Via Facebook, of course, Sarah Palin finally responded to the mass shooting that occurred in Tucson on Saturday. As we all know, her rhetoric and the infamous "gun sights" target list have featured prominently in the post-shooting discussion. But, we haven't really heard from Palin, until now. She also included a well-rehearsed, carefully staged video. And, she chose to release this statement and video on the day of the memorial in Tucson, which Obama will attend. Sarah wants to be in that story.
It's a fairly typical Palin screed. A defensive screed. And, there's an attack on the media, of course. Here's Greg Sargent's take:
A few quick things to note. First, the obvious care that went into making this video -- the pre-written script is over seven minutes long; she clearly rehearsed the reading at some length; and the backdrop includes an American flag on the right flank -- demonstrate once again that Palin and her advisers knew this was a potential make-or-break moment. Palin, of course, has long taken her case directly to supporters via Twitter and Facebook, while not permitting herself to be exposed to any journalistic cross-examination. Utilizing a pre-taped video message is a new twist on that strategy, and a reflection of how high the stakes have become.Greg's right. The headlines are all including the term "blood libel." The Hill notes:
Second, her core accusation on the video, the one that was clearly selected with an intent to drive headlines, not only accuses critics of "blood libel," but actually accuses them of expressing concern and outrage about the shooting in bad faith, as if they are doing so in an effort to do nothing more than damage her politically
Palin lashed out at the media, one of her traditional targets, saying they fueled the notion that rhetoric played a role in the Arizona attack.Lashing out, that's Sarah. Looks like she's trying to force Republicans to defend her. Will they?
Palin has the audacity to cite Giffords in her screed:
Just days before she was shot, Congresswoman Giffords read the First Amendment on the floor of the House. It was a beautiful moment and more than simply “symbolic,” as some claim, to have the Constitution read by our Congress. I am confident she knew that reading our sacred charter of liberty was more than just “symbolic.”Since Palin chose to cite Congresswoman Giffords, we will too. From March 25, 2010:
"For example, we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district, and when people do that, they've gotta realize there are consequences to that action."Giffords and 19 others faced the real consequences of being in a gun sight.
Palin is now dealing with the political consequences of using that violent imagery and urging her followers to RELOAD!. This is a test for Palin. She's failing.
