Ed Koch Commentary: Reflections on Sarah Palin By Ed Koch
As I see it, in the current battle for public opinion Sarah Palin has defeated her harsh and unfair critics.
After the January 8 shooting of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the murder of six others in Tucson, Arizona, some television talking heads and members of the blogosphere denounced her and held her in part responsible for creating a climate of hatred that resulted in the mass attacks.
An example is Joe Scarborough and his crew on the “Morning Joe” show, which I watch and generally enjoy every morning at 6:30 a.m. when I rise to start the day. Because Palin designated Congresswoman Giffords and others for defeat in the November elections by the use of crosshairs on website maps of the Congressional districts, they blamed Palin for creating an atmosphere that caused Jared Loughner (whom everyone now recognizes as being mentally disturbed) to embark on the shooting and killing spree.
Then reason set in, led by President Obama in his now famous and widely-lauded speech in Tucson bringing the country together. Most commentators did an about-face, recognizing that the lack of civility in both speech and actions by politicians, particularly in Washington, were not the cause of the shootings. A friend of the shooter said he had no interest in politics or talk radio. Insanity was the cause of his vicious acts, not political rhetoric.
While the charge of responsibility against Palin was dropped, the Scarborough crew continued to assail her for defending herself on her website where she stated that she had been the subject of a blood libel. Her critics were incensed that she should use the term “blood libel.” That was the description given by Jews to the charge of Christian clergy who falsely accused Jews of killing Christian children in order to make matzos (unleavened bread) during the Passover holiday. That libelous accusation was intended by those using it to cause pogroms that killed and injured thousands of Jews. It started in the early centuries A.D. and continues to date, according to Wikipedia. That same charge – blood libel – is now repeated by the media in Arab countries to stir up the anger of the Arab street against the Jews in Israel. The libel continues to do damage.
Today the phrase “blood libel” can be used to describe any monstrous defamation against any person, Jew or non-Jew. It was used by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon when he was falsely accused of permitting the Lebanese Christian militia to kill hundreds of defenseless and innocent Muslim men, women and children in Lebanese refugee camps. The killings were monstrous and indefensible revenge for earlier killings by Muslims of innocent Christian civilians.
Time Magazine published a story implying that Sharon was directly responsible for the massacres. He sued the magazine. At trial it was determined that the magazine story included false allegations, but since Sharon was a public figure, he received no monetary damages.
How dare Sarah Palin, cried the commentators, use that phrase to describe the criticism of her by those who blamed her for creating the atmosphere that set Loughner off in his murderous madness. Some took the position that it proved their ongoing charges that she is not an intelligent person and probably did not know what the phrase meant historically. In my opinion, she was right to denounce her critics and use blood libel to describe the unfair criticism that she had been subject to.Here are excerpts from her statement:
“Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy.”
“Like many, I’ve spent the past few days reflecting on what happened and praying for guidance. After this shocking tragedy, I listened at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event.”
“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.”
“As I said while campaigning for others last March in Arizona during a very heated primary race, ‘We know violence isn’t the answer. When we take up our arms, we’re talking about our vote.’ Yes, our debates are full of passion, but we settle our political differences respectfully at the ballot box – as we did just two months ago, and as our Republic enables us to do again in the next election, and the next. That’s who we are as Americans and how we were meant to be. Public discourse and debate isn’t a sign of crisis, but of our enduring strength. It is part of why America is exceptional.”
Why do I defend Palin in this case? I don’t agree with her political philosophy: She is an arch conservative. I am a liberal with sanity. I know that I am setting myself up for attack when I ask, why did Emile Zola defend Dreyfus? Palin is no Dreyfus and I am certainly no Zola. But all of us have an obligation, particularly those in politics and public office, to denounce, when we can, the perpetrators of horrendous libels and stand up for those falsely charged. We should denounce unfair, false and wicked charges not only when they are made against ourselves, our friends or our political party but against those with whom we disagree. If we are to truly change the poisonous political atmosphere that we all complain of, including those who create it, we should speak up for fairness when we can.
In the 2008 presidential race when Sarah Palin’s name was first offered to the public by John McCain as his running mate, I said at the time that she “scared the hell out of me.” My reference was to the content of her remarks, not to her power to persuade voters.
