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Yes, Palin is Loyal, but to What and to Whom?
NewsReal ^ | 2010-04-07 | John R. Guardiano

Posted on 04/07/2010 1:32:58 PM PDT by rabscuttle385

Conflicting loyalties seem to have resulted in some surprising political decisions by Sarah Palin.

On Monday here at NewsReal Blog I argued that Govenor Sarah Palin’s active support of John McCain’s Senate reelection campaign makes no sense. Palin, after all, doesn’t owe McCain anything. Whatever debt she might have owed McCain she paid off during the 2008 presidential campaign.

In fact, if anything, it seems to me that McCain is indebted to Palin. This because his ‘08 campaign really did her a disservice, and also because McCain staffers have since betrayed the former Alaska governor with malicious and disparaging leaks to the media.

Many of the commenters to my post don’t disagree. However, they write, there is one laudable reason why Palin is actively supporting McCain: loyalty.

Fair enough. Loyalty is important. But it seems to me that Palin has competing loyalty obligations; and that she chose to be loyal to McCain when she just as easily could have chosen to be loyal to other people and other principles instead.

For example, Palin knows that some of her most steadfast supporters in the conservative and Tea Party movements have very profound and important differences with McCain.

These Palin supporters believe that on too many critical issues — including free speech (aka “campaign finance reform”), military modernization, and illegal immigration – McCain is a liberal wolf in a conservative sheep’s clothing.

What about loyalty to these people? What about loyalty to their issues and concerns? Why does loyalty to one man, one politician, outweigh loyalty to millions of dedicated conservative and Tea Party activists?

And why does personal loyalty to a man (McCain) outweigh loyalty to a set of conservative political principles?

No one’s saying that Palin had to actively oppose McCain. That might, indeed, have been awkward and ill-advised given that she was his vice presidential running mate.

But why did Palin have to go out of her way to actively support and campaign for McCain? Why couldn’t she have praised both McCain and his challenger, Rep. J.D. Hayworth, while remaining neutral in the Arizona Senate race?

I can think of two possible explanations offered up, respectively, by journalists Conor Friedersdorf and Matthew Continetti.

Friedersdorf says that Palin simply may not be the conservative her steadfast supporters think she is. She may, in fact, be a John McCain Republican. This would mean that she is liberal on some issues, moderate on others, and conservative about a few things.

Continetti notes that since being thrust into the national limelight, Palin has “become incredibly rich.” It may be — and this is me speaking, not Continetti — that because of her newfound riches, Palin feels an understandable debt, literally and figuratively, to Sen. McCain.

If true, that’s fine. Making money to support one’s family is honorable. But that’s a different type of loyalty, I think, than many of the governor’s defenders have in mind.

John R. Guardiano is a writer and analyst in Arlington, Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter: @Guardian0.


TOPICS: Editorial; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: az2010; derangedpalinistas; loyalty; mccain; mccainiacs; mclamesrinoparty; palin; palin4mccain; palin4rinos; palinhate; palinsrinocircus; paulestinians; pds; rinoapologistsarah; rinos4palin; sarahmcpalin; sarahpalin; scorpions4mccain; trashingsarahpalin
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To: Favor Center

No, that is accurate. We have never seen an onslaught like this, and nothing like the incredible and constant creation of rumors and lies about Palin and her family, this nonstop.


461 posted on 04/08/2010 2:53:59 PM PDT by ansel12 ( Why are the non "social conservative" Republicans so unconservative?)
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To: ansel12

“No, that is accurate. We have never seen an onslaught like this, and nothing like the incredible and constant creation of rumors and lies about Palin and her family, this nonstop.”

So, you’ve been around since the country’s founding? The assaults on Palin top the movie-death-threats Bush received? Being burned in effigy? Have you read the early American press?


462 posted on 04/08/2010 3:35:40 PM PDT by Favor Center (Targets Up! Hold hard and favor center!)
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To: Favor Center

Yes I know about politics and media and history and I share the widespread awareness even among some liberal writers that we have never seen anything like this unrelenting, intensity of the anti-Palin media, and she has never even run for President yet, much less is she a sitting President at this time.

Palin is having to fight this media fight purely on her own, with her own strength and leadership, with no power of the Presidential office or an official platform, she is fighting this media war purely as a private citizen, and with the support of conservatives and tea partiers.


