You've heard Sarah Palin give her reasons as to why she decided to leave office. Again, for anyone not living in Alaska and experiencing some of this first hand, I truly understand why she chose to step down. I have never seen so many people "turn" on one person, and can only believe it is their own greed and self-serving attitudes that cause them to act the way they do. Gayle Ann has asked that the letter below be shared with anyone who supports Sarah.
Dear President Massie,
It was so enjoyable to be in Florida at the 35th annual NFRW convention with all the ladies from around the nation. Julie and I absolutely loved being in the crowds, talking and visiting with people from all over our country that have the same ideals and principals as our own club does. We had a lot of fun exchanging pins with all we could, and I am not sure exactly how many we got, but I know it was a lot. It seemed that whenever anyone found out we were from Alaska, their first question to us was "How is Sarah?" and the second of course was "What is she going to do?"
(Like I have a clue? LOL...) We got asked to get our picture taken with folks more than I would ever imagine, and I know this is silly but I even gave out my autograph! LOL...all because we were from Wasilla, Alaska. We definitely made some very good connections.
If you would be willing to humor me for a few minutes I would like to share an observation with you. One thing that I learned from going to this convention is that we are all like a box of crayons, if you will. As Republicans, we are like these different crayons...different colors...different experiences...different opinions...and different approaches to life.
Some of the crayons are older and have been around a long time...they have their paper missing, and are a little worn, because they have been used a lot, and have a lot of experiences out of the box. Others are hardly used, but they are bright and colorful, and they get out of the box once in a while to make a big splash on the paper. And then there are the brand new crayons, they still have their paper intact, and sit in the box wondering what is going on outside the box.
Yet with all of the differences...all of the crayons fit right back into the same box. Any observer can see that they are all together and unified in their task of being crayons. If the crayons refused to accept their differences and get back into the box together with the other crayons, at the end of the day, what do you think happens? There is no unity, no single purpose of being crayons (Republicans) and the box falls apart because the crayons aren't willing to stand together and create a full box of crayons therefore presenting a UNITED front.
My point is this...as Republican Women, we have had the opportunity to support the first Republican Woman to ever run for the office of the Vice President of America. Now, this "crayon" is a different color than most. But every single woman, and the men too, that I had the pleasure of talking to at this convention wanted to know what this "crayon" was up to. Not one time did someone say to me "Oh, your from Wasilla...were that Sarah woman lives...who quit..." NOT ONE.... NO everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, wanted to hear stories of Sarah. They wanted her to know she is loved, and that people are waiting to find out what she is going to do.
And then, horror or horrors, as I was standing in line with women on Saturday afternoon, I heard a comment about two women who where from Alaska and they had nothing at all good to say about the first REPUBLICAN woman to ever run for the office of the Vice President of America. The women that were speaking to me did not want to mention names, they protected the identity of the two that said they were so happy that she was out of office and that she didn't do anything for our state. That she was a quitter, and good riddance to her. You can only imagine my surprise! After only being asked good questions, and every person I had the chance to meet wanted me to tell Sarah they love her, I stood there stunned at what I had just heard.
This was on Saturday afternoon, and Julie went to one of the classes that were being held about why women don't get elected, and some women were saying somethings that they had heard from these two women during the course of the weekend. Julie knew the facts, and she stood up and gave her honest opinion of what she knows about Sarah Palin, and I want you to know...she got a STANDING OVATION. Do you realize President Massie, the meaning in that? People love this specific "Crayon". They do... they really do!
I am so sorry that these two women, whom I am fully aware of whom they are, want to continue to cause descent-ion in the Republican Party. We do not all have to agree on Sarah Palin, and what she stands for, but once again it amazes me that someone who has a chance to make a huge splash onto the American paper of History, is so disliked, and that these women are so out to see her burn... I think that this is exactly what makes enemies in the Republican Party, and I have seen so much hatred and negativity coming out from crayons that are just not the same. Maybe they are older and their paper is ripped off..they are worn...they have done so much for the party.
And this "High Heeled Crayon" who does not play by these other crayon's rules, brings out the worst in them. I wonder why? Well, I have my own opinion of the answer to that, but I happen to be a new crayon, and have hardly ever been out of the box...so what does my opinion count for?
