by Nikki Everett

Created on: December 14, 2009

People call her the fresh face of the Republican Party and a pit bull with lipstick at the same time. When the name Sarah Palin comes about in conversation, you may hear both a groan and complaints that will follow or else an echo of rhetoric about her hard working ethics and family values in praise. American’s position on loving or hating the ex Governor of Alaska started the minute she graced every network with her perfect smile, Miss Congeniality wave, and unintelligible blathering.

Upon the announcement for the 2008 McCain Presidential candidacy vetting of Sarah Palin as vice president, the majority of people had no clue who Palin was. Today, you’d have to live under a rock to not know who she is.

The attractive female governor from America’s least populated and most arctic state was possibly the biggest unknown anywhere in the world besides Alaska. And when the people don’t know anything about someone claiming to be capable of holding an executive office – they want to know everything possible to fill in the blanks.

Love Her

The fascination of Palin has been equal to a reality T.V. drama complete with family in tow for the ride. Who wouldn’t love a hard working, Christian mother of five children and one of them has special needs? A woman who can do that, run public office and look as good as she did when she was a Miss Alaska runner - up deserves some kind of deep respect.

About 25% of the American public loves her – And the majority of that 25% are Christian based. Her fans believe that family values and morality are political platforms. Unfortunately like most politicians, Sarah Palin can fall short of perfection. But, one of her best assets is that the Republican right wing fan base remains loyal to those they deem worthy of their faith because they purport to believe in God and family values.

As in cases like Ken Calvert, John Bolton and even George W. Bush, the truth can be as far from the perceived reality as Russia is from American soil. The faith base is almost impossible to shake which remains the main reason the virtually unknown Alaskan was even picked to run with McCain to begin with.

Be that as it may, Palin has been selected by Barbara Walters as one of America’s “Top 10 Most Fascinating People” of 2008 and her 2009 book, Going Rogue: An American Life, became a bestseller before its release.

"It has been spectacular," Palin told USA TODAY in a telephone interview December, 2009 as

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