On August 3rd, in an article called "Fagan Who? More Apologies to Sarah Palin Coming," I expressed what I believed to be the first of many apologies that would be extended to Governor Palin.
Certainly Dan Fagan's admission of guilt was not a small thing after such vehement criticism of the governor. What the title suggested, however, was that there would be many more apologies to follow, and the article went on to express why I was making such a claim.
I wrote:
The big surprise was an apology printed in the Anchorage Daily News by Dan Fagan. Now, for those who don't know, Fagan is a talk show host in Alaska. He is most known as a chief Palin hater in her state--very vocal, very disrespectful, very anti-Palin. So what happened?
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The apology issued, as far as I can see, is only the beginning of more to come, just a confirmation of what I knew was coming. It seems so wild, so far-fetched, so completely out of the blue--but expect more.
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Not everyone is going to understand the popularity, power, and success Sarah Palin will increasingly experience, and I'm sure that's no surprise to you. But mark my words: more realizations that the personal attacks against her were wrong, and more accurate, evil, are coming.
Read the entire article here and discover the reasoning behind my prediction, prophecy, or insight--whichever you choose to call it.
Today brought Apology #2. As covered by Amy Siskind, the Daily News-Miner has also seen the light on a particular issue. Rod Boyce wrote:
Today I must apologize to Mrs. Palin personally and on behalf of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner for the choice of words used on the bottom of Wednesday’s front page regarding her speaking engagement in Hong Kong this week to a group of global investors.
We used offensive language — “A broad in Asia” — above a small photograph of the former governor to direct readers inside the newspaper to a full story of her Hong Kong appearance.
There can be no argument that our use of the word “broad” is anything but offensive. To use this word to describe someone of the stature of the former governor — who is also the former vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party — only adds to the anger that many people appropriately feel.
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There’s widespread belief that too much meanness exists in political discourse today. The media, already held in low regard, need to be extremely wary of that meanness slopping over into their own work. I am responsible for the content of this newspaper and need to ensure that our employees adhere to acceptable standards of decency.
I will say it clearly again now: We made a terrible mistake.
Mrs. Palin, please accept this apology from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
And please accept it from me.
Read the entire article here.
None of this is to say that all who have heretofore despised Governor Palin have had a complete change of heart and are now her most ardent supporters. What it does say is that people are changing their perspective of the governor--and a change of perspective will always be followed by a change of approach. Not too long ago it seemed impossible for some to deem her worthy of any respectful treatment whatsoever. The idea of actually apologizing to her, even when an apology was in order, would have been unthinkable. The hatred, the anklebiting, the media malpractice--so intense--had rendered her fair game for derogatory comments of all sorts. Nothing seemed to be off limits--not her family, not her intellect, and certainly not her gender. Use of the word "broad" would absolutely not have elicited a formal apology.
Why now?
Now Governor Palin has had some months of calling her own shots, rather than being mishandled by a campaign that failed to recognize and capitalize on her strengths. Now she is free to be the Governor Palin her constituents in Alaska always knew she was when her approval rating was through the roof. Now she has emerged with wisdom on health care, tort reform, and foreign relations. She is speaking in her own voice both at home and now internationally. She is playing by her own rules this time, and she must be taken seriously. Even those who were fiercely critical are waking up and taking notice. It is precisely this kind of notice that makes people do a self-check when they step out of line. It's called respect.
Back in August I asked, "Fagan Who?" Today I ask, "Boyce Who?"
Now that we get to see more and more of a Governor Palin who has the liberty to speak freely, now that Governor Palin gives herself permission--as her dad said during the campaign--to "Let Sarah be Sarah," more eyes will see what millions have already seen, and apologies will come as people come stand behind this leader who is standing behind America. Once again, mark my words.
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