Jewish Groups: ‘We Are Deeply Disturbed’ By Palin’s Use Of Anti-Semitic Term ‘Blood Libel,’

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Jewish Groups: ‘We Are Deeply Disturbed’ By Palin’s Use Of Anti-Semitic Term ‘Blood Libel,’ She Should Apologize »

On a day when the president and the nation are mourning the victims of the tragic shooting in Tucson, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is trying to seize the spotlight to mourn her tarnished reputation. Palin apparently views herself among the real victims of the tragic shooting this weekend that killed six and wounded 14. This morning, Palin launched an aggressive Facebook and web-video campaign to counter what she deemed a “blood libel” against her by the media to connect her infamous cross-hairs map and other right-wing incendiary rhetoric to violence.

..............................

Indeed, Jewish groups are taking offense to Palin’s choice of the term. Noting that accusations of blood libel have been “directly responsible for the murder of so many Jews across centuries,” the National Jewish Democratic Council condemned Palin’s use of the term:

******Instead of dialing down the rhetoric at this difficult moment, Sarah Palin chose to accuse others trying to sort out the meaning of this tragedy of somehow engaging in a “blood libel” against her and others. This is of course a particularly heinous term for American Jews, given that the repeated fiction of blood libels are directly responsible for the murder of so many Jews across centuries — and given that blood libels are so directly intertwined with deeply ingrained anti-Semitism around the globe, even today. <...>

*****All we had asked following this weekend’s tragedy was for prayers for the dead and wounded, and for all of us to take a step back and look inward to see how we can improve the tenor of our coarsening public debate. Sarah Palin’s invocation of a “blood libel” charge against her perceived enemies is hardly a step in the right direction.

.................

Likewise, the president of the pro-Israel, pro-peace Jewish lobby J Street, Jeremy Ben-Ami, said he was “saddened by Governor Palin’s use of the term ‘blood libel,’” adding that he hopes “she will choose to retract her comment AND apologize“:

*****The country’s attention is rightfully focused on the memorial service for the victims of Saturday’s shooting. Our prayers continue to be with those who are still fighting to recover and the families of the victims. The last thing the country needs now is for the rhetoric in the wake of this tragedy to return to where it was before.

****** We hope that Governor Palin will recognize, when it is brought to her attention, that the term “blood libel” brings back painful echoes of a very dark time in our communal history when Jews were falsely accused of committing heinous deeds. When Governor Palin learns that many Jews are pained by and take offense at the use of the term, we are sure that she will choose to retract her comment, apologize and make a less inflammatory choice of words.

...............................


Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/01/12/palin-blood-libel/

[eleny]

1. KR

[TheDebbieDee]

191. This woman is her own worst enemy! Thank goodness..........

I'd wager that in 6 weeks, her 15 minutes will be up. FINALLY!

[awoke_in_2003]

195. I am willing to bet...

that in 6 weeks most of america will have forgotten about this and Sarah will be the darling of the GOP again. Never underestimate this countries capacity for stupidity.

[bigworld]

2. Keep diggin' that hole, Sarah!

[BonnieJW]

46. Has there ever been

a fuck up as bad as Palin???? I'm trying to think, but I swear I can't think of anyone this bad.

[MissDeeds]

65. Yes, W was this bad

He screwed up everything he touched.

[demokatgurrl]

75. In fact, she is known in our house

as W in a skirt with glasses.

[MiddleFingerMom]

160. Isn't that a Beatles song? n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

173. LOL!

just thinking the same thing!

[lonestarnot]

184. No that would be diamonds, prollee blood diamonds.

With glasses was Fred.

[Marnie]

78. agreed

[Xipe Totec]

136. When it comes to mangled language, W had the Mindless Touch

Where every phrase he touched turned to crap.

[Marnie]

77. Dan Quyle was an idiot.

But I don't remember him having any of the meanness of Palin.

[BobbyBoring]

87. There have been a few

W and Qualye both deserve honorable mentions but the catch is this. MILLIONS of once seemingly normal Americans want her to be POTUS and worship the perma frost she walks on.

[FarLeftFist]

107. Blood Libel wikipedia entry

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

[thanks_imjustlurking]

150. And a new Wikipedia entry on Palin's usage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel_%28U.S._political_term%29

I'd be very interested to know the author.

[Monk06]

183. It appears that she may have got it from Glen Reynolds of Instapundit same link as yours.

[chervilant]

181. hmm...

I don't think I buy the "once seemingly normal" description for Palin's supporters. Emboldened by the likes of Palin, Hannity, Coulter, Malkin, O'Reilly, Beck, Savage, et. al; these pathetic, fearful people are revealing what they really believe--how they really feel.

[customerserviceguy]

203. And those are the people who won't 'get' this

I've lived around Jewish people most of my life, even when I was in a small town, and this "blood for matzos" thing is new to me. I can only imagine how surprised people who don't know anything about Judaism were to even find this out.

They're not going to fault her for not having a rabbi and an imam going over her speeches with a fine-tooth comb just to avoid accidentally offending members of a minority religion on an obscure point.

[roguevalley]

137. she's dumber than w if you can imagine. I take exception to the

blood libel remark. Dimbulb. Hasn't a frickin' clue.

[Drew Richards]

180. Images in my head...

Well your question made me flash to a couple mental images...

dukkakis in a tank. (not really that bad but the image just popped out
Bush under the "mission accomplished" banner...I swear I still think he is dumber than Palin.

[Can of Whoop-ass]

104. Sarah baby

[florida08]

110. omg

that will give me nightmares tonight

[mbperrin]

3. How low can Palin go?

Way low, I bet.




There's no shame in her.

[bulloney]

15. She's already so low she has the bends.

A little advice, Sarah: When you've dug yourself in a hole, the first thing you do is QUIT DIGGING!!!!!

