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Ear to the Ground

Palin Fears for (Her) Free Speech

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Posted on Oct 31, 2008

Someone better give Sarah Palin a copy of the U.S. Constitution—or better yet, read it to her slowly. The up-and-coming legal scholar/vice presidential candidate is scared for her own First Amendment rights because of “attacks” from reporters who claim she is engaging in negative campaign tactics.


ABCNews:

In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened by “attacks” from reporters who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama.

Palin told WMAL-AM that her criticism of Obama’s associations, like those with 1960s radical Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, should not be considered negative attacks.  Rather, for reporters or columnists to suggest that it is going negative may constitute an attack that threatens a candidate’s free speech rights under the Constitution, Palin said.

“If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations,” Palin told host Chris Plante, “then I don’t know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media.”

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By thebeerdoctor, November 2, 2008 at 3:06 pm #

Everybody on this thread, as they say at the track, is dead on the money… wow, I never thought I would one day see Senator McCain as Dr. Frankenstein, but his monster is off the table and running around loose, yikes!

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By purplewolf, November 1, 2008 at 8:01 pm #

Squeaky Jones: Thank you for you empathy toward creatures exploited by this corrupt piece of humanity(?) Having funded wolf restoration in Alaska(not my home state) I also cried when watching the two links, which I posted from Defenders of Wildlife, to the aerial wolf kills and also the A/V to the killing of wolf pups, after Sarah’s group of hand picked DNR(not professional ones) people killed 14 adult and juvenile wolves. Something that is ILLEGAL according to the law books in Alaska. But Sarah never let the law of the land stop her from getting what she wants, to heck with everything else.


As for Sarah claiming her 1st amendment right is in danger, she is the one more likely to endanger or end this right for the American people. She is a babbling idiot from what I have seen of her when she has no script from which to read. Left to her own mind, or lack thereof, this lack of knowledge shows itself rather quickly. And by claiming that Charles Gibson or Katy Couric gave her hard questions is just lame.

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By CarolO, November 1, 2008 at 9:53 am #

She needs to read the Constitution because she doesn’t know it!  Vice Presidents do not RUN THE SENATE but they vote in tie-breakers.  She said something else yesterday also not correct but, forgive me, she has said so much not correct I have brushed it from my brain.

We now have Joe the Plumber who is giving wrong information on the economy, on foreign affairs and on social security.  What a team!

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By Purple Girl, November 1, 2008 at 8:49 am #

don’t just give her a Kucinich Pocket Cosntitution for reference, get her a damn dictionary!
If I say Sarah is a Heretic becaue she beleives in and is working towards E’nd of Days’ that’s my opinion and thus my right to say.
However, If i say she IS a terrorist because she holds similar ideological to Randolf (Atlanta Pipe bomber) and repeatedly say it as a Public Servant (not just a citizen anymore)I would be committing Slander.
What’s the diffference? My Postion of influence and power. Since I’m not the Pope ‘heretic’ means very little. Plus we no longer Torture or burn heretics at the stake…Thus no reprecusion to such an acusation. In fact since I am also not an attorney or a public servant i am free to even claim she is a Terrorist, because it amounts to nothing, bu tpure specualtion. However if I am considered a Public agent these words hold far mroe weight and may effect far more peoples opinions and poss. guide (or misguide) my actions, which effects the PUBLIC for which I WORK FOR!
Sarah it is not What you said , It’s who you are and WHO YOU are Representing when you speak!When You are seeking public Office YOUR personal Free Speech is Curtailed because Now you are Speaking,Representing, for US!
Free Speech is a Right for INDIVIDUALS not Entities or Offices. Thus you are