Ventriloquism in Print: Sarah Palin as Medium for Bill Kristol?

William Kristol: I spoke on the phone Sunday with Sarah Palin, who was in Long Beach, Calif., preparing to take off on her next campaign trip.

To an astonishing degree, the neo-con intellectual and New York Times columnist, Bill Kristol, has become--informally--a member of Gov. Sarah Palin's campaign staff. Note his last two columns: "How McCain Wins" on September 29; and "The Wright Stuff" on October 6. And remember that this is the man who was once Vice President Dan Quayle's top adviser.

A week ago, William Kristol had written that there was a chance for McCain to turn a losing campaign around if he would

"liberate his running mate from the former Bush aides brought in to handle her ... McCain picked Sarah Palin in part because she's a talented politician and communicator. He needs to free her to use her political talents and to communicate in her own voice."

In other words, let Palin be Palin. Kristol had been informed that McCain's top aides were being dispatched to "liberate" her "to go on the offensive as a combative conservative."

Describing Barack Obama as a "garden-variety liberal," Kristol noted that he has had "radical associates" in his past. The most famous of these: the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

This week, Kristol described an October 5 phone conversation with Gov. Palin in which--without a doubt--he was egging her on to "take the gloves off" and make character attacks upon Barack Obama. After quoting Palin's description of her debate with Sen. Biden as "liberating"--and volunteering to moderate a second vice-presidential debate !--Kristol effectively put words in her mouth in urging her to be more aggressive in helping the American people to understand "who the real Barack Obama is."

"Part of who Obama is, Palin said, has to do with his past associations, such as with the former bomber Bill Ayers." Kristol continued: "She maintained to me that Obama 'hasn't been wholly truthful' about this."

More revealing, Kristol asked: "If Ayers is a legitimate issue, what about Rev. Wright? "-- who had a closer relationship with Obama. "She didn't hesitate," reported Kristol:

'To tell you the truth, Bill, I don't know why that association isn't discussed more, because those were appalling things that pastor had said about our great country, and to have sat in the pews for 20 years and listened to that -- with a sense of condoning it, I guess, because he didn't get up and leave -- to me, that does say something about character. But, you know, I guess that would be a John McCain call on whether he wants to bring that up."

Probably so.

Just what is going on here? It is impossible to know where Kristol begins and Palin ends. The New York Times should liberate this "fifth columnist" from his contract so that he is free to officially join the Palin campaign. In his current role, he demeans the newspaper, and shames himself. Bill Kristol is trying to sedately wave a bloody flag; but he is as guilty as the malleable candidate for the shouts of "terrorist" aimed at Obama.

Let Palin be Kristol?

Comments

[bas1311]

Well, here's another problem we have with this country. Bill Kristol has been so consistently wrong or flat out lied about the war and just about everything yet he still has a national platform to spew his nonsense. There should be a scorecard kept and when a "pundit" (read: Republican Operative) has exceeded his lying/incorrect quotient(let's make that quotient, say a million times), he should lose his exposure to the media and the public. If my quotient were in effect, Kristol would have had to retire years ago.

[zizyphus]

Speaking of "channeling" Kristol, in rural Alaska a lot of the fundies are into "channeling" spirits. Who or what they think they are channeling is another matter. Sarah Palin was probably into this, as well as talking in tongues, rolling on the floor, etc. Those creepy churches want their parishioners in a trance, shelling out their money.

With our economy headed for the pits, it time to start taxing the churches.

[flacon]

Any proof she was "into this"? If not, I suggest you apologize and promise to never do it again.

[nobozos]

Kristol 'demeaned' the NYT the day his first words were printed in January, and he's continued to be an embarrassment. There are plenty of conservative columnists who don't spout such steady nonsense. Replace Kristol.

[Kahawa]

I've already written a letter to the NY Times complaining about this latest Bill Kristol column. What a waste of space! I don't see how they even allowed him to print such a ridiculous column. There isn't even much of a point here. All he demonstrates is that he is trying to help the McCain Palin ticket by coaching Palin. Which demonstrates his foolishness, and nothing more.

[Ohg]

What a great tragedy - McCain picked someone from small town America - someone he could manage and control. When they lose, and they will, Palin will be dumped like and old Halloween pumpkin. .............
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/05/the-tragedy-of-sarah-palin/

[Bluedog12]

Note to self. When reading viewing or listening to media if the name Bill Kristol is mentioned I move on.

[3dtrix]

I offer this challenge - name one person who has been more consistently wrong - in print and in the public record - on the issues facing our nation; political, military, diplomatic, economic, financial, environmental, educational - you name it - than William Kristol?

With a track record like his, why he is still able to draw a paycheck for his blatherings, or why anyone would be interested in his opinion on any topic whatsoever is a greater mystery to me than whether or not Adam and Eve had belly-buttons.

[bas1311]

The only one I can think of is the only man ever simultaneously part of the Executive and Legislative branches. Other than that, I think Kristol is the big winner of the last 8 years lying/incorrect contest.

[Kindheart]

I totally agree with the last paragraph. There seems to be a character flaw with the right wing journalists when they have to encourage the candidates to campaign in the sleaziest way.

[Clavis]

That damned liberal East Coast elitist, William Kristol!

[obamadeus]

I think McCain hasn't wanted to bring up Wright, because it would open the can of worms that is Sarah Palin's religious background. Her former pastors make Wright look mainstream in comparison.

[bas1311]

Oh come on, everyone has a witch-exorcising priest. If that video of her getting manhandled by two men while Muthee(someone who has actually been on witchhunts) tries to make sure no witches get her doesn't creep people out, I don't know what would. I knew the Republicans were reactionary, but I thought they wanted to take us back to the 1950's not 1692.