Palin accuses Democrats and the media of "blood libel"

[Skjellyfetti]

Sarah Palin accuses critics of "blood libel"

REUTERS
Reuters US Online Report Domestic News

Jan 12, 2011 09:00 EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prominent Republican Sarah Palin on Wednesday accused critics of "blood libel" by blaming her rhetoric for contributing to the shooting rampage in Tucson that killed six and wounded 14, including Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

"Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them," the conservative Tea Party favorite and former Alaska governor said in her first major response to critics.

"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."

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/sara ... ood-libel/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Blood libel (also blood accusation[1][2]) refers to a false accusation or claim[3][4][5] that religious minorities, almost always Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays.[1][2][6] Historically, these claims have–alongside those of well poisoning and host desecration–been a major theme in European persecution of Jews.[4]

The libels typically allege that Jews require human blood for the baking of matzos for Passover. The accusations often assert that the blood of Christian children is especially coveted, and historically blood libel claims have often been made to account for otherwise unexplained deaths of children. In some cases, the alleged victim of human sacrifice has become venerated as a martyr, a holy figure around whom a martyr cult might arise. A few of these have been even canonized as saints.[citation needed]

In Jewish lore, blood libels were the impetus for the creation in the 16th century of the Golem of Prague by Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel. Many popes have either directly or indirectly condemned the blood accusation, and no pope has ever sanctioned it.[7] These libels have persisted among some segments of Christians to the present time, and recently Muslims as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow, Palin just dug her hole deeper...its almost as bad as when Bush used the term "crusade" to describe his desire to attack the middle east...just really counterproductive use of a term to describe a situation where a Jewish woman just was shot...maybe they are hoping this idiotic use of a very specific term with very specific cultural baggage will create its own controversey and distract people from their stupid "crosshairs" map that they already attempted to lie about.

[Bronco]

No matter how low my opinion of socialist/progressives becomes... it always turns out to be too high.

[GSUAlumniEagle]

Former Governor Palin said something stupid?

[youtube][/youtube]

I think you're giving Mrs. Palin and her camp too much credit to THINK that far ahead to try to do this as some sort of cover up. It was just yet another poor choice of words from someone who really isn't that bright.

[Baldy]

KY chasing unicorns again.

[GannonFan]

Seriously, I don't think most people, outside of Palin-philes, really think she's terribly bright. She picked a phrase that does in an inelegant way refer to falsely blaming someone for a death, so although it was an awkward way to say it, it's not incorrect.

But it's a whole other matter to take a poorly worded phrase and try to attach a whole host of other meanings to it, as KY is doing here. Seriously, what is the left's maniacal fascination with this woman? From the initial blaming of her and her crosshair map for this tragedy (largely proven to be false as the whacko who committed this tragedy may not even have known a thing about Palin) to now accusing her of in a twisted way being anti-Semitic (which she may be, who knows, but you can't tell from this) is just really sad and silly. She's not going to be the Republican nominee - let it go. She's going to be involved and she may be a king-maker of sorts, but she won't be on the ticket. There are plenty of other things worth worrying about in this world than trumped up ideas of how evil Sarah Palin is. Just saying.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Seriously, I don't think most people, outside of Palin-philes, really think she's terribly bright. She picked a phrase that does in an inelegant way refer to falsely blaming someone for a death, so although it was an awkward way to say it, it's not incorrect.

But it's a whole other matter to take a poorly worded phrase and try to attach a whole host of other meanings to it, as KY is doing here. Seriously, what is the left's maniacal fascination with this woman? From the initial blaming of her and her crosshair map for this tragedy (largely proven to be false as the whacko who committed this tragedy may not even have known a thing about Palin) to now accusing her of in a twisted way being anti-Semitic (which she may be, who knows, but you can't tell from this) is just really sad and silly. She's not going to be the Republican nominee - let it go. She's going to be involved and she may be a king-maker of sorts, but she won't be on the ticket. There are plenty of other things worth worrying about in this world than trumped up ideas of how evil Sarah Palin is. Just saying.

Nailed it.

[Skjellyfetti]

Even normally conservative jews and jewish organizations are coming out against it.

[Appaholic]

Seriously, I don't think most people, outside of Palin-philes, really think she's terribly bright. She picked a phrase that does in an inelegant way refer to falsely blaming someone for a death, so although it was an awkward way to say it, it's not incorrect.

But it's a whole other matter to take a poorly worded phrase and try to attach a whole host of other meanings to it, as KY is doing here. Seriously, what is the left's maniacal fascination with this woman? From the initial blaming of her and her crosshair map for this tragedy (largely proven to be false as the whacko who committed this tragedy may not even have known a thing about Palin) to now accusing her of in a twisted way being anti-Semitic (which she may be, who knows, but you can't tell from this) is just really sad and silly. She's not going to be the Republican nominee - let it go. She's going to be involved and she may be a king-maker of sorts, but she won't be on the ticket. There are plenty of other things worth worrying about in this world than trumped up ideas of how evil Sarah Palin is. Just saying.

