Posted on 11/25/2010 8:41:56 AM PST by kristinn
A hit piece by a liberal blogger about a slip of the tongue by Sarah Palin regarding the crisis on the Korean peninsula has become an international news story that is being spun to impugn Palin's credibility as a potential presidential candidate.
Palin has been dishonestly quoted out of context in dozens of articles and broadcast reports as saying on the Glenn Beck radio show on Wednesday, "We gotta stand with our North Korean allies."
Here, in context, is what Palin actually said (transcription by Kristinn):
Glen Beck: "Sarah you said, you said in the last few days that you are considering a run for president. And uh, polls show that you would probably win the Republican nomination. How would you handle a situation like just developed in, in North Korea?"
Palin: "Well, North Korea, this is stemming from I think a greater problem when we're all sittin' around asking, "Oh no, what are we gonna do?" and we're not having a lot of faith that the White House is gonna come out with a strong enough policy to, um, sanction what it is that North Korea is gonna do. So this speaks to a bigger picture here that certainly scares me in terms our national security policies. But obviously, gotta stand with our North Korean allies. We're bound to by, by treaty."
Beck: "South Korea."
Palin: "We're also bound by, yeah, we're also bound by prudence to stand with our, our South Korean allies. Yes. And, uh, you know to remind North Korea, well, we're not gonna reward bad behavior and we're not gonna walk away. And we do need to press China to do more to increase the pressure on North Korea."
The smear started with liberal blogger Oliver Willis who posted an entry with the title, AUDIO: Sarah Palin: "We Gotta Stand With Our North Korean Allies. The blog post did not transcribe Palin's interview with Beck, it just had a snarky comment, "Genius. Absolute genius. When Glenn Beck is correcting you on foreign policy, well genius."
Willis included the audio clip in his post which this transcription is based on. As can be seen, it was a simple slip of the tongue. But, because of how Willis disingenuously framed it, the slip has become "truth" to once again be used to smear Palin as ignorant of foreign affairs.
The hit piece was picked up by Mediaite, a site founded by former MSNBCer Dan Abrams, which titled their hit piece, Sarah Palin - North Korean Allies.
Mediaite also posted the audio clip. But even with the evidence that the comment was clearly a slip of the tongue, Mediaite smeared Palin as ignorant by quoting her out of context rather than publishing the entire exchange with Beck.
For good measure, Mediaite brought back a previous smear of Palin that claimed in 2008 when she was selected to be John McCain's running mate she did not know Korea was divided between North and South.
The Weekly Standard came to Palin's defense last night with a piece that chided her critics for the smear.
That did not stop the smear from going global, however. A Google News search shows nearly one hundred articles accusing Palin of not knowing that South Korea is our ally.
Wire services, broadcast networks and newspapers across America and the globe have gleefully picked up the smear.
The BBC piled on today with an article that said, "Her slip of the tongue over North Korea will provide more ammunition for critics who say she doesn't have sufficient knowledge or experience for high office."
The Times of India headlined their article, Sarah Palin's Latest Verbal Gaffe - North Korea an Ally.
It is a testament to Palin's global reach and influence that such a simple slip would garner worldwide headlines and be used by her enemies here and abroad to smear her.
However, the truth must be told and the media once more shamed for their duplicitious reporting.
I don't doubt the military personnel and commanders, on their own, would extend a welcome to Palin, but in all probability Obama would order them not to.
Several months back President Bush made plans to visit with the troops at Fort Hood in Texas as a morale booster relating to the Hasan murders. Obama told him no, and Bush, wrongly in my opinion, acquiesced without protest. The point is Obama would not allow military personnel to help Palin. And ironically, it would be one of the few things he's done which would be justifiable legally.
"Army officials would not comment, so we spoke to Bush spokesman David Sherzer, who was happy to set the record straight.
Sherzer described the visit as being "as spontaneous as a visit from a former president can be" it was planned that same day. But Sherzer told us that Bushs visit was coordinated with base officials, that he did not refuse escort, and that he did not overstay his welcome. As for the part about President Obama telling him to leave, Sherzer said thats simply not true."
http://factcheck.org/2010/02/bush-at-ft-hood/
I was reporting the initial story, which was mentioned in in a discussion here. I’m glad to know that it was wrong, and thanks for the correction.
What is not explained in Mr. Sherzer’s PR response is what part of the “coordination” with base officials necessitated the curious disclaimers “that he did not refuse escort, and that he did not overstay his welcome”. Something is being left unsaid there.
The good part is that Bush did make the visit, apparently after working out that coordination thingy. However, that doesn’t change the situation regarding a Palin VIP visit to Korea. Obama would not allow it, and you’re naive to doubt that.
Geez, you are naive, those other parts of your conspiracy were mentioned because they were also elements in the fake story that you were trying to pass off here today about the Ft. Hood visit.
You are also naive to think that the President would forbid Governor Palin a visit to a military base in Korea.
There is a world of difference between a two term CIC visiting a post and an ex-half-term governor of any state getting detailed briefings.
Why shouldn’t they give her access? She did visit Iraq didn’t she. They gave RR briefings before he became president. They gave em to Senator Obama too but he must have slept through them.
Anyway I can tell from your several posts that you are a Palin hater and would change your mind no matter what.
She would be a VIP that is a frontrunner for the 2012 GOP Presidential nomination, a Vice Presidential candidate only 2 years ago, and a holder of the Alaskan Governor security clearance only 16 months ago.
wtc911 is one of those anti-social conservative trolls who always trying to troll against a conservative that would challenge his rino politics. You will find him on the old Giuliani threads, I'll let you guess who he is defending on those.
Read the transcript again -you still do not "get it" ... This has nothing to do with knowledge or thinking, strategic policy or diplomacy AND everything to do with leftists attempting to attack and discredit Palin and failing miserably...
GIVE IT A REST ALREADY -the the ranks of the useful idiot spineless leftist mouthpieces do not need anymore help is their rush to achieve epic failure as they are already a dead movement walking...
Damn.
You certainly have poor taste.
He might be OK as a mid-level functionary, but nothing where his decisions affect citizens.
Suggest you study up on US foreign policy --we have been working with China to put pressure on North Korea for years e.g. nuclear...
THAT is our policy... Maybe you should contact Palin and see if she has time to school your dumb *ss?
She blew the opportunity to appear presidential. It's as simple as that.
Totally agreed. Obama may have lowered the bar to basement level which is why I want our next president to do more than simply jump over it. I’m tired of making excuses.
Good observation my friend. WTC911 is nothing but a POS troll.
You don’t have the courage to direct your childish insult to me even in an anonymous setting....are all ohiomen such punks?
(Actual death toll: 12)
When you actually hear the audio, it’s even more obvious that she meant to say South Korea, and it was just a simple slip of the tongue. Some of her accusers (even here on FR) didn’t know we have a treaty with South Korea, and thought she was saying we are bound by a treaty between North & South Korea (which doesn’t even exist). The stupids have been out in force.
Oliver Willis
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