Very odd comment by Governor Palin

[MillCreek]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B3W320110112

How very odd of Governor Palin to use the term 'blood libel'.  This has been associated with anti-Semitic issues for centuries and refers to the alleged Jewish practice of murdering Christian children to use their blood for religious rituals.

I wonder if she used the term inadvertently, or is trying to send some sort of message.   Coming across as anti-Semitic will not benefit her political career. 

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

"That word does not mean what you think it means!"

[zxcvbob]

I don't know how smart it was, but it was a great use of the phrase.  It is exactly what is going on.  Her opponents are slandering her by blaming the massacre on her.  Now everybody is all upset and feigning great insult when she calls them on it because they know it's true.

It's a little more to-the-point than just telling everybody "F.U.", don't ya think?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0nnOtLYm_4

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I've been hearing all day how "blood libel" is some sort of Jewish thing, that it's anti-semitic.  This is news to me, because I've also heard the term used to describe attacks on early Christians ("blood" being a reference to Holy Communion).

As I understand it, it's any situation where one group falsely accuses another group of heinous acts, then uses those phony accusations as justification to abuse them in some way.  It need not involve religion at all.

"Joe feeds little children to sharks, therefore we should go steal his car."

As I understand the term, it applies perfectly to the Palin situation.  The left accuses Palin of being complicit in the murders, then uses that as justification to savage her politically.

[MillCreek]

^^^^ How interesting.  Pretty much every context (my reading of historical fiction and European history) in which I have heard of the term was directed against the Jewish people.  I think that in many circles, it is considered only as an anti-Semitic concept.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel

[zxcvbob]

http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/route_17/sarah_palin_right_were_looking_blood_libel

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

^^^^ How interesting.  Pretty much every context (my reading of historical fiction and European history) in which I have heard of the term was directed against the Jewish people.  I think that in many circles, it is considered only as an anti-Semitic concept.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel

Maybe it's a regional thing.

 

[Tallpine]

Coming across as anti-Semitic will not benefit her political career.

How is it anti-Semitic to compare something horrible done to innocent Jews, to something horrible being done to innocent non-Democrats/Leftists 

When one says for instance that somebody would be "crucified" for some action, is that anti-Christian...?

Or maybe it's anti-Italian 

[Ron]

Here is the context

Vigorous and spirited public debates during elections are among our most cherished traditions.  And after the election, we shake hands and get back to work, and often both sides find common ground back in D.C. and elsewhere. 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.

I'm not seeing any thing anti-Semitic here, what am I missing?

It looks to me like she is drawing a direct comparison to the slandering of the right wing, especially her, with the historical unwarranted slander against the Jewish people.

[seeker_two]

"Blood libel" works in this case...even Krauthammer agrees....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011106068.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

I'm not seeing any thing anti-Semitic here, what am I missing?

The way I see it, it's not anti-Semitic, it's something done by anti-Semites.
"Refers to a false accusation or claim[3][4][5] that religious minorities, in European contexts almost always Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays."

She should've used 'horse****' instead.

[BridgeRunner]

Yes, but some people who are certain that they are more equal that other people are also certain that any inappropriate appropriation of another group's culture or history is all about hate.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Interesting to see the new direction the public debate is taking since Palin's comment.

I wonder if that was by design.

I wonder how many other people have that much ability to influence the public discussion.

[Monkeyleg]

I wonder how many other people have that much ability to influence the public discussion.

I don't know, as I didn't see Obama's "performance" at the Arizona ceremony. Did he manage to call for healing while simultaneously stabbing Palin, Limbaugh, the Tea Party, and anyone else who disagrees with him? That's his MO.

[Ron]

I don't know, as I didn't see Obama's "performance" at the Arizona ceremony. Did he manage to call for healing while simultaneously stabbing Palin, Limbaugh, the Tea Party, and anyone else who disagrees with him? That's his MO.

Very Presidential

http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/12/remarks-president-barack-obama-memorial-service-victims-shooting-tucson

For the truth is none of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack.  None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped these shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man’s mind.  Yes, we have to examine all the facts behind this tragedy.  We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence.  We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future.  (Applause.)  But what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other.  (Applause.)  That we cannot do.  (Applause.)  That we cannot do.