+1...can't stand the woman, but giving her too much credit to be that devious....

BTW Skelly...you do realize that the dems used crosshairs on maps for congressional districts that might be in play come election time as well, don't you? Let's not overreact & try to keep our eye on the ball....a wacko killed some people while trying to assasinate a congresswoman...let's not blame Palin for that anymore than we blame the dems for the Squeaky Fromme assasination attempt on Ford....

[Appaholic]

Even normally conservative jews and jewish organizations are coming out against it.

They raise hell everytime a gentile says "kosher" in public, so i wouldn't place too much weight on that...it's a means to an end with Jewish (as wel as other religious) organizations...

[GannonFan]

Even normally conservative jews and jewish organizations are coming out against it.

Of course, even the Anti Defamation League, while expressing regret that Palin used this terminology, has said, "... the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused,..." . Again, Palin may very well be an absolute dunce, but the insistence of people to foam at the mouth against her, first for having a map with crosshairs (hardly the first I've seen do that) and now for using this phrase, is just a tremendous overreaction to this political figure. Seriously, man, she's not worth the amount of time you spend complaining about her.

[houndawg]

Seriously, I don't think most people, outside of Palin-philes, really think she's terribly bright. She picked a phrase that does in an inelegant way refer to falsely blaming someone for a death, so although it was an awkward way to say it, it's not incorrect.

But it's a whole other matter to take a poorly worded phrase and try to attach a whole host of other meanings to it, as KY is doing here. Seriously, what is the left's maniacal fascination with this woman? From the initial blaming of her and her crosshair map for this tragedy (largely proven to be false as the whacko who committed this tragedy may not even have known a thing about Palin) to now accusing her of in a twisted way being anti-Semitic (which she may be, who knows, but you can't tell from this) is just really sad and silly. She's not going to be the Republican nominee - let it go. She's going to be involved and she may be a king-maker of sorts, but she won't be on the ticket. There are plenty of other things worth worrying about in this world than trumped up ideas of how evil Sarah Palin is. Just saying.

I refuse to give up hope.

[BDKJMU]

Seriously, I don't think most people, outside of Palin-philes, really think she's terribly bright. She picked a phrase that does in an inelegant way refer to falsely blaming someone for a death, so although it was an awkward way to say it, it's not incorrect.

But it's a whole other matter to take a poorly worded phrase and try to attach a whole host of other meanings to it, as KY is doing here. Seriously, what is the left's maniacal fascination with this woman? From the initial blaming of her and her crosshair map for this tragedy (largely proven to be false as the whacko who committed this tragedy may not even have known a thing about Palin) to now accusing her of in a twisted way being anti-Semitic (which she may be, who knows, but you can't tell from this) is just really sad and silly. She's not going to be the Republican nominee - let it go. She's going to be involved and she may be a king-maker of sorts, but she won't be on the ticket. There are plenty of other things worth worrying about in this world than trumped up ideas of how evil Sarah Palin is. Just saying.

I refuse to give up hope.

Thats equivalent to a Carolina fan hoping the Panthers will make the Super Bowl by 2012. Not going to happen, despite you donks wishing it would.

[native]

Even normally conservative jews and jewish organizations are coming out against it.

"The term “blood libel” has taken on a broad metaphorical meaning in public discourse. Although its historical origins were in theologically based false accusations against the Jews and the Jewish People,its current usage is far broader. I myself have used it to describe false accusations against the State of Israel by the Goldstone Report. There is nothing improper and certainly nothing anti-Semitic in Sarah Palin using the term to characterize what she reasonably believes are false accusations that her words or images may have caused a mentally disturbed individual to kill and maim. The fact that two of the victims are Jewish is utterly irrelevant to the propriety of using this widely used term."

- Alan Dershowitz

[CID1990]

Even normally conservative jews and jewish organizations are coming out against it.

They raise hell everytime a gentile says "kosher" in public, so i wouldn't place too much weight on that...it's a means to an end with Jewish (as wel as other religious) organizations...

Agreed.

As for Palin's reference, I actually think it was an apt analogy.

Blood libel was the reference by which Jews would be scapegoated for a number of things, primarily missing children. The myth was that Jews needed the blood of Gentile children for the baking of their passover bread. If I child was missing, it MUST be the village Jews who abducted him for their blood libel.

Considering the immediate, shrill, and shameless way in which the left (including the predominately left leaning media) started pointing fingers at Sarah Palin, based out of their hatreds for (and fears of) her, I think that we may have seen a very rare example of where the old girl actually nailed an analogy.

[native]

They raise hell every time a gentile says "kosher" in public, so i wouldn't place too much weight on that...it's a means to an end with Jewish (as well as other religious) organizations...

