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Nov
10
“I’m like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I’m like, don’t let me miss the open door,” Palin said in an interview with Fox News on Monday. “And if there is an open door in ’12 or four years later, and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I’ll plow through that door.”
Alrighty then.
Update: here’s the entire transcript.
Updatex2: From Huffington Post:
“I’m going to serve Alaskans to the best of my ability. At this point it is as governor,” she said. “Now if something shifted dramatically and if it were, if it were acknowledged up there that I could be put to better use for my state in the U.S. Senate, I would certainly consider that but that would take a special election and everything else. I am not one to appoint myself or a member of my family to take the place of any vacancy.”
Before the election, Palin reportedly told James Dobson of Focus on the Family that she was confident that God would do the right thing for the country on Nov. 4.
“And I do believe that prayers were answered, others who prayed across this nation in the election that this nation would be protected, that we would be safe, that we would be prosperous and favored. I believe that prayer is answered,” she said.
The more any candidate speaks in this way (i.e., “if it were acknowledged up there”), the less likely it is that I would ever under any circumstances feel remotely capable of voting for them.
Pressed in a separate interview with CNN’s Larry King [on Weds., 11/12/08] about whether she would serve out her term as governor, Palin said, “I will do what the people of Alaska want me to do.”
She added, however, “if they call an audible on me, and if they say they want me in another position, I’m going to do it. … My life is in God’s hands. If he’s got doors open for me, that I believe are in our state’s best interest, the nation’s best interest, I’m going to go through those doors.”
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:56 pm November 10th, 2008 in leadership, Sarah Palin, Women
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28 Responses to “[transcript] Palin prays not to miss open doors, goodbye to breaking glass ceilings”
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OY…as I slam the door and dead bolt it.
You know what I think, she had to appear now. To remind us of how far we (women in american politics) have come and that we can never go back. There are talented women out there who could easily sit in the Oval office and command the world’s respect.
SHE AIN’T ONE OF THEM!
I tried, I really wanted to add commentary to this, but you know – I’m just flabbergasted. Not a single woman I know, along the political spectrum – and we do have some very fine examples on both the left and the right, would ever talk about praying that they don’t miss the open door. I mean – we all look for opportunities, but to suggest that you just kinda hang out and wait? I am sure she won’t be doing that – but why wouldn’t someone be saying, I’m going to work my butt off and prove this and prove that and I’ll be back there fighting for what my country needs and bla bla bla – I don’t know – it’s just so not what I think of when I think of people who want to serve the public. Can you imagine if we all just waited to see? How many men or women have the luxury to do that?
Again – just a total break with reality.
This is definitely a disturbing way for someone to talk about public office.
Despite its faint disingenuousness, this is a bald statement of Palin’s will-to-power and her wish to be the very best opportunist she can be. It’s thinly disguised by what Palin seems to think are expressions of humility and piety.
It struck me as Palin’s own personal doctrine of manifest destiny, based on these assumptions:
1) She’s exceptional, preselected by God to lead
2) Her eventual success is both inevitable and morally justified because it is authorized by God
3) Her job is to make sure she’d prepared to for the destiny God has chosen for her.
And the hedging — if it’s “good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me” — is just window dressing. Obviously, if God sends her the opportunities, He wants her to go for the gusto.
Creepy.
You know, you really put into words some of what I feel when I read that. And it’s why, I believe anyway, that many women who work for women’s issues and women’s rights cannot bring themselves to support her – it’s one thing to say she’s charming and possesses whatever other strengths have gotten her to where she is now. But it’s another thing entirely to think that she embodies what we want our daughters or ourselves to engender in order to succeed.
In Palin’s religious tradition, of which I was a part for many years, the phrase open door is used to denote doing God’s will. (i.e.God opens and shuts the door. When God close on door he opens another)
The whole notion of open doors is very subjective. How does one KNOW it is God?
