Defending Sarah Palin

Andrew Malcolm at the LA Times Top of Ticket Blog notes the absence of leaders in the GOP coming to Sarah Palin's defense.

Yes, it's shocking, we know here at the Ticket. But there is at least one prominent Republican sticking up for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Go figure. Her presidential running mate sure isn't.

The 44-year-old working mom singlehandedly energized the party's base with an electrifying speech and refreshing personality at the Republican National Convention and after.

Between her selection Aug. 29 and the Nov. 4 election, Palin did 132 political events in 105 cities in 25 states. That's not exactly dogging it.

And who's heard any leaks from Palin's camp about the awful mishandling of her media rollout in September?

But in the, what-is-it-now, four days since American voters decisively opted for the younger guy from Illinois, one or two of John McCain's brave aides have been anonymously leaking uncorroborated charges about Palin's personality, knowledge, spending habits, etc., which the media gobbles up, in an apparent attempt to pin the defeat on the female half of the GOP ticket.

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This issue isn't going away immediately. Love her or leave....

...her, win or lose, the media knows there's a voracious public hunger for almost anything about the Alaska hockey mom still. Especially in the complete absence of any other viable Republican Party leaders. (...'s in the original)

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Now, amid the deafening silence of other prominent GOP leaders, including Mike Duncan, the party's alleged national chair, at least the state chair of the South Carolina Republican Party is speaking out. Katon Dawson issued a statement Friday bemoaning the anonymous attacks:

"The disappointment felt by many Republicans following Tuesday’s election is certainly understandable. However, the attacks on Gov. Sarah Palin made by a disgruntled handful of political insiders are unacceptable. Their claims, made under the veil of anonymity, can never be verified and only serve as fodder for our opposition.

"The media has already demonstrated its propensity to discredit Gov. Palin, and the Democrats are undoubtedly rejoicing at the sight of this Republican cannibalism.

"Now is the time for our Party to unite –- not behind any one individual, but behind our time-tested principles of limited government, opportunity for working Americans, traditional values, and individual responsibility.

"I respectfully ask my fellow Republicans to join me in condemning these divisive attacks so that we can focus on the task at hand -– moving forward as a Party and moving forward as a nation.”

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I suspect that McCain will come to her defense. He was supportive throughout the campaign when others were attacking Gov. Palin. It is surprising that Duncan has been so quite since it was his people who were responsible for the clothes flap.

Katon Dawson is certainly showing more leadership than other Republicans on the issue and deserves from props. Another person who is supportive of Gov. Palin is Marine Mom Deborah Johns of the Our Country Deserves Better Committee. She notes that liberals are trying to smear her to destroy a future conservative leader.

Indeed. I think they are engaging in the same type of politic of personal destruction they used against Newt Gingrich and George Bush. Johns' group is preparing an ad campaign to defend Gov. Palin. You can contribute to that campaign through the Our Country Deserves Better PAC.

Opinion Journal also suggest that McCain come to the defense of his running mate.