Sarah Palin and Helen Keller

Sarah Palin is clearly a big fan of Helen Keller, the deaf and blind social activist whose opposition to war and support for worker’s rights, among other leftist positions, would seemingly put her at odds with Palin. The untruncated quote is, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” It’s an excellent point. Perhaps that’s what Palin had in mind when, during her brief tenure as governor of Alaska, she slashed funding for the state’s Special Education Service Agency (SESA) and the Alaska School for the Deaf. I’m sure those kids developed a ton of character.