I know a fair number (perhaps even myself a time or two) that used the whole “God opens doors” to hide our opportunistic spirit. Instead of just saying I want to do this because__________ we cloak our decision with God-talk.I have made enough mistakes walking through the doors God opens that either God doesn’t know what he is doing or Bruce doesn’t (I’ll go with Bruce)
Besides….she is going to plow through the door. Most open doors you just walk through
Bruce
Bruce, thanks – I really appreciate that context.
So – this is a serious question, in that context, is there a concept of women’s rights or pursuing women’s issues? Or does it boil down to whether God wants to open those doors for women, or anyone? I know that might read weird – I don’t mean it that way.
How have women/do women come to understand their place/role/ambitions/what is available to them/what they’re “allowed” to press for, in the context you’ve outlined?
Is it wrong of me to think that that context means that women must accept whatever God decides to keep them out of (by not opening the door)? That seems harsh to me, but the context you describe isn’t my context. And I definitely have some issues with Orthodoxy in Judaism for similar reasons.
Thanks.
Jill,
I see some change in evangelicalism concerning women, BUT for the most part they still teach that some doors are not open to women . Good example is the ongoing battle within the Southern Baptist Convention over the ordination of women.
Evangelicalism is divided into 2 camps concerning women…..complementarians and egalitarians. The former subscribe to the notion that men are to lead (family, church govt) The latter subscribe to the notion that men and women are equal when it comes to leadership.
I am an egalitarian (the minority view in Evangelicalism) and as far as I am concerned the ONLY issue that matters concerning leadership positions is: are they qualified. And that was the only issue for me concerning Sarah Palin.
Here is a quote from my blog. This is from a letter one of my girls received from a penpal:
“That then governor of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was proof that God doesn’t establish women leaders.”
This girl, along with her siblings is being raised to think that the only path acceptable for her is marriage, having babies, keeping hubby happy, and keeping the home. I have no problem with this as long as the girl knows she CAN do other things if she chooses. Sadly, that’s not the case. Only certain doors are open to this girl. The other doors are “men only.”
Since God opens and shuts the door then any closed door means God doesn’t want you doing that. Once again, are we sure this is God? Or is it our tradition, cultural mores, etc that keep the doors closed? We try and give authority and respectability to our positions by evoking God’s name. I wonder sometimes if God doesn’t get tired of being blamed for everything ?
I see progress in Evangelicalism but I think we are light-years behind where we need to be.
Bruce
God does indeed open doors-and the ones He shuts can not be opened. For those who truly believe in Him, following His will for their lives is all that truly matters. And doing their best to seek His will for their lives is a truth that all believers seek. Sarah is simply following her faith, and seeking His will for her life. And her faith, and her seeming willingness to seek God’s will instead of her own is exactly what those on the very far left are afraid of. Because they know-what conservatives know:
McCain lost because he was a man without any strong support -anywhere. Conservatives did not support him-and would not work to elect him. But conservatives would work-and raise money-to elect Palin. And that is why the media is obsessed with destroying her. They are afraid of her. And they should be. Because at the top of the ticket-she may very well win in 2012.
Pray for closed doors? Or pray the doors do not lead to public office in Washington? I think that’s already happening in forces…something tells me.
I do not think she polarized the media, but she certainly made it more obvious who in the media likes her and why.
Remember the argument that parental controls, that being the “V” chip was a violation of freedom of speech. I see a growing problem in the media, going to far, the difference between a “news hour” and a “news show”.
What part of the brain get stimulated when you watch? I do not watch that much, but when I do I can see it for what it is. Then consider it is broadcast all over the world in some cases. Is even PBS and NPR objective anymore, for the most part they are and much more civil than the 24/7 cable news networks.
I see Murdoch as responsible as Greenspan, they could not even see what is going on. People go along with it in droves. When it is a talk show and much like a radio talks show, it is intended to be confrontational, why make it look like news? They are destroying consumer confidence…”it as bad as it ever has been”, “its only just the beginning”. “wait until these people get in charge” many do not even know what they are even talking about.
