Posted on 01/10/2011 4:39:37 PM PST by Lakeshark
David Frum takes Sarah Palin to task for not being more public in her reaction to the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords, not being sufficiently empathetic, and not grasping the scope (no pun intended) of the accusations against her, What Palin Needed To Say After Giffords' Shooting:
"Palin failed to appreciate the question being posed to her. That question was not: “Are you culpable for the shooting?” The question was: “Having put this unfortunate image on the record, can you respond to the shooting in a way that demonstrates your larger humanity? And possibly also your potential to serve as leader of the entire nation?”" Frum complains that Palin's expression of condolences was not enough. Here is Palin's statement released soon after the shooting:
"My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today’s tragic shooting in Arizona. On behalf of Todd and my family, we all pray for the victims and their families, and for peace and justice."
Frum criticizes Palin for not doing more, and for the fact that Palin supporters have defended her against the blood libel that she was responsible for the shooting:
"Instead, her rapid response operation has focused on pounding home the message that Palin is innocent, that she has been unfairly maligned by hostile critics. Which in this case happened to be a perfectly credible message. And also perfectly inadequate. Palin’s post-shooting message was about Palin, not about Giffords. It was defensive, not inspiring. And it was petty at a moment when Palin had been handed perhaps her last clear chance to show herself presidentially magnanimous."
Why shouldn't innocence be a complete defense when you are dealing with people spreading lies?
The lie is and always has been that there is a connection between the electoral map -- which used completely common terminology and graphics -- and the shooting. There is no evidence that Loughner saw the map, or even was motivated by the politics of the day.
The attack on Palin has been a complete non-sequituir in which two completely unconnected facts are used to reach a political conclusion.
Frum wants Palin to play on a the field drawn by vicious liars who never will be satisfied with any response from Palin. Any of the responses Frum suggests, such as going to Giffords' office to lay flowers, would have ignited even more dishonest fury from the left-blogosphere and mainstream media.
Palin has acted appropriately in expressing condolences, and in not further making the story about her. Frum has his sights (no pun intended) set on the wrong person. Frum should be going after the liars, not the innocent.
Ping to a good article.
Frum should just form a new 3rd party.
Call it the DumbAss party.
Sarah Palin has shown nothing but CLASS throughout this entire ordeal. Could she come out right now, have a press conference, and announce that she is going to sue every single bastard that has accused her of being responsible for this..of course she could, but she is doing something that the media couldn’t do if their lives depended on it..and that’s being a class act..6 people are dead, including a beautiful little girl..Sarah is right for not responding to this BS
She’s damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t. If she actually came out and gave some huge speech like Frum said she should the reaction would be “who the hell does she think she is? this happens and she takes the opportunity to grab the spotlight and give some self-serving talk?”
I thought her statement was apppropriate. HOnestly, I don’t think she needed to have any statement. She’s not a current office holder, not from AZ, etc... Did Mike Huckabee issue a statement?
BTW, when it comes to blaming people for violence, how about Huckabee. He pardoned a guy Maurice Clemmons who went on to massacre four police officers. There were many others he pardoned who also went on to do other bad deeds.
Was there any media outcry over Huckabee’s responsiblity? Anyone ask him to apologize? Say he has blood on his hands? He was way more connected to the Clemmons case than Palin is to this guy(since she has no connection whatsoever).
Mr. Frum, this shooting has nothing to do with Sarah Palin, Barack Obama or any of the other politicians that weren’t there. Other than expressing condolences, there isn’t much for them to do. The best thing to do about this man, other than prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, is to stop mentioning his name every five minutes; this is exactly what he wanted, and all of the MSM is feeding his hunger for attention. His grinning mugshot says it all.
She’s damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t. If she actually came out and gave some huge speech like Frum said she should the reaction would be “who the hell does she think she is? this happens and she takes the opportunity to grab the spotlight and give some self-serving talk?”
I thought her statement was apppropriate. HOnestly, I don’t think she needed to have any statement. She’s not a current office holder, not from AZ, etc... Did Mike Huckabee issue a statement?
BTW, when it comes to blaming people for violence, how about Huckabee. He pardoned a guy Maurice Clemmons who went on to massacre four police officers. There were many others he pardoned who also went on to do other bad deeds.
Was there any media outcry over Huckabee’s responsiblity? Anyone ask him to apologize? Say he has blood on his hands? He was way more connected to the Clemmons case than Palin is to this guy(since she has no connection whatsoever).
Why should Sarah say anything? It has NOTHING to do with her. It’s best she not say a word and let the media dig themselves a deeper hole.
How could Palin get a word in edgewise with the lefties and their media all screaming it was her fault?
There are thousands of shootings, in America, every year. Sarah Palin has had nothing to do with any of them. Does Frum think that she should make profound comments about all of them?
What Frum doesn’t understand is that this story is not about Palin. For her to do anything beyond point this fact out is to engage in the narcissism that Frum perpetually exhibits.
Palin is doing it right. She is praying and reflecting. She is not rushing in without consideration of how her words will be received. She made a mistake by letting Beck Mansour speak for her, with silly postings.
But the true Sarah Palin will win over this fluff with a serious statement as G-d directs her. Her silence is not a sign of weakness. This is the sign of a mature leader, to pray, to think, and then to speak.
“Instead, ..... Palin’s post-shooting message was about Palin, not about Giffords”
How the heck is what Palin said, about Palin? What kind of lie or meme is David Frum trying to create?
Frum is an embarassment to all Canadians. He becomes more and more like his socialist-loving mother (former Canadian Broadcasting Corporation chief propagandist - Barbra Frum)with every passing year. His pretense of conservatism has evolved from mere hypocrisy to outright deceit.
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