DER SPIEGEL: Blaming Palin Will Backfire

[GTaudiophile]

See, even ze Germans can see that the Dems politicized the shooting by blaming Palin & Co.

They argue that this knee-jerk reaction by the Left will only backfire by yet again making Palin the victim, a martyr that will only strengthen her and her cause.

While I personally think the Left was too quick to politicize the issue by looking for an immediate scapegoat (24/7 media requires an "instant someone to blame BUT the shooter himself" for the impatient masses) I do not mind seeing Palin taken down a notch. I don't want her anywhere near the Oval Office. But this hypothesis by DER SPIEGEL is a good one.

America's Misguided Debate
Blaming Sarah Palin for Arizona Shooting Is Wrong

A Commentary by Marc Hujer


Following this weekend's tragic shooting, many on the left in the United States are calling for Sarah Palin and the Tea Party to be called to account for their alleged culpability in the killings. But these claims are spurious and could do more to help the left's political detractors than harm them.

Saturday's assassination attempt on Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is a tragedy, but this tragedy could also present an opportunity in American politics -- a chance to return to a more civil political debate and finally overcome the divisions that have characterized the country since the presidency of George W. Bush. But only hours after the assassination attempt on the Congresswomen, which left six people dead and 14 injured, the debate showed signs of derailing.

Of all people, it is precisely those who have complained the loudest about the culture of debate -- about the rhetoric of the Tea Party, the right wing's harsh words and the baseless Obama-Hitler comparisons -- who are now poisoning the debate with their own baseless insinuations. With little reliance on facts, they began searching for scapegoats for the attack and they found them, selectively, among the right wing, the Tea Party, Republican Party boss Michael Steele and Tea Party heroine Sarah Palin.

The accusations being lodged are grave. "Mission accomplished, Sarah Palin," leftist blogger Markos Moulitsas sneered after the bloodbath. Meanwhile, MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann called for Palin to be ousted from the Republican Party if she didn't repudiate her role in "amplifying violence and violent imagery in politics." In his column in the New York Times, Paul Krugman sought to link the "toxic rhetoric" coming from right-wing preachers of hate with the assassination attempt. And former member of Congress Chris Carney said Palin should "say she was wrong."

There is no doubt that 2010 was a bad year for the United States, a year of political hatred and defamation. A year in which it became fashionable to dispute President Obama's American citizenship and to issue threats against members of Congress who voted in favor of sweeping health care reforms. But have Palin and Co., with their words, truly paved the way for a crime like this to be committed? Did 22-year-old suspect Jared Lee Loughner really shoot because Sarah Palin marked crosshairs on a map of electoral districts on her blog where Democrats were facing re-election, including that of Giffords? Did he murder because Palin's Facebook page includes her infamous line: "Do not retreat! Instead - reload"?

The language used by Palin and a few Tea Party supporters is doubtlessly raw and inappropriate, but there is in no way any proof whatsoever that they inspired the crime committed this weekend in Arizona. What little is known about the perpetrator does not suggest that he was a supporter of the Tea Party or an admirer of Palin's -- he doesn't even appear to have any clear political convictions. His favorite books include the "Communist Manifesto," Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and "Peter Pan," an erratic hodge podge. So far, there is no evidence that there were any political motives behind the crime.

Indeed, the massive criticism of Sarah Palin is misguided. This is not only due to the fact that the accusation is baseless, but also because the calculated attempt to weaken Palin in this manner could ultimately backfire.

The reasoning is quite simple: Palin has always profited in the role of victim -- a victim of the liberal elite. Time and again, she has been made fun of -- when, for example, she spoke for the first time about foreign policy during the 2008 presidential campaign, and later when she wrote notes on her hand during speeches and television appearances. But every time people made fun of the Alaska politician or attacked her as being superficial and unqualified, it merely helped deepen the support of her followers. Now, the allegation that she carries partial responsibility for what has happened in Arizona could turn out to do more to help than harm her.

