Palin's Genius Isn't the Message, It's the Messenger

Don't hate Sarah Palin, writes Kathleen Parker. Instead, take her "with a grain of humor and a dash of admiration," she writes at the Washington Post. "A different version of Madonna, she's a public relations machine who manipulates public perception with well-timed and, recently, sophisticated messaging." But really, the message doesn't matter. It's all about the messenger, who has brilliantly "positioned herself as the spokesperson for The Good Woman." To bash her is downright "anti-Mom."

Her plans for 2012? Who knows, but "anyone who thinks she won't run for president because she's making too much money on the celebrity circuit is missing a big point," writes Parker. "You make money as a presidential candidate, too. If you win, you're president. If you lose, you're rich." (More Sarah Palin stories.)