Sarah Palin vs Barack Obama: Their differing reactions to the Arizona shooting according to Politico
Earlier today I read this article on Politico about the differing reactions between Barack Obama and Sarah Palin on the shooting in Arizona. I found the article quite interesting, here is the main crux of the article:
In the span of a single news cycle, Republicans got a jarring reminder of two forces that could prevent them from retaking the presidency in next year.
At sunrise in the East on Wednesday, Sarah Palin demonstrated that she has little interest — or capacity — in moving beyond her brand of grievance-based politics. And at sundown in the West, Barack Obama reminded even his critics of his ability to rally disparate Americans around a message of reconciliation.
Palin was defiant, making the case in a taped speech she posted online why the nation’s heated political debate should continue unabated even after Saturday’s tragedy in Tucson. And, seeming to follow her own advice, she swung back at her opponents, deeming the inflammatory notion that she was in any way responsible for the shootings a “blood libel.”
Obama, speaking at a memorial service at the University of Arizona, summoned the country to honor the victims, and especially9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, by treating one another with more respect. “I want America to be as good as Christina imagined it,” he said.
It’s difficult to imagine a starker contrast.
The article basically vilified Sarah Palin (that’s a shocker!) while extolling the virtues of Barack Obama for the way both reacted in the aftermath of the shooting. They attacked Sarah Palin for “grievance-based politics” for her reaction to the media’s reaction to the shooting. Sarah Palin was attacked by the media as well as the Prima County sheriff and was blamed for stoking the fire which led to the Arizona shooting, Barack Obama was not. It is totally understandable why Sarah Palin reacted to the media the way that she did, while Barack Obama was able to stay above the fray as he did.
Barack Obama managed to avoid the heated rhetoric following the shooting because the propaganda arm of the Obama regime did his dirty work for him and dragged Sarah Palin through the mud, while he personally remained clean. What this article forgets is the fact that Sarah Palin did not ask for this fight, she was thrust into it.
The article then goes on to talk about Sarah Palin’s “blood libel” speech and how it was a scripted event which was nothing more than an attempt at making her seem presidential:
The production value — from the heavily scripted speech to the American flag just behind her left shoulder — of Palin’s address appeared presidential
Yet there was no mention about how carefully crafted the memorial service pep rally was for the victims of the shooting that Barack Obama spoke at. There was no mention about how the Democrats used this memorial for political gain as a stepping off point for Barack Obama and his re-election campaign. This was nothing more than Barack Obama’s campaign kick off speech.
Even in trying to show the differences between Sarah Palin and Barack Obama’s reactions to this tragedy they excelled in highlighting the media’s bias once again, while ignoring the role that they played in extracting the reaction from Sarah Palin in the first place.
This article is right on two accounts however: First–not for the reason that the article stated–there is a stark contrast between how the Republicans and the Democrats reacted to this shooting; from the very beginning the Democrats looked to politicize the shooting while vilifying the right–and the media played right along. And second–if Sarah Palin is the Republican nominee for president we are all but assured of watching Barack Obama sworn in for a second term in January of 2013.
America's Watchtower 
The left wing media remind me of the mean girls in a Massachusetts school who literally bullied a pretty classmate to her death. They were relentless and vicious with their jealous attacks as they sought to bring her down one way or another. Palin is impressive that she is still standing strong, but the maliciousness of the left won’t subside until she surrenders. I pray that Sarah Palin’s good intentions will overcome the bad intentions of the mean girls.
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That is a great way to put it! The media and the Democrats are nothing but a bunch of bullies; they are also brats who can’t stand getting their own way.
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I don’t know if Obama deserves an Oscar or just honorable mention. But I’m convinced it was well thought-out show and his first campaign act for 2012.
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There is no doubt that the campaign started last night.
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Mr. Boortz, to whom I listen regularly, hates Barack Obama and doesn’t dislike Mrs. Palin. He claims that she’s far more qualified to be President than he is, and was in 2008 as well. Nevertheless, he asserts that if the 2012 Presidential race comes down to Obama v Palin, President Obama will easily retain his job, and he used the stark contrast between the two talks as proof – Mrs. Palin, on her best day, cannot handle the President on his worst.
She talked about herself, he talked about America. She insisted – petulantly – the she’d done nothing wrong; he repudiated even those on his side who wanted to assign blame for the shootings. And instead of trying to tone it down even a bit, she introduced a horrifying new term – “blood libel” – that raised the spectre of old European anti-semitism. Thus, while her’s was a spiteful and confrontational talk, the President’s talk was soaring and inspiring – and he made it clear that while he hopes a more civil political discourse can be an outcome, he doesn’t attribute Saturday’s lunatic shooting to the confrontational rhetoric that passes for political discourse in our nation at this time.
Even Mr. Hannity, from what I’m told, (grudgingly) gave the President props.
Mrs. Palin can’t beat Mr. Obama now, and might never be a good standard-bearer for the GOP – she’s more divisive, even, than Hillary Clinton, and from what I understand, she doesn’t excite much support among women in general.
