Palin's Persecution Complex Culminates With "Blood Libel" Accusation

[Joanne98]

Sarah Palin just made her horrendous week worse with her new video in which she accuses her political critics of "blood libel."

This gaffe -- demonstrating both an ignorance of religious history and language -- tops a disastrous week: her crosshairs map has been Exhibit A in the discussion of the use of gun-related imagery in political rhetoric. But her PR has been woefully inadequate in explaining the map away as "surveyors symbols." Her TLC show will not be renewed by TLC, her chances for a successful run at the presidency have been downgraded, and even Barbara Walters expressed "feeling a bit sorry for her." Palin, however, has remained aloof and cocooned in Wasilla, while hired minions wipe her Facebook page constantly so that negative comments do not show up. So how is Barracuda Barbie a.k.a. Queen Esther shaping her response? The persecution meme.

Palin's typical pattern is that she takes a phrase from somebody (in this case, possibly Glenn Reynolds, writing in the Wall Street Journal), picks it up, and uses it for her own. In today's debacle, referring to criticism of her "crosshairs" map as a "blood libel," Palin shows that even if six people are killed, it's still all about her. The strategic release of this video, before President Obama travels to Arizona today for a memorial service, shows her self-serving political ends. In addition to misuing the term blood libel -- which historically refers to the accusation that Jews murder Christian babies -- her additional reference to dueling shows that she will not retreat from any violence-laden speech.

Blood libel, a term rooted in medieval Christianity, started as a rumor that Jews were killing Christian babies, and using their blood to mix into matzoh. The blood libel, refuted first by Pope Innocent IV through a series of papal bulls, has nonetheless persisted throughout history as a way for Christians at times to scapegoat Jews. Palin, by calling the media's alleged persecution of her a "blood libel" plays into this evil history by inference. But does she understand how this comment of blood libel appears anti-Semitic? Not only is Rep. Giffords Jewish, but accusing the media of "blood libel" could be seen as playing into anti-Semitic memes that Jews control the media.


Earlier in the week, Glenn Beck, her BFF, sent Palin an email of "concern," stating that she should get "protection" because an attempt on her life could "bring the republic down." In response, Palin wrote Beck back, and he read a portion of her email over his radio show. Palin's email? "I hate violence. I hate war. Our children will not have peace if politicos just capitalize on this to succeed in portraying anyone as inciting terror and violence. Thanks for all you do to send the message of truth and love and God as the answer."


http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/antheabutler/4028/palin's_persecution_complex_culminates_with_%22blood_libel%22_accusation/

[dkf]

1. She is so embarrassing to women.

Will the American public ever give a woman a chance after they see all this craziness?

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Women hell, to the entire human race.

It's as if she's from another planet.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Palin reminds me more and more of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz

"I'm meltiiiiing, meltiiiiing....oh what a world...what a world..."

[phantom power]

3. I bet she can top it.

[RamboLiberal]

4. K&R - just posted this as well in a reply in GD