Like many people outside of Alaska, the first I heard of Sarah Palin was back in August 2008, when John McCain announced her as his running mate. My first reaction: Smooth move, John. We wanted a woman in the Oval Office, now you might be giving us one. My second reaction: How sexist and condescending can you get. We can’t have Hillary, so any old female will do? And my third: Dear Lord, please don’t let this woman end up in the White House.

So here’s my confession: I was – and still am – an ardent Obama supporter. Politically speaking I’d say Sarah Palin and I are just about polar opposites. (You say, “Drill baby;” I say, “No blood for oil.”) I shudder to imagine her holding a national political office. But, the thing is, well … see, it’s like this … I kind of like her too.

Read Sarah Palin and Oprah: Our View

Yep. As much as I hate to admit it, I can’t help but find certain things about Sarah Palin admirable … and, dare I say? … almost role model-ish.

I roll my eyes at half the stuff she says; I wanted to strangle her when she kept winking during her debate with Joe Biden. Just the other day, I laughed out loud when she told Oprah it was not lucky but, rather, “providential” she kept all those journals as a kid (Yes, Sarah, God wanted you to write a bestseller)… but at the same time I admire her spirit, and her guts.

I don’t agree with her pro-life stance (you say “Pro-life,” I say “Anti-choice”), but I honestly commend Sarah Palin for living by her beliefs. She, as they say, doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk – in an area of life that is one of the hardest and most personal. And as a woman, and a mother, I take my hat off to her for that. It was brave and estimable of her to admit to wavering over her decision to carry her Down syndrome baby to term. And, while I’m thankful she actually got to MAKE a choice (oh the irony), I think the decision she made was full of courage. It couldn’t have been an easy one.