Opinion

Sarah Palin and Fox News: a match made in heaven

Sarah Palin’s new role as a Fox News contributor is the perfect platform for the celebrity politician.

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The reasons for a Palin-Fox marriage can be traced to how Fox and its leadership in the form of the News Channel president Roger Ailes thinks. Mr. Ailes, a brilliant former Republican operative, has infused a Republican viewpoint into the channel’s programming, as evidenced by its lineup of Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and even Palin’s potential presidential rival Mike Huckabee, who hosts a low-profile weekend show.

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“Governor Palin has captivated everyone on both sides of the political spectrum and we are excited to add her dynamic voice to the Fox News lineup,” said Bill Shine, executive vice president of programming.

Another reason this is such a great fit for both Palin and Fox? Both appear to enjoy upsetting and besting Democrats. Officially, of course, they both claim otherwise: “It’s wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news,” Palin said in a written release.

At Fox, Palin could sit in a comfy studio in stylish clothing, holding court before America and dispensing sharp political observations and nuggets of stinging disdain for Democratic initiatives. No other major guests or political pundits would be necessary; Palin would be the unquestioned star.

In fact, this announced hiring could merely be a test run for giving Palin her own prime-time show. Fox could call the program “Sarah!” and slot it at 6:30 p.m. opposite the ABC, CBS, and NBC nightly news programs. No doubt “Sarah!” would get higher ratings than the big three, at least initially.

For a one-time insurgent channel that was birthed to provide a counterweight to perceived liberal media bias, the show would be the ultimate insult to the so-called elite media and its adherents, a delicious prospect to Ailes.

General chatter about Palin’s political future misses the point. Just as David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal, and others – athletes who arguably became more enamored of celebrity than the sports they played – Palin now seems more interested in being a star than a politician. Being a cable figure would allow her to continue this and solidify her conservative credentials to run for president down the road.

Sarah Palin and prime-time television? It makes total sense.
Mark Greenbaum is an attorney and freelance writer in Washington.

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