Kathleen Parker

Kathleen Parker is an American syndicated columnist. Her columns generally support American conservative ideology and are syndicated nationally by The Washington Post Writers Group. Parker is a consulting faculty member at the Buckley School of Public Speaking, and makes appearances on television shows like "The O'Reilly Factor "and "The Chris Matthews Show."

Parker is the author of "Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care" (New York: Random House, 2008).

Parker grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, and attended Converse College before transferring to the University of San Francisco for a year of study in Spain, majoring in Spanish Literature. She holds a Master's degree in the subject.

She is married to an attorney, has three sons, and currently resides in Camden, South Carolina.cite news | title=Beyond the Byline: Kathleen Parker | publisher=Dayton Daily News (Ohio) | author=Ellen Belcher | date=May 15 2005] Her mother died when she was young, and she has had four stepmothers.

Parker made news during the 2008 U.S. presidential election when she called on Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to step down from the party ticket after a series of media interviews of Palin revealed what Parker believed to be Palin's lack of qualification to hold the position. [ cite news | last=Mooney | first=Alexander | title=Palin should step down, conservative commentator says | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/26/palin-should-step-down-conservative-commentator-says/ | publisher=CNNPolitics.com | date=2008-09-26 | accessdate=2008-09-26 | quote=Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. ] [ cite news | last=Weisman | first=Jonathan | title=Conservative Columnist Turns on Palin | url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/26/conservative_columnist_kathlee.html | publisher="Washington Post" | date=2008-09-26 | accessdate=2008-09-26 | quote=Parker, after a scalding critique of Palin's readiness for high office, begs the Alaska governor to step down from the Republican ticket. ] [ cite news | last=Parker | first=Kathleen | title=Palin Problem: She's Out of Her League | url=http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE= | publisher=National Review | date=2008-09-26 | accessdate=2008-09-26 | quote=Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League. ] Parker received over 11,000 responses, some from fellow conservatives attacking her and discussed that in a column which began quoting from those responses: "Allow me to introduce myself. I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a dumpster, but since she didn't, I should off myself." ["Reliable Sources", CNN, October 5, 2008] . She subsequently affirmed that Palin had "redeemed herself" following a vice presidential debate that was well received by conservatives, but that Governor Palin had not done more to answer the question of whether she was qualified to be Vice President.

References

External links

* [http://www.jewishworldreview.com/kathleen/parker.archives.asp Parker's column archives at "Jewish World Review" website]
* [http://www.townhall.com/columnists/kathleenparker/archive.shtml Parker's biography "Townhall.com" website]