What Has Palin Actually Contributed to the Republican Party

[erpowers]

On Saturday night Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News Weekend Edition claimed that Sarah Palin was an important member of the Republican Party. In addition, Lou Dobbs said on the Today Show that by virtue of her popularity Palin was the frontrunner for the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nomination. Is Sarah Palin really a major player in the Republican Party or is the media just continuing to hype her? I ask that question not because I do not watch the news, but because I do not think Sarah Palin has really done that much in the Republican Party. It seems to me that Palin is just media hype. The only reason anyone hears about her is because the media is so willing to follow her and talk about what little she does. I understand that the media talks about many individuals, but I feel there is a difference between a person who gets media attention because of the things they do and acutal popularity within a political party and someone who gets media attention just because they get media attention. In my opinion Palin in the latter. A few months ago a poll of Conservative Republicans seemed to show that Palin was not even their favorite choice for the 2012 presidential nomination yet the media continues to talk of her great popularity among Conservative Republicans. So once again is Sarah Palin just media hype?

[Blue_In_AK]

1. She's not really part of the Republican party,

but more the Party of Sarah. That was the experience in Alaska, as well, where her most vocal critics were (and still are) normal, ordinary Republicans. See, for example, Lyda Green, Andrew Halcro, "the falafel lady" Andree McLeod, Randy Ruedrich, Frank Murkowski, etc. etc. etc.

Sarah was an extremely divisive figure here within the Republican party, just as she has been nationally. That's why I wouldn't be surprised at all to see her run as a third-party candidate. She has no loyalty whatsoever to the Republican party, and would just as soon see Republicans lose as Democrats if it means that her power and influence increase.

She is poison.

[Orsino]

2. A series of distractions.

Every day she finds interesting ways to be ridiculous is another day the GOP isn't being taken to task for failure and moral bankruptcy.

[machI]

3. NEWSMEAT says she contributed

$300 to Mike Miller in 2004

$328 to Republican Party in 2004

Sarah Palin must have needed all of her spare cash to buy bullets to kill more wolves.

[driver8]

4. How can people be so freakin' stupid?

How can these people not see her for what she really is...a phony with no real substance. Good Lord, she couldn't even handle the job of being the Governor of Alaska!

Oh please, please, please, please run her in 2012!

[FarLeftFist]

5. The sad part is....Is that she is the MOST important member of their party.

And she's not even a politician.

[Johonny]

6. I believe using her name has allowed them to raise money

Her name brings checks to her party. At least they claim it does.