Terrorists, Secessionists, Sarah Palin and Guilt by Association

I was appalled (and annoyed) this weekend by the newest wave of hypocrisy to come spewing perkily forth from the ever-smiling, ever-smirking, perfectly lipsticked mouth of Governor Palin. I'm actually starting to enjoy (for comedic reasons only) her interviews that are nothing more than disconnected prepositional phrases laced with stock GOP pablum. But accusing a sitting U.S. Senator of "palling around with terrorists" is crossing the line.

Finally informing us what she reads, Palin said that yesterday, while leafing through her daily copy of the New York Times, she came across a story on Senator Obama and William Ayers, the 1960s militant and member of the Weather Underground, the radical and violent anti-war group. And faster than you can say "Darn right!"she saw her opportunity - and her duty. Clearly, she must inform an unknowing nation that Obama is guilty by association with Ayers.

You, Governor, should know better. As I and many journalists have noted, you have strong ties to the Alaska Independence Party. While it was finally revealed that you technically were not a card-carrying member of the AIP, it was discovered that the First Dude, between his life of high adventure in helping you rule your northern fiefdom, his competitive snowmobiling and fishing, was a member of the organization for many years.

Yes, it is a free country. You get to associate or marry whomever you want, no matter how distasteful. Yes, Senator Obama served on a board with William Ayers, a former member of the Weather Underground and now a college professor and activist in Chicago. However, Senator Obama has clearly distanced himself on numerous occasions from Professor Ayers' actions in the 1960's. This is a non-issue. Perhaps that is why you have decided to focus on it -- better a non-issue than having to learn and think about real problems that affect everyday people, like health care, the economy and education. Those, I suppose, are just too gosh darned hard.

All snarky comments aside, I do have a concern, Governor. A big one. You have never distanced yourself from a radical secessionist movement aimed at the breaking up of the Federal Union. You, Governor, have never stated a single time that the AIP is not only wrong-headed, but outright dangerous. Instead, you have videotaped welcoming comments for their annual conventions. Instead, you have a "close association" with a known former member of a radical, right-wing, well-armed and well-funded political party whose founder damned the United States as virulently as Reverend Wright did. While Reverend Wright enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame, and was rightly slammed for his vitriol by patriotic writers on both Left and Right, the AIP happily continued along its way, spewing anti-Americanism more in line with something Fidel Castro would say on a May Day celebration in Havana.

And you stood there Governor, like a caribou caught in the headlights. And you still stand there, but now with the audacity to stand at the top of your glass castle throwing rocks at other people. There is a big, big difference between a limited association with someone who had committed a crime 40 years before, and being married to a man who supports the destruction of the United States.

Who has the closest terrorist association, Governor? Who? If you believe Senator Obama to be the buddy of terrorists, don't make an unsubstantiated claim. Call the FBI and demand an investigation. If you are just grandstanding for a crowd of racist isolationists who fear the idea of a successful black man who worked his way up from nothing to become a success--a modern day Horatio Alger story if there is one--you should be deeply ashamed of yourself. Look to your own house before you start throwing rocks Governor. For who among us can cast the first stone? Seem like you can Sarah, seems like you are the only exception to the Scripture since about 32 AD.

I am a loyal American. When Election Day happens, and if the GOP wins, I want to know that the person who is literally a heart beat away from the Presidency is a person I can trust to do the right thing. Someone who will place national well-being above some perverted concept of secessionism, who will not associate with people who are worse, far worse, than a liberal college professor who was immensely foolish -- and wrong -- in the 1960s.

Yes Governor, I question your patriotism and your loyalty to this Republic. And I have a hell of a lot more evidence to question your loyalty to the Republic than you do to question Senator Obama's.

Comments

[ESerafina42]

Someone needs to ask, "Sarah and Todd, can you say the Pledge of Allegiance in good conscience? With or without 'under God,' it contains the words, "one nation, INDIVISIBLE."

[iv64]

In addition to going after McCain and his dubious associations, I feel it is time to clearly identify to the American people exactly what the AIP, that Todd Palin was a member of, stands for. That is real and if she starts slinging mud, there is no reason to sling a little her way.

Granted by the Obama campaign acknowledging her they may legitimize her. Does anyone else get the feeling that they are doing exactly what was suggested by McCain about sitting down and talking with Iran? Sitting down legitimizes them. They seem to be totally ignoring her, just as Joe Biden at the debate. He never referred to her or her ideas but only to McCain. She doesn't appear as someone who likes to be ignored so I wonder what other "attention getting nonsence" she is going to spew.

[EllaMcC]

Her comments (with very little originally to counter them) were played over and over this morning on CNN from 6 -8:30 AM. That sort of repetition, even if countered, sticks -- so someone who has the ability should really take this and McCain's various shady connections to the wider public.

[chris2fer]

They have no plan for the nation. They have no answers other than more handouts for the wealthy.

