Palin Holds High Ground Over Harsh and Unfair Critics

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/01/18/palin_defeated_unfair_critics_at_nyt__msnbc_108561.html


January 18, 2011 
Palin Holds High Ground Over Harsh and Unfair CriticsBy Ed Koch

As I see it, in the current battle for public opinion Sarah Palin has defeated 
her harsh and unfair critics.
After the January 8 shooting of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the 
murder of six others in Tucson, Arizona, some television talking heads and 
members of the blogosphere denounced her and held her in part responsible for 
creating a climate of hatred that resulted in the mass attacks. Receive news 
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Ed Koch RealClearPolitics 
Jared Lee Loughner Joe Scarborough  
An example is Joe Scarborough and his crew on the "Morning Joe" show, which I 
watch and generally enjoy every morning at 6:30 a.m. when I rise to start the 
day. Because Palin designated Congresswoman Giffords and others for defeat in 
the November elections by the use of crosshairs on website maps of the 
Congressional districts, they blamed Palin for creating an atmosphere that 
caused Jared Loughner (whom everyone now recognizes as being mentally disturbed) 
to embark on the shooting and killing spree.
Then reason set in, led by President Obama in his now famous and widely-lauded 
speech in Tucson bringing the country together. Most commentators did an 
about-face, recognizing that the lack of civility in both speech and actions by 
politicians, particularly in Washington, were not the cause of the shootings. A 
friend of the shooter said he had no interest in politics or talk radio. 
Insanity was the cause of his vicious acts, not political rhetoric.
While the charge of responsibility against Palin was dropped, the Scarborough 
crew continued to assail her for defending herself on her website where she 
stated that she had been the subject of a blood libel. Her critics were incensed 
that she should use the term "blood libel." That was the description given by 
Jews to the charge of Christian clergy who falsely accused Jews of killing 
Christian children in order to make matzos (unleavened bread) during the 
Passover holiday. That libelous accusation was intended by those using it to 
cause pogroms that killed and injured thousands of Jews. It started in the early 
centuries A.D. and continues to date, according to Wikipedia. That same charge - 
blood libel - is now repeated by the media in Arab countries to stir up the 
anger of the Arab street against the Jews in Israel. The libel continues to do 
damage.
Today the phrase "blood libel" can be used to describe any monstrous defamation 
against any person, Jew or non-Jew. It was used by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon 
when he was falsely accused of permitting the Lebanese Christian militia to kill 
hundreds of defenseless and innocent Muslim men, women and children in Lebanese 
refugee camps. The killings were monstrous and indefensible revenge for earlier 
killings by Muslims of innocent Christian civilians.
Time Magazine published a story implying that Sharon was directly responsible 
for the massacres. He sued the magazine. At trial it was determined that the 
magazine story included false allegations, but since Sharon was a public figure, 
he received no monetary damages.
How dare Sarah Palin, cried the commentators, use that phrase to describe the 
criticism of her by those who blamed her for creating the atmosphere that set 
Loughner off in his murderous madness. Some took the position that it proved 
their ongoing charges that she is not an intelligent person and probably did not 
know what the phrase meant historically. In my opinion, she was right to 
denounce her critics and use blood libel to describe the unfair criticism that 
she had been subject to.
Here are excerpts from her statement:
"Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on 
Saturday, and my heart broke 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." 

>"Like many, I've spent the past few days reflecting on what happened and praying 
>for guidance. After this shocking tragedy, 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."
>"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."
>"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.' Yes, our debates are full of passion, but 
>we settle our political differences respectfully at the ballot box - as we did 
>just two months ago, and as our Republic enables us to do again in the next 
>election, and the next. That's who we are as Americans and how we were meant to 
>be. Public discourse and debate isn't a sign of crisis, but of our enduring 
>strength. It is part of why America is exceptional."
Why do I defend Palin in this case? I don't agree with her political philosophy: 
She is an arch conservative. I am a liberal with sanity. I know that I am 
setting myself up for attack when I ask, why did Emile Zola defend Dreyfus? 
Palin is no Dreyfus and I am certainly no Zola. But all of us have an 
obligation, particularly those in politics and public office, to denounce, when 
we can, the perpetrators of horrendous libels and stand up for those falsely 
charged. We should denounce unfair, false and wicked charges not only when they 
are made against ourselves, our friends or our political party but against those 
with whom we disagree. If we are to truly change the poisonous political 
atmosphere that we all complain of, including those who create it, we should 
speak up for fairness when we can.
In the 2008 presidential race when Sarah Palin's name was first offered to the 
public by John McCain as his running mate, I said at the time that she "scared 
the hell out of me." My reference was to the content of her remarks, not to her 
power to persuade voters.
It was McCain who lost the presidential election, not Palin. Since that time she 
has established that she has enormous power to persuade people. A self-made 
woman who rose from PTA mother to Governor of Alaska, she is one of the few 
speakers in public life who can fill a stadium. Her books are enormous 
successes. Her television program about Alaska has been a critical and economic 
success. When Sarah Palin addresses audiences, they rise to their feet in 
support and applause. She is without question a major leader of the far right 
faction in the Republican Party and its ally the Tea Party.
I repeat my earlier comment that she "scares the hell out of me." Nevertheless, 
she is entitled to fair and respectful treatment. The fools in politics today in 
both parties are those who think she is dumb. I've never met her, but I've 
always thought that she is highly intelligent but not knowledgeable in many 
areas and politically uninformed. I don't believe she will run for president in 
2012 or that she would be elected if she did. But I do believe she is equal in 
ability to many of those in the Republican Party seeking that office.
Many women understand what she has done for their cause. She will not be 
silenced nor will she leave the heavy lifts to the men in her Party. She will 
not be falsely charged, remain silent, and look for others - men - to defend 
her. She is plucky and unafraid.
While I disagree with her and I am prepared to oppose her politically, in the 
spirit of longed-for civility I say, Ms. Palin you are in a certain sense an 
example of the American dream: You have the courage to stand up and present your 
vision of America to its people. Your strength and lack of fear make America 
stronger and are examples to be emulated by girls and boys, men and women who 
are themselves afraid to speak up. You provide the example that they need for 
self-assurance.
Ed Koch is the former Mayor of New York City.Page Printed from: 
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/01/18/palin_defeated_unfair_critics_at_nyt__msnbc_108561.html
 at January 18, 2011 - 12:40:31 PM CST

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