Fox (hearts) Palin – but will it help her in 2012?

On Monday it was announced that Fox News inked former Alaska Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to a multi-year contract as a contributor to the news network. While her on-air duties were not specifically spelled out, it’s expected that she’ll provide expert analysis to the network’s election-night coverage and host an upcoming Fox News program called “Real American Stories,” which the network bills as, “a series exploring inspirational real-life tales of overcoming adversity throughout the American landscape.”

Straddling a border between politics and media is nothing new, although more often than not the line has been crossed the other way – Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger are but two examples of those who made their name in media before trying their luck in politics, while Senator and former presidential candidate Fred Thompson has managed a successful career in both arenas. Former CNN host and anchor Lou Dobbs is among those considering a similar move into the political scene after years in media.

But more and more that border is being traversed in the opposite direction.

Before Palin joined Fox News, one of the network’s brightest new stars was former Presidential contender and fellow governor Mike Huckabee. While his 2012 Presidential hopes may have been snuffed out by the recent murder of four police officers in Washington state by Maurice Clemmons, a convicted felon Huckabee helped to free from prison by commuting his sentence while serving as governor, when he was signed by Fox Governor Huckabee was still considered by many as a favorite for the 2012 GOP nod along with Sarah Palin and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Obviously in Huckabee’s instance, the Clemmons incident didn’t stem from anything he said as a Fox News employee. But given the propensity of the remainder of media to judge Sarah Palin by unrealistically high double standards, anything Palin says on the Fox network can and will be used against her in the court of public opinion.

Perhaps the best approach Fox can take with Palin heeds the old show business saying, “always leave ‘em wanting more.” One criticism leveled at President Obama is that he is always on television, the very definition of a media hog. Contrary to belief inside the White House, this overexposure is hurting his approval and credibility.

After Ronald Reagan left office as Governor of California, he had the opportunity to write and deliver a brief radio commentary each weekday for several years leading up to his 1980 campaign. These short essays kept him just close enough to the fray to be remembered but didn’t make him seem overexposed by being in the media for hours on end.

By that same token, if Governor Palin has the opportunity to judiciously dole out her appearances instead of being a nightly staple on Fox News it will enhance her political chances in the long run. With fewer opportunities for critics to jump on any misstatement she makes, Palin won’t be making the news so much as she’ll be delivering her message. And since her message of conservative principles is currently popular with the largest segment of the American people, exerting as much control of it as possible is in her best interest politically should she desire to return to that arena.

At the moment Palin’s approval ratings are comparable to those of the current Oval Office occupant. If she’s shrewd about the opportunity presented to her, Sarah Palin could create the message of her 2012 campaign and have the luxury of controlling it too.

Michael Swartz, an architect and editor of monoblogue, is a Liberty Features Syndicated writer.

Hey, I like the tagline and link. This effort for LFS cleared on January 15th and was picked up by the Palos Heights (IL) Reporter on January 21st.