Palin on Oprah

Contrary to popular opinion, not all women are enamored with Oprah Winfrey. In the 20+ years she's been hosting her show, I might've accidentally (via channel surfing and/or walking in on someone else who was engrossed in her latest episode) viewed a snippet here or there, but never once sat through an entire hour of mind-numbing chatter and touchy-feely moral relativism.

That all changed yesterday when a fresh breeze blew in from Alaska.

I admit, I was somewhat perplexed and even a bit angry when I first heard the news that Sarah Palin would visit Oprah's couch as part of her Going Rogue book tour. What exactly did she hope to accomplish by making nice with an avowed Obama-phile who refused the first female Republican VP nominee that opportunity during the 2008 campaign? And given the fact that her book was already setting records, Palin sure didn't need Oprah's endorsement to achieve best-selling author status.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the former Governor of Alaska had no choice but to sit down with the talk-show queen. After all, the only impression most of Oprah's female audience had of Palin was as a reality-show, trailer-trash freak -- a fraudulent image pervasively and relentlessly perpetuated by an increasingly hostile (and fearful) media.

Seriously, why would lefty lamestreams want American women to know that an unapologetic conservative Christian female rose to political power purely on her own ambition and hard work -- with the undying support of a loving, faithful husband and five devoted children? Conservative women aren't supposed to be powerful, self-assured, intelligent and -- dare I add -- beautiful; they're supposed to be miserable, barefoot and pregnant, while simultaneously plodding through life per the dictates of that repressive religion, Christianity, as the faithful spouse of a neanderthal who neither supports her ambitions, nor helps out with the child-rearing.

The Left certainly didn't want Oprah's audience to know that you can choose life, no matter how imperfect and still find incredible joy and satisfaction in it. I am referring of course, to the governor's decision to give birth to her Down syndrome baby Trig, but also to her daughter Bristol, who chose life for her son Tripp, under less-than-ideal circumstances.

So the more I digested it, the more sense Palin's decision made. And yesterday, when I sat down to watch a full episode of Oprah for the first time in my life, I was once again reminded of why I admire Sarah Palin as a woman, American, conservative, politician, wife, mother and Christian.

Though I found Oprah to be a bit badgering at times in her questioning (e.g. "Is Levi Johnston invited for Thanksgiving dinner?"), with an aura of aloof politeness in her mannerisms, Palin handled the interview with her usual grace, charm, honesty and forthrightness. I was more than a little miffed at the end of the first segment when Oprah basically forced her to say something good about Obama (regarding his exhortation to the media to keep the candidates' kids off-limits, knowing full-well his media lackeys would never touch his kids -- except to comment on how wonderful they were. If only Palin's kids had been afforded the same treatment).

Some of my favorite moments?

When Palin noted, "It wasn't the center of my universe," in response to the question about being "snubbed" by Oprah last year; her reference to "The Perky One" (an obvious dig at obnoxious Katie Couric); the Halloween day video featuring Todd, Sarah, Trig and Piper; and her touching retelling of the day she broke the news to her husband about their forthcoming special-needs child.

I do wish Oprah had gotten around to asking some political and policy questions along the lines of "What was it like to take on the good old boys in the Republican establishment in Alaska and win?" "Why are you in favor of drilling in ANWAR?" "What was your proudest accomplishment as governor?" All missed opportunities that no doubt will be addressed when she appears on Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly and other outlets.

Overall, an impressive performance, one which I believe resonated with the audience and set the tone for a highly successful reintroduction to the American electorate.