Sarah Palin troubles the sisterhood

The molly-coddling of Sarah Palin by the McCain campaign team - she has
given only two interviews since she was picked as John McCain's running mate and given no news conference - is beginning to test the patience of American journalists covering the presidential campaign. Especially her fellow women.

On her peak-time Election Center show on Tuesday night, CNN anchor Campbell Brown (pictured) let rip at what she calls John McCain's chauvinism towards Palin. "Frankly I have had it," she said, "and I know a lot of other women out there who are with me on this. I have had enough of the sexist treatment of Sarah Palin. It has to end.

"I call upon the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower who will wilt at any moment. This woman is from Alaska for crying out loud. She is strong, she is tough, she is confident. And you claim she is ready to be one heartbeat away from the presidency. If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now. Allow her to show her stuff."

All very admirable. But had Brown heard this electrifying snippet of Palin's conversation this week with her first world leader, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, when she made her broadside?

Karzai spoke of the birth of his first child.

"What is his name?" asked Palin.

"Mirwais," replied Karzai, "which means 'The Light of the House'."

"Oh nice," Palin responded.

Henry Kissinger, eat your heart out.