[eden4barack08]

Apparently, she didn't even read the NYT article she quotes. All it does is conclude and repeat the same thing we've all known for 18 months, that is, that the relationship doesn't go beyond the formality of working on education projects, on the same boards, and same neighborhoods.
If her conclusion from reading that was that "he was palling with terrorists", then she's just once again confirming her ignorance and lack of reading comprehension.

[jhb90277]

I wonder how long it took her handlers to get her to memorize the Ayers tripe.

"Ok, you read the NYT every day. Repeat after me, Sarah. 'Ya know, I was readin' the NYT and I came across this article about Obama and terrorists.' It's critical to make sure the people think you read. Got it? OK, repeat the line, Sarah."

[MsCanadian]

HuffPost's Pick

Thank you Robert! I was appalled at Palin's unethical charge, which is totally inappropriate. Given that she has much to answer for herself, she should not be "throwing stones" as you say. I would like to see her called to account on her association with the AIP and her association with a witch doctor.

[Teendoc]

Someone please have the courage to bring this up in a much more wide reaching forum! Please!

[larry278]

AIP might play well in the former CSA & among copper heads in S Oh & In but the Yankees won it in 1865. Try flying a red banner with a blue star spangled St Andrews cross in Wisconsin or upstate NY; the response might be surprisingly different than the response it gets in Pensacola or Selma. The Yankees don't talk about it but they remember the misunderstanding of 1861-1865. Yankees don't talk much; they talk with fists & brass knuckles. Oh, yes, the iced tea in Syracuse, NY is lousy-even in Aug.

[Insearchoftruth]

Well said. The counterattack must be, however, that McCain is guilty of plotting against the best interest of the US via his association with the AIP. The motive is to acquire control of the energy resources. Palin is a pawn and a distraction. The target is McCain, Dr. Mackey's article is the smoking gun.

[tompoe]

September 19, 2008, Bush sent Paulson forth to gather $1 trillion dollars for Bush's going away present for his cronies. September 19, 2008, is the day the Republican Party became the Party of Corporate Welfare. America does not tolerate corporate welfare. Palin is not a member of the Republican Party. She is a member of the Party of Corporate Welfare. Next time you see someone who claims to be a Republican, remind them they belong to the Party of Corporate Welfare. America does not tolerate corporate welfare. Throw the bum out!

[4real]

I cannot stand this woman. She lies and throws stones and then goes into hiding. I am offended that she is running for the the second highest office of this land and cannot answer simple questions about her world view. And we Americans are suppose to just trust her and give her our vote. Are you fn kidding me?

Sarah release your emails, answer troopergate and have a fn press conference before you start accusing someone of being a terrorist.

[Teendoc]

Hear, hear!!!!

[lbrillante]

I agree. It seems to me like a majority of our country has been so dumbed down that they are treating this election like it is 'american idol' or some kind of 'reality TV' and are not seriously considering the ramifications of McCain/Palin... that is my only explanation for why there is a contest here at all.

[ajaye]

She is hateful, but every time I find myself consumed with anger, I look over the poll numbers and I think of how most Americans are sick of these tactics and I feel better.

[girldujour]

I posted this elsewhere too... Remember when it was revealed that the Bushes and the Bin Ladens were business partners?

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

[obamagirl1968]

Your article is right on! However, you failed to note that secessionist of this stripe were a major factor in the outbreak of the Civil War, an engagement that the south calls the War Between the States....

[wandering girl]

right. so tell me, what issues specifically do the AIP members feel are significant and pressing enough to dissociate themselves from the rest of the US? a return to slavery? abrogation of the rights of the states? hunting wolves from airplanes? I have no problem with them seceding, in which case they will need to return all monies given to them to develop energy sources, and of course Ms. Palin will gracefully withdraw from the election process. in fact, the sooner they do this, the better.

[CitizenE]

She'll get her reward in Heaven--which may look like a Wall Mart parking lot by the time she gets there.

[TheronMarx]

Thank you, Mr. Mackey, my sentiments exactly - it's bad enough SP wants to expand her vice presidential powers beyond that which is expressly granted in Article I, section 3, clause 4 of the Consitution (see her debate performance when talking about Cheney's interpretation of the vice pres). But, she is a secessionist sympathizer, her husband is a secessionist, andy yet, she thinks she is a true American? She puts Alaska before America. Seriously, can you imagine the response if Obama had even ever sat next to someone with a pro-Hawaiin secessionist stance. My god, his campaign would be over and he would be likely prosecuted for treason. But somehow, SP gets a pass - that's what happens when we do not teach our kids about the Constituion.

[mommadona]

AIP...Alaska Independence Party...su­ccessionis­ts...

"I uphold your party's vision of upholding the constitution OF OUR GREAT STATE ..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2VQfBalCkc&feature=related

[MsCanadian]

Whoa! We need to be passing this around.

[whit4brains]

Notice how she doesn't sound so "folksy" in this video and doesn't have quite the same flirty style that she did during the debate. She really played that Joe six-pack nonsense that night. She's a phony!

[whit4brains]

Where is her "folksy" jargon and winking? She was really playing that up during the debate!

[wingman1]

Well said Robert. I hope the Obama campaign takes issue with this.