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Palin Calls Criticism ‘Blood Libel’
New York Times ^ | January 12, 2011 | MICHAEL D. SHEAR

Posted on 01/12/2011 5:42:46 AM PST by reaganaut1

Sarah Palin, who had been silent for days, on Wednesday issued a forceful denunciation of her critics in a video statement that accused pundits and journalists of “blood libel” in their rush to blame heated political rhetoric for the shootings in Arizona.

“Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own,” she said in a video posted to her Facebook page. “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 that they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.”

Ms. Palin’s use last year of a map with crosshairs hovering over a number of swing districts, including that of Gabrielle Giffords, had increasingly become the symbol of that overheated rhetoric. In and interview with The Caucus on Monday, potential 2012 rival Tim Pawlenty, the former Republican governor of Minnesota, said he would not have produced such a map.

But in the video, Ms. Palin rejected criticism of the map, casting it as a broader indictment of the basic political rights of free speech exercised by people of all political persuasions.

She said that acts like the shootings in Arizona “begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively with all the citizens of a state.”

“Not with those who listen to talk radio,” she added. “Not with maps of swing districts used by both sides of the aisle. Not with law abiding citizens who respectfully exercise their first amendment rights at campaign rallies. Not with those who proudly voted in the last election.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: accuracyaboutmsm; azshooting; bloodlibel; enemedia; freepressforpalin; giffords; leftchosis; libel; loughner; noaccountability; obama; palin; pds; sarahpalin; spotonanalysis; waronsarah
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To: Natufian
"Blood libel? Wierd way of putting it. That normally applies to an ethnic group."

I like the use of the term in this case.

Nothing wrong with calling it like it is.

301 posted on 01/12/2011 9:01:10 AM PST by Mariner (USS Tarawa, VQ3, USS Benjamin Stoddert, NAVCAMS WestPac, 7th Fleet, Navcommsta Puget Sound)
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To: r9etb
The Tea Party's public image is that they're a bunch of hicks who march around and shout about what and who they don't like; and don't have any ideas worth speaking of.

You could write for Maddow, Matthews et al.

Parroting misleading leftist talking points is to post out of ignorance of the facts.

The left doesn't like smaller government, lower taxes, honest politicians, etc which are TPM ideas you describe as not "have(ing) any ideas worth speaking of."

Keep up the good work for the enemy r9etb, and go for it with the childish manhood attacks when you are backed into a corner. They prove your points quite well.

302 posted on 01/12/2011 9:02:07 AM PST by Syncro (Sarah Palin, the unofficial Tea Party candidate for president--Virtual Jerusalem)
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To: WVKayaker
Re-Elect President Sarah Palin 2016

I saw someone with this as their tagline. I kinda liked it. 

303 posted on 01/12/2011 9:02:45 AM PST by zeugma (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam)
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To: wtc911
The idea that the phrase “blood libel” is antisemitic is idiotic. It happens that the most famous and persistent blood libel in history was directed at Jews. But using the term to condemn another blood libel is in no way disrespectful. Condemning one blood libel doesn't endorse another; the reverse is closer to the mark. “Blood libel” is a perfectly good English phrase with a general meaning and it's association with a great historic injustice only makes it more apt in the present circumstances. We don't banish general phrases from the language just because they get associated with a particular example. We still use the term “civil war” and doing so isn't an insult to those who participated in the Civil War.

Next time the nice lady comes around with the trolley, don't hide the meds. Take them. They may do you some good.

304 posted on 01/12/2011 9:03:49 AM PST by fluffdaddy (Is anyone else missing Fred Thompson about now?)
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To: Carling
You appeared to be getting all worked up about being called out in this thread. Your PDS is showing, but please refrain from swearing on FR.

yaawwwnnn.... sometimes you've just got to use the word that fits.

305 posted on 01/12/2011 9:04:11 AM PST by r9etb
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To: agere_contra

I notice you gave historical examples and all he could come back with was a scatological denial.


306 posted on 01/12/2011 9:05:24 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: reaganaut1

So far this week, this is the ONLY leadership I have witnessed.

Palin knocked it out of the park, again.

