"...a depiction of Ms Palin in a Western cartoon being buried up to her neck in sand would not spark much outrage. It wouldn't push the buttons."

I don't know about your example, Amos. I think a lot of women would be rather touchy about that image.

There is no history in the world of white women being regularly lynched for being white women.

There is history of black men being regularly lynched for the crime of being black men.

There is history of women being executed by stoning for adultery and other gender related behaviours - it's Biblical, baby.