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Hate Palin? You Just Haven't Met Her

But Fred Barnes has, and, he assures us, she's great

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 25, 2008 5:49 PM CDT

(Newser) – Many of Sarah Palin’s critics have something in common: They haven't met her. Virtually everyone who has come into the governor’s presence leaves impressed, writes Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard. Even Alaska politicians she’s quarreled with say she’s smart and capable. “Her politics aren’t my politics,” said SNL’s Lorne Michaels, but meeting her, “you can see she’s a very powerful, very disciplined, incredibly gracious woman.”

But Palin’s harshest critics, including conservatives like Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker, and David Brooks, have never met the woman. So who’s the better judge of Palin—those who know her, or those who don’t? “The answer is a no-brainer,” says Barnes. Of course, Barnes is probably biased: He’s met Palin multiple times. Needless to say, he was impressed.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks to a crowd during a rally at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Mo. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008.
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks to a crowd during a rally at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Mo. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sarah Palin speaks to a crowd during a rally at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Mo. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008.
Sarah Palin speaks to a crowd during a rally at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Mo. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, right, meets with supporters after she disembarked from a plane in Philadelphia, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, right, meets with supporters after she disembarked from a plane in Philadelphia, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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I watched the way she connected with people, and you can see that she's a very powerful, very disciplined, incredibly gracious woman. - Lorne Michaels

In judging Palin, it comes down to who is more credible. Is it those who've worked with her, or know her, or have at least met and talked with her? Or those who haven't? - Fred Barnes

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