Palin: First Amendment Rights Threatened By Criticism

ABC News reports:

In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened by "attacks" from reporters who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama.

Palin told WMAL-AM that her criticism of Obama's associations, like those with 1960s radical Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, should not be considered negative attacks. Rather, for reporters or columnists to suggest that it is going negative may constitute an attack that threatens a candidate's free speech rights under the Constitution, Palin said.

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."

Salon's Glenn Greenwald explains why this argument is frighteningly wrong:

If anything, Palin has this exactly backwards, since one thing that the First Amendment does actually guarantee is a free press. Thus, when the press criticizes a political candidate and a Governor such as Palin, that is a classic example of First Amendment rights being exercised, not abridged.

This isn't only about profound ignorance regarding our basic liberties, though it is obviously that. Palin here is also giving voice here to the standard right-wing grievance instinct: that it's inherently unfair when they're criticized. And now, apparently, it's even unconstitutional.

According to Palin, what the Founders intended with the First Amendment was that political candidates for the most powerful offices in the country and Governors of states would be free to say whatever they want without being criticized in the newspapers. The First Amendment was meant to ensure that powerful political officials would not be "attacked" in the papers. It is even possible to imagine more breathaking ignorance from someone holding high office and running for even higher office?

Comments

[steppenwolf88]

T-W-I-S-T-E-D

[chgochefgirl]

I can't decide if this she is utterly ridiculous or absolutely terrifying. It's the FIRST AMENDMENT! It doesn't get much simpler than that. That she doesn't understand the 1st Amendment tells us all we need to know about her. She 100% unqualified to serve as VP (or any other office for that matter, IMO).

[i approve this message]

Maybe that's what it says on AIP's version of the Constitution.

[AZforOBAMA]

This woman is dangerously uninformed for a normal citizen let alone a candidate for any government office. It is with a big smile on our faces here in AZ that McCain now has to make AZ a campaign stop on his final day of stumping to try and keep from losing his home state!

VOTE OBAMA!

[troika]

A 6th grader in an elementary school is well versed with the Bill of Rights. What a pity to see so many dumb sheep following the McCain/Palin camapign.

[troika]

I posted my comment and was unable to see it here. A sixth grader from the local elementary school is well conversant with the Bill of Rights. It is pathetic to see all the dumb sheep tailing the McCain/Palin campaig voting for them.

[conservativelady]

Some conservative pundits said that you should be required to take a civics test to be allowed to vote, using that qualification, Palin would be ineligible to cast a vote, forget about holding political office!!!

[WIpatriot]

Q: What's the difference between a culvert and Sarah Palin?
A: Well, one is a busy ditch....

[That One]

you would at least think McCain would have picked a VP running mate that has a lease read the constituti­on.. i know she is to illerate to understand it but one of her aids could have read and tryied to explained it to her.. Great job McCain your decisions have many americans scratching their heads...

[goneill451]

Aw man. If you're going to post about literacy, turn on the spell checker and read over your post AT LEAST once.

Otherwise, I think Palin understands the first amendment, she's just trying to draw another foul by using the most backwards argument I've ever heard. It's the McCain ticket's greatest strategy - false indignation. You'd think the ruling party running after the most disastrous presidency of modern times would show a little more in the way of humility. Though they're just continuing in the Bush way: up is down, black is white, the first amendment guarantees the press the right to put a lid on it.

Please, God, don't let them win.
Amen.

[mrblifil]

There's no ignorance here, it's merely strategy. Such formulations are nothing but the last refuge of a stealth candidate who has dared to expose herself to public consideration. Stealth candidates, like Creationist school board members, rely on low interest, low turnout elections to act out their Pod People overthrows of local institutions. The problems attendant to trying this strategy on the national level, during an election that has generated intense interest, are obvious.

[conned]

I’d like to give her the benefit of the doubt that this is “strategy”, but since she broke onto the national scene, she has been thoroughly consistent with her amazingly poor grasp of basic qualifying knowledge about our government. From her understanding of the role of the VP, to her conception of the First Amendment, to the Couric interview, to the corruption investigation, she has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is every bit as unqualified for the office as anyone had feared.

There is nothing about the freedom of speech that exempts one – particularly a candidate for high office – from being criticized for that speech. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Even if she knows her statement to be utterly dumb, the fact that she has no worries about her personal credibility should be enough to disqualify her. That’s why I am pretty certain that she really believed what she was saying – particularly in lieu of the fact that her intelligence and qualifications have already been so called into question.

[lionesspriyanka]

Does she realize that the first amendment applies to the media as well? What a joke.

[ncsoccermom]

She does have First Ammendment rights, as a citizen, as we all do. As a daughter of the WWII veteran (now passed away), and 3 other veterans in our family, my stance is people have fought and shed blood for those freedoms, and they are not to be taken lightly, mocked and poked fun at. Gov. Palin has every right to question the media's OBVIOUS bias towards Sen. Obama (recent polls/tracking data indicates such). One only has to turn on the tv to see such - whether you are for him, or against him, the attacks on first, Sen. CLINTON, and now Gov. Palin indicate a viciousiousness that undermines his 'one world' and equality mantras. I know as a female, I as sorely disappointed, in the entire Democrat party.

[chgochefgirl]

Yes, she does have 1st Amendment rights, as do the members of the media and the press. Those rights are not mutually exclusive and do not cancel each other out. I agree the freedom of speech, expression, the press are not to be taken lightly; they are sacred and the cornerstone of American society. But just as Ms. Palin has the right to attack Obama in a negative manner, the press also has a right to call her out on it.

