My husband and I were in Tennessee last weekend to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We had a lovely time hiking in the national park, enjoying the beautiful scenery and the Southern hospitality. But every time we walked through a parking lot, I felt like a stranger in a strange land: every vehicle was adorned with McCain-Palin bumper stickers.

I wasn’t surprised by this; I’ve spent lots of time in the South. I used to live in Florida; my in-laws live in North Carolina, and we’ve gone on countless vacations south of the Mason-Dixon line. After a day or so, I even got used to all the Republican propaganda. Then, I saw one that made my jaw drop. I actually had to stop and stare for a few seconds.

The bumper sticker was pink lettering with a pink silhouette of the fairy Tinkerbell; the letters spelled out: Palin Girl.

I was so shocked, I forgot to take a picture. I’m still looking for a link to a site that sells them. As soon as I find it, I’ll post it, so if you think I’m pulling your leg (or you want to buy one, God forbid), you can check it out.

In that moment, I realized why this woman has “energized” the Republican base (John McCain, Fox News, 10/19/08). Finally, I saw why the thousands of conservatives who have despised Hillary Clinton for 18 years have embraced this woman. Sarah Palin is a woman, but she is a woman who is so completely non-threatening, conservatives can embrace her without surrendering their belief in the intrinsic superiority of men. She is a woman who knows her place in national politics– a pretty face (Rich Lowry, National Review, 10/3/08) who stands quietly (Nicole Wallace, MSNBC, 9/4/08) behind her male candidate. More beauty queen than politician, more cheerleader than world leader.

Don’t get me wrong. I love being a girl myself. I just don’t think it’s the main thing you should advertise about your political candidate. And I’ve got nothing against Tinkerbell. I worked for the Disney Company for 10 years; Tink’s all over the walls of my 3-year-old daughter’s bedroom.  But this bumper sticker was not celebrating the family’s latest vacation to Disney World. It was supposed to be a political statement. Tinkerbell for VP? Little girls who love pink for the GOP? OMG.

As for beauty queens and cheerleaders, I love ‘em. I was a homecoming princess myself. My roommate in my freshman year of college was the senior prom queen at our high school. My sister and best friend were both cheerleaders. I’ve got no problem with them either. But this is not a race for homecoming queen or captain of the cheerleading squad or even vice president of a high school graduating class. Pink fairy bumper stickers strike me as highly inappropriate.

Poor Hillary. No wonder the GOP hates her.