…”journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel…” – Sarah Palin, January 12, 2011
Sarah Palin has spoken about the mass murder and assassination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in Tuscon. She expressed concern for the victims, a group that she apparently believes includes herself.
In a video she released this morning–the same day of the memorial service for those killed in Saturday’s tragedy–Palin said:
“If you don’t like a person’s vision for the country, you’re free to debate that vision. If you don’t like their ideas, you’re free to propose better ideas. But, 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.”
As Simon Greer, president of Jewish Funds for Justice noted:
“the term ‘blood libel’ is not a synonym for ‘false accusation.’ It refers to a specific falsehood perpetuated by Christians about Jews for centuries, a falsehood that motivated a good deal of anti-Jewish violence and discrimination. Unless someone has been accusing Ms. Palin of killing Christian babies and making matzoh from their blood, her use of the term is totally out-of-line.”
For more analysis of Palin’s latest self-pitying, resentful, hole-digging ramblings, check out The Atlantic’s Andrew Sullivan and Ta-Nehisi Coates.