Yet again, she could emerge as a political martyr.

 

[Zargon]

wasnt the guy a gold standard nutter anyways?

 

[PottedMeat]

so if palin somehow becomes the preferred GOP candidate, isn't that what democrats want? she'll rocket up and shoot herself in the foot.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Considering what we know vs the rhetoric seen it's entirely possible that many on the left will be seen as the crackpots. Ironic.

 

[trenchfoot]

Considering what we know vs the rhetoric seen it's entirely possible that many on the left will be seen as the crackpots. Ironic.

I agree that it's too early to tell. Because of that, it's also just as likely that many on the right will be seen as apologists and deniers after all is said and done.

 

[Exterous]

so if palin somehow becomes the preferred GOP candidate, isn't that what democrats want? she'll rocket up and shoot herself in the foot.

If she rockets up to the front, as in gets elected as POTUS, then when she shoots herself in the foot she will take the country with her

For the love of god people - don't give her more attention than she already has!

 

[finglobes]

I don't think people are going to fall for the media Palin lynching. The event wasn't an hour in the news before Dems made this into a political event to smear Palin and tea parties.


People remember all the "Kill Bush" stuff and they have now seen the same graphics being used to smear Plain were also used by lefties. Of course the kid is being found out to be a nut case even though Obama's DoJ and Homeland Security are trying to link the kid to racist groups (none of his rantings are about Jews etc). DoJ and Homeland have already been trying to smear tea parties and the public understands this. Obama himself has been the President most likely to incite people


Obama: “They Bring a Knife…We Bring a Gun”
Obama to base: “Get in Their Faces!”
Obama on ACORN Mobs: “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!”
Obama to base: “Hit Back Twice As Hard”
Obama on the private sector: “We talk to these folks… so I know whose [beeep] to kick.“
Obama to voters: Republican victory would mean “hand to hand combat”
Obama to lib supporters: “It’s time to Fight for it.”
Obama to Latino supporters: “Punish your enemies.”
Obama to democrats: “I’m itching for a fight.”
Obama to bank CEOs": “My administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks,”

Recall the Black Panters who were calling whites slurs at a poll place in Philly (and calling for the murder of "cracker-babies" in other videos) while wielding clubs were intentionally set free by Obama and Holder. SEIU goons also beat up a black man after Obama sent unions out on HC protestors.



Obama, Holder and Dems show restraint for terrorists etc.


Journalists urged caution after Ft. Hood, now race to blame Palin after Arizona shootings

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs...ution-after-ft-hood-now-race-blame-palin-afte​

 

[Triumph]

I love it. Denigrating one party for its rhetoric by employing the same exact form of rhetoric. I hate both parties and all news outlets, but Keith Olbermann is every bit as bad on this front as Glenn Beck.

 

[Red Dawn]

I love it. Denigrating one party for its rhetoric by employing the same exact form of rhetoric. I hate both parties and all news outlets, but Keith Olbermann is every bit as bad on this front as Glenn Beck.

He would be if he had more than a 1000 followers.

 

[DominionSeraph]

So, a woman adept at a spin technique of projecting a style to cover her lack of substance, surrounded by a system in which all information is preferentially spun, might come out with things spun her way? I wouldn't be surprised at all. Conservatives aren't exactly known for having a keen eye in these matters.

I don't think people are going to fall for the media Palin lynching.

Case in point.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I think Eugene Mirman's tweet sums up my thoughts best:

"It's not Sarah Palin's fault a violent undiagnosed schizophrenic shot those people, but I'm super-glad I didn't put up a map like that."

 

[techs]

Shows how much the Germans understand American politics.

Its the Republicans that have targeted Palin. They don't want her as the candidate in 2012 because they think she can't win. Check out conservatives like the New York Daily News that flat out blamed her.
It's open season on Palin and has been for awhile.

 

[Craig234]

Blaming Sarah Palin for this shooting is a mistake, IMO.

However, saying that does not absolve her of wrongdoing on the issue.