Tell your children what to think and they will become learning disabled, they will not learn to think for them selves.
Communication both written and verbal is not mutually exclusive to problem solving or analytical ability. The media has so much influence and it is not a think tank, how much knowledge comes from two minute piece?
You may say you cannot control the media…I would say somebody already does. Hate mail received with…at least they are watching.
I wonder if Palin will find her way into the senate and then run for the white house? All the hate comes back…that is so gross.
Limited government linked with morality? You cannot mandate morality can you, or do we already? Since these people see in black and white, then the other side becomes big government with no morality.
No matter what the reality is, it would not get covered in the media to the extent that the majority fully get it, they keep putting it back into the boxes, right and left, not all but many do.
This administration may not accomplish anything, they cannot say the change is good until it actually produces good. This all sets the stage fueled up right wingers with what this administration has done to manipulate on.
I think people should open up their own world view a little to realize that there are a lot of people that think like Gov. Palin out there and that she energized millions of people. I get so tired of the elite (be they men or women) use their definition of feminism to judge.
Jason, I’m the only one who writes here – I will not bite you or anyone else if you use my name – you don’t have to be obtuse.
This isn’t about feminism – this is about her very own words – she spoke about shattering the glass ceiling. I am admittedly and obviously unfamiliar with any of the concepts others have kindly explained here about the religious notion of God opening and closing or keeping shut doors. I’m quite certain I’m not the only person who is unfamiliar with those concepts.
But for the record, I’m entitled to my idea of what is helpful to women, just as Gov. Palin is. Indicating my preferences doesn’t make me elite and it doesn’t make her not elite – in many sense of the word, Gov. Palin is extremely elite. So I really think labels like feminism and elite are pretty useless – which is one of the reasons I rarely use them as my own.
Yes, for me, gender has nothing to do with it. As Bruce succinctly put it, “Instead of just saying I want to do this because__________ we cloak our decision with God-talk.”
What offends me about Palin’s words (and I’m guessing you too, Jill) is the use of “God-talk” to give creedence to her personal political career plans.
The claim that high-ranking government officials could or should be endorsed by God is usually wielded by tyrants. The doctrine, which used to be called the Divine Right of Kings, was soundly rejected by the authors of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. (18th-century European and American philosophes and democracy-wonks saw the Divine Right of Kings as an infringement upon man’s rights under natural law.)
I don’t care what Palin privately believes about God, and I understand she’s using a familiar ecclesiastic metaphor that (like so many other things she says) she may never have given much thought to.
But I reject Teresa’s assertions that Palin her co-religionists are the only ones who “truly believe in Him.” As opposed what? The rest of us who only think we believe in God?
As as I’m concerned, in her personal life Palin is welcome to “simply follow her faith, and seek His will for her life.”
But she’s not welcome to inflict her interpretation of “His will” on MY government.
And I’ll be happy to reciprocate.
That isn’t what she said. Nowhere does she say that she would be chosen by God.
Jill – I am reacting to the comments, as well as your posts. I personally see a bias that disturbs me. I am simply pointing it out. I guess if I can’t do that, I wont come back. I also resent the “obtuse” comment.
Jason – let me be really clear – I want you to call me out if what I write disturbs you – I’m saying that I found your comment to be rather obtuse – and I would prefer you just say, “Jill, what you say disturbs me because…”
I know a lot of people don’t like to be told how to say what they want to say, I’m just saying that if you’re leaving the comment here and you mean me, well – I would really like you to just say you mean me. I am sincere – you don’t have to be shy about that – let’s just talk about what it is that bugs you.
This post was specifically to elicit the very conversation it has, which was me asking: what in the world does she mean by this paragraph re: waiting for doors to open. I think in terms of breaking the glass ceiling. Other commenters put context on that and suggest their interpretations.
