I’m going to appear on WSPA’s Scene on 7 today and one of our topics is Sarah Palin’s violent rhetoric and the fact that her gun sight map, http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/dont-get-demoralized-get-organized-take-back-the-20/373854973434

targeting certain Democratic candidates including Rep. Giffords is still posted on her Face book page. Palin’s camp has been trying to spin the map since the shooting in Arizona. They contend that those aren’t cross hairs on the map but surveying symbols. Yeah, right. Funny how they failed to mention this fact when the map was first made public and provoked a storm of controversy including criticism of Palin by Rep. Giffords, who felt threatened by the map and the fact that her race was one of those targeted. Rep. Gifford’s office was later vandalized after she voted in favor of the health care reform bill and a man dropped a hand gun at one of her public appearances. Both of these events occurred in advance of the shooting last weekend.

My issue with Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck among others is their irresponsible and frequent use of violent, inflammatory rhetoric. They both have huge national platforms to speak from. Their social media comments (twitter and Face book) are closely followed by individuals and the national media. Historically speaking tough economic times seem to trigger unrest and paranoia by those suffering the most. If you are living on the margins, you tend to become more fearful when the economy tanks and your personal financial security are at risk. If the people you admire and believe in like Beck and Palin telling you to “lock and reload,” and demonizing the opposing political side, it can encourage violent behavior and paranoid thinking.

I was a competitive debater in high school and college and I was taught to win an argument on facts not fallacies and heated rhetoric. If your political philosophy is strong enough you should be able to defend it on its merits not by tearing apart the opposition with personal attacks and inflammatory and often false characterizations. I object vehemently to the rhetoric employed by Beck and Palin. When they demonize our President calling him evil, fanning the flames of religious hatred by saying all Muslims are terrorists and that Islam is an evil religion they are fueling hatred and divisiveness.

I’m not saying that the shooting in Arizona and their hate filled rhetoric have a causal link. What I’m saying is that their hate speech and demonization of Democrats is irresponsible and undignified. It’s shocking to think that Sarah Palin was the GOP Vice Presidential nominee. One would think that someone who had achieved that level of success and visibility would be more mindful of the power of her words. I’m sick and tired of both Beck and Palin playing the victim. It’s time for both of them to own their words and their actions and to begin to take responsibility for them. I really don’t want an apology for what’s come before just more thoughtful actions and rhetoric in the future.

If the Republican Party is the party of American ideals and personal responsibility, it’s time for their advocates to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

The right wings response is to attack and deny instead of reflecting and taking responsibility.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201101110017