatsoever. And you “can recognize an unfair accusation when [you] see one.” And if I had claimed that Obama had no experience whatsoever, you would have a valid objection. I made no such claim though, as you know full well. As previous discussions show, I fully acknowledge that he has experience, albeit more limited and not in an executive capacity. Remember, I was addressing your _specific_ claim that Palin has no experience. That’s simply inaccurate, and pointing this out is NOT equivalent to claiming that Obama has no experience at all. Let’s keep that distinction in mind, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/18 "2008-09-06T15:46:25Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Remember, I was addressing your _specific_ claim that Palin has no experience. That’s simply inaccurate- I’m sorry, where did I specifically make that claim? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/19 "2008-09-08T03:51:14Z")
Sorry; it was **Polerius** who said that, not you. My error. At any rate, my point remains. Since I did NOT claim that Obama has no experience, you cannot legitimately accuse me of being inconsistent in this regard. I can fully emphasize that Palin DOES have experience without insisting that Obama has none. Yes, I erroneously ascribed unto you a position that you had not articulated. Note that I’m fully willing to admit my error in this regard. Are you capable of doing the same? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251/20 "2008-09-08T10:04:47Z")
Yes. I will admit that you made an error, too.