Palin 2012


307 posted on 01/12/2011 9:05:50 AM PST by Gator113 (I'm voting for Sarah Palin, Liberty, our Constitution and American Exceptionalism.)
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To: reaganaut1

We are under all assault.

Make no mistake. Our freedom of speech is under all out attack, as are we and everything we hold dear. The purpose of this assault is to silence our spokesmen and destroy the person the left most fears: Sarah Palin.

We have been fighting back, but the attackers have not wavered. The attack continues unabated, and future attacks are certain. The stakes could not be higher.

Sarah Palin has now delivered the DEFINING RESPONSE.

The latest attack is, in fact, a blood libel.

Sarah Palin’s choice of terms has changed the terms of this debate. WE are now on the offense. She will be attacked for her use of the term, but every attack on her and her choice of terms will simply strengthen the undeniable fact that the reason we are being attacked is based on a lie.

The Anointed One sent his congratulations to Sheriff Dupnik in advance of his speech in Arizona today. It does not matter what the congratulations were for. The REAL message was that the sheriff’s outrageous comments meet with the approval of the “President” of the United States.

Regardless of what the Anointed One intended to say today, he knows his words will be compared with what Sarah Palin said this morning. He may take the bait and respond with his own attack on Sarah Palin, or he may slink away with mere platitudes. But one thing we can count on: He will NOT call off the “dogs of war” his minions have unleashed.

Personally, I think we are seeing history in the making. The left has gone too far and they are NOT backing down. THEY picked this fight. This time we are fighting back.

Anyone who actually watches Sarah Palin’s video will conclude that her words and the way they were delivered were Presidential. (Even those who complain about the pitch of her voice will be silenced.)

This may very well be the defining moment that historians of the future say gave us President Palin.

Let’s all pray that we still have a country two years from now for her to be President of.


308 posted on 01/12/2011 9:06:40 AM PST by EternalHope (You can't make a deal with the Devil, or reach across the aisle to Obama.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Simply put, a blood libel is libeling one or a group of innocent people with the death of others for personal gain - typically used against a group of individuals (at least to me and many others it would seem; that is the ultimate layman’s understanding of the term). Words evolve or are used to explain or analogize things. Strict adherence to the original usage of the term (and doing so by pointing to the outcome of someone having been blood libeled) is an extremely simplistic view. Blood libel is not outcome based for the person being libeled, a blood libel is simply a libel of blood on the hands of innocent people. A perfect use of the term without strict adherence to the original usage of it (why would it need to be - it has been used in more than one context historically as has already been shown).

I know, technicalities (or so some would think anyhow). That apparently doesn’t wash with a great deal of people on this forum or elsewhere (I’ve heard many people use the term in the same context as Sarah did here and it seems perfectly legit to do so).


309 posted on 01/12/2011 9:06:41 AM PST by jurroppi1 (The gropings will continue until morale improves (or) "don't TSA me bro")
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To: Syncro
Keep up the good work for the enemy r9etb, and go for it with the childish manhood attacks when you are backed into a corner. They prove your points quite well.

Whatever. You're one of that large group hereabouts that seems unable to tolerate opinions that don't stroke your own preconceptions.

Not my problem.

310 posted on 01/12/2011 9:08:04 AM PST by r9etb
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To: CharlesWayneCT
how would you say “targeting” without using the word?)

1)Popping smoke on thier location?

2)Calling in 4 digit coordinates?

3)calling in a willie pete for mark?

4)Inside the ten ring?

311 posted on 01/12/2011 9:08:27 AM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
how would you say “targeting” without using the word?)

1)Popping smoke on thier location?

2)Calling in 4 digit coordinates?

3)calling in a willie pete for mark?

4)Inside the ten ring?

PS: She does ALL THAT.

312 posted on 01/12/2011 9:09:27 AM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: wtc911

Thank you for providing us with the lefts narrative on this speech. We will be sure to congratulate you when you are right.

As for me, I had misgivings about Sarah Palin. HAD being the key word of that sentence. I no longer do. She has spoken for 60% or more of Americans who see this tragedy for what it is. TRAGIC. A crazy guy lost it and innocent people were in the way.

