SARAH SIGHTING
We attended a presidential campaign debate sponsored
by Young Americans for Political Awareness (YAPA) at Springfield College in
Illinois/Benedictine University this week. John McCain’s views were
presented by 19-year-old Ryan Melchin; Barack Obama’s positions were
represented by 26-year-old Mike Ziri. Both were more courteous and less
repetitive than the candidates they represent. But what really caught our
attention was the presence of McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, who
was sitting in the audience listening intently to the kids explain the
differences between sharing the wealth and socialism.
Why didn’t she speak up? Well, because she is
actually Amy Lakin, an SCI/B English professor, who just happens to be not
only a dead ringer for Palin but also a staunch supporter of Barack. After
the program, she allowed us to photograph her with the sign that she stood
in line for “for hours!” at Obama’s recent Springfield
appearance.
You’ll notice she’s also wearing a
distinctly Palin-esque blazer —- purchased not at Neiman-Marcus but
at a garage sale. And no, she’s not going as Palin to any Halloween
parties. Not quite. “I’m going as Tina Fey playing Sarah
Palin,” she says. “And I’m carrying a broom.”
This article appears in Oct 23-29, 2008.