Cross-hairs on the map was a bad judgement, even worse considering the 'gun nut' appeal of her side. It may have been unintentional - but I don't recall her saying it was a mistake.

The pandering to 'gun nuts' is wrong, toying with the issue because it's 'fun and exciting and gets votes' is an error.

It's an issue a lot bigger than Palin, and I haven't seen her add all that much to the problem.

The one politician it seems to me is more ripe for some singling out on criticism is 'second amendments remedy'. It was hugely irresponsible then, and this reinforces that.

Criticize Palin for her excesses on too much to list (palling around with terrorists).

Don't trivialize her wrongs by exaggerating them on her role in this shooting.

And on the der Spiegel angle, that's pure politics. Sorry, but I don't agree with just saying 'don't do it because it makes her followers support her more'.

Do what's right, and if it gets her more support, that's the fault of the voters.

That's Democracy. Censoring criticism of her wrongdoing may have short-term benefit of not fueling the ridiculous fire under her, but it also damages the public debate.

 

[dmcowen674]

I don't just blame Sarah, she is just a part of the vast right wing conspiracy that existed then and has only strengthened now to the point of explosiveness as witnessed this weekend.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Shows how much the Germans understand American politics.

Its the Republicans that have targeted Palin. They don't want her as the candidate in 2012 because they think she can't win. Check out conservatives like the New York Daily News that flat out blamed her.
It's open season on Palin and has been for awhile.

They seem to have a better grasp than many here. Neither the left or the right have the political power in terms of election outcome. We independents pick from the two selected candidates and at the moment many on the left are looking more like extreme tea party members. It's always "open season" on any politician but if you go about it like this you'll come out worse for it.

 

[trenchfoot]

For the mere fact that many of Palin's remarks are meant to incite the very base of the repub party to an implied form of action, it's only logical, true or not, to relate them to what's going on in Arizona. Her choice of words are specific and carefully chosen. Her words more often than not dance on the razor's edge of legality urging her followers to......"action", invariably with vague violent connotations.

She plays in the grey areas of being carefully suggestive, so as to include plausible deniablilty in her commentary, yet have the rabble rousing effect she's after. She, her speech writers and the lawyers that screen her speeches know precisely how far her cries for war with the left can legally go.

That's what she, as well as all the other the right slanted talking heads and their staff are paid to do, and they can walk away from any sense of accountability for their remarks, just as they are specifically designed to do.

 

[Thump553]

I've got to admit the right wing "blame the liberals for picking on poor us" tactic is brillant. Faux News as usual is at the forefront. On Saturday they mostly harped on what a great conservative the Congresswoman was and who would be so crazy to attempt to kill her (clear implication-some wacko liberal). Then it evolved into the shooter subscribing to (unspecified) far left theories as well as far right, and claiming (as many tea baggers here do) that he wasn't really a tea partier at all, just some nut.

The shootings were a direct and proximate result of the bitter partisanship, loony theories accepted as mainstream (ie, birthers, take government back by exercising "our second amendment rights, etc), and outright appeals to violence and division that have come from the tea party.

Palin, along with many others, bears a great deal of responsbility for motivating this nutcase-despite warnings from many, including ironically enough, the victim herself. To evade responsibility now is pure political evasion.

We have now seen what the teabaggers are and what they want for America.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Yes, let's all stop for a moment and think about how this tragedy and fallout is affecting poor Sarah Palin. Who's next on the list? Brett Favre? Snooki? Sarah Palin is being blamed for being an inciteful moron with poor judgement, something she has been guilty of for far longer than just a couple of days. That's HER fault, not the left's, not the media's, and this event just shines a brighter light on it.

 

[werepossum]

I think Eugene Mirman's tweet sums up my thoughts best:

"It's not Sarah Palin's fault a violent undiagnosed schizophrenic shot those people, but I'm super-glad I didn't put up a map like that."