Furthermore, I just wanted to be sure to let you know, I was appalled at how many times I heard this mentioned after that initial event. How can we say we are Conservative Republicans, who support those who run for office, if when we have the chance to support one of our very own, all we can do is tear her down? As stated previously...we don't have to AGREE with her, but we do need to be a UNITED front, to the rest of the world. It makes all of Alaska look like we are nuts! Not a box of United Crayons that stand for truth, honor, integrity, being women who stand for their country, their families, and their Constitution. Good honest women. Hard working women. Supporting our Republican candidates, whoever they may be. Whether we like them or not, whether we agree with their decisions or not, whether we have a personal vendetta against them or not...we MUST support our own.
When we don't, it makes all of us look bad.
We have the ability to be a force to be reckoned with in this next election. We have the ability to really bring back the Republican ticket, to fill Washington with more Republicans than Democrats, but I guarantee you, if we can't support those running for any office, we will not, see any of this come to fruition.
I appreciate your time President Massie. And as President of the Valley Republican Women's Club, here in Wasilla, Alaska, I stand. I will be one who stand for truth, justice and the pursuit of happiness. Life is too short not to.
Sincerely,
GayleAnn Swanson
President
Valley Republican Women's Club
12 comments:
Hi Tracey. I e-mailed President Massie. I posted the letter on your blog at Team Sarah.
RabReb
Stacey Boggs
Ft Myers, Florida
I, too, wrote Pres. Massie, but will email you a copy. I'm not very savvy about all this posting business, so that's the easier route for me. You can certainly post it publicly on your blog if you wish.
Joy D. Brower
Palm Springs, CA
While I agree with Ms. Swanson on her analogy of crayons and coming in different colors, shapes, sizes worn and new. I cannot/wont comment on what folks may or may not have said at a convention that I did not attend. I do not agree sending a viral letter out to the public without the proper "vetting" of the subjects.
That said, "let er rip!"
Ms Massie is a fiscal conservative in her actions and as a biz owner. She has worked her tail off, nobody gave her hand outs. She is a volunteer position of Pres of Alaska Repub women. we must all remember, there are more republican women and causes then SP (as far as Our state is concerned) I believe that is the job of ALL R causes in the great state of Alaska, is to better our state and communities. I do not agree with this tear down that is unnecessary. I say, discuss the concerns, not the personality.
We should be discussing ongoing taxes, gasline vs bullet line, Flow of Cook Inlet gas, Knik Arm Bridge. Lets rise above
SP can and will make a difference and we are so fortunate to have such a headline maker in our great state.
Again, I wasnt there to hear the horrer
I am posting this comment to address the previous comment from Anonymous. The reason for posting this letter is to make people aware of one person's experience at the convention. It is not disputed that there are those here in Alaska who do not like Sarah Palin, hence all the ethics complaints and negative press. I am concerned that you may have misinterpreted this letter, however. The goal of this letter and it's posting is to make Ms. Massie aware of what someone said because she is the president of the Alaska Federation of Republican Women. If someone that belongs to a republican women's group here in Alaska is saying something negative about a republican candidate, Ms. Massie should be made aware of it. As the president, if she chooses to verify or act on this information, that is her choice. I will say that I was emailed by someone from another state who attended this convention who confirmed what Ms. Swanson wrote about. Yes, I agree that Alaska has many issues that need to be addressed. That is the whole point. I have been sent copies of letters sent to Ms. Massie and they have all been written in the spirit of encouraging unity, no divisiveness. This is a not a tear down. It is to encourage exactly the opposite of that. That is the spirit in which this letter was written, I believe, and nothing more.
Thank you for posting this, Tracey. Division and petty actions have done more damage to women than I have time to express. It's that same spirit that sought to weary Sarah Palin in the months following her return from the campaign trail.