Sure – in the transcript, she doesn’t say the phrase, if God chooses me – but we know, Jason, from the video of her with one of the pastors, and from her own profession of being a faith warrior – I think that was the expression – that while maybe she didn’t say the words, “I will be chosen by God,” it seems a reasonable interpretation that that’s what she is intending.
Are you saying you disagree with that interpretation?
Jason – as for the bias – I mean it – correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel as though every time I express an opinion that you disagree with, you chalk it up to bias rather than recognize: I really really really do not agree with nearly any of Gov. Palin’s policy preferences. I don’t agree with many of her choices.
But that is not in and of itself bias. I’ve been very restrained in the blog about her. Yes, I choose to post pieces that show up, for me, why I find her to be someone for whom I would never expect to cast a vote (tho never say never!), but I think you are accusing me of bias based simply on my knowing just how much she is not someone for whom I could vote.
What do you think about that?
Oh – Obtuse: ok – I see when I look it up other meanings that aren’t nice – those are NOT the ways I meant it! This is the one I mean – which is still in the Merriam Webster definiton:
“not clear or precise in thought or expression”
And by that I meant, because you don’t name me – you just say,
“I think people should open up their own world view a little to realize that there are a lot of people that think like Gov. Palin out there and that she energized millions of people. I get so tired of the elite (be they men or women) use their definition of feminism to judge.”
So – I specifically mean the use of “I think PEOPLE” and the “I get so tired of the ELITE” – I read between the lines and assume you mean, since you’re leaving this here on this blog – me.
Now – if I’m wrong, that is a huge relief. But if I’m not, then I am saying: please please – just say “I think you Jill are…”
That’s what I meant when I used the word obtuse. I am sorry – I did not mean any of those things like the dictionary says – ie stupid etc – eek – no, I meant – please be specific as in, name me, not “people” or “the elite.”
That was all.
J Rowsey,
In the theology that Sarah Palin holds to….the OPEN door is defacto proof that God is in it.
I was raised in this type of fundamentalism, went to a fundamentalist Bible college and pastored fundamentalist churches for a number of years. Palin has a fundamentalist, charismatic theology. In this theology it is God who opens and closes ALL doors. We should NEVER open or close a door on our own.
So when Sarah Palin speaks of an open door you can be sure she thinks God is in it.
Do I think God opens and closes doors…meaning God gives and takes away opportunities? As a believer I’ll grant that. BUT, there is no way to KNOW God is opening/closing the door. It is purely a subjective matter.
There is a whole theology about God opening and closing doors. I don’t buy into most of it any more. There is a God and that God wants me to make responsible decisions. I don’t blame God nor do I give him the credit. My choices. My consequences. Does the Bible, religion, God influence my decisions? Sure.
Palin’s offense, at least from my perspective, is couching her decision in God-talk. Better for her to say I am running for Vice President because I am _________than evoking God.
Most of the people in the US don’t understand the whole Open/Closed door thinking. It is patently religious in nature (and perhaps only fundamentalist in nature) and most people have no frame of reference for understanding what Palin is talking about. All they see…….is that Palin thinks God is on her side, after all he chose her by opening the door.
That Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christians understood her to be “chosen” by God is real simple to prove. Note the Sarah Palin=Queen Esther emails that were forwarded all over this country. She was “chosen for such a time as this.”
Bruce
And here’s the entire exchange on this point:
Oengus:
Re your comment: “Pray for closed doors? Or pray the doors do not lead to public office in Washington? I think that’s already happening in forces…something tells me.”
I think you may be missing the point. The prayer isn’t to gain public office, it’s just to recognize that if that is God’s will for your life-you are able to see that and make that choice. Personally, I never pray to gain anything. But I do pray that I will somehow serve others and recognize if there is something I can do that will help people. Perhaps that’s public office. Perhaps that’s staying home with my children. Perhaps that’s simply bringing a meal to a neighbor who is sick or unemployed. Perhaps it’s as simple as taking the time to smile at a stranger or help an older person with their grocery bags. All those actions serve God. Because they all serve His people-all His people.
