With great fanfare, former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin this week endorsed Donald Trump for President of the United States. Mr. Trump has spent much of his life endorsing (and living) socially liberal causes. Although he now says he is pro-life, he’s on the record multiple times as “very pro-choice.” He is in favor of government health care that is even more comprehensive than Obamacare. He’s had four bankruptcies that hurt countless people and businesses. In short, he’s no conservative.
Why then would the queen of the tea party movement stand up for him? Because Mr. Trump is the show. The spotlight shines where ever he goes and Sarah Palin loves, indeed craves, the spotlight. Former Gov. Palin has made a fortune in the seven years since she and Sen. John McCain lost to Barack Obama, and more power to her for it. Books, TV shows, speaking fees and a cable news consultant gig have all resulted in celebrity status and heavy income. But in the year 2016 the shine has worn off, the novelty is gone and Sarah Palin’s stock as the go-to red meat conservative has dropped dramatically.
Consider this. If you’re Sarah Palin and you want to make a comfortable living, what options to you have? Only one. Being Sarah Palin. It’s a great gig if you can get it, but as even hard-core conservatives seem to be over her, Mrs. Palin is still hungry for the attention, the fame and the money.
She is so hungry in fact, that she prioritized Donald Trump, her springboard back into relevance, ahead of her own suicidal son.
Less than 24 hours before Sarah Palin bounded on stage beside Donald Trump and declared it was time to “stop pussyfooting around”, her oldest son, Track, was arrested for domestic violence in a drunken haze. At age 26, Track still lives with mom and dad and on Monday night, after exchanging punches with his girlfriend, Track held an AR-15 rifle to his own head and threatened to kill himself.
When law enforcement arrived his girlfriend was hiding under a bed. Track had ditched the gun and was pacing around talking on his cell phone. He was uncooperative and belligerent with police and ended up in cuffs, under arrest.
If it were the average parent and his or her son was so troubled that the child had pointed a gun at his own head and threatened to kill himself, that parent would drop whatever he or she was going on and go to the kid immediately. Any parent will tell you they never stop worrying, even when their kid is an adult. Threaten suicide and it seems nothing would be more important to mom or dad.
Unless mom has a shot to get in front of the cameras again. Unless mom can raise her profile enough to reel in another book deal or more high-priced speeches. Apparently those are higher priorities.
Track Palin threatened to kill himself Monday night and ended up drunk and in jail. On Tuesday, Sarah Palin chose to be with Donald Trump instead of going to and supporting her own child. The choice by the woman once considered America’s soccer mom speaks volumes.
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