It was McCain who lost the presidential election, not Palin. Since that time she has established that she has enormous power to persuade people. A self-made woman who rose from PTA mother to Governor of Alaska, she is one of the few speakers in public life who can fill a stadium. Her books are enormous successes. Her television program about Alaska has been a critical and economic success. When Sarah Palin addresses audiences, they rise to their feet in support and applause. She is without question a major leader of the far right faction in the Republican Party and its ally the Tea Party.
I repeat my earlier comment that she “scares the hell out of me.” Nevertheless, she is entitled to fair and respectful treatment. The fools in politics today in both parties are those who think she is dumb. I’ve never met her, but I’ve always thought that she is highly intelligent but not knowledgeable in many areas and politically uninformed. I don’t believe she will run for president in 2012 or that she would be elected if she did. But I do believe she is equal in ability to many of those in the Republican Party seeking that office.
Many women understand what she has done for their cause. She will not be silenced nor will she leave the heavy lifts to the men in her Party. She will not be falsely charged, remain silent, and look for others – men – to defend her. She is plucky and unafraid.
While I disagree with her and I am prepared to oppose her politically, in the spirit of longed-for civility I say, Ms. Palin you are in a certain sense an example of the American dream: You have the courage to stand up and present your vision of America to its people. Your strength and lack of fear make America stronger and are examples to be emulated by girls and boys, men and women who are themselves afraid to speak up. You provide the example that they need for self-assurance.
Let Mayor Koch know your thoughts by directing email to eikoch@bryancave.com.
The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served New York City as its 105th Mayor from 1978 to 1989.
this guy looks like the purdue chicken guy
Posted by: cluck cluck | January 17, 2011 at 16:27
ed has it partially right...but only partially..
sarah palin had absolutely nothing to do with the
shooter in arizona..neither did any of the other
conservative talking heads..ths shooter was an irrational unhinged mentally ill kid who was not
politically involved one way or the other ..in fact
the target of his hatred was a congresswoman whom
he met in 2007 well before anyone knew who sarah
palin was..and in fact he held a grudge against her
for his own maniacle reasons since he met her years
ago...however that does not mean that the tone of
political discourse should not be toned down because
of the distinct possibility that out there among the
deranged are people who will take literally the images
of violence conjured up by those advocating for their
political agendas on both the left and the right..
it is the responsibility of all those who are in
public office and those who are charged with giving us
their 24/7 opinions to avoid conveying that they mean
literally any suggestion of "action" involving personal
violence..that is not a big stretch...and for sarah
palin not to recognize that the phrase "blood libel"
would be controversial simply means she is an idiot
...she has self terminated any notion that she might
run for president ever...there are 12 other viable
republican candidates who simply do not have her
baggage and her lack of historical perspective and
her lack of poltical acumen
Posted by: anon e moose | January 17, 2011 at 17:08
Anon e moose -- you think Sarah has terminated any chance that she might run, even WIN the Presidency? :-) In the words of that great Aerosmith song, "Dream On."
Posted by: Dale | January 17, 2011 at 17:38
she is effectively out of the race...as for steven
tallerico..we went to high school together....smart
ass kid..great musician....wait until the other
republican candidates smell blood in the water over
her ill advised video...she made a fatal blunder...
she has no support even in the republican party..
for president that is..they like her for a number
of other reasons but do not support her for president
in fact only today the conservatives in the party
are attempting to convince mike pence to run...of
course Obama cannot be beaten by someone out of the
mainstream...pence can't win...mitch daniels can
huckabee can't win...pawlenty can...barbour can't win
romeney can..the whole issue is whether the party
can hang together and pick someone who can win in
states where independent voters make the difference
pa, ind, ohio, missouri, fla, etc
Posted by: anon e moose | January 17, 2011 at 17:53
Annon e moron you and Tallerico must have been the smartest kids in the dumb row.
Posted by: rit | January 17, 2011 at 18:45
Palin is a typical American idiot. And you know what she can do, go to Russia.
Posted by: Pale-in | January 17, 2011 at 19:49
You liberal morons on the left and in the MSM just set-in motion the missing part needed to complete the republican machine that will make Obama a one-termer.
You just united Sarah Palin and the conservative movement with the Republican Party.
