Question for Gov. Palin: Who Would Jesus Smear?

Exciting news: Sarah Palin will break the glass ceiling.

And the glass floor. The glass walls, too. Same with the glass roof. Every brittle bit of the gigantic glass house she calls home.

Because Palin's throwing stones now. Big stones. Nasty, spurious stones. The exact kind of stones that a dying, repentent Lee Atwater implored his fellow political operatives to lay down in the name of brotherhood.

One wonders whether even Atwater -- and I'm talking pre-dying, pre-repentence Atwater -- would have had the stomach to claim, as Palin did repeatedly over the weekend, that Senator Obama sees America "as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." Treason, basically.

About all you need to know about this "palling around with terrorists" charge is where it came from -- where Palin herself said it came from, that is: an article in Saturday's edition of the New York Times. Forget what you might have read on blogs about Obama's acquaintance with former 1960s radical William Ayers. Forget seeing moderator George Stephanopoulos and Senator Clinton tagteam Obama on the subject of Ayers back in April during a nationally televised debate. Forget the bogus chain e-mails you might have seen about Obama and Ayers.

Just do what Palin supposedly did. Rely solely on Saturday's piece in the Times. Really, read it. Click here and read it. Then run a little experiment. See if you can read that piece -- especially the quote from the McCain backer who went to law school with Obama and "saw no evidence of a radical streak, either overt or covert" -- and conclude that Obama sees America "as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." I challenge any sane, fair-minded American to reach the same conclusion as Palin did.

So what am I insinuating with that last sentence? That Palin's not sane? Not at all. That she's not fair-minded? Absolutely. This smear was a choice. Every time she repeats it is a choice. It's a choice to free herself from the irksome constraints of truth, of empathy, of basic Christian decency.

Sarah Palin is damn lucky not to be running against Sarah Palin.

Think of how a candidate freed from the constraints of truth, empathy, and basic Christian decency would cry "anti-American!!!" over Sarah Palin's links to and Todd Palin's membership in the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that sees America as being so imperfect that it's willing to make Alaska an independent nation.

Shudder at how a candidate freed from truth, empathy, and basic Christian decency would use Bristol Palin's teenage pregnancy to question Sarah Palin's fitness for any and every job -- even the job of mother.

And John McCain, of course, is damn lucky not to be running against Sarah Palin.

Think of Palin ripping into McCain for cheating on his injured first wife and ultimately leaving her for a wealthy heiress. By the time Palin was done with him, we might believe that McCain's infidelity -- and not his war heroism -- tells us everything we need to know about his true character.

Think of Palin smearing Cindy McCain and earnestly asking Americans whether they're really willing to have as their First Lady a former drug addict who took pain pills from her own medical charity and triggered a DEA investigation.

Think of Palin ridiculing McCain's supposed national-security expertise by quoting the 1998 interview in which McCain said of Osama bin Laden, "You could say, Look, is this guy, Laden, really the bad guy that's depicted? Most of us have never heard of him before."

Here, as I imagine Palin and McCain getting mauled by the lipsticked pitbull, I've restricted myself to potential attacks rooted in reality. There's no need to stop there. Once you've released yourself from truth, empathy, and basic Christian decency you can smear a person over anything. Just ask John Kerry.

I'm hoping Palin and McCain will chose not to go there. I'm hoping they will walk around to the other side of their podium and look for awhile at that "Country First" sign they seem to like so much. Because part of "Country First" is -- or ought to be -- a commitment to never running a campaign that might leave nearly half the country believing that their new president is a dangerous, anti-American zealot who needs to be stopped. That, frankly, is where political murder comes from. Assassination. Horrific national trauma.

If Palin won't repent for us, won't repent for America, I hope she'll at least remember Lee Atwater's dying remorse and restrain herself for her own sake. Palin and every single one of us who the Internet has granted the means to go too far and do real harm should read the words of one of the people who Atwater hurt for a living: "I hope those young political consultants who would emulate Atwater's tactics of driving up the negatives of their opponents with the politics of fear will realize that Lee Atwater, confronting death, became, through the grace of God, an advocate of the politics of love and reconciliation."

Or simply watch this.

Comments

[NPA]

So called Christians need to read their bible, Jesus did not mix with the religious political pharisees of his time. I see the GOP and RNC as the pharisees liars, false prophets, back stabbers. People that attempt to mix politics and religion are wrong no matter what reason, Jesus did not do it he placed his faith in God not man. We I vote for a presidential candidate I am not looking for a spiritual leader of any kind.

[ThanksMatt]

Thank you for this article. Right now I am so angry about Palin, McCain and the rightwing press. But this video makes me see that we should never give up on the godly part in others. I shall try to send this article to them.