Wtc, if you are from a prominent Jewish neighborhood, then you understand what it means to “have no other God’s before me.” You also understand the significance of that moment in the garden when satan told Eve she would not die, she would simply BE LIKE God.

The progressive mindset which has as it’s bible —cultural markism— and has as it’s savior —tolerance— and has as it’s god —self— is running rough shod over our Christian nation, and anyone who cannot see this, is blinded by their rhetoric.

Any GOD fearer wishing to take action and right what is wrong in this country, should get on face book and tell Sarah Palin she has spoken for them when she describes this situation and Thank You for doing so. Doesn’t matter whether you want her to be your President, what matters is that the progressives learn their time is short lived. The more MILLIONS who get behind her message, the better.

They should also call their representative and DEMAND their representatives carry a gun. Why? Because it is their right as citizens and we expect them to take their rights seriously. Thousands from every state need to call. It doesn’t matter whether they do it or not, what matters is they hear that WE THE PEOPLE mean business. We want America to stay the REPUBLIC that it is, not the global ORGANIZATION being slammed down our throats.

It will scare the BLOOD LIBEL out of the progressives if those who previously haven’t been public (like myself) go public by the millions!

It’s time to put the genie back in the bottle. They’ve had their fun. Time to escort them back to their protected environment where they can do no harm.

Two actions I challenge everyone at FR to do to help:

1) post on face book in support of Palin’s speech.

2) call your representative and demand he/she be armed.


313 posted on 01/12/2011 9:10:51 AM PST by daisy mae for the usa
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Pin pointing, but then pins can be dangerous too.


314 posted on 01/12/2011 9:11:02 AM PST by dforest
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To: Carling; wtc911; r9etb
Precisely

My reply to r9 et al in #283 above highlights what seems to be a collective naivete and/or collusion to the detriment of the larger goal.

(or they could just be engaged in some coincidentally simultaneous preening  ;-)


.. They certainly want to destroy her politically. But they don't want her "dead."

Wanna bet ?!

315 posted on 01/12/2011 9:13:25 AM PST by tomkat
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To: wtc911

You couldn’t be more wrong.


316 posted on 01/12/2011 9:13:42 AM PST by Gator113 (I'm voting for Sarah Palin, Liberty, our Constitution and American Exceptionalism.)
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To: wtc911
How about damned stupid. The term blood libel has always been a clear indictment of Jews by Christians. It has never had any other meaning in common use.

Maybe she was borrowing from the WSJ's usage of it from a couple of days ago.?

From the WSJ

* JANUARY 10, 2011

The Arizona Tragedy and the Politics of Blood Libel

Those who purport to care about the tenor of political discourse don't help civil debate when they seize on any pretext to call their political opponents accomplices to murder.

317 posted on 01/12/2011 9:14:11 AM PST by Netizen
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To: NavyCanDo
...today it is often used to describe False Accusations, which is the way Sarah used it.

Which any thinking person would understand and appreciate.

I imagine anyone not familiar with the origins of the term but equipped with reasoning skills would associate it with all false criticisms spewed by the leftists after the spilling of so much innocent blood.

The original use of the term involved the spilling of innocent blood also.

318 posted on 01/12/2011 9:15:50 AM PST by Syncro (Sarah Palin, the unofficial Tea Party candidate for president--Virtual Jerusalem)
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To: MrB; r9etb

“...It’s every liberal’s wet dream to be able to use the power of the state to punish and kill their political opponents. History is my witness.”

**********************************************************************

I don’t often tell people this, but in your case, and for this comment, I’ll make an exception.

You’re full of s**t(Amended, for taste).

********************************************************************

Sorry, r9. Gotta go with Mr. B. Based on that “history” thingy.

You’re the excremental one, it would seem.


319 posted on 01/12/2011 9:16:07 AM PST by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism - "Who-whom?")
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To: Mr Rogers

Well said! Thanks!


320 posted on 01/12/2011 9:16:32 AM PST by jennings2004 (Sarah Palin: "The bright light at the end of a very dark tunnel!")
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