As for your comments about the media, I agree with many of your thoughts. The biggest loser in this election was the media-on both sides. Our country desperately needs, fair and unbiased journalism. There’s not much of that to be had lately.
Jason,
“I think people should open up their own world view a little to realize that there are a lot of people that think like Gov. Palin out there and that she energized millions of people. I get so tired of the elite (be they men or women) use their definition of feminism to judge.”
That was really nice of you. And you are right, there should be room for all of our views, without anyone having to be the “bad guy”.
Theresa – I understand for myself times when I seek direction from some source I can’t name. I think you and others get it, but the comparison I am drawing is between that approach to seeking the office of the president of the United States and the breaking the glass ceiling approach.
I don’t know – after reading all these comments, maybe Palin would say she’s hoping to see the open door to breaking the glass ceiling.
I just have never heard anyone who seeks to break the glass ceiling say it in that way.
And – yes – I find Palin’s continuous interjection of Christian faith off-putting – but I feel that way about many, many politicians and I have written about that before (including Ted Strickland and Obama). I just really like my church and state separate.
But that’s another topic.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
lilatovcocktail,
Re: “But I reject Teresa’s assertions that Palin her co-religionists are the only ones who “truly believe in Him.” As opposed what? The rest of us who only think we believe in God? As as I’m concerned, in her personal life Palin is welcome to “simply follow her faith, and seek His will for her life.”
Response: First of all, I never said “only us”. I said those who truly believe in God will seek His will and will want to serve Him in every area of their lives. And that goes for those of both Christian and Jewish faith. Think of some of the people in the Torah: Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel…They didn’t serve God part time. It was their purpose. Should Moses have said, “sorry God, leading those people to freedom is too political, can’t do it. “? And in the Torah, did not God send the Jewish people into battle? And when they listened to God, were they not victorious?
And how about the celebration of Chanukah, which I think is an amazing example of faith in action. As the story has been told to me, about 2,200 years ago one of the Greco-Syrian King’s Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from “praying to their God, practicing their customs and studying their Torah”. One day, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers decided to form a group of resistance fighters. A small group of incredibly brave men who had a faith
in God that was bigger than all the Greco-Syrian armies combined, the Maccabee’s were determined to serve God. And although the odds seemed overwhelmingly against them, through sheer guts, determination and an unwavering faith in God, they fought for and successfully reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. When they arrived at the Temple, there was only enough purified oil to light a lamp for one night, but through God’s miraculous grace, the lamp stayed lit for 8 days. And the Holy Temple once again became a place where God was worshiped and honored. And in a time when so many of us struggle to have faith in God and to believe in the power of His miraculous grace, I am grateful to be able to learn from the courageous example of these brave and faithful men.
However, what if the Maccabees lived in the world today? Would they be seen as “too political”. Would they be considered heroes, or would they be attacked and despised? What would the media write about them? And if the world cried out against them and said they were too political and that they had no right to assume God wanted them to retake the Temple, should they have given up and gone home? Or should they have gone ahead because they felt that it was God’s will for them?
Without a doubt, even those who sincerely seek God’s will for their lives will make mistakes. But the idea of seeking God’s will in all things-that’s our purpose. And it should concern us all and we ought to be able to talk about that without attacking one another.
It is a very difficult thing, trying to determine God’s will for our lives. And as one writer above said, we can do our best and we can “think” we’re on the right track, but in most cases we will probably not know until we meet God ourselves. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Because no matter what our faith is, our purpose on this earth is to serve God and serve each other.
Well, Theresa – you believe that “no matter what our faith is, our purpose on this earth is to serve God and serve each other.” But not even everyone who believes in God believes that our purpose on this earth is to serve God and each other. And certainly people who do not believe in God may not feel that way.
