Palin: Another Nixon

So what's the big deal? Sarah Palin made a historical mistake when she claimed Paul Revere's ride was as much to warn the British soldiers as it was the colonists. She is not the first politician to get her historical facts wrong and certainly will not be the last. Still, I find this to be terribly unsettling.

Again, I have no problem with her error. We all make mistakes like this from time to time. However, the real problem is she feels she has to go to such great lengths to prove her statement was actually right when in fact it is not. I find such behavior troubling from someone who many hope will some day become the most powerful person in the world.

Her behavior reminds me of Richard Nixon who could not admit to his role in the break in of the democratic headquarters that became know as Watergate. An early admission of his wrong doing would have played out much better for him and the country. Instead, Nixon made matters worse with the cover up that led to his eventual resignation from office. Richard Nixon, as brilliant of a man as he was, was brought down by his own insecurities and nothing else.

Sarah Palin is no different. She fails to see how admitting to a simple error makes her seem more human in the eyes of voters. She could have taken a non event and made it go away for good. Instead, she makes matters worse by trying to prove herself right, as if she knows more than the rest of us.

Jerry Ford, when he was not tripping over his feet was hitting spectators in the head with errant golf shots. Jimmy Carter ran so hard in a 10K that he overheated and had to be pulled out by secret service agents. And George H.W. Bush once threw up on the Prime Minister of Japan. Each of these events made these leaders seem more human. Of course, each also went on to lose re-election which may be why Palin is working so hard to prove she is right about Paul Revere.

When a person goes to so much trouble to prove they are right on a matter as minor as the ride of Paul Revere, how far will that person go to hide their more serious mistakes? Sarah Palin needs to quit trying to prove to us she is something none of us are - perfect - before she becomes another Richard Nixon.