[clamperken]

Excuse me, are you sure you've been watching the same campaign.F­rom what the rest of the country has seen, McCain/Palin have desperately tried to convince the voting population that Obama is everything from a Muslim to a terrorist to a socialist in one of the ugliest slur campaigns this country has ever seen. Instead of listening to the idiotic rantings of fools like Rush Limbaugh. Hannity and thier hateful cronies, try reading the constitution and just maybe you would then be able to understand exactly how uninformed and incredibly unqualified Sarah Palin is. Everytime she opens her mouth it becomes painfully obvious that she really has no understanding of this sacred document or how our government actually works. As it is your right we thank you for your equally uniformed opinion.
VOTE OBAMA / BIDEN 08'

[troika]

While I appreciate all the veterans in your family who have served this great country with HONOR, it is another thing when the VP nominee does not know anything about our Constitution. Everyone has a right to question about the ignorance when she is running for the #2 position. Why should we vote for her? Why is it that you call it " VISCIOUSNESS" when it is her IGNORANCE you should be questioning about? Has not she read the basic tenets of the Constitution? How can one claim to be so ignorant and have ambitions to take the #2 spot.

[AintHatinOnUYet]

and the first right of her ammendment should have been to keep her mouth closed. the more she opens it. the more she shows just how unqualified she truly is. and i for one am scared of having her be second in charge of the country i love. and to which my ancestors and forefathers fought hard for.

maybe had she stepped out of her igloo for more then mooseburgers. she may have gotten a grasp on what the rights and freedoms of the UNITED STATES ARE TRULY ABOUT!!!!! all she has done since she stepped on to center stage is tell lies, half truths, and falseified everything she could. to try a down a man she knows nothing about. maybe if she had of took the time to keep up with her daughter and husband the way she is Obama's past associations. she wouldnt be a grandmother times 2 i believe unless she releases her medical records. among other things

[jtmoney]

She can talk about Ayers and Wright all she wants. But she is responsible for what happens when she elects to use them. This chick just doesn't get it.

[troika]

The Ayers and the Wright topics are not working at all. It is ancient and has not shaken the Obama/Biden ticket one bit. Nice try republicans, its turning to bite your behind.

[conservativelady]

There is nothing wrong with talking about Ayers and Wright, the problem is, Palin speaks with no understanding, forget the stupid things she says, even when she talks about something that should matter, it doesn't matter coming from her mouth because she clearly has no understanding, and believe me, when a person speaks with no understanding, even when what they are saying is true, it falls flat. That is another reason why she has no credibility! It's really destructive to have someone like Palin bringing up really important issues when she DOESN'T GET IT!!! All she ends up doing is discrediting some very important arguments that would ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING if it was coming from someone a little more believable. She really needs to drop the cutesy-pie­-folksy-ac­t. She is a social climber, no doubt about it, she's the elitist!

[harriettubman]

I would never vote for this bimbo into any elected office. Someone with no diversity experience is scary too. She refuses to hire and Natives or blacks to her staff. What's the problem Palin? Afraid someone may question you on something?

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/371959/how_sarah_palin_excluded_african_americans_in_alaska

[GrooveyHenrik]

No matter if Obama wins or not, will we never be able to unite under just one leader? Will we ever find the Perfect Leader, or the Perfect Leadership Style? These questions are also discussed in this film that I' found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk1NjrSHrWE

[harriettubman]

There will always be two Americas, one or two sane parties and the other with the Republican ideology of thinking that social programs are forced charity. Go figure.

[emmalee]

Palin, Palin, Palin... How can this woman get so much attention and actually be a VP pick? So I take it that the First Amendment only applies to her and not the media? OMG! Please I hope this woman does not become VP of our country.. If she does, our children are in some serious trouble cause this woman's ideas and thought process are as backwards as I have ever seen....

VOTE OBAMA!

[conservativelady]

The problem is that Palin is not articulate or well-educated. She should have said that the press was not reporting the truth and was misinforming people, and as a result of the media's biased reporting they are not following the true intention of the 1st amendment, but she can't express her thoughts because she hasn't really applied herself either in college or in her career, she just relies on her looks. Meanwhile, us conservatives who are willing to say that the emperor has no clothes are accused of being "jealous." A high school way of getting people to shut up. Yep, the Republican Party is in a whole world of hurt!

[chrispgh1]

The fact that you would make this claim of bias with the media domination of conservative voices such as Fox News on TV, Limbaugh on the air, and the Wall Street Journal in print (all of which have a larger audience market share than their "liberal" counterparts) is ludicrous. Surely there is a whole army of conservative investigative reporters out there who have been searching under every slimy rock they can get their hands on to uncover the "truth" about Barack Obama as you so implore them to do. And yet all they have been able to do is offer up is innuendo and (here the label fits) misinformation. I don't want you to shut up - because, unlike Mrs. Palin, I have a real understanding of, and appreciation for, the First Ammendment. I also appreciate the opportunity to point out the huge flaws in the logic of your argument.

[babygeo]

This ism not a person who should not be a mayor of the small town she was elected. You cannot put words in someones mouth. she is not conservative, she is beyond conservative. I would rather vote for Ralph Nader than anyone who put here on the ticket. She rallied a small portion of the radical right in this once great party. I'm so turned off. I have always voted, so it will beObama. The only think worse is not to vote.

[troika]

Folks come on, grit your teeth for some more hours before we can see the end of the Palin voice and the constant parade of her children on the stage. Don't they ever go to school in an academic year? This gives me to wonder the plight of public schools in Alaska.

[troika]

Oops!! my reply to emmalee is posted down three/four comments.

[H2Opolomom]

Forget her feelings of violations - WHERE ARE HER MEDICAL RECORDS THAT SHE PROMISED? It is November 3rd.

[morenews7]

Do people change their mind on the final day?
No.
Here's why:
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/11/do-people-change-their-minds-on-last.html