Sunday, July 5, 2009

Finally, Comeuppance For "Faux" Journalists?

Well, everyone on the planet knows about Sarah Palin's resignation by now. She has her reasons, of course, whether one agrees with them or not. I would say that if my children were continually being hammered in the press, with my Down's Syndrome baby bearing the brunt of the cruel humor, I might be a bit inclined to get out, too. Add to that having to spend enormous amounts of time and money dealing with frivolous ethics complaints (talking to YOU, Obamabots), and the woman can scarcely do her job.

In other words, Sarah Palin is damned if she does, and damned if she doesn't. If she stays, and continues to deal with all of these ridiculous complaints, eating up time better spent dealing with issues facing Alaska and its citizens, she gets slammed for not doing the work of Alaskans, wasting taxpayers' money, and on and on. If she doesn't deal with it, then she is ethically challenged, has "abused her power," is a poor representative of Alaska, and on and on. Her work environment has been made untenable by these ridiculous challenges, as each one has to be addressed. I can only imagine the mounting level of frustration for her. Oh, and many of those complaints have been dismissed already, further highlighting that they are being used solely to harass her.

And then's there's her family, and how they have been treated. Fellow NQ writer, LisaB, had an EXCELLENT article on this recently, "Andrew Sullivan's Reckless Cruelty to "White Trash Concupiscence." There is no need for me to re-state what LisaB already did so well, except to highlight this point regarding Palin's daughter, Bristol, getting pregnant at 17: so did Obama's mother. So EVERYTHING nasty you say about this young woman, you are saying about Stanley Ann Dunham.

Once again, while I do not agree with many of her policy positions, she has every right to HOLD those positions. This is a (more or less) free country, after all.

Okay, all of that being said, this is the portion of the article, Palin Links Resignation to 'Higher Calling', on which I want to focus. There is MUCH more in this article, so feel free to take a look. But THIS is what I wish Al Gore had done when he was being portrayed as a liar and as delusional by many Republicans (and Democrats who repeated the intentionally manipulated statements Gore did make on the internet, the Love Canal, and "Love Story"):
The abruptness of her announcement and the mystery surrounding her plans have fed widespread speculation. But Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein on Saturday warned legal action may be taken against bloggers and publications that reprint what he calls fraudulent claims.

"To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as 'fact' that Governor Palin resigned because she is 'under federal investigation' for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation," Van Flein said in a statement. "This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law."

He also told the Anchorage Daily News that Palin wasn't in any criminal legal jeopardy.

"I can say definitively I am aware of no criminal investigation whatsoever involving Sarah Palin. Zero," he said.

The FBI reiterated that claim Saturday, telling the Los Angeles Times for a story Sunday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was not investigating Palin's activities as governor, a former mayor or in any other capacity.

"There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we're investigating her or getting ready to indict her," Special Agent Eric Gonzalez, the bureau's Alaska spokesman, said.

Oh, SNAP!!!! See, that's how these people SHOULD be treated. Al Gore AND Hillary Clinton could have taken some pages from these people's playbook, though it seemed when Clinton DID try to clarify the record, they just made fun of her for it (like the whole insurance flyer thing - remember that? Obama claimed her outrage was "tactical." It couldn't possibly be that she was well and truly pissed off because of how he was portraying her.). Same with Gore, come to think of it - it seemed whenever he tried to point out what he ACTUALLY said, they just made fun of him even more. I think both of these folks can understand the whole "damned if they do" mentality that surrounds Palin ...

If journalists, whether for MSM outlets or blogs like this one, purposely print false statements about prominent people, they should be held to account. I hasten to add, if the statements were made in good faith, and were just wrong, the opportunity should be available to print retractions (though I think we all know what happens then - people never remember the retraction, just the initial accusation). But I say, GOOD ON PALIN'S ATTORNEY for making it crystal clear that no more of these false accusations that slander the governor will be tolerated. About damn time, too, I'd say. The character assassination on her (and too many others) went over the top long ago.