Jill,
Thanks for writing back. I have been reading your website for over a year. The world is very fortunate that there are people that care as much as you do about its’ welfare. Although I don’t agree with all that you write, I respect the amount of honesty and research you put into your positions and I think you give people, including me, real food for thought.
Whether you would ever vote for Palin doesn’t really matter. I can’t imagine you and she would agree on too much, so I wouldn’t expect you to vote for her. In the long run, whether Palin runs in 2012 isn’t all that important anyway. But the issue of what role faith plays in our lives and in our country-now that’s important.
I do understand about your concerns about the separation of church and state. I don’t always agree, but I do understand and it is a concern for many. And I think that for those who have been as persecuted for their faith as the Jewish people have been-this concern is especially understandable.
I think where the problem comes in on this subject is not that we may see the answers differently, but that too often both sides accuse each other of having selfish and “bad” reasons for their opinions.
For example, I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people viciously attack someone who says we ought to be able to display the Ten Commandments at a Court House. Agree or disagree, that doesn’t necessarily make that person a “tyrant”, a “dictator”… Nor does it mean they want to “convert” someone.
On the other side however, just because someone does not want it to be displayed, doesn’t mean they “hate” God or that they “hate” those of Christian faith. And yet how many times have we seen those who want the Ten Commandments removed from court houses attacked as being “anti-God” or “anti- American”?
Our country needs to find a way to discuss these issues and at the same time recognize that both sides often have good and valid reasons for their opinions, and that many on both sides of this debate love our country and care about each other.
Thanks again for doing this website. I read it several times a week and I always learn something of value.
Best Regards,
Theresa Fleming
Correct Jill…and that should be THE issue. God should not be a campaign issue. There is NO religious test for office. We are a secular, pluralistic state.
The only time a candidate’s religion should concern us is when we are looking at the candidate’s worldview. Our religion or lack thereof informs our worldview and certainly is part of our decision making process.
My concern is when religious ideology is so firmly entrenched in a political leader that they can not make decisions that run contrary to their religious ideology. ie. Palin belongs to a Church that believes in American becoming a theocracy. God rule. That should concern every American. Can she act contrary to her religious beliefs. She MUST if she is going to represent all Americans.
God rule requires fidelity to that God’s book. DO we want an America that is governed by the 66 books of the Bible? I am a Christian and I sure don’t want that kind of state. It is dangerous and it will end up as every theocracy has ended up…….in persecuting and killing all who oppose God rule.(Afghanistan is case in point)
Bruce
P.S.-
Re: Well, Theresa – you believe that “no matter what our faith is, our purpose on this earth is to serve God and serve each other.” But not even everyone who believes in God believes that our purpose on this earth is to serve God and each other. And certainly people who do not believe in God may not feel that way.
Jill,
Perhaps so, but it is the truth-whether people believe it or not. It has been so since the beginning, and it will be so in the end. Whether people believe it or not.
Best Regards-Theresa
Wow, Theresa – thank you – I think that is a really fair and honest (and nice!) comment. Promise – I’m not saying that just because it is nice.
But, it is.
But also – I do try – I don’t always succeed, I do have my biases but I like the idea of transparency. I know there are a few people who don’t read or comment anymore because they don’t like how I respond – but I do that at other blogs too. It’s understandable.
Anyway – thank you. I appreciate the respectfulness of your tone, most of all.
Thanks, I really appreciated your comment as well. I don’t think you should worry about how you respond. In fact, don’t change it. Your responses are honest and sincere. What more can we ask of anyone? I’d far rather that then someone who never really says anything and never stands for anything either. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there. And what’s clear in what you write-is you care. And that is exactly what our country needs more of.
Theresa, again – thank you. I hope there are other people who feel like you do & just don’t write that out – I know I feel that way about the blogs I read but probably don’t offer encouragement often enough.
I will take your advice.