As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility.  Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let’s use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for empathy and remind ourselves of all the ways that our hopes and dreams are bound together.  (Applause.)

[De Selby]

The irony of this is that while conservatives are now upset at being blamed for the acts of an individual extremists, if this had been a guy with a Muslim name, the conservative pundits would've been first in line to bash Islam & Muslims as responsible.

[Perd Hapley]

Very Presidential

http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/12/remarks-president-barack-obama-memorial-service-victims-shooting-tucson

We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future.

Old assumptions, like a right to free speech or self-defense?

[MicroBalrog]

The irony of this is that while conservatives are now upset at being blamed for the acts of an individual extremists, if this had been a guy with a Muslim name, the conservative pundits would've been first in line to bash Islam & Muslims as responsible.

While there is a definite tendency to exaggerate the non-threat of Islamic extremism, this does not draw from the validity of the statements made in this thread.

[roo_ster]

The irony of this is that while conservatives are now upset at being blamed for the acts of an individual extremists, if this had been a guy with a Muslim name, the conservative pundits would've been first in line to bash Islam & Muslims as responsible.

Well, when they holler out allahu akbar and then commence to slaughter, one might get the impression Islam might have something to do about it.

Those squawking about the use of the term "blood libel" I expect to stop using the term "quisling" for anything other than a Norwegian betraying his countrymen to fascists.  To do anything else would be anti-Norwegian.  We must be sensitive to their long history of oppression by Danes, Swedes, and Germans.

[MillCreek]

I think some terms are so associated with certain political beliefs as to be irrevocably so associated.  "Blood libel', despite any protests to the contrary, is associated with anti-Semitism, due to a centuries-long history of being so used in that specific context.  If Governor Palin had been giving a speech about immigration and used the term 'lebensraum', would we we claim that she inadvertently used a term so associated with Nazi ideology, or was she sending a coded message?  I would lean towards the latter, and I would say that about anyone on the political spectrum.

[Battle Monkey of Zardoz]

Palinn is right, Blood Libel is apt. If the leftwing media and elected critters don't like is, they can pound sand

[makattak]

I think some terms are so associated with certain political beliefs as to be irrevocably so associated.  "Blood libel', despite any protests to the contrary, is associated with anti-Semitism, due to a centuries-long history of being so used in that specific context.  If Governor Palin had been giving a speech about immigration and used the term 'lebensraum', would we we claim that she inadvertently used a term so associated with Nazi ideology, or was she sending a coded message?  I would lean towards the latter, and I would say that about anyone on the political spectrum.

Plus it's a chance for lefties to scream: "SHE'S SENDING SECRET NAZI MESSAGES!!!1111!!"

Seriously? You can't step back and see that libellously accusing someone of murder, i.e. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' blood is on Sarah Palin's hands after putting cross hair over district, isn't a type blood libel?

Of course you know it is. You and the leftist media just want to find SOMETHING to attack her, and by association, conservatives.

[Jamisjockey]

The irony of this is that while conservatives are now upset at being blamed for the acts of an individual extremists, if this had been a guy with a Muslim name, the conservative pundits would've been first in line to bash Islam & Muslims as responsible.

Apples to oranges.
There is no proof that he was at all encouraged by right wing talk radio, and some proof to the contrary.
But in all the attacks by "muslim named" individuals, there is proof that they were influenced by the fiery rhetoric of certain imams.
Your right wing bash, is fail.

[MillCreek]

Plus it's a chance for lefties to scream: "SHE'S SENDING SECRET NAZI MESSAGES!!!1111!!"

Seriously? You can't step back and see that libellously accusing someone of murder, i.e. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' blood is on Sarah Palin's hands after putting cross hair over district, isn't a type blood libel?

Of course you know it is. You and the leftist media just want to find SOMETHING to attack her, and by association, conservatives.

I myself would not use the term 'blood libel' because of my opinion as to the anti-Semitic association, and I do not propound, espouse or support anti-Semitism.  I suspect that many people had never heard of the term before the current controversy; I have known it for 35 years based on my reading, and I think it is so associated with anti-Semitic issues to have an irrevocable taint.