Posted on 01/22/2011 8:13:05 AM PST by Kaslin
After Tucson, Ariz., shootings, Sarah Palin's unfavorable rating in the CNN poll rose from 49 percent before the midterm elections to 56 percent now. It was not the left-wing charges that Sarah Palin had somehow incited the Tucson shooter by her aggressive political rhetoric that did her damage. Polls show that voters discounted these statements and even Rep. Giffords' husband has made clear that there was no political motive involved. It was Palin's response to these attacks that got her in trouble. Her highly publicized accusation that the criticism was a "blood libel" turned voters off. As sincere admirers of hers, we hope she learns a lesson from this exchange.
The lesson is simply this: She should not become a battering ram hammering at liberal critics -- getting down into the mud with them -- answering every attack, no matter how low, personal or undeserved it is. She is a potential presidential candidate for the Republican Party. As such, she needs to keep her own head unbloodied and intact. Battering rams don't find that easy to do.
The left plays Sarah like a fiddle. They pile on with totally outrageous attacks aiming at her personal life, her children and her family, and -- now -- linking her to murder. These disgraceful attacks do not score points with the voters. In fact, they tend to trigger a sympathetic feeling toward Sarah when they are leveled. But, for some reason, Palin feels compelled to answer them, to reply, to tell her side of the story (aka the truth).
The result of the exchange is that both sides lose: Her attackers and Palin herself both suffer. But the attackers aren't running for anything. They just go on to the next attack. They are after ratings and circulation, not votes -- and the more sensational their accusations and the more vulnerable the target, the better. But Palin has an image to protect, and when she is hurt in these exchanges, it matters politically.
Palin's basic point was, as usual, sound. These killings were the act of an evil madman, not anything related to our political dialogue. But this sensible point got buried, and many voters looked at the "blood libel" statement as self-indulgent and thin-skinned. To them, Palin seemed to be the one using the murders to besmirch her enemies, even though she was only answering their charges. Critics charged that she looked more concerned about defending own personal reputation from the attacks than with the national tragedy that had just taken place.
The point is that Palin should not and cannot answer. She needs to rise above the attacks. If she is going to run for president, she needs to be presidential. She can't descend to the level of her critics. She needs to do what makes her look good, fighting for less government and conservative causes, not what makes her look bad -- fighting with her enemies.
If Palin took the high road -- as Obama did -- and decried the violence in our society and stuck to condemning the killings, she would not have been hurt by the liberal charges. But, by answering, she exposed herself and got hurt.
Next time, we hope she learns her lesson.
Two weeks after the incident one of her most vicious attackers no longer has a job. You tell me who won that one.
Don't be surprised if he ends up on Sarah's Campaign payroll.
Re: “The left plays Sarah like a fiddle.”
She understandably gets frustrated at times since there are so few on our side with the b*lls to aggressively fight back the left.
I wrote to BOR over Dick’s appearance, because he allowed Morris to call the cnn poll and the other poll BOR displayed *voters* just like he does in this column, when in fact, both polls sampled *adults*, not registered voters!
SHAME ON DICK MORRIS.
What’s his agenda?
He usually prides himself on accuracy, or do I have the wrong *Dick?*
In one way, I can agree with Dick Morris, Palin could have simply said that the attacks on her were disgraceful and irresponsible and illustrated how unprofessional journalism has become all the while people lay in hospital rooms and morgues, and left it at that.
She said too much, in my opinion.
Dear Dick:
When you have weathered as many assaults from the many enemies of this great country as Sarah Palin has, then and only then, can you blather on about rising above the fray!
Until then, just shut up.
By nitwit I mean Dick Morris. Sorry.
That’s what I’m talkin about. I wouldn’t stand by and allow someone to throw mud at me and not fight back. I don’t think any fair minded person would think you should either. With the left Sarah is d*mned if she does and d*mned if she doesn’t.
Up yours toe sucker Morris.
Sarah Palin simply proved that seven or eight percent of Americans are grossly ignorant,easily deceived, emotional, and flip flopper's, the group the Rats try to appeal to with every lying October surprise.
The Bushes and McCain were above it all and never answered charges or educated from the Bully Pulpit, and as a result, the lying Marxists made huge advances when the RINOs were in power.
If he doesn’t put “Palin” in the title, who’s gonna read his blather?
Their intent was to shut her up.
Why should she give them what they want?
Not responding to accusations gave us Pelosi, Reid and Obama.
It would have been one thing it it was just crap going around the ‘net, but every major news outlet, down to their tiniest affiliate, were immediately playing up the Palin map when it had absolutely no more bearing on the shooting than what Gifford had for breakfast.
And then, in the absence of ANY connection to Palin, they only increased the attacks.
Somebody has to make a STAND!
For once, I have to say that Morris is spot on about this. Palin made a huge blunder in taking the bait.
Is it a normal reaction? Yes, it is.
But, running for President is not a "normal" activity. If she is going to make a run, she best get some some kind of a plan together. So far, she seems very short term in her thinking and actions.
Challenge every shot.
That is who she is.
Did you watch her speech? That’s what she said!!!! It was only one line about the unprofessionalism of the media - she talked about the victims first, then she talked about the history of people in this country disagreeing with each other politically and then she said that America can endure through this tragedy- how many people actually watched that entire video online? Maybe a couple of million so far but not enough to gage the average persons feelings in this country! That poll by CNN showing 59% unfavorable in the wake of the shooting was a random general population survey, I don’t count slackers and people who don’t vote as meaning much
Now why would anyone want to foll the advice of someone so stuck on stupid that he paid a hooker with a personal check?
- JP
I don't think so. Looking back (yes 20/20 hindsight) they were simply casting bait. She bit.
I agree, we need folks to push back. But, the correct ones to do this were, first, her husband. Then McCain (he has to be useful for something). Then Congressional leaders. Actually, the best I heard was (surprisingly - Lamar!
He refused to even comment on the "civility" question.
And so is Chris Christie.
It's time to quit letting the media determine the rules for debate in this Country.
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