Here’s a very long soft-focus profile of Sarah Huckabee Sanders from Jason Schwartz in Politico. It’s called “The Puzzle of Sarah Sanders: How a bright, competent and likable young operative became the face of the most duplicitous press operation in White House history.”

If you don’t feel like reading this article, I’ll give away the answer: There is no puzzle. She’s an apparatchik. Her job is to speak untruths from power. Actually being effective at delivering propaganda generally requires being bright, competent, and likable. And like many bright, competent, and likable people, she enjoys being close to power. This is a boring thesis, but I think I’ve cracked the code.

Advertisement

Politico needs to flesh things out, so we get the hackneyed explanation that to truly understand Sanders you have to understand where she comes from. One good thing about this approach is it allows them to use an important photo of her father, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, in very short shorts and a headband.

There are tales of young Sarah tagging along with her pop to campaign at county fairs and eavesdropping at the kitchen table while the foul Dick Morris explained crosstabs. Spending even a few minutes in the family kitchen with Morris would ruin most human beings forever but Sarah was a hearty soul and soldiered on to become a deeply cynical political operative. It’s just like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”

Advertisement

Schwartz laughably suggests that the stain to Sanders’ credibility from lying constantly for Trump will interfere with getting big-money book deals or TV roles after she leaves her current gig. LOL. Meanwhile, Leslie Rutledge pops up and says that the chattering classes back home are wondering whether Sanders will come back to Arkansas and run for office.

Schwartz notes that Sanders seems rather indifferent to ideology and concludes that she is motivated by a loyalty to Trump in the same manner that she was once loyal to her daddy. This is a mildly creepy conclusion to reach, and unnecessarily complex. The simple explanation will suffice: She is a cynical political operative doing her job.

Advertisement

The Huckster sneaks in this vintage whine: “The print press in Arkansas were pretty slanted, and for the most part overwhelmingly pro-Democrat.” Aw. We miss you, Mike.

50 years of fearless reporting and still going strong

Be a part of something bigger and join the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been tackling powerful forces through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 email subscribers, it's clear that our readers value our commitment to great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating – as little as $1 –, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Take a stand with the Arkansas Times and make a difference with your subscription or donation today.

Previous article Your open line and end of the week headlines Next article Come get lit with the Arkansas Times