Bye, bye, Obama the One-termer
Posted by: Truth | January 17, 2011 at 23:57
Sarah is too smart to run for office again, but she can and WILL be a kingmaker. Her approval and voter influence will be sought by ALL Repub. presidential candidates.
Kudos to Mayor Koch for speaking the truth...she was falsely accused of "complicity" in the tragedy in Tucson.
Further, I salute the Mayor for recognizing her strength as a conserviative woman who will not be intimidated by foot-stomping outraged liberals. It makes her all the more "dagerous" to their cause of promulgating and institutionalizing under-achievement and gov't. dependency.
Posted by: gregsmith925@earthlink.net | January 18, 2011 at 00:06
to to truth...better take a look at the latest
USA today poll...sarah's own supporters thought
she screwed up the arizona response...while 78% approved of the president including john mccain
she's toast..in fact I doubt that anyone running
for the republican nomination now will even ask
her to appear ..she is way to polalrizing....bye
bye sarah....
Posted by: anon e | January 18, 2011 at 03:30
anon e
Are you talking about the 2 sentences played over and over on the TV.
The last time you thought Palin was toast the GOP got control of the House.
Keep on thinking that way.
Obama is a one-termer.
Posted by: Truth | January 18, 2011 at 08:15
don't count your chickens..whose gonna beat him
palin can'..huckabee can't you can't be someone
with no one...although i hear jeb bush may be in
the wings
Posted by: anon | January 18, 2011 at 10:41
45% of camden police officers and firefighters were
laid off today..because their unions would not come
to the table...I would hate to see that happen in
yonkers or in any other place in new york...please
be reasonable come to the table and work things out
Posted by: anon e moose | January 18, 2011 at 18:00
Sarah Palin is a grassroots conservative woman whom anyone with commonsense (i.e., grassroots conservatives) cheerfully admires and whom the Left, RINOs and establishment conservatives malign, out of hysterical fear the former two, and out of sheer pedantry, petulance and envy, the latter.
They are all quacking in their wet-pants out of terror at the very feasible prospect that she will beat the yogurt out of Obama at the polls in 2012.
All power to Palin!!!
Posted by: Rene Guerra | January 18, 2011 at 18:59
Don't agree with all his political views,when I lived in NY but you knew where he stood and Fair as the piece shows. Not like No B*lls Chris Matthews
Posted by: oneliner | January 18, 2011 at 20:56
Ask yourself an honest question Michael. What does Camden, N.J. have in common with Yonkers, N.Y.? Ans. It was over-run by non-taxpaying, government subsidized, entitlement seeking individuals who contribute nothing to the city couffers. There was also gross mismanagement by past Mayors (sound familiar) and you add in a down economy to the mix and you have a cesspool of futility. If the number of people contributing to a fund is surpassed by the number of people taking out of said fund, the fund becomes exhausted. Now on that note, I do agree that the unions can pitch in and help during these turbulent times, but ignoring the 800 lb. gorilla in the room is unjust.
Posted by: Entitlements | January 18, 2011 at 21:02
55% of Camden Police ad fire officers are going to clean up on overtime, now hat 45% were laid off! They will all be hired back by memorial day. Ya heard it here first
Posted by: moooooooose | January 18, 2011 at 22:01
The poll needed to ask if the people actually saw the video or only know what the media said about it. Another poll showed that most people who saw the complete video improved their opinion of Palin. She has not come this far to turn over the reins to Romney or the Huckster. McCain and the other establishment Republicans have no political courage. When they hear criticism they fold like a tent, scared to death that someone in the media will call them names. Sarah Palin won't fold. She will be the Republican nominee.
Posted by: bookcollector | January 19, 2011 at 02:00
Sarah Palin is a shining example of what patriotic Americans who believe in the American Dream can do! She stands for achievement, independence, intelligence (not Harvard elitist educated but real life educated.) Only elitist entitlement liberals who think big government should take care of them, without any personal responsibility, hate her.
Obama's dream of his communist father is all about anti-American Marxism with his fond memories of "Frank" as in communist poet Frank Marshall Davis, his mentor and father figure from age 10 to 18.
I'd rather see Sarah Palin as President and standing up to dictators and Communist world leaders rather than bowing to them.
Posted by: Linda Liberty | January 23, 2011 at 19:03