VIDEO: Sarah Palin strikes back, accuses critics of “blood libel”
In an 8 minute video, Sarah Palin has responded aggressively to the slanderous charge that she and other prominent conservatives are to blame for Saturday’s tragedy in Tucson:
The transcript is posted on her Facebook page, which is accessible to everyone. Key point:
President Reagan said, “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively with all the citizens of a state, not with those who listen to talk radio, not with maps of swing districts used by both sides of the aisle, not with law-abiding citizens who respectfully exercise their First Amendment rights at campaign rallies, not with those who proudly voted in the last election.
The last election was all about taking responsibility for our country’s future. President Obama and I may not agree on everything, but I know he would join me in affirming the health of our democratic process. Two years ago his party was victorious. Last November, the other party won. In both elections the will of the American people was heard, and the peaceful transition of power proved yet again the enduring strength of our Republic.
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.
Amen. Make sure to read the whole thing.
In related news, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be in Tucson later today where he will address the nation this evening on Saturday’s shootings, which left 6 dead and 12 wounded – some of them, including Rep. Giffords, critically. ABC News has a an interesting report on how Presidents have handled tragedies in the past. Multiple news outlets are reporting that the President will avoid any mention of politics and the blame game during tonight’s speech.