An open letter on a political speech

Dear Sarah Palin:

Welcome to the suburbs. We're looking forward to your appearances in Rosemont today at a Republican Party fundraiser and, later, at the Rosemont Theatre for a paid speech sponsored by a media outlet. With people willing to pay anywhere from $54 to $297 a seat, not to mention all the add-ons, to hear you speak, you clearly can attract a rapt audience.

We admit to being a little unsure about how to characterize your appearance. The GOP fundraiser portion is self-explanatory, but when it comes to the Rosemont Theatre event, is that a personal lecture? A political rally? Promotional materials for the show have called it just "An Evening with Sarah Palin," so we'll take it at that and see what develops over time.

Nevertheless, inasmuch as you are often hailed as a potential presidential candidate, we think it worthwhile to reflect on some topics we hope you'll address that can help us in the suburbs better get to know you.

For one, we're naturally interested in your thoughts about media's relationship to political and public figures. Your Rosemont Theatre address is promised to be free of "media or liberal filters." Yet, you are sponsored by a radio station that bills itself as "Chicago's conservative talk radio station." Is that not a media filter? And, if reports of your speech are run through politically moderate or conservative filters, is that OK?

For another, we'd like to know your true goals for public life. Are you comfortable serving as a kind of Pat Buchanan, railing at the government from behind a financially rewarding microphone with a political message? Or, do you aim truly to unite Americans behind a message - as, for at least a time, did your political nemesis and fellow beneficiary of rock-star media coverage Barack Obama?

For our part, we're counting on the latter. It's more productive. And, if they can just find an effective balancing point between the extremes of the political bar, heaven knows we need more leaders who can unite Americans. In that vein, we're happy to note that the Rosemont appearance shows how you've brought more people into the political process, and that surely is a good thing.

Still, we wonder, with tens of thousands of gallons of oil washing onshore in Louisiana, whether you've changed your mind about that "Drill, baby, drill" slogan you helped make famous during the 2008 GOP political campaign.

Over the past two years, we in America and in the suburbs may think we know a lot about you. We've learned about your family life, read your best-selling autobiography and watched you on television.

Yet, somehow, there are so many important political and philosophical details missing. Are you indeed the female embodiment of Ronald Reagan? Or, are you Dan Quayle on a roll? Many of us in the suburbs will be eagerly watching for signals tonight.