on arizona: sarah palin responds
Over the past few days following the mass shooting in Arizona, many in the mainstream media have seen fit to declare open season on Governor Sarah Palin.
Some blamed Palin and her “rhetoric” for the actions of the lone killer. Others insisted that her statement of condolences in the hours after the shooting were insufficient and illustrated a lack of leadership on her part.
Well, today, Governor Palin once again proved to be a woman of grace and grounding. She released a video with her thoughts on the violence in Arizona and the despicable (my word) statements of blame that have flooded the airwaves and newspapers in the days since.
Certainly, those in the media who are accustomed to political figures of old - the kind who don’t fight back against the clique of those who buy ink by the barrel full - were assuming the Sarah Palin would be similarly meek. They were wrong.
Governor Palin has now weighed in - in her own words and in her own time. And she did so with the unapologetic language that we have come to expect and, apparently, shocks many in the media:
Vigorous and spirited public debates during elections are among our most cherished traditions. And after the election, we shake hands and get back to work, and often both sides find common ground back in D.C. and elsewhere. If you don’t like a person’s vision for the country, you’re free to debate that vision. If you don’t like their ideas, you’re free to propose better ideas. But, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.
Contrary to most of the drivel that has passed for journalistic thought in recent days, we need more of what Sarah Palin offers. Not less. Her unwavering strength in the face of incivility, and her willingness to stand up for her beliefs are, unfortunately, becoming less and less common among leadership in Washington and our local communities.
Open, spirited, honest debate are at the root of our democracy. Any attempt to silence opposing views - through legislation or innuendo - strikes at the core of who we are as a nation.
- tdc
choices: honoring life or blaming sarah
The start of a new year is supposed to be a time of joy and optimism for the future that lay before us. Sadly, for 19 American families, one violent young man abruptly put a halt to the celebration.
HONORING LIFE
First, let me say that my heart and my prayers have been with the victims of today’s shooting in Arizona since I first learned of these despicable events.
As those who were killed are mourned and the wounded recover, our foremost concern should be for the well-being of each of the families touched by this tragedy. Though most Americans share this sentiment and are equally saddened by what has transpired, I am amazed and disheartened by the other - blatantly political - responses that have paralleled the genuine concern widely expressed.
Needless to say, I felt compelled to share a few (albeit rough) thoughts here.
BLAMING SARAH
As if the loss of life were not enough, today has also been remarkable for the way that some individuals (many of whom should know better) have chosen to condemn Governor Palin for what happened this morning.
Blaming Sarah Palin for various events and random occurences has become so commonplace that most of us respond to the accusations with more amusement than concern.
Today, however, the “blame Sarah” meme was more difficult to dismiss.
The fact that the loss of multiple lives - including a 30-year-old engaged to be married, and a young girl born on 9-11 - would lead some to condemn Governor Palin before the murderer himself…well, that was truly appalling.
All day long, as I intermittently watched commentary scroll by on Twitter or Facebook, I was at first dismayed by what I saw, then saddened by it.
Individuals, whose conduct and achievements I generally respect, revealed another side to themselves today. They illustrated, not only a lack of critical thought (based upon fact and fairness), but also the sort of irrationality that I have come to expect only from the “far Left”.
Without adequate information or background, these individuals took what the major media outlets were saying - namely that Governor Palin’s “Take Back the 20” illustration had incited the day’s violence - and repeated the charge. I found this astounding, to say the least.
Regardless of one’s opinion of Sarah Palin, wouldn’t it be prudent to at least question the accusation that she, or any other political figure, is responsible for the taking of multiple lives? What happened to the days of placing blame on the person who actually pulled the trigger?
The knee-jerk reaction to “blame Sarah Palin” is shameful. Those who perpetrated this storyline have done themselves and our tradition of open political discourse a disservice.
CHOICES
We all have choices to make.
In Arizona, a disturbed man made the devastating decision to open fire on innocent men, women and children. Subsequently, many in the media made the telling decision to ignore fact for the sake of insinuation.
Meanwhile, Govenor Palin made the same choice she always does - to focus on what really matters.
I’m with her.
- tdc
the mutual respect of senator john mccain and governor sarah palin
The 2010 election cycle has illuminated the contrasts between so-called RINOs and “true” conservatives. Thankfully, the beauty of our country’s electoral tradition enables and encourages competitive primaries within parties, allowing voters to determine who wins their trust.
Along these lines, there is a healthy contest happening in Arizona between Senator John McCain and his challenger, JD Hayworth. There are those within the Republican party who feel that Senator McCain is the less conservative of the two candidates, and he is, therefore, not their preferred choice to speak on their behalf in Washington, DC. Alternatively, there are McCain supporters who believe that his experience and high-profile opposition to the current administration’s policies will continue to serve his constituents well. Regardless of one’s views, it should be evident that these types of debates are healthy for our country and our political discourse. And indeed it would seem that Governor Sarah Palin feels the same way.
The good Governor campaigned for her friend and former running mate in Arizona today, delivering her usual barnstormer of a speech. She was energized, she was passionate, and she was clearly happy to be there on the Senator’s behalf.
To be sure, Governor Palin and Senator McCain do not agree on the means and methods of addressing every issue facing our nation. However, the fact is that they both agree that we are moving in the wrong direction, and the only way to correct our course is to move back towards the philosophical center (certainly, how far each would go can be debated). Ultimately, though, these two political giants share a mutual respect and friendship that unites them beyond any disagreements they might have. And in the harsh political environment in which we find ourselves these days, it was wonderful to hear Senator McCain and Governor Palin today speak so warmly of one another.
Neither had to say as much as they did, but as is evident from the video clip below, there is a special bond between these two politicians that allows them to be uninhibited in expressing the appreciation that they so clearly share for one another.
- tdc
*See Part I and Part III (Palin solo) of Greta Van Susteran’s interview