In other words, shut up and remove yourself from the limelight! You set new standards for ignorance every time you open your mouth!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

26. she can parachute off a dime

[Tigress DEM]

177. OK - That's good.

[aquart]

4. But utterly unsurprised.

[dipsydoodle]

5. You learn something new every day

I've never come across that expression before but having now searched yes it is anti Semitic.

[aquart]

6. Glad you agree.

[femrap]

44. Looks like it was mentioned

in Monday's WSJ article by Glenn Reynolds. He came up with the idea, I guess....and Palin jumped on it.

eta:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x183304

[pink-o]

48. Listen, my great-grandfather was an orthodox rabbi from Lithuania

...and ***I*** never heard the term before! Which I suppose is a good thing. Thanks, Sarah, I sure appreciate your introducing it into my lexicon.:sarcasm:

[Knight Hawk]

60. Did you know?

Did you know that Congresswoman's Gifford grandfather or great grandfather was also a Lithuanian rabbi?

[pink-o]

58. just did the research myself.

Yeah, I knew about the lie that Jews used the blood of Christian babies to bake Passover Matzoahs, but I'd never heard it called that before. Just for the record, Jews are NEVER supposed to eat blood. Totally NOT Kosher, which is why a Kosher butcher has to prepare meat a special way.

Stupid Sarah and her stupid speech writer (c'mon, you don't think she wrote that herself, do you?) stepped in it big time. I doubt they had any idea of what kind of shitstorm they were fomenting.

[SemperEadem]

92. I agree

re: spalin and her speech writer.

The writer probably read it in an Ayn Rand novel and thought it was cool, but never looked it up to see what it meant... and you know spalin doesn't read because if she did the way she talked would reflect it.

Her verbal incontinence was a torturous, circuitous exercise designed to make one spontaneously combust. She's a bad actress-even when it's a reality show, she's an even worse prompter reader/emoter. BUT she gives the masses hard-ons and she knows it. Doesn't matter how stupid she is: she can be a dumb as a post and there is a significant enough number of your fellow americans who believe there is nothing wrong with putting george w. bush in lipstick in the white house.

[Marnie]

80. I had ever heard it either

however since Sarah used it she preumably has some idea of what it relates to.

[MattBaggins]

139. I wouldn't be so sure of that

[Dulcinea]

103. I had never heard it either.

But Lady Blah Blah should have known the connotations before she used the term. And true to form, she's trying to make this all about HER.

(Yes, I know there are people on DU who don't like the nickname "Lady Blah Blah," but how could she possibly remind anyone of Lady Gaga?)

[AlbertCat]

111. You learn something new every day

If you're not Sarah Palin that is.

Even if she and her staff hadn't a clue what "blood libel" meant, they would STILL utter it in such an important speech? It's not a Tweet, y'know. They'd use words they don't know the meaning of in such a major speech?


I
don't
think
so.

[dipsydoodle]

123. I just meant me

I agree that others should know better. Its hardly a phrase you'd spirit up out of thin air. I had no clue whatsoever what it could possibly refer to until I looked it up. What an awful expression.

[underseasurveyor]

172. you arent the only one

I'd not heard that before either.

[Tigress DEM]

178. My thought was learning the term was the only good to come of this.

[Stuart G]

7. k & r and I would also like to say............

Next we are going to hear...that they (The Palins) did not know that this term is anti- semetic. OK, do you think either one of these has it in them to apologize for anything???

[barbtries]

24. No.

she does not. i am unaware of even one time when this disgusting excuse for a person apologized for anything. not palling around with terrorists, not death panels, not showing up on the beach in a visor with her former running mate's name clearly showing though covered with sharpie ink, not when she was shown up for an ass when she attacked a woman with down syndrome for playing a person with down syndrome on a tv comedy show, not EVER.

i can only hope that after the shootings in Tucson and now followed by this outrage, at least some of her die hard fans have decided that she actually is not the second coming of christ, and will turn their support away from her.

all she had to do was acknowledge that her words and actions were unnecessarily inflammatory. that's really all she had to do, but she would not or could not. she is without conscience. she is incapable of self reflection. my 3-year-old granddaughter is more mature than sarah palin. what a blight on the national landscape.

[kestrel91316]

82. The term itself is not anti-semitic. It merely describes an anti-semitic

tactic. But yeah, she will never apologize for insinuating that her victimhood is on par with the Jews'.

[defendandprotect]

116. What? There was no "tactic" .... it was a lie, a Christian lie about Jews ....

From beginning to end it is anti-semitic!!

[RZM]

162. The term itself is not an anti-Semitic

The 'libel' part illustrates that. The implication that Jews used Christian blood for rituals certainly was anti-Semitic, but 'blood libel' inherently contradicts those assertions -- and for good reason, since they were utter bullshit.

For anybody interested, the blood libel lasted far past the medieval and early modern periods. It was central to the infamous Beilis case in the Russian Empire shortly before WWI.

[defendandprotect]

187. The myth -- and it is 1000% myth -- is directed at Jews ... therefore it is anti-semitic ...

"Blood libel" is the FULL description of the myth --

[RZM]

212. We all know this

That's not in dispute. I think what's in dispute is how and if it should be used outside of its specific historical context and whether or not THAT constitutes anti-Semitism or a marginalizing of the sad phenomenon that the term represented. Personally, I would never use the term to describe anything other than the historical myth. If others want to, then I don't think it's the worst thing in the world, though I don't support that personally. Obviously plenty of others don't either, judging from the reaction to Palin's use of the term.

[BarryMeNot]

188. So then, it was a perfectly appropriate term for Sarah to use?

:shrug:

[donquijoterocket]

206. and

The wingnuts have even dug out their own two people of Jewish persuasion(Dershowitz and Jonah Goldberg) to help them convince themselves that it's perfectly alright. Which fact along with that, that the Caribou Princess can do no wrong will soothe whatever little conscience they might have until the next time she steps in it big time.

