Todd Palin, husband of former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican Party vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, filed for divorce last week, citing, “incompatibility of temperament between the parties such that they find it impossible to live together as husband and wife,” according to court documents.
Although the Palin family is no longer in the political spotlight and Sarah Palin has not been governor in a decade, many prominent people on the Left are cheering the divorce and mocking the former conservative politician for it.
Referencing the Barack Obama “Hope” poster Shepard Fairey designed, singer Bette Midler tweeted out, “Sarah Palin’s husband filed for divorce. Guess he was looking for a little hopey changey?”
Sarah Palin’s husband filed for divorce. Guess he was looking for a little hopey changey?
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) September 9, 2019
Comedian Chelsea Handler took the chance to also mock Donald Trump Jr. for getting divorced last year saying, “It’s scary to think that Don Jr. and Sarah Palin could be single at the same time. Talk about a match made in Russia.”
It’s scary to think that Don Jr. and Sarah Palin could be single at the same time. Talk about a match made in Russia. https://t.co/7qg8cesxeI
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) September 10, 2019
New York Times columnist Charles Blow piled on, responding with, “I can see divorce court from my house.”
I can see divorce court from my house… https://t.co/DpoM7d8MsQ
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) September 9, 2019
Jon Cooper, chairman of The Democratic Coalition Super PAC, said, “Good news, ladies! Sarah Palin’s husband Todd has filed for divorce. This could be your big chance to hook this prize package before some other lucky gal snatches him up — but you’ll have to move fast!”
Good news, ladies! Sarah Palin’s husband Todd has filed for divorce. This could be your big chance to hook this prize package before some other lucky gal snatches him up — but you’ll have to move fast!
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) September 9, 2019
All of these quips from the Left are gross and wrong. They have the right to disagree with Palin’s politics and political tactics, but the vitriol of people who are happy to see Palin’s personal life suffer is a terrible look.
Palin is a private citizen going through a difficult point in her life which not only impacts her, but her entire family. She has five children, including an 11-year-old son with Down’s Syndrome, and grandchildren as well. This proceeding hurts everyone’s life in the family, potentially forever. Not only will the marriage come to an end, but otherwise strong family bonds and relationships can be broken when children take sides in a divorce or separation. This can wreck relationships between siblings as well.
Public opinion of Palin is mixed. Some see her as unintelligent and unfit for office or even evil for her political views, while others see a woman whose family championed the pro-life cause and a politician who brought conservative values into John McCain’s 2008 presidential run.
Regardless, that is not the point here. Palin is still a human going through a process which is unfortunately highly common in the United States today — about one in four marriages ends in a divorce for couples over the age of 50, according to Newsweek.
Politics in 2019 are far from civil, but Sarah Palin is not even a major part of the political ecosystem anymore. Mocking her personal life because of her politics is indicative of a toxic mindset. If someone’s life is so unfulfilling that they get joy from the fact that Palin’s youngest son will no longer live in a two-parent household, there is a serious problem — and not with the Palins.
Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports) is a freelance writer who has been published with USA Today, the Boston Globe, Newsday, ESPN, the Detroit Free Press, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Federalist, and a number of other media outlets.
