I’d like to discuss the charges of sexism that were hurled almost every time a Palin supporter talked about her. Well, how convenient, as the church lady would say.

May we review the record? Can anyone imagine a male politician introducing himself to the nation as a soccer dad, carrying his special-needs infant on his shoulder and trotting out his pregnant teenage daughter to show what a loving father and family man he is? Palin has, from the beginning, presented herself with great pride as a sexy, winking, hard-edged woman with a capital W. So yes, comments bordering on sexism have certainly been made. But what, pray tell, did Dan Quayle — who was nearly crucified by the press — and others have to hide behind? He had no -ism at his disposal to use to rationalize away his missteps. He just had to take the criticism personally — like a man, you might say.

Can anybody recall Margaret Thatcher or Angela Merkel calling their critics sexist? Yet both of them must have encountered plenty of sexism while climbing up the political ladder. But whining was not their thing or that of their supporters. One of the ironies is that white men who have never supported any feminist cause and who certainly opposed the E.R.A. and who are proudly anti-choice are the ones who have hurled the charge most frequently and loudly.

I wish I could welcome this crowd to the cause of feminism but something tells me that they will not prove to be reliable allies.