Take good care and may God bless us all!
TGY
By the way, has anyone noticed that Herman Cain announced the formation of an Presidential exploratory committee? Successful businessman, former chair of the governors of the Kansas City Fed, unsuccessful candidate for Senator from Tennessee, unsuccessful candidate for Governor of GA, successful talk-show host . . .
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I agree that there is no way that Sarah Palin can beat Barack Obama, but you are neglecting my point on the reason why she was forced to take a different track on this issue than he was.
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“Thus, while her’s was a spiteful and confrontational talk, the President’s talk was soaring and inspiring”
You ever stop to think why his could be soaring and inspiring? Maybe because every leftist hack in this country is slinging the mud for him. Of course he could step back and finally look presidential. Meanwhile, she is getting defamed openly by public and private citizens mere hours after the tragedy, and I guess your advice to her would be what, “Shut up!”?
As far as his speech was concerned, I didn’t hear it all, I was too busy waiting in line for a beer and trying to snag one of them sweet t-shirts.
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Exactly! Obama wasn’t thowing mud because he didn’t have to, he had his minions doing it for him. The media smeared Sarah Palin and when she responded she was told that she had to slow down on the rhetoric. In other words, the media can libel whoever they want and that person is not supposed to respond.
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On the DOJ website, it didn’t call it a memorial service. It called it a memorial EVENT! And they handed out t-shirts. Then all that cheering. Yeesh!
This was a manufactured event used to manipulate the public! Period.
BTW, you just made me realize something (or maybe I should say, reminded me to remind myself).
The left, in private, thinks Palin is the one, if she runs, that they cannot beat. So, this looks like a set up to me. Make her look as bad as possible, attack her at every chance, make her (or try to) defend herself and then let Obama take the… uhum…higher road…cough, cough. And walla – Obama is the wonderful one and Palin is the devil.
But it isn’t goin to work because 75% of America knows the truth. And nothing can change the truth. Not even a manufactured EVENT.
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I think that the left is afraid of her, that is why they are trying so hard to bring her down and have been from the beginning. But I just don’t think she can beat Barack Obama.
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I think if she is paired with the right guy, that she can…
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Maybe she can, actually I am worried about the whole Republican field in 2012.
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I am still waiting as to who scripted the “event”. Who dreamed up the medicine man, the Bible verses..which made no sense to me if you read further in the scripture. I am sure it had to be approved. Yes, and did the tee shirts come from China? My hunch is Valerie Jarrett pulled the strings.
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This was a well orchestrated event from the beginning and I would also like to know who was behind this. This was not simply everyone giving their own speeches individually, the whole event was choreographed in order to achieve maximum political gain.
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I heard it was Axelrod and company….
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I wouldn’t be surprised there.
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I think you are right, Steve. There isn’t a chance Sarah Palin will be able to defeat Barack Obama in a head-to-head contest. That doesn’t mean the left is correct in their attacks on the right, but just a statement of how I feel. She wouldn’t stand a chance.
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I agree Larry!
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We all know that the President can deliver a speech. The problem is he has failed to deliver on anything to help boost the economy. His policies have been destructive and counterproductive in terms of the economy. As far as Sarah Palin, she has been a target for the left and they will do and say anything to demonize her. So it was not a surprise when they tried to link her to this tragic event. The real concern is that the MSM has stirred up the radical left so much that I truly fear for Sarah’s safety. The have created and promoted a poisonous, hated filled environment that has become a powder keg. This needs to stop!
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John – I agree. I watched a video by Western Journalism that went on for what seemed to be 8-10 minutes (probably wasn’t that long) and it was one death or assination tweet after another. It was horrid. I have never seen anything like this.
But what really bothered me is these are my fellow Americans, even if they are on the left, calling for the death of another fellow American?
I’m concerned about her safety to. Not good.
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We had two state legislators here in New Hampshire who had to step down for disgusting comments they made about Sarah Palin. When former Senator Stevens died in a plane crash last year, one of them said he wished Sarah Palin was on the flight instead.
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You are so right John, the media has stirred up the pot and then they sit back and wait to see what happens. Then they go after people for the way they react; it is a vicious circle.
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Nobody threatened Barack Obama after what happened in Tucson. That is not the case with Sarah Palin. She has received multiple death threats. She has to defend herself. No chance to beat Obama, but…wow, they are afraid of her.
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Very true, she just irks the hell out of them and I think it is because they do fear she can connect with ordinary Americans.
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hum… hum… I just can not understand… why Americans are up in arms over the very sad and tragic event in Tucson; I do not want to go into any detail, but we Americans forget all the BAD stuff and we well know that TRADITIONAL our Country is been characterized extending throughout the World that we are a very, very Violent Nation.
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Sarah Palin is a shrill Drama Queen and media whore, Barack Hussein Obama is a bold faced LIAR, socilaist and anti-America moonbat…
If ANYONE believes that either of these 2 is the best America can do, you are in serious need of help!
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