She’s perfect, really. Sarah Palin does all the things a woman should do. She goes to her kids’ hockey games, she’s in the PTA, and she’s even going to help her daughter start her own family. And I’ll bet she always gets dinner on the table by 7 p.m. Sure, she’s a governor. But the important thing is that she’s a mother first. And since she’s got that handful of kids — and soon to be grandkids — on her hands, we can forgive her for not knowing about the Bush Doctrine, or the Iraq war, or all that other political mumbo-jumbo. America can forgive Sarah, because she is a well-balanced woman. Here she is, getting a little government participation in, but never losing sight of a woman’s true priorities. After all, we can’t have her getting too involved in politics — who would take care of her family?

That multitasking mom also doesn’t let her position as a woman interfere with her politics. She clearly believes in the value of family, and she knows it’s never too early to start one — just ask Bristol. To top it all off, Sarah is attractive. And we all know that’s the best way to win over those male swing voters. So yes, of course it’s sexist to attack Gov. Palin’s lack of experience and her politics. It’s unfair to attack a woman when’s she’s just so devoted to, well, being a woman!

No joke, though. It’s fun to compare yourself with Sarah Palin — you’ll never be intimidated. Invite her to dinner and maybe you could teach her a thing or two about foreign policy. Cute, huh? That’s what makes her so “real” and “accessible” to voters. The fact that Americans are looking to choose national leaders based on how many hobbies they share with each candidate is a disturbing trend in itself.

Palin’s supporters are quick to come to her defense when she slips up on Middle Eastern policy. After all, why not support a woman while she affirms questionable societal norms? Defending Sarah Palin allows any defender of the status quo to feel like a champion for women’s rights — without actually changing a thing. Here is a woman who not only knows her supposed “place” in society, she revels in it. She may end up being vice president, but she doesn’t know a thing about working in federal government. And that’s why she’s so great — she’s not actually threatening. We know she knows more about the PTA than the EPA, so let’s keep it that way!

I’m not the first to point out that there was no rush to put a stop to sexist remarks aimed at Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign. Republicans and Democrats alike referred to her as a bitch and made snarky comments about her cankles. Even more unwomanly than her legs was Hillary’s desire to win — clearly further proof of her questionable character. When she’s tough, she’s a power-hungry bitch. When she cries, she’s using her sex to her advantage. When she talks about her experience, she’s a member of a Washington dynasty. Unlike Gov./hockey mom/moose hunter Sarah Palin, Clinton did not, and does not, bend to societal norms. Obviously, we couldn’t handle it. Evidently, the United States can’t bear to see a woman choosing and fighting for a leadership position she qualifies for. Instead, we take pride in a different kind of female leader — a woman who publicly displays her second-rate knowledge and her second-rate abilities.

If you’re lucky, Sarah, you might get your secondary role. Kudos to Sarah Palin, a woman who knows her place.

Hannah Shtein ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in philosophy.