[RZM]

211. Where did I imply that?

I think some are arguing that using the term 'blood libel' is an inherently anti-Semitic act. I have never applied to the term to anything other than what it describes and probably never would. Were I advising Sarah Palin, I would have insisted she not use the term. But I don't think using it makes one an anti-Semite. It makes one a poor chooser of words.

If anything, at least some people are now more aware of a little bit of (unfortuate) history. And that's usually a good thing.

[stockholmer]

207. maybe she meant 'Blood Eagle', a Viking form of, ummm, unkindness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzPMNop-xUc

The Blood Eagle was a method of torture and execution that is sometimes mentioned in Norse saga literature. It was performed by cutting the ribs of the victim by the spine, breaking the ribs so they resembled blood-stained wings, and pulling the lungs out. Salt was sprinkled in the wounds. Victims of the method of execution, as mentioned in skaldic poetry and the Norse sagas, are believed to have included King Ælla of Northumbria, Halfdan son of King Haraldr Hárfagri of Norway, King Edmund, King Maelgualai of Munster, and possibly Archbishop Ælfheah of Canterbury.

[BenzoDia]

8. Oh my Palin can't catch a break.

So at what point does she shut her mouth and disappear?

[The Wielding Truth]

95. Will she ever realize that some of us are not meant to have commanding roles

in governing a large group of people?

She could have annoyed us from afar then faded away as a personality in Alaska.

McCain in his thirst for the Whitehouse needed a woman on the ticket and brought her as a plague of reckless misinformation to the country.

These Republicans are willing to do anything with no consequence.

[PearliePoo2]

9. She is imploding......

right in front of our eyes.
The carefully choreographed, voice-coached video...thought to be perfectly timed with just the right amount of levity....is an EPIC FAIL.
Say goodbye, Sarah.....

[FlyByNight]

10. Ignorant, shameless sociopath

It figures that someone who represents an entire group of victimizers (Rs), could simultaneously paint herself as a victim. That's quite the "intellectual" feat.

Vile.

:puke:

[marew]

156. Absolutely! n/t

[Cleita]

11. Found this DU thread from back before the Presidential

election when we first started hearing about Sarah Palin.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6916611#6917002

It has some erroneous stuff in it but it also has some interesting information and speculation. Interesting that she would use those words considering Gabrielle Giffords was Jewish. It would seem she's putting a lightning rod on her head, hopefully unknowingly. It leads me to believe that she's too ignorant to know what she's saying but the people who are putting words in her mouth aren't.

[Stuart G]

21. I did not know that Gabrielle Giffords was Jewish till now.

What difference did it make as to her religion?..

So, Sara for one reason or another is taking on a whole new group with the use of these words.
Her carefully worded and and acted out statement is now a lighting rod for hate.
.. Far more than before, which seems impossible..
..How could she sink lower? well, she has..

[Cleita]

29. White militia types are not only racist but they

specifically hate Jews and Catholics. I'm sure muslims are now included as well. It's suspicious that they might have killed Irv Rubin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ in prison although the jail authorities claim suicide. He was head of the Jewish Defense League and he used to organize protests every year in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho when the brown shirted Aryan Nation Church would march through the main street complete with swastikas. He was instrumental in helping getting them banned from doing this. He did it because they were so open in their hatred of Jews.

[Ter]

50. The Catholic hate went out in the 70's

David Duke's racist KKK started taking them in, and today there are many Catholics in the Klan. With militias being a bit less extreme than the Klan, the vast majority accept Catholics.

[Cleita]

52. The Church of the Aryan Nation and it's offshoots

do not because they are a church and they are more extreme than the KKK if that's possible.

[Ter]

57. You're right

I used to monitor that racist site Stormfront. I remember seeing how one guy said he was an Italian Catholic. While the majority welcomed him to "The Movement", there were one or two hardcore guys that basically told him to go to hell.

[defendandprotect]

117. Also see Medieval thinking in right wing's embrace of Torture, Crusades -- Blood Libel lies ..!!

[defendandprotect]

118. ...and women's groups have connected them to the "Pro-life" murders ....

long, long ago --

[Violet_Crumble]

174. And Irv Rubin was every bit as racist as them. He was a terrorist...

Sorry, but yr post was painting him in a very positive light. There's nothing to be admired about him at all....

[Cleita]

175. S'cuse me Violet but I posted a link that did not

paint him as a hero. I did not approve of his eye for an eye philosophy. But the fact is, he did not murder anyone in the Aryan Nation, but there is good evidence they murdered him. Here's the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irv_Rubin.

[Violet_Crumble]

200. No, you just posted a link to the Wikipedia homepage, not to info on Rubin...

I'm glad you don't approve of terrorists, because that's what he was. He lived by the sword and died by it, no-one should be shedding any tears over him, and he doesn't get any brownie points for not murdering one of his kindred spirits in the Aryan Nation. He merely put out a bounty as a reward for anyone who'd kill him some American Nazis. Y'know, it's important that anyone unfamiliar with him and the JDL* be aware what he was, and that he wasn't some innocent victim as yr post appeared to be portraying him as. And as for 'good evidence' that he was murdered? I'll file that one in the bullshit drawer right next to the 'Sharks swimming through Brisbane streets' one ;)

* Why the JDL has never been declared a terrorist group by the US govt speaks volumes of the ineptness and double standards of the US when it comes to terrorism and how it's defined....

[Cleita]

209. The wiki home page was a mistake. I gave you the real

link. He should not have been murdered. I'm not shedding tears. I'm pointing out a wrong perpetrated by the same people who will kill you in an instance if your skin is brown, if you are Jewish, if you are not them.

[Violet_Crumble]

213. That Wiki page says he committed suicide...

His family think not. But claiming as a fact he was murdered is incorrect...