It is way past time for journalists to return to FACT CHECKING their statements before making them, to stop rumor mongering (or flat out making shit up), and REPORT events. We don't want your OPINIONS of why Palin resigned, just the news THAT she resigned. Think you can do that? If not, meet Palin's attorney. I'm sure you'll get to know him well (and may be then YOU can experience what it is like to try and work while dealing with a lawsuit, only in YOUR case, it will be deserved). Bottom line, right on, Mr. Van Flein!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yep, I just recently subscribed to Palin's Twitter feed and read that attorney letter this morning. Your "Snap!" was very much on my mind when I read it!

Have you seen the latest post at the Reclusive Leftist?

georgiapeach said...

There have been 15 ethics complaints against her, all dismissed. It doesn't cost the filer one red cent, but Gov. Palin has already wracked up over 1/2 million in legal fees. Their intention was to either destroy her politically or financially, or both. I don't think she's leaving politics, I think she's just decided to fight on the battlefield of her own choosing, and without both hands tied behind her back.

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Hey, bluelyon!

No, I haven't seen it yet - but I will now!

From what I've heard abt some of the "pundits" over the weekend, they should mind their words more carefully (as in, they are regurgitating some of the falsehoods abt her).

Good to hear from you!

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Georgiapeach (love the name, btw), I think you are spot on. This will definitely free her up.

And judging from what the Lt. Gov. said, these frivolous ethics charges have really impeded her ability to do her job, which was the intent. So these people file these things, impede her work, and when she says she is resigning so the work of Alaskans can be done properly, they attack her as a quitter. Like I said, she's damned if she does, damned if she doesn't. I can totally understand why she would want more latitude at this juncture.

And, judging from the number of Obots who are going NUTS abt this, they are a bit worried...

Thanks for coming by, y'all!

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

bluelyon -

Just read the post over at Reclusive Leftist - believe it or not, I was going to write something abt that today. I stumbled on a really interesting video of Palin the other day (when I was finding the July 4th videos) that I planned on doing. :-)

Loved the post - thanks for the heads up!

Mary Ellen said...

I was thrilled to see that statement made by her lawyer and you can bet that blogs like Huffpost and Daily Kos will test the waters to see if they follow through. It doesn't matter what the FBI says, they (the faux progressives) are saying it's the DOJ and IRS that are investigating her. When that's debunked they'll report that some other agency is "investigating" her. It's the same bs that the Clinton's went through with Whitewater.

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Hey, ME -

Oh, how I wish what you were saying wasn't true, but I know it is!

And speaking of HuffPo, the other night, after she made this announcement, there was a DESPICABLE post there abt Palin: Erik Sean Nelson / The Huffington Post: Palin Will Run In '12 On More Retardation Platform — In Sarah Palin's resignation announcement she complained about the treatment of her son Trig who always teaches her life lessons. She said that the "world needs more Trigs, not
fewer." That's a presidential campaign promise we can all get behind. (http://www.memeorandum.com/090703/p100#a090703p100)

I think HuffPo took it down FAST, but still - this is the kind of BS they have had abt her.

Astonishing, isn't it??

Her attorneys are gonna be busy. The good news is, maybe she can make back all of that money she had to spend on those frivolous suits!! :-)

Mary Ellen said...

Hi Amy- Yes, I saw that post at Huffpost (actually, I saw a post someone wrote about it and they put up a picture of it.) I added that to my post today about Sarah Palin Derangement Syndrome. Honestly, I have no idea what has happened to the Democratic Party. I have to wonder why Paul Begala doesn't speak out against that. Instead, they do nothing but make excuses for that behavior, they claim that the Republicans did it to the Democrats. Yes...the Republicans were full of dirty tricks. But I don't remember this kind of hatred aimed at the baby of a Democratic political figure. This is just insanity!

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Hey, ME -

It really is over the tip. What in the world would make someone WRITE that kind of crap? Are they so devoid from any semblance of basic human decency that they would attack someone they don't know, for having a child with Down's Syndrome? I guess when their One makes jokes abt retardation on national television that they think it is A-Okay for that to be the level of public discourse now.

Sadly, it seems too often it is...