463 posted on 04/08/2010 4:18:03 PM PDT by ansel12 ( Why are the non "social conservative" Republicans so unconservative?)
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To: MEGoody; SoCalPol; SierraWasp
ethics charges would continue to hound her if she happened to win the Presidency

The problem was that there is no provision to protect the individual in office from personal attack - involving the pocketbook.

AS 39.52.310. Complaints. (c) If a complaint alleges a violation of AS 39.52.110 - 39.52.190 by the governor, lieutenant governor, or the attorney general, the matter shall be referred to the personnel board....The personnel board shall retain independent counsel who shall act in the place of the attorney general under (d) - (i) of this section, AS 39.52.320 - 39.52.350, and 39.52.360(c) and (d). Notwithstanding AS 36.30.015 (d), the personnel board may contract for or hire independent counsel under this subsection without notifying or securing the approval of the Department of Law. [emphasis added]

So, yes, Gov. Palin must pay for her personal legal defense, and each allegation costs her money. The imbecilic ankle-biters smugly ask, “If she didn’t do anything wrong, why does she need legal counsel?”

When you are charged with a crime or a violation, you must defend yourself. Hiring a lawyer does not equate guilt. When you’re hit with an ethics complaint, you can’t just close your eyes and hope it goes away. You hope that the independent counsel will advise that the complaint be dismissed, but you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that the complaint will be accepted for investigation. If that happens, you need to respond.

The big problem is that Anchorage is nothing but a hotbed of liberals. As the joke goes - "Anchorage isn't in Alaska, but you cans see it from there".

I like and respect Sarah Palin. But I hope she stays a private citizen instead of trying to run for President. I simply believe she can do the most good in that role.

What she did took the courage of one's convictions, to the next level! What she has managed to do speaks volumes! Potentially on a great road taking clues from a great leader in the past.

Remember in Ronald Reagan's farewell speech " Once you begin a great movement, there's no telling where it will end. We meant to change a nation, and instead, we changed a world. "We the people" tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us. "We the people" are the driver, the government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and by what route, and how fast. Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which "We the people" tell the government what it is allowed to do. "We the people" are free.

So let's all let her do what she is demanding from us - we have to make her want the job...just like Reagan did with the famous quote

"The thought of being President frightens me and I do not think I want the job."

— Ronald Reagan


I'm thinking as she is going through her formation to line as POTUS 45, she is possibly as close as this nation will get for "Reagan in a skirt". While other potential candidates are making noise, she is doing...and I'm liking what I'm seeing. Not perfect, but the best shot out the bunch!
464 posted on 04/08/2010 5:20:35 PM PDT by Issaquahking (Help Sarah Palin! go to - http://www.conservatives4palin.com - You know what to do!)
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To: Issaquahking

Again, watching last night Sarah Palin’s speech in Minn.
and her interview on FOX after. This is the Conservative Republican who gets it and yes, can take on Obama and
will pull no punches.


465 posted on 04/08/2010 5:42:48 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: jonrick46; ansel12; CAluvdubya

OK, guys, I hate to do this to such nice sweet people like you, but it’s time to bring out the heavy artillery.

Here is a quote from Levi Johnston, the ex-deadbeat of Bristol. He says there was “not much parenting in that house.” Clearly not, since Bristol got pregnant and Levi was allowed to live there (avoid the appearance of evil, says the Bible). Lots of busy politicians are absentee fathers, like Reagan and Bush, but at least there was a mother home to take care of the kids. Why don’t the Palins prove Levi wrong (you guys offer no proof other than to say Todd quit his job — whoop de doo). Why not be a good example for stay-at-home dads across the country?

Quote from the Book of Levi —
“The Palin house was much different from what many people expect of a normal family, even before she was nominated for vice president. There wasn’t much parenting in that house. Sarah doesn’t cook, Todd doesn’t cook—the kids would do it all themselves: cook, clean, do the laundry, and get ready for school. Most of the time Bristol would help her youngest sister with her homework, and I’d barbecue chicken or steak on the grill.”


466 posted on 04/08/2010 6:17:22 PM PDT by heye2monn
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To: heye2monn
Really?

You take Levi Johnson as a reliable source?

Do you also trust Barack Obama to tell you the truth? Was Bill Clinton a straight-shooter, too?

467 posted on 04/08/2010 6:19:48 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: heye2monn
Are you seriously quoting Levi Johnston?

Okaaaay, I'm gonna listen now, fer sure.

468 posted on 04/08/2010 6:23:27 PM PDT by CAluvdubya (We need a Commander-in-Chief, not a professor of Law standing at a lectern-Palin 2010)
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To: heye2monn

You have serious character issues, you need to develop some.


