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While you're attempting to set the record straight on Palin's background, you're falling back on old stereotypes of politically ambitious women.
Early in David Geffen's support of Barack Obama, he said Hilary Clinton was a bit too "ambitious" for his tastes. The word "opportunist" has long been only a term of slander when hurled at women, but has rarely been used as an insult toward male politicians.
Whether I agree with their stances or not, the reality is that nearly every politician is a cut throat opportunist.
Obama took on long time U.S. Assemblyman and former Black Panther Bobby Rush in 2000. While maybe never a direct mentor to Obama, Obama tried to opportunistically pounce on Rush after his 1999 loss to Richard M. Daley for mayor of Chicago.
The reality is nearly all women and people with skin tones other than white must be a bit more ruthless in their pursuit of political prowess. We're still dealing with a political structure that is infused with subtle yet suffocating racism and sexism.
Why I say careful, is because David I'm unsure if you would not use the same analysis on a man. And even if I'm wrong the assent to political power for a women in the U.S. is still far different than what it is for a man.
Palin sucks -- no doubt -- but you're reports lack the necessary analysis.
