Palin Blasts 'Reprehensible Blood Libel' Over Arizona Shooting
Wednesday, 12 Jan 2011 10:01 AM
By David A. Patten
Sarah Palin has released an Internet video condemning the
crass politicization of the shooting rampage in Tucson that
killed or wounded 20 victims, calling it “reprehensible” and a
“blood libel.”
Palin’s video, titled “America’s Enduring Strength,” is her
first extended remarks on the tragic shooting on Saturday.
“After this shocking tragedy,” says Palin, “I listened at first
puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the
irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion
blame for this terrible event."
Story continues below video.
Responding to allegations from some on the left that her
rhetoric and a map that appeared to target Democrats for defeat
somehow had fomented a violent political atmosphere, Palin
reminds listeners in the video that she has spoken out
repeatedly against violence.
“As I said while campaigning for others last March in Arizona
during a very heated primary race, ‘We know violence isn’t the
answer. When we ‘take up our arms,’ we’re talking about our
vote,’” Palin says in the video, which runs about eight minutes.
Within hours of the shooting rampage which is believed
to be the work of a mentally troubled 22-year-old, pundits and
progressive Democrats pointed the finger at Republicans, blaming
them for superheated political rhetoric that they said could
incite someone who was mentally unbalanced.
Only later did the facts emerge: The gunman’s statements appear
to indicate he suffered from paranoid delusions and did not
appear to have a coherent political philosophy. Moreover, his
first angry encounter with critically wounded Democratic Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords came in 2007, well before the rise of Sarah
Palin and the tea parties to national prominence.
National religious and conservative figures, including the Rev.
Franklin Graham, columnist and author Michael Reagan, and Media
Research Center watchdog L. Brent Bozell, have come to Palin’s
defense.
The attacks against Palin appear to be based primarily on the
symbols she used to designate vulnerable Democratic-held
congressional districts on a map posted to her Facebook page
nine months ago.
Although some contend that the symbols were cross hairs similar
those on a gun sight, Palin's camp maintains they are surveyor
symbols. In any case, Palin’s defenders counter that the
Democratic Leadership Council published a similar map in 2004,
also targeting congressional districts, that designated them
with bull's-eyes.
In 2008, the left-wing Daily Kos blog specifically targeted
Giffords for her centrist positions, and wrote of putting her in
the bull's-eye. Indeed, just two days before the shooting, the
site posted a comment about Giffords that read: "My
CongressWOMAN voted against Nancy Pelosi! And is now DEAD to
me!"
Conservatives are perplexed why such statements from the left
have not been linked to the mayhem in Arizona, yet a Palin post
from March has.
In today's video, Palin sharply criticizes the mainstream rush
to politicize the shooting.
“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,” she says.
Palin also said: "There are those who claim political rhetoric
is to blame for the despicable act of this deranged, apparently
apolitical criminal. And they claim political debate has somehow
gotten more heated just recently. But when was it less heated?"
“Back in those 'calm days' when political figures literally
settled their differences with dueling pistols? In an ideal
world all discourse would be civil and all disagreements
cordial. But our Founding Fathers knew they weren’t designing a
system for perfect men and women,” Palin says. “If men and women
were angels, there would be no need for government. Our
Founders’ genius was to design a system that helped settle the
inevitable conflicts caused by our imperfect passions in civil
ways. So, we must condemn violence if our Republic is to
endure."
Palin’s video was posted on her Facebook page early Wednesday
morning, accompanied by a transcript of her remarks. She begins
by expressing sympathy for the innocent victims. “No words can
fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn
for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy,” she says.
Noting the attack at a Tucson-area supermarket occurred as
Giffords and her constituents were exercising their right to
free speech and assembly, she declared: “It’s inexcusable and
incomprehensible why a single evil man took the lives of
peaceful citizens that day.”
Palin, who says she spent the last few days reflecting on the
tragedy and praying for guidance, struck a bipartisan note by
saying, “President Obama and I may not agree on everything, but
I know he would join me in affirming the health of our
democratic process. Two years ago his party was victorious. Last
November, the other party won. In both elections the will of the
American people was heard, and the peaceful transition of power
proved yet again the enduring strength of our Republic.”
In some ways, the video represents the most statesmanlike speech
to date delivered by the former Alaska governor.
“We need strength to not let the random acts of a criminal turn
us against ourselves, or weaken our solid foundation, or provide
a pretext to stifle debate,” she says, adding: “America must be
stronger than the evil we saw displayed last week.”
“We are better than the mindless finger-pointing we endured in
the wake of the tragedy,” she concludes. “We will come out of
this stronger and more united in our desire to peacefully engage
in the great debates of our time, to respectfully embrace our
differences in a positive manner, and to unite in the knowledge
that, though our ideas may be different, we must all strive for
a better future for our country. May God bless America.”
Palin’s video statement is sure to be the focus of intense media
scrutiny Wednesday, in the run-up to President Obama’s address
to the nation from Tucson at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Editor’s note: For the full text of Sarah Palin’s video
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