[Name removed]

214. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Gormy Cuss]

35. You can be certain that Palin and her advisors were aware that Giffords is Jewish

before Palin chose to use the term now. I'd wager that Palin will simply claim ignorance on the loaded terminology used and not apologize for it now that it's undeniable that she knows of the specific significance to Jews.

It's never, ever, Sarah's fault.

[defendandprotect]

119. I didn't know that Giffords is Jewish -- which makes this reference much, much worse .....

Thank you for letting us know --

And, yes, Sarah's "victimization" was prevalent in these latest comments --

the world is picking on her -- for doing absolutely NOTHING!!

[TBF]

148. Palin doesn't know squat - but her handlers do and they used that

phrase to reach out to her supporters. I don't think it was accidental at all.

[BarryMeNot]

189. I was about to say...

This has "dog whistle" written all over it.

[riverwalker]

61. interesting stuff there

I had forgotten about some of her family ties with white supremacists.

[AlbertCat]

98. I had forgotten about some of her family ties with white supremacists.

Not to mention that nutty church she belongs to which worries about witchcraft. What do they think of Jews? And Catholics for that matter?

Jess askin'.....

[martymar64]

159. Palin was born in Sandpoint, ID - literally right down the road from Ruby Ridge.

I'm not surprised if she has family ties to those types. They are thick with them in the Idaho Panhandle.

[The Wielding Truth]

100. Interesting.

[bluestateguy]

12. If AIPAC or the Republican Jewish Coalition denounces her she MIGHT apologize

Otherwise, don't bet on it.

[bdamomma]

85. AIPAC is going to be on her a$$ for misuse of the english language.

[SemperEadem]

99. exactly

and she's going to have to make the move before they ask for it.

[Mrs. Overall]

13. Since this is not a common term, she (or her "advisors") must have specifically chosen it--

what exactly was the intention? Or, are she and her handlers simply so ignorant that they didn't know the true origin of the term? And, what did they think the term meant?

This woman is not competent to be in a public office.

[RamboLiberal]

20. Conservative pundits used it yesterday

See reply 19

[Mrs. Overall]

31. Thanks for the explanation and context--I didn't realize other conservatives

had been using the term since the shooting incident.

Unbelievable.

[oldhippydude]

97. maybe Pentecostal voodoo

i have noticed the stuff like her saying "Israel is going to become very important soon".. sort of a zionist end time scenario, embraced by Hagee, and others.. those terms may not mean the same to her as other folks, us great uneducated, not saved, masses..

[TBF]

149. Her advisors knew exactly what it means and it appeals to her

constituents. She wouldn't know - she's dumb as a doorknob.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cleita]

16. Really, we have to stop using words like this, even

figuratively, because of the weak minded out there who will take them literally. I know it's hard. I like using metaphors myself but from now on I won't use any that allude to violence.

[anAustralianobserver]

143. I agree. Personally I check myself if I start using violent imagery even in humourous context.

It often ends up downward spiralling and it's not that hard to discipline oneself to find better metaphors.

[martymar64]

161. I'm guilty of talking shit as well - using too much violent imagery.

I think I'll dial it back a bit online. Not a real problem IRL.

[RhodaA]

17. ThinkProgress is a great website - They

did a lot of the groundbreaking investigation of the Koch Brothers even before Jane Mayer wrote her fantastic article about them in the New Yorker.

[DeSwiss]

18. K&R n/t

[RamboLiberal]

19. They need to go after her posse as well who kicked off blood libel yesterday

Carrie Dann writes: Within minutes of the release of Sarah Palin’s video response to the Tucson shootings, the Web ignited with furious debate about the former Alaska governor’s use of the phrase “blood libel” to describe connections drawn between Arizona shooter Jared Loughner and conservatives who have used guns and violence as metaphors for political activism.

-----
Less than 4 hours after the release of the video, Wikipedia.org's entry on “blood libel” had been updated to note Palin's application of the phrase to the aftermath of the Tucson shootings.

Despite the bright spotlight pointed at Palin’s uttering of the flashpoint expression, hers was not the first usage of the phrase by a conservative in the wake of the Arizona shootings. Several other commentators -- all political conservatives -- invoked “blood libel” in print yesterday.

In an op-ed about the shootings in the Wall Street Journal on January 11, University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds asked “Where is the decency in blood libel?” Human Events staff writer John Hayward urged the “Right to fight back” against blame for the attacks in a piece titled “The Giffords Blood Libel Will Fail; The Left rides a horse that is dying beneath them.”

And, on the same day, the editorial page of the Washington Examiner slammed New York Times columnist Paul Krugman for placing “the blood libel of blame for the Tucson murders squarely on the shoulders of the crowds at the McCain-Palin rallies and right-wing extremism."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/12/5822791-what-is-blood-libel

[Lifelong Protester]

22. Once I read this in the NYTimes, and then found its meaning

I figured it was again her way of using 'code' to talk to her followers and CONTINUE to up the violence ante.

[azurnoir]

23. looks like this attempt at arse covering gave her diaper rash n/t

[Playinghardball]

25. How Palin reloads....

Open mouth insert foot...

[ProudProgressiveNow]

27. Incredibly stupid thing to say. nt

[RainDog]

28. WOW. I cannot believe she is this clueless. but, apparently, so.

her branch of Christianity has a long record of cluelessness, however, in its attempted appropriation of Jewish history. They have tried to "anoint" her as "Queen Esther" - and this same sectarian Christianity finds it appropriate to quote Leviticus to justify denial of rights to people who are GBLT - when all but the most reactionary branches of Judaism recognize the metaphorical nature of the stories of the founding of their faith.

The crusaders of the middle ages justified some of their most heinous acts against the Jewish population in Europe and the middle east in their midst with the hateful lie of blood libel. Anyone who knows of the history of persecution of Jews knows this.

That she says this in response to a JEWISH woman who was targeted - is just so culturally insensitive it boggles the mind.

