Politics was never for you, Palin

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin scored a few laughs this week and, for the first time, it wasn’t for being ridiculously uninformed.

Palin tried her hand at stand-up comedy during The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last Tuesday and, surprisingly, didn’t fall flat. The level of confidence she exuded is rarely seen in a newcomer, especially in someone who is constantly berated by the media.

Although I’m reluctant to admit it, I can see why many Americans are enamored with Palin. She’s your typical soccer-mom-meets-sexy-librarian, except that her accessory of choice is a rifle. And she probably decorates her home with hunting trophies. She’s a mélange of sugar and spice and she makes you feel like she’s your teammate, not your coach.

The obsession with Palin is not unlike the obsession many American youth seem to have with President Obama. After enduring decades of stuffy, golf club-wielding geriatrics dominating Capitol Hill, it’s refreshing to see someone try to identify with young adults who are largely ignored and underestimated by politicians.

It’s clear that Palin does possess a certain level of charisma and relatability, but those two qualities alone aren’t sufficient to hold a high-profile position in the national government. It seems like Palin has finally wrapped her head around that concept.

Palin recently joined Fox News as a contributor. While this further lowers the network’s credibility, it’s far less harmful to have Palin spouting her theories on what’s wrong with America than being a part of any sort of lawmaking or regulating body.

The same applies to the publishing industry. If Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus can get books published, Palin’s “Going Rogue” isn’t mucking up the already squalid dignity of it that much more. Palin is in talks to release another book (to say write would be misleading — Palin employs the assistance of ghostwriter Lynn Vincent), and I think that’s a sensible idea. With winter, spring and summer breaks, people are always in need of a good “beach read.”

Having recently pitched a television show about life in Alaska, Palin is scrambling to keep up with the Kardashians by worming her way into the genre of reality television. She was also seen loading up on free swag at a pre-Oscars gifting suite last week.

If she’s still planning on running for president in 2012, I think it’s safe to say she just shot herself in the foot.

Although every announcement of a Palin venture prompts a scoff, snort or swear word from me, Palin has an undeniable base of support and it’s a relief to see that she’s applying her magnetism to the entertainment industry, not government. It’s far better that she satiates her thirst for fame through inconsequential projects than through legislation.

Bravo, Sarah Palin, on (hopefully) accepting that politics isn’t your forte. Now stay put.

E-mail: pkansal@indiana.edu