[Shiral]

Great Post, thank you, David. And I like your Aunt Judy, too. She's right--Christianity is not the only religion with a good moral code. (If she read a basic text about Islam and actually paid attention with an open mind, she might find there are many admirable things about Islam, as well. And their moral code is quite similar to that of Judeo-Christianity. Good manners and respect for other people, not telling terrible lies about them are ALL good traits that transcend nationality and religion. Nor need one be religious to behave in an ethical and kind way towards one's fellow beings. Something I doubt Sarah Palin knows much about. I like the "small god" comment, too. Her version of Christianity appears to be about sin and destruction, not love or redemption.

After 8 years of Bush, I'm really tired of having excessive piety pushed at me, I must say. I'm fine with presidents attending church--I do believe in freedom of religion, But I also believe in the separation of Church and State. It was one of the wisest ideas of governance our forbears ever had.

[pjsmom]

I doubt the McCain team has had the time or inclination to educate Ms. Palin on the history of dirty politics. I'm sure she could not be bothered to look into the topic on her own. In light of the interviews with the annoying "gotcha" journalists, she likely has no idea who Lee Atwater was.

McCain allowing her to incite racial tensions just to whip fellow zealots into a frenzy is unforgiveable. McCain saddens me; he has rendered his military service irrelevant in my view. I believe Obama is going to win but it gives me little satisfaction; the resentments and divisions stirred up by McCain/Palin in the name of winning will be difficult to heal. And then we have an economy in shreds to deal with too......

[JustDee]

No matter our religious or other ideological/philosophical viewpoints, I think most would agree that love, tolerance and peace and a willingness to find fair middle ground are the hope for all humanity - America needs this right now - thank you for the article and I'd like to leave these quotes from another great peacemaker of recent history as an addendum: (Mahatma Gandhi)
-----
- I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.

- It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.

- When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.

[foofy]

Read this and pass it on, this is who Palin and McCain have associated with.

Palin's Association with Alaska Independence Party:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/02/politics/animal/main4407224.shtml

McCain's Association with Council For World Freedom:
http://news.google.com/news?q=Council+for+World+Freedom&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&oi=news_result&resnum=1&ct=title

[tonycoyle]

Palin is treading very dangerous waters -- her actions are coming close to inciting violence against a presidential candidate, an elected senator of the US.

This is as close to a hate crime as I've witnessed in my few years.

[JustLynn]

Honestly? His statement almost made me cry...so many have lost their souls in pursuit of power and money...and we are now seeing this in each rally and statement made by the Repubs... I hope that Obama continues to stay above this and not attack back...Stick to the issues Obama...it's working so far....

[Bombenhagel]

Hey Sarah - Commandment No.9!

Exodus 20:16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

[Rnactivist]

I guess I am confused as to "christian" sara...I guess in her bible it is okay to outright lie and smear as long as you say you are against abortion...that makes it okay...right? But I do not understand how evangelicals can support this woman just by watching her unchristian actions. How do they know she hasn't lied about their issues as well?....I guess wolves in sheeps clothing means nothing to them.....or by their fruits ye shall know them....

[doctordoubt]

Not sure of the order, but isn't one of a doctors oaths, to do no harm? That is to treat one person at a time. We're talking about an entire nation. By the time the oath of office is pronounced, we can only hope the one taking it, believes it.

[WaltD]

if my mother were sitll alive, she would get hold of Palin and wash her mouth out with soap.

[ObamaProud]

Great blog. Thank you.... sincerely. I've just been absolutely sickened by pretty much everything that is coming out of Palin's mouth. I guess her ability to survive the debate emboldened her. Much like W. "winning" the election emboldened him to rape whatever was left of America.

Palin must be held accountable for her words. This has become much more than smearing, this is just unconscionable.

[MOregon]

In his book The Denial of Death, Ernest Becker says (paraphrased) "we all tap dance on our own little stage and what God does is knock us off of our stage until we are again stage struck and realize that God is much bigger than we have fashioned".

Resorting to their terrible tactics, Sarah Palin and John McCain speak of a very small God, and they are fighting tooth and nail not to have to die to their small vision. God is more than "talking points' or even being on the supposed right side of certain issues.

This piece was very moving! Obama should use this in an ad. God help us!

[Heddie]

Yoo, hoo- ConEd - the tens of thousands of comments and posts we see here and
for other columnists are not from the "media elite" - they are from the common man,
remember that. You are seeing democracy in action. Sour grape, Ed?

[Heddie]

Who would Jesus smear? How would Sarah know? She has absolutely no
idea of Christ consciousness and the real teachings , because her church,
like so many others these days, has distorted such teachings 180 degrees,
while making sure nobody in any of the congregations ever thinks, feels, or
reasons for themselves, but just continues receiving brainwashing.

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

[doctordoubt]

Remember Jonestown. On a national scale.