That she is trying to MAKE HERSELF THE VICTIM while a woman lies in a hospital with a bullet wound in her head, and others lie waiting for burial is REPULSIVE. She is, truly, right up there with Limbaugh in her cravenness.

[valerief]

34. Craven is the right word for her.

:thumbsup:

[Demeter]

38. She's NOT Clueless, She's Nasty and Borderline Evil

Giving her any power whatsoever will push her right into the Totally Evil category.

[SemperEadem]

102. well said

once again, she bogarts her way to center down stage into the light meant for genuine victims to insist that she, too, is a victim and she really wasn't being a mean girl--they're just all too hyper-sensitive and they do it too.

Her fucking speech sounded like it was written by an ignorant 15 yr old snotty chick.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

30. "intellectually' incapable of understanding Arizona shootings!"

[lark]

54. Even though we all know she's quite dim

I think she totally gets what happened and I'd bet good money her first response to this heinous act was glee that Gabby "finally" got taken out as she'd ordered. I bet she sent out this video today soley to upstage Obama, get the talk off coming together and continue to sow dissention, this time by throwing Jews under the bus. She or her handlers had to know what this means and used it on purpose since Gabby is jewish, used it to forment further killings. she can't be provoking all these murderous threats just by accident, it's what she wants.

She is a bad, bad, bad person.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

56. That was a quote from some article on the issue...I truly believe she is a bad bad bad person and ..

knows exactly what she is doing.

[SemperEadem]

106. Sarah Palin is dancing on the grave of a 9 yr old child

and it is despicable.

[valerief]

32. She is a bad, bad, bad person. Worse than a waste of oxygen. She's a terrorist! nt

[SemperEadem]

108. to that end

I saw one of those iconic "Hope" style posters of her with "terrorist" written underneath it today.

[BigD_95]

33. The question is

does the MSM report that the Jewish Groups are upset by this. Or does it get swept under the carpet?

[RamboLiberal]

37. I think this is going viral already

[femrap]

47. If AIPAC gets

behind this, the MSM will be discussing it.

[Stuart G]

36. kick nt

[PhillySane]

39. K&R

she just can't keep her foot out of the dookie pile can she?

[bongbong]

40. Good news!

This is good news for McCain!

:rofl:

[Matariki]

41. I can't help but wonder if her words are chosen deliberately or out of ignorance.

There often seems to be a subtext meant for her crazy fundamentalist followers.

[Doctor_J]

171. Whoever wrote her diatribe knew what they meant

I am sure she didn't have a clue

[Frank Cannon]

202. Those words were absolutely chosen deliberately.

It was a "wink wink nudge nudge" to the White Christian Patriot lunatics who worship her.

[Bigmack]

42. Next she'll be talking about a "final solution" ...

to our country's problems.

Oh... she won't mean "final solution" the way those liberal Nazis meant it.. she'll explain that she just has a wonderful plan to make everything better.

She talks in code more than the Navahos in the Pacific in WWII.

[RamboLiberal]

43. TPM: Palin's Use Of 'Blood Libel' Mirrors That In Right-Wing Media

Before Sarah Palin posted her Facebook provocation this morning accusing the media of committing "blood libel" for connecting some of her statements to the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), that phrase was being batted around by the conservative media.

Andrew Brietbart used the phrase in a tweet last night (though it's likely Palin's video, posted in the early morning hours Wednesday, was filmed before that tweet).

"Blood libel" popped up in a Wall Street Journal op-ed by professor and Pajamas TV host Glenn Reynolds. "Where is the decency in blood libel?" he wrote on Monday, Jan. 10.

Adam Graham of Renew America was the first to use the phrase in reference to the Tucson shootings, according to a search of Google News.

But the very first reference to "blood libel" in the wake of the Tucson massacre came from political consultant Jon Henke, who used the phrase on Twitter the same day as the shootings, according to Google's realtime search.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/palins_use_of_blood_libel_mirrors_that_in_right-wing_media.php?ref=fpblg

[florida08]

45. Glad to see the Jewish community

Coming to Congresswoman Giffords defense. Sarah is that stupid and they realize she is by suggesting it be brought to her attention. Kinda backfired on you trying to portray yourself as being crucified didn't it Sarah. She just made the Mel Gibson list.

[AC_Mem]

49. Poor widdle Sarahhhhh

Just keeps digging with the idiot shovel, doesn't she.

[paparush]

51. Thanks again, McCain. Thanks for giving this hate monger the national spotlight.

[katty]

72. Newt Gingrich advised Mac and GOP to get Sister Sarah for veep

[paparush]

76. Gads. nt

[RoccoR5955]

53. Terrorist Alert

[RKP5637]

74. +1, n/t

[Stuart G]

55. This Anti-Semetic statement and resulting hatred will not

go away..

Only if she apologizes in the most humble way


Which I think she is incapable of, and won't do.
So, things are worse now.

[IcyPeas]

59. can't wait to hear her next apology - who will she blame for this?

[Stuart G]

63. She can only blame herself...and use two words...she will not use.

"I'm sorry."

[alcibiades_mystery]

66. New York and West Hollywood media types

You know, the Jews and the gays.

:sarcasm:

[indimuse]

62. 100!knr! n/t

[CLANG]

64. From Wikipedia:

Blood libel (also blood accusation<1><2>) 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.<1><2><6> Historically, these claims have–alongside those of well poisoning and host desecration–been a major theme in European persecution of Jews.<4>

The libels typically allege that Jews require human blood for the baking of matzos for Passover. The accusations often assert that the blood of Christian children is especially coveted, and historically blood libel claims have often been made to account for otherwise unexplained deaths of children. In some cases, the alleged victim of human sacrifice has become venerated as a martyr, a holy figure around whom a martyr cult might arise. A few of these have been even canonized as saints, like Gavriil Belostoksky.

