The Gospel Coalition

A little over a year ago, she was a largely unknown governor of a state closer to Siberia than New York City. Today, Sarah Palin is one of the most polarizing political figures in recent memory. People either love her or hate her (as the customer reviews of her book on Amazon demonstrate).

With my GRE out of the way and my requirements for Graduation at SBTS completed, I decided late last week to go to Barnes and Noble to pick up a couple of books to read for pure enjoyment. Not for the blog. Not for school. Not for ministry. Just something to enjoy reading.

Sarah Palin’s autobiography looked intriguing to me. I enjoy politics. I like seeing the inner workings of a political campaign. At the same time, I understand that most autobiographies paint starry-eyed portraits of the protagonist. In the end, I decided to pick up Going Rogue.

Three things about this book stood out to me.

First, Alaska is a fascinating state. I expected to be bored silly by the first third of Going Rogue. I had no interest in reading Palin’s recollections of her ordinary life in Alaska.

But the stories from Palin’s childhood and teenage years showed me that there is no such thing as ordinary in Alaska. The state’s rugged terrain, fascinating history, and massive size (to cross the state you would have to drive a distance as long as Houston to Minneapolis) won me over. Palin’s “can-do” personality successfully represents the spirit of those braving the Alaskan wild.

Secondly, I was happy to see Palin’s unflinching articulation of a pro-life point of view. Palin’s pro-life stance is bolstered by her example. The mother of five children – including a baby with down syndrome – Palin does not just talk about life being a gift from God; her actions demonstrate that she holds fast to this truth.

One example is particularly memorable. In order to announce to her family and friends that God was blessing them with a fifth child (Trig, the baby with special needs), Palin pens a moving letter “from God” that describes this baby as a unique blessing. Whatever your political affiliation, Christians should appreciate the pro-life example that Palin puts forth.

One more aspect stands out to me after having read Going Rogue. In politics, there is always more than meets the eye. Palin’s account of the campaign trail provides a glimpse into the inner workings and outer facade of a national campaign.

But one would be foolish to expect there to be “more than meets the eye” in the campaign and then miss the fact that autobiographies of this sort also have an agenda and a purpose. Going Rogue is clearly intended to make a case for Palin’s political philosophy and clear up some of the rumors that have tarnished her reputation. But I have little doubt it also represents a savvy political move.

Politics is a dirty business. Seeing the media’s treatment of Palin’s children is sad. Sadder still is reading about Palin’s family being split into two locations, or her going weeks on end without seeing her husband. Try as she may to make it seem like she can be SuperMom and SuperGovernor (and then Super VP candidate), Palin has chosen a life of public service that comes with certain costs. At times, she nobly sacrifices her political ambition for her family. Other times, her family pays the price for her political endeavors.

To those who want to make Sarah Palin out to be the poster child of evangelical political engagement, I would offer a strong dose of caution. Yes, her autobiography is interesting. Yes, her stories are funny (Can you picture Joe Biden doing stretches and warm-ups before the debate?). Yes, her candidacy was a boost to John McCain’s lackluster campaign. I realize that she is pro-life and embodies many of the conservative values to which many evangelicals subscribe.

But we evangelicals are too quick to idolize political candidates that articulate our values. We should not join the adoring fans who uncritically embrace all that Palin does or says; neither should we join her opponents who demonize her and mock her family.

Going Rogue is an interesting story of a family caught in the crossfire of an intense national political campaign. Is it a one-sided portrayal of Palin and her family? Yes, obviously. But it is enjoyable nonetheless.