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Since Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced her resignation on July 3, many people have contrasted her with Secretary Clinton in terms of weathering criticism.
Clinton has been through a lot: a repeatedly unfaithful husband, a failed healthcare reform effort, a grueling presidential primary challenge against Barack Obama. So has Palin: a son with Down syndrome, a pregnant teenage daughter, a son in the military overseas, a stumbling Katie Couric interview, a tough presidential election, all sorts of investigations.
Clinton never backed down though. Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus wrote yesterday:
Note to soon-to-be-former Gov. Sarah Palin: Big girls don't quit.
Just ask Hillary Clinton. Crying -- or at least misting up a little -- you can get away with these days. But quitting? Not until you absolutely have to, and even then you might hold on for a few extra weeks.
John P. Coale, a Washington lawyer who helped Palin set up a political action committee told the Washington Post of a conversation he had with Palin this spring:
"She asked me, 'Well, what do you think all this is? Why are all these people attacking me?'" Coale said. "I said to her: 'Look, that's what happens. They did it to Hillary [Rodham Clinton], and Hillary just pushed through it. It's not going to really stop. … You just have to ignore it and move on.'"
Ironically, when Clinton complained about criticism during last year's primary campaign, yet-to-be-candidate Palin said, "[Clinton] does herself a disservice" and said Clinton needed to "plow through that" and "know what you're getting into." Palin said that Clinton's "perceived whine" about "excess criticism" doesn't do "women in general" any good. About tough criticism, Palin said, "Fair or unfair, it's there. I think that's reality, and I think it's a given." (Hear Palin's entire comment in the video above or over at Wonkette.)
I have to muse, though: If politics were less of a "superficial, wasteful political blood sport" (as Palin characterizes it), would more women participate? There are a lot of people -- women and men -- who want to improve their country but don't want to descend to the level of stepping in the muck and engage in mudslinging.
Once again, though, Palin reveals her hypocrisy: She has indulged in political blood sport herself (accusing Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists"). Plus, with her aeriel wolf hunting, shouldn't she be comfortable with blood sport?
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