Exactly right. The left's attempt to attach blame to Palin, the entire conservative movement, and the Republican Party will fail (although it will whip up the left's already frothy base), but the memory of Palin's targeting with scope crosshairs, a fairly moderate Congresswoman who was then shot will continue on as an example of a really dumb idea. This in itself should be enough to lose Palin some support.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://michellemalkin.com/2011/01/1...mate-of-hate-an-illustrated-primer-2000-2010/

Good "return fire" from Malkin...

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Yes, let's all stop for a moment and think about how this tragedy and fallout is affecting poor Sarah Palin. Who's next on the list? Brett Favre? Snooki? Sarah Palin is being blamed for being an inciteful moron with poor judgement, something she has been guilty of for far longer than just a couple of days. That's HER fault, not the left's, not the media's, and this event just shines a brighter light on it.

Without rhetoric and based on what we know about the shooter IN FACT connect your statement with the shooting. Not what you believe but a factual casual and demonstrable chain that relates specifically with this event. Right now you sound like a Birther. Show cause and effect. Good luck.

 

[Jaskalas]

I've got to admit the right wing "blame the liberals for picking on poor us" tactic is brillant. Faux News as usual is at the forefront. On Saturday they mostly harped on what a great conservative the Congresswoman was and who would be so crazy to attempt to kill her (clear implication-some wacko liberal). Then it evolved into the shooter subscribing to (unspecified) far left theories as well as far right, and claiming (as many tea baggers here do) that he wasn't really a tea partier at all, just some nut.

The shootings were a direct and proximate result of the bitter partisanship, loony theories accepted as mainstream (ie, birthers, take government back by exercising "our second amendment rights, etc), and outright appeals to violence and division that have come from the tea party.

Palin, along with many others, bears a great deal of responsbility for motivating this nutcase-despite warnings from many, including ironically enough, the victim herself. To evade responsibility now is pure political evasion.

We have now seen what the teabaggers are and what they want for America.

The progressive “climate of hate:” An illustrated primer, 2000-2010

August 2010 — Michael Enright, liberal interfaith film company volunteer, stabbed a Muslim NYC cabbie and faces trial this year. Liberals rushed to hang the entire Right for the crime.

As I said last summer: “They cannot help themselves. Wasn’t it just a few hours ago that I blogged about another act of Democrat vandalism falsely blamed on the the Tea Party? Why yes, yes it was. From GOP fake hate crime hoaxer Ashley Todd to suicide census worker Bill Sparkman, there remains an unrestrained impulse among too many to falsely scream political violence when it doesn’t exist — and to ignore it where it does exist…But like I said just a few hours ago and like I’ll certainly have to say again and again and again in the future: Being a Tea Party-bashing liberal means never having to say you’re sorry for smearing conservative dissent.”


Over to you, Krugman and Company.

 

[ElFenix]

wasnt the guy a gold standard nutter anyways?

dude was/is way nuts. like, the-US-constitution-wasn't-properly-ratified-and-the-articles-of-confederation-are-still-in-effect nuts.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Without rhetoric and based on what we know about the shooter IN FACT connect your statement with the shooting. Not what you believe but a factual casual and demonstrable chain that relates specifically with this event. Right now you sound like a Birther. Show cause and effect. Good luck.

What statement? If you mean the one where I'm saying Palin was directly responsible for this shooting you're seeing something that's not there and you're coming off like the birther. Fact is we'll likely never know how much of an effect all the inciteful rhetoric had on this person. But you're a damn fool if you outright dismiss the toxic atmosphere and potential for violence it creates. And Palin and the rest of the rabid right IS responsible for that. The 24/7 rightwing hate speech spewed over the airwaves needs to stop or this likely won't be an isolated incident. The fact that "maybe" it didn't "directly" lead to this incident certainly doesn't redeem all the vitriol, and certainly doesn't give the right any foundation for playing victim when called on it.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/jared-lee-loughner-friend-voicemail-phone-message?page=1

Apparently had a long ongoing grudge against Giffords...