In Jewish lore, blood libels were the impetus for the creation in the 16th century of the Golem of Prague by Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel. Many popes have either directly or indirectly condemned the blood accusation, and no pope has ever sanctioned it.<7> These libels have persisted among some segments of Christians to the present time.

[starroute]

79. That makes it sound far too anticeptic

Try this Wikipedia entry for more of the flavor:

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

Hugh of Lincoln (1246 – 27 August 1255) is a folk-figure, an English boy, whose death prompted a blood libel with ramifications that reach until today. Hugh is known as Little Saint Hugh to distinguish him from Saint Hugh, otherwise Hugh of Lincoln. The style is often corrupted to Little Sir Hugh. The boy disappeared on 31 July and his body was discovered in a well on 29 August.

Shortly after his disappearance, a local Jew named Copin (or Jopin), under torture, admitted to killing the child. In his confession Copin stated that it was the custom of the Jews to crucify a Christian child every year. Copin was executed, and the story would have ended there were it not for a series of events that coincided with the disappearance.

Some six months earlier, King Henry III had sold his rights to tax the Jews to his brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall. Having lost this source of income, he decided that he was eligible for the Jews' money if they were convicted of crimes. As a result, some ninety Jews were arrested and held in the Tower of London, while they were charged with involvement in the ritual murder. Eighteen of them were hanged for refusing to participate in the proceedings and refusing to throw themselves on the verdict of a Christian jury. It was the first time ever that the civil government handed out a death sentence for ritual murder, and King Henry was able to take over their property. The remainder were pardoned and set free, most likely because Richard, who saw a potential threat to his own source of income, intervened on their behalf with his brother.

[orleans]

67. i never heard of that phrase/term before

i had to click on the link someone posted for wikipedia to see what it meant.

however--i'm not saying palin didn't know the term because she used it.

me? it wouldn't occur to me to put those two words together to use in a sentence. for someone to use it they have to have heard of it or know what it means.

so, i'm certainly not defending her--at all.
(i can't stand that fucking asshole)
i'm just saying it's a new expression/phrase for me.
i don't expect to be using it. ever.

and--once again--shame on her.

[bonnieS]

68. I thought this immediately

as soon as I heard it. I thought that it seemed like some twisted code somehow to get people in her "community" thinking about Jews. Especially since Giffords is Jewish. I know it sounds paranoid, but Palin never does anything without a reason--usually to bind her base closer to her.

[Chorophyll]

69. K&R.

[Marnie]

70. This is Sarah Palin's "I have a Dream." speech?

This is her "Gettysburg Address" moment?

This is her "Sermon on the Mount" legacy?.

This is her magnum opus Requiem, her eulogy for the slaughtered?

This is how Sarah weeps for the suffering of others?

This is what she thinks is appropriate compassion for the murdered, suffering, and their families?

This is her public statement disavowing violence, hatred, and intolerance?

These are her words of comfort for the suffering and healing for the nation?

This is her moment of rebirth by realizing that words of violence can feed violence, of forswearing the use of such words, as a moral, spiritual lesson learned?


Of course not. We are talking about Sarah Palin.

The lesson she has learned is the importance of protecting her hate speech, and Tuff S to all of us that we don't recognize that She can say anything she damned well pleases and the repercussions are not her responsibility.

In her reality, it is right and just that others should suffer and die so that she can continue to call down the violence that causes their suffering and death.

Oh, by the way Sarah, about that Right to Life thing you say you believe in? The Constitution specifically applies it to the living, the already born.
So when your freedom to call down hate and violence conflicts with other people's right to remain alive, which right do you think should prevail?

Especially, if you happened to be the parents of a 9 year old child?

This is not Sarah’s Road to Damascus moment.

This speech is her Abraham and Isaac moment.

Only Sarah is not willing spare the life of the sacrificial child, as long as it is not her own. She is more than willing to allow the child to be laid on the alter for her sake, and slain.

[SemperEadem]

115. recommend! Well said

Wish I could recommend your reply.

I had been thinking just that when I saw it this morning. This could be her opportunity to seize the moment and really put her candidacy on its first step towards 1600 Pennsylvania Ave N.W.

She could have totally broken from the old boys' club and said "you know what? You're right. I've said some pretty wicked things to blah blah blah my strong beliefs in blah blah what's right for America blah blah blah :sigh, cock head to side: That was wrong of me and I apologize for the tack I've taken. This moment isn't about me or what I think. It's about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her family; it's about little Christina Taylor Green and her family; Judge John Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, Dorwin Stoddard, Dorthy Murray, Phyllis Scheck and their families. Continue to pray for all of them. Thank you."

Oh. My. God. You might as well have thrown out the constitution and get a crown for her because that would have stopped all the presses. That kind of public "mea culpa" would have been like wearing a haircloth shirt and cilice for the media. But what did she do? She rose as high as only she could and made it about denial, discount and worst of all--her false victim-hood.

She talks shit because that's all she knows. She's not intellectually curious and it's amplified every time she opens her mouth because there goes her foot right into it.

Heart has a song on their latest CD "Red Velvet Car" called "There You Go Again..." I swear, it reminds me of spalin.

[katty]

71. just keep pullin' that rope around yr neck, Sarah Whacko

[RKP5637]

73. Is she ever creepy or what. n/t

[katty]

147. she is seriously vicious and creepy - appears possessed

much of the time.

[RKP5637]

182. She does, doesn't she! n/t

[liberal N proud]

81. If you are not a teabagger, then she is going to piss you off

[Joanne98]

83. She did it on purpose!

[1American]

84. Sarah Palin, among others

Mrs. Palin chose her words carefully. She meant what she said--a direct aim at jews. Her base, the KKK, Neo-nazis, the skinheads, and their ilk knew EXACTLY what she meant---the accusations that the media are controlled by the jews.

