Sarah Palin: 'Blood Libel' 'Exactly What Was Going On'

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, defending herself against criticism following the Tucson, Ariz., shootings, said Monday that she used the term "blood libel" to describe comments made by those who falsely tried to link conservatives to the assassination attempt against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Speaking out for the first time since she used the term in a video, Palin said on Fox's Sean Hannity show that the term referred to those "falsely accused of having blood on their hands."

Some Jewish groups strongly protested her use of the term, which historically was used to accuse Jews of using blood of Christians in religious rituals.

"I think the critics again were using anything that they could gather out of that statement," Palin said. "You can spin up anything out of anybody's statements that are released and use them against the person who is making the statement."

The New York Times reports:

She dismissed suggestions that she did not know the historical significance of the phrase.

"Blood libel obviously means being falsely accused of having blood on your hands and in this case," Ms. Palin said, "that's exactly what was going on."

Palin, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012, said the criticism won't stop her from speaking out and accusing Democrats of taking the country in the wrong direction.

"They can't make us sit down and shut up," she said.

Palin said her political action committee's use of crosshairs to identify targeted congressional districts for Republican pickups was not original and has been used by Democrats. As she spoke, a Democratic map was shown on the screen with circular targets of districts Democrats wanted to win.

The shooting on Jan. 8 killed six and wounded 13, including Giffords. Her district was among those in the Palin site's crosshairs.

Comments

[Mattjoe3]

11:24 PM on 01/20/2011

You had me at record high pole.

[RuthlessDictator]

09:56 PM on 01/20/2011

That photo shows Sarah doing what she does best - holding a microphone with her big yap opened!

[goode]

05:19 AM on 01/20/2011

PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DodieG]

02:42 AM on 01/20/2011

I'm convinced she knew exactly what she was saying. I recall a report during a debate between Bush and Gore when Bush answered a question that included a phrase that was code for all far right Christians, telling them that he was "one of them". When Palin used the term "blood libel" she was speaking directly to her base, sending them a message to keep on hating.

[shades3]

02:23 PM on 01/19/2011

So, let me get this straight. Because Sarah Palin doesn't know the origin and history of the term "blood libel", we are the ones who are wrongly accusing her???
What is wrong with this woman??

[time2impeach]

11:57 AM on 01/19/2011

Gotta say this about SP -- she's an all-or-nothing kind of woman. No check between brain and mouth, no willingness (ability?) to cut her losses, certainly no second guessing herself. No sirree!

That being said, I really would not feel comfortable with this woman anywhere near the "football."

[Patricia013]

11:39 AM on 01/19/2011

Just like the fool who is dancing as fast as he can.....Sarah speaks as fast as she can...even faster then her brain can handle ;-)

[frameofmind2]

10:44 AM on 01/19/2011

Keep it up $arah, you're doing great, Ha!

[boricuacoconut]

08:13 PM on 01/18/2011

There is little excuse for any adult person who has a cell phone, to claim ignorance about the meaning of a word or phrase. If fifth graders can google information so can a politician with public interests. This is why Palin not knowing what she's saying doesn't wash. The kind of manipulation this politician is trying to work on the public is an insult to our intelligence. If her publicity machine, with writers and her approval can't effectively speak to the public without mangled confusion and constant finger pointing she isn't competant enough to hold a political position.

[Patricia013]

11:41 AM on 01/19/2011

I must admit I never heard of "blood libel" so the first thing I did was look it up. Once I knew the meaning I was appalled that Palin not only used it but is foolishly defending her use of it. A simple apology would have been the classy thing to do...but Palin and class don't mix in the same sentence.

[dch58]

07:04 PM on 01/18/2011

Ms Palin, I hate to break it to you, but you aren't the victim here!

[Rikyu]

06:30 PM on 01/18/2011

Translation: "Maybe I won't be President, but I still want the money."

[Rikyu]

06:28 PM on 01/18/2011

Sarah Palin is like the nightmare of a relative coming for a short visit, then refusing to leave.

[UTHeretic]

06:24 PM on 01/18/2011

"They can't make us sit down and shut up," she said."

I wouldn't want the job of trying to shut Sarah up. That would be like trying to fill in the Grand Canyon with a shovel.

[David Buehrens]

06:17 PM on 01/18/2011

And now she's quoting the DIxie Chicks.

[Cinnamonape]

05:14 PM on 01/18/2011

Apparently the Democrats were encouraging their followers to use bows-and-arrows.