The world of American reality TV witnessed a strange alliance Sunday: that of Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, and Kate Gosselin, one of the most famous single mothers in the United States. In France, that name means nothing, but overseas it has delighted tabloids. Kate Gosselin is the mother of twins and sextuplets and is the star, along with her husband Jon, of “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” The show, which chronicled the daily adventures of the huge family, broadcast live the end of their marriage, and the former couple has since been denigrated by the media and intervening courts.
What is the common point between Kate and John McCain’s former running mate to the White House? TLC. The U.S. cable channel broadcasts their respective reality TV shows: “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” and “Kate Plus 8.” TLC therefore saw no objection to Sarah Palin calling on Kate and her little ones for an episode dedicated to the joys of outdoor camping. Initially, everything seems to be fine. Sarah Palin asks her younger daughter Piper if she wants to camp with the heroes of “Kate Plus 8.” The 9-year-old girl rejoices. The first meeting between Kate and Sarah shows the two mothers mentioning the pain of media hype and the paparazzi. But the complicity stops there. The Republican will first impress her guest by taking her to a bear-defense course.
But incessant rain on the camp will push Kate Gosselin toward the end of her rope. The mother, known for her live hysterics, loses herself in lamentations. “I’ve been bitten by bugs about 200 times. This is cruel and unusual punishment. It just kills me that people willingly do this,” Kate Gosselin moans. Unblinking, Sarah Palin says, “Rain or shine, Alaskans still camp.” Magnanimous, the Republican admits that this kind of hobby is not for everyone, and she would have been just as disoriented as her guest had she driven to New York.
Record Audience of 5 Million People
The Sarah-Kate get-together has been widely commented on by the press. Kate Gosselin’s involvement is the culmination of Sarah Palin’s show; she had already mentioned her while shooting a caribou in a previous episode. The inspiration behind the tea party shows that she has mastered the rules of reality TV, multiplying the surprises in each new scenario. Since Kate Gosselin is not well-appreciated by audiences, some critics thought that her exasperating presence made Sarah Palin appear even more sympathetic, with her unfailing good mood.
This television stunt confirms that the Republican has no problem tackling her media life and her political career. The first of eight episodes of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” has earned TLC a new record audience of 5 million people. The numbers of the following episodes then sharply declined to between 3.5 and 2.8 million viewers. In early December the former governor also said she planned to seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2012 if she can beat Barack Obama.
Palin’s double-face is not for everyone. To Karl Rove, former strategist for George W. Bush, she lacks “seriousness.” According to conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer, Palin must educate her political acumen to become a credible candidate. Critics have not lost interest in the woman, even if 60 percent of Americans refuse to vote for her. “Sorry if I’m not pretentious and haughty. … The polls are not very good today, but the primaries are still far away,”* Sarah Palin said on Fox News, adopting a fake English accent.
*Editor’s Note: This quote, properly translated, could not be verified.
Sarah Palin is best understood by noting that the United States is run by corporations and the lobbies of Israel, energy companies, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and the military and prisons. The citizens of America have essentially NO lobby.
Obama was elected to reduce this effect, incidentally. He’s trying.
Sarah Palin is the product of media campaigns long established to trivialize presidential campaigns and PREVENT the election of serious social change candidates.
Sarah Palin is but the most visible of these media productions. There are many more. Any time you hear something stupid, pointless, and politically counterproductive, go to the websites that reveal campaign finance, and you will find corporate money.
Bad candidates drive out good candidates. Simple.