Why aren't the jews on Fox News upset about her vitriol?

This was NOT A gaffe------SHE MEANT EXACTLY WHAT SHE SAID ! It is a matter of time before she begins her crusade to accuse the jews about the economy and "control" of the banks......Germany all over again.

[defendandprotect]

86. Here's another link to this story ... with Palin video ---

1 hr 47 mins ago Jewish groups respond to Palin’s use of ‘blood libel’ By Zachary Roth
Several Jewish groups are criticizing Sarah Palin's use of the term "blood libel" in her video statement on the Arizona shootings. The phrase traditionally refers to false anti-Semitic myths about Jews using the blood of Christians, often children, in their rituals.



Abraham Foxman, who heads the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement:

Full Story »

http://news.yahoo.com/ticket;_ylt=AudALMLE9qD8mXFA7t_tyyWfXMZ_;_ylu=X3oDMTFicWVkODFjBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9wcm9tb3NfZnJlZV9odG1sBHNsawN0aGV0aWNrZXQ-

[Jefferson23]

88. The use of the term was inappropriate and stupid but what has me curious

is who decided to use it. I find it hard to believe she dreamed it up herself.

[iscooterliberally]

89. She only opens her mouth to change feet. n/t

[Bragi]

90. I want to thank Sarah Palin for her response

I'm hoping that her ridiculous video statement is the final straw.

[idrahaje]

91. Ironic choice of words

Supposedly an anti Semite tries to kill a Jewish congresswoman and Palin uses an anti Semitic term to defend herself. I don't think she made herself look good again. Think Sarah please? Brains? :( Irresponsible person. About as bad as Tom Cruise claiming psych drugs don't work...... :(

[snagglepuss]

93. I think her using this term is related to Hagee and Benny Hinn ministries which

have become shills for Israel. People who haven't ever listened to Hagee should tune it when he is on a roll about Christians need to identify with Jews and support Israel. Benny Hinn was for a while and for all I know he may still be selling Jewisn prayer shawls for Christians. To this group of fundies and the people financing Hinn and Hagee's preaching, Palin's reference to blood libel is not a mistake nor unwelcome.

[oldhippydude]

113. yes!!!!

my thoughts exactly... remember when Mc Cain called out hagee?... only to embrace him in 2000.. for years i have seen those "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" bumper stickers around... its not only support of Israel, its endorsement of the most reactionary zionist elements.. by god they are going to get rid of that muslim church on the temple mount, says so in the bible!!!

[avaistheone1]

94. k&r

[Raksha]

96. Like we needed more proof that right-wing think tanks can't think.

The teabagger websites have been using the term "blood libel" for two days before Mooselini used it herself. I can't imagine anything more offensive and inappropriate, especially considering that Gabrielle Giffords is Jewish.

There has to be some method to their madness, some reason they thought "blood libel" would be a hard-hitting and effective term to describe their alleged victimization. Damned if I can figure out what it is, though.

[Ten Bears]

101. Why are you always picking on Sarah...

... Very clearly she meant to say "flood rival", a clear reference to the storms that pummeled Nashville last May. She is comparing the unfortunate scorn that is being heaped upon her with all of the water that was heaped upon the city. We all know that her typing skills are poor, remember refudiate was only a typo just as this so obviously is. (Do I need to note this as sarcasm?)

[Shining Jack]

114. I agree!

Leave poor Sarah alone!11! Lol, good sarcasm, disgusting woman. :puke:

[LeftishBrit]

105. k&r

What a way to trivialize one of the most ancient and deadly forms of racist hate-speech - but that's hardly unexpected from Palin.

[ut oh]

109. They shouldn't even be calling her Governor anymore...

She quit that position. She does not have the right to retain the title...

Besides all the other negative about her.... heh

[AsahinaKimi]

112. Stupid is as stupid does..

amazing.

[crim son]

120. She has no idea what it means!

Or, she didn't until the schmidt hit the fan. She's stupid! And dangerous, as the stupid often are. She should never have been allowed a place at the political table and she must now be ushered away, quietly and forever.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

121. I didn't know what it meant either

Never heard the term, and never heard of the accusation behind the term.

The only religious blood I know of is a sweet red concord wine, the consumption of which added a significant amount of time to an already over-long church service.

:hi:

[1776Forever]

126. Excellent! I agree 100% with everything you said! n/t

[goforit]

133. Bada bing. But she will not go quietly.

[efhmc]

122. The rw will never abandon this freak. Regular

people may finally start to look at her differently.

[JudyM]

151. ...which is great for us if they put her up for the Big Chief spot in '12. n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

124. ah, why bother

self delete

[1776Forever]

125. My question is who wrote this for her? I asked Ed Schultz to look into that after he also

mentioned that he was wondering who the H writes these things for her and Bachmann too! Does anyone think she has the chops to put this into this speech without help? :shrug:

[BlueIris]

127. Palin is now where Ann Coulter was on September 13, 2001.

She's gone from incompetent and annoying to evil. And racist.

I confess, I thought she was going to get railroaded out of the process for the problems in her personal and financial life. Instead, her ignorance has squashed her out.

[Monk06]

128. Blood libel? Slander would be more appropriate. I wonder who she's hanging with

where the term blood libel is a common expression.

Alaska Independence Party racists perhaps

[Swagman]

129. I am rendered speechless for the second time in as many days

firstly when I heard the Westboro Church would picket a nine year old girl's funeral and this today.

I really don't know what to say !. How have such imbecilic people risen to such heights ?

[EFerrari]

134. Sarah was chosen by neocons with money, via Bill Kristol.

They were the same ones who chose the torture president.

[progressoid]

130. ‘We Are Deeply Disturbed’

We all are.

[goforit]

131. Palin is an absolute ignorant twit.

[kiranon]

164. Agree. n/t

[tavalon]

132. At least she's consistent

A long time ago, I noticed she acted like someone with classic Borderline Personality Disorder. It's helped me to not be surprised by what she does and the timing she uses.