469 posted on 04/08/2010 6:32:39 PM PDT by ansel12 ( Why are the non "social conservative" Republicans so unconservative?)
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To: heye2monn

Sarah Palin answered Levi’s charge about the lack of parenting. I think is was a interview with Bill O’Reilly. She said it was all hogwash. To get that exact moment for you that she talked about it would take hours on the web. There is so much junk out there, it takes lots of time to get the truth.

Sometimes it is best not to draw attention to the subject by giving outlandish charges any response. She has been very controlled with any reaction to Levi.


470 posted on 04/08/2010 7:15:43 PM PDT by jonrick46 (We're being water boarded with the sewage of Fabian Socialism.)
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To: rabscuttle385

#470 and still burning. I hate those boring threads where everyone agrees :)

In for some fun reading here!


471 posted on 04/08/2010 7:20:28 PM PDT by sickoflibs ( "It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=taxes delayed")
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To: rabscuttle385; AuntB; stephenjohnbanker; mkjessup; Bokababe; EveningStar
RE :”He's really deranged”(see #122)

LOL, that crazy Rab's needs a rubber room... but then why are his threads getting so many hits especially by that one freeper???

No mention of RP in that #122 comment about rabs?? Is this a slip?

472 posted on 04/08/2010 9:05:10 PM PDT by sickoflibs ( "It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=taxes delayed")
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To: Favor Center; ansel12
“The duration in Palin’s case is 20 months to date, but we have never seen the equal of those 20 months, especially for someone that is only a POTENTIAL candidate for President.”

Nonsense.


OK, it's nonsense.

Why don't you now back up your assertion with a concrete example?
473 posted on 04/08/2010 9:11:56 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: Lakeshark; sickoflibs

Someone’s talking about ya without pinging ya.


474 posted on 04/08/2010 9:13:30 PM PDT by onyx (Sarah/Michele 2012)
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To: Favor Center
"That’s your perception."

"Nonsense."

Universal Technical Institute in Orlando just called and asked me to tell you to "stop stealing their debate team's arguments."

475 posted on 04/08/2010 10:28:59 PM PDT by Chunga (Any IDIOT who says Obama would be better for the country than McCain is a disgrace - Mark Levin)
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To: CAluvdubya; Jim Robinson; rabscuttle385; All
You may feel victorious in your constant bashing of Sarah Palin but in reality you are really hurting FR.
I'm not alone in withholding funds from a conservative site that allows the pro Ron Paul posters to bash the most popular representative of conservative ideals on a constant basis.
You certainly have a right to your freedom of speech, but I have control over my pocketbook.


Jim? If that doesn't sound like extortion, I don't know what does.

I won't mince words here: I'd ban ANY person making public threats like that and inciting others to follow suit.
476 posted on 04/09/2010 12:46:46 AM PDT by mkjessup
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To: mkjessup

Palin detractors are crybabies. You’re exhibit A.


477 posted on 04/09/2010 1:26:34 AM PDT by Chunga (Any IDIOT who says Obama would be better for the country than McCain is a disgrace - Mark Levin)
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To: Chunga

Lawrence, as usual you have nothing of value to contribute to this or any thread.


478 posted on 04/09/2010 4:07:55 AM PDT by mkjessup
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To: Chunga; mkjessup; CAluvdubya

“Palin detractors are crybabies. You’re exhibit A.” Chunga

Palinstinians are goons....See exhibit B

“You may feel victorious in your constant bashing of Sarah Palin but in reality you are really hurting FR.
I’m not alone in withholding funds from a conservative site that allows the pro Ron Paul posters to bash the most popular representative of conservative ideals on a constant basis.
You certainly have a right to your freedom of speech, but I have control over my pocketbook.”

Extortion

Jesse Jackson shake-down artist


479 posted on 04/09/2010 4:37:56 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops....and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; Chunga; CAluvdubya
Hey SJB, I find it highly amusing that when pointing out the "crybaby" extortion attempt by caluvdubya, that the only thing Chunga can come up with is to call Palin "detractors" "crybabies" when I made absolutely no mention of Sarah Palin in my post to JimRob, I was pointing out the attempted shake-down of FR by a poster who I actually thought had higher standards than that, and in the middle of a Freep-A-Thon no less!

It's shameful.
480 posted on 04/09/2010 4:51:33 AM PDT by mkjessup
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