Agreed.

As for Palin's reference, I actually think it was an apt analogy.

Blood libel was the reference by which Jews would be scapegoated for a number of things, primarily missing children. The myth was that Jews needed the blood of Gentile children for the baking of their passover bread. If I child was missing, it MUST be the village Jews who abducted him for their blood libel.

Considering the immediate, shrill, and shameless way in which the left (including the predominately left leaning media) started pointing fingers at Sarah Palin, based out of their hatreds for (and fears of) her, I think that we may have seen a very rare example of where the old girl actually nailed an analogy.

No apologies. No excuses. She got it exactly right.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Agreed.

As for Palin's reference, I actually think it was an apt analogy.

Blood libel was the reference by which Jews would be scapegoated for a number of things, primarily missing children. The myth was that Jews needed the blood of Gentile children for the baking of their passover bread. If I child was missing, it MUST be the village Jews who abducted him for their blood libel.

Considering the immediate, shrill, and shameless way in which the left (including the predominately left leaning media) started pointing fingers at Sarah Palin, based out of their hatreds for (and fears of) her, I think that we may have seen a very rare example of where the old girl actually nailed an analogy.

No apologies. No excuses. She got it exactly right.

Troof.

[BlueHen86]

Agreed.

As for Palin's reference, I actually think it was an apt analogy.

Blood libel was the reference by which Jews would be scapegoated for a number of things, primarily missing children. The myth was that Jews needed the blood of Gentile children for the baking of their passover bread. If I child was missing, it MUST be the village Jews who abducted him for their blood libel.

Considering the immediate, shrill, and shameless way in which the left (including the predominately left leaning media) started pointing fingers at Sarah Palin, based out of their hatreds for (and fears of) her, I think that we may have seen a very rare example of where the old girl actually nailed an analogy.

No apologies. No excuses. She got it exactly right.

I agree, although I think the smart thing would have been for her to say nothing at all. By responding she lowers herself into the fray.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

No apologies. No excuses. She got it exactly right.

I agree, although I think the smart thing would have been for her to say nothing at all. By responding she lowers herself into the fray.

But can you imagine being in the position of if you don't lower yourself into the fray 1/2 the public is trying to convince the other 1/2 that her non response to the issue implies guilt? There is no way to look good once the machine turns on and starts eating away at you.

[dbackjon]

At Sarah Palin, and her choir of bobble-heads on her

[BDKJMU]

At Sarah Palin, and her choir of bobble-heads on her

She has a choir of bobble heads on her Is she wearing them?

[kalm]

I agree, although I think the smart thing would have been for her to say nothing at all. By responding she lowers herself into the fray.

But can you imagine being in the position of if you don't lower yourself into the fray 1/2 the public is trying to convince the other 1/2 that her non response to the issue implies guilt? There is no way to look good once the machine turns on and starts eating away at you.

I read a similar condemnation of her today and thought it was fairly weak. That being said, she has no one to blame but herself for the limelight. She might be unjustly accussed, but I think that falls short of her being a victim.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

But can you imagine being in the position of if you don't lower yourself into the fray 1/2 the public is trying to convince the other 1/2 that her non response to the issue implies guilt? There is no way to look good once the machine turns on and starts eating away at you.

I read a similar condemnation of her today and thought it was fairly weak. That being said, she has no one to blame but herself for the limelight. She might be unjustly accussed, but I think that falls short of her being a victim.

I'm not implying she's a victim. Unjustly accused is certainly moving it toward victim-hood. She has shown the light on herself and scrutiny is fair game with that but manufacturing fuck ups with her is not even close to necessary.

[kalm]

I read a similar condemnation of her today and thought it was fairly weak. That being said, she has no one to blame but herself for the limelight. She might be unjustly accussed, but I think that falls short of her being a victim.

I'm not implying she's a victim. Unjustly accused is certainly moving it toward victim-hood. She has shown the light on herself and scrutiny is fair game with that but manufacturing **** ups with her is not even close to necessary.

Agreed. That's why I didn't deem it worthy of starting a thread about.

[JMU DJ]

Even normally conservative jews and jewish organizations are coming out against it.

They raise hell everytime a gentile says "kosher" in public, so i wouldn't place too much weight on that...

I almost flipped my shit when I the "help" at Trader Joe's suggested I buy the "Kosher" Beef Brisket yesterday.

[native]

No apologies. No excuses. She got it exactly right.

I agree, although I think the smart thing would have been for her to say nothing at all. By responding she lowers herself into the fray.

Your point would be well taken in most cases, BluHen86, but there are some few instances which demand a response. If the accusers were just a few low-life schizo scum, you might be right, but the accusers in this case are high level politicians and public figures.

It sucks, but it is better to answer such false allegations than to let them stand. For example, if somebody falsely calls you a wife beater or a child molester, saying nothing at all is not the smart thing to do.