[juxtaposed]

135. sarah and her blood lust, she can see china from the hole she keeps digging

[Jamastiene]

138. Every time Palin opens her mouth, she just makes things worse.

I would say she should STFU, but I like watching her squirm and make things worse for herself. :evilgrin:

[Vattel]

140. Is "blood libel" anti-Semitic?

[Enthusiast]

141. Leave Sarah alone!

:cry: :toast:

[SoapBox]

142. Half-term, Quitter, ex-governor St. Palin is now THE poster child for what is wrong...

and bad in America and the World.

She seems to be getting more and MORE, mentally unstable.

...pick her up and put her away.

[Kurovski]

144. K&R. (nt)

[Shining Jack]

145. Fuck her!

She's a dangerous idiot.

[Number23]

146. K&R I give serious props to the Jewish groups who have come out and corrected this idiot

informing her of how grave her "misstatement" was and who have REFUSED to allow this galactically stupid woman to co-opt Jewish history for her own craven, idiotic purposes.

I have always had so much respect for Jewish groups who have refused to let others co-opt their history for their own needs. Every group should be entitled to their own history without having it be misappropriated by others.

[jillan]

152. Palin using the same term that Hitler used - why would Jewish leaders be upset?

[L0oniX]

153. "Governor Palin" ??? duh

[HockeyMom]

154. While they pay lip service to Judeo/Christian values

they really don't mean it. It goes way back. As one "christian minister" said to a jewish rabbi on Larry King show many years ago, "Unless you are a good christian, you cannot be a good citizen."

It's there, and is getting worse.

[JNelson6563]

155. This is just stunning.

I hope that many groups, not just Jewish groups, voice their outrage at this choice of words.

I'm horribly offended at this and I'm not even Jewish!

Julie--standing in solidarity with all our Jewish friends

[newtothegame]

157. I've never even heard of the term...

:shrug:

[Jefferson23]

158. James Carvel is giving Palin on pass on the blood libel and any connection

to the crime in Az...thanks Carvel.

[fantomas]

163. She's branching into the rhetoric of conspiracy...

Which her base loves just as much as the rhetoric of violence. No one has ever suffered as much persecution as Sarah, it's a regular holocaust by the Elders of Zion.

[Tribalceltic]

165. Will someone please point out the injured

and deceased right wing or tea party victims? I don't see any from here.

[sarcasmo]

166. Adios, political career.

[Lint Head]

167. Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!

Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!

[craigmatic]

168. I never heard the term before. Still the repubs are responsible for the shooting.

[MindandSoul]

169. The first thing I thought when I heard that term was that it was more of a

Glen Beck's expression. . .the type of nasty rethoric he would refer to, than Palin!
I think those two are to peas in a pod!. . .one more crazy than the other (Beck), but the other dumber than the first (Palin!).

I hope this shows their true color to another few hundred thousands people!

[Doctor_J]

170. Except Eric Cantor and William Kristol

and of course Alan Derschowitz

[mackerel]

176. Jewish groups is such a general and vague term.

What Jewish groups are in uproar over this?

[mwb970]

179. Can this woman *ever* do the right thing?

Palin's unerring sense for the wrong response, her constant selfishness, her nasty divisiveness. It's beginning to wear very, very thin. I have to believe that even her worshippers are getting tired of her.

[sofa king]

185. I'm reading this thread, and I say,

"She's either that stupid or that bigoted."

My better half says, "can't she be both?"

[ellie]

186. Bwahahahaha!

She is such an embarrassment.

[Carnage251]

190. F***** clueless idiot BTW she's using a teleprompter

[TxVietVet]

192. C'mon, bitch, keep diggin' your goofy ass in deeper

the half-term, partially educated, greedy caribou barbie can call herself a victim all she wants. I think most people will see just what a media whore she is. I hope the teabaggin' kkkluckers and the Kock Brothers dick armey run to her rescue. It's easier to tie all those rabid conservanazi bunch off fools together.:grouphug:

Every time she opens her pie hole, she digs her phony conservanazi ass deeper and deeper. :rofl:

[workinclasszero]

193. The woman has no shame

And her party is filled with vile beasts. This country is being killed by fascist teabaggers, our very own Taliban.

They will be burning liberals at the stake someday while singing "Kum bay ya, my Lord", if they arent stopped.

[last_texas_dem]

194. I've never heard this expression before today.

It makes me wonder what sort of company Ms. Palin has been keeping that she is so intimately familiar with the idea?

(Of course, that would involve assuming that Palin herself put together this speech, which is quite a laugh.)

[man4allcats]

196. Re: "we are sure that she will choose to retract her comment,

apologize and make a less inflammatory choice of words."

Wanna bet?

[willing dwarf]

197. Isn't she using rule # 2 from the Lee Atwater playbook?

You take the negative the thing which can be said about you and you claim that that thing is being done unto you.

This is so much part of the Atwater-Rove game plan that I can't believe anyone's even surprised. We need to start calling this stuff for what it is. Render it less effective that way.

[Dokkie]

198. K & R

[Swagman]

199. my Polish Jewish mother would have been mortified

even all the way over here in Australia.

[TaffyMoon]

201. Paranoia

She shows signs of increasing paranoia - might be going around the bend for real.

[pleah]

204. K&R

[trud]

205. I'm giving her a pass on this term

I may or may not have heard it before myself, I don't remember, and if I had I would not have deduced its context. Everything else she's screwed up, yes, she takes the blame. I mean, I was an adult before someone pointed out the actual meaning of paddy wagon to me.

[Pacifist Patriot]

208. I hope they aren't holding their breaths for that apology.

[Tveil]

210. If only they would also speak out against Israeli treatment of Palestinians

Palestinian children are getting killed there.