I respect that the letter basically says, "Hey, we may not all agree, but let's build up and not tear down." Unfortunately, when it comes to Sarah, some have set aside proper behavior, which is absolutely inexcusable.
this is from Julie Gillette, I am not savvy at posting but I did not want to be anonymous. I want to emphasize as Tracey did, there is no mal-intent towards anyone that attended the convention, nor was anyone named specifically that made those comments. The point is we were at a National Republican Women's conference and it was very disturbing to hear that someone representing the state of Alaska was tearing down a Republican Woman, the First one to be selected as a Vice Presidential candidate. We should be unified or we will never have Republicans in office. The irony is that I heard a comment first in a seminar on "Why Women Do Not Get Elected." I feel if someone has the honor and privilege to serve the state as a delegate, then the focus should be on putting Republicans in office and not eating our own. I do not agree with everything that any of my Republican representatives have done, but I do know the consequences of not supporting them. In fact, since January 20, 2009, I think we have all seen what will happen when we are not united.
It is the public airing such as this that tears a group apart.
This is something that should be handled internally, IMHO.
The fee to join the Valley Republican Women is low enough, I suspect there are more than 1-2 members put in place to either watch for interesting developments, or to cause trouble as they can.
How many of your group receive EMAIL updates from various factions of the DNC? I do, and I suspect many of your members do, also. I am a staunch supporter of Sarah Palin. As such, it is wise to know what the 'other side' is planning.
I've lived too long to accept everyone at first glance. I've also chosen to remove myself areas of pettiness. I don't need it and I suspect you and your group don't either.
Meadow, you are a wise one!... I agree on the public airing, its petty and unnecessary
I appreciate everyone's comments. I guess we could argue that the public airing of any discourse could be petty and unnecessary, but the blogging forum allows us to put our views and opinions out there. That is what Gayle Ann did by writing the letter, and that is what I did by posting it. I will not remove these comments as I appreciate that this is a free country and people have a right to their opinions. That's why we're all out here, sticking our necks out and working for what we believe in, right?
You folks are bullying by retweeting this info. This is not acceptable behaviour by grown women or Republican Women. Im ashamed of all of us. Please stop. This is not how we really operate.
I am heartily puzzled by a totally child-like and child-ish comparison of people to crayons and then to the "outing" of two Republican women who disagreed with the writer's take on Palin. Regardless of your political allegiance, you should know that complexity (i.e. folks in one party having completely different opinions on one aspect of a platform than others) is to be desired. Anything less misrepresents how richly varied humans are. The two women who felt as they did about Palin have every right to be where they were and express what they did. Yes, I agree with them: I found Palin to be embarrassing in terms of her lack of knowledge, her overall behavior, and her complaining about coverage when after all it's the nature of being in and running for public office. Palin shared she didn't read much, hadn't known about or considered major policy conversations in the U.S., winked at folks when she was at the Vice Presidential debate as if it was a date she could flirt her way through, referred to Joe Sixpack, and then compared herself to "every" woman, just a soccer mom. Where I come from, women would love to be a soccer mom, having the time and financial security to be a full-time mom. Unfortunately, few women have that luxury--they must work, they juggle all sorts of challenges, and they are not an everywoman as Sarah Palin claims herself to be. As far as her stepping down from her position as governor, I think that says quite a bit about her. She did not finish her term (oh, people turned on her!! How sad, how pathetic as an excuse, really). As a woman, I want someone in a position to be historic to be, well, a statesperson, a person of strength, education, outreach, honesty. I want someone who can reflect on herself and see what is lacking, and correct that--whether through advisors, research, whatever. I suggest you use Google and put in Alaskans Against Palin. There's quite a crowd. Many are Republican women who know, for example, that almost everyone hunts in Alaska and it's no big deal, as Palin has claimed. For goodness sakes, can't Republicans come up with someone better than Palin to put forth? (Among other things, how many colleges did she go to before graduating--if she graduated? It seems that pattern reinforces the notion she doesn't complete certain important goals).
Again, I appreciate everyone's comments and agree with the previous poster in that everyone should have their opinion and be able to express it. Unfortunately this discourse is quickly becoming counter-productive, again as others have expressed. My intent in posting this was to help everyone realize we need to work as a united front. My intention was not to tear down that front. That being said, I will close this post for public comments. You may email me directly if you wish, however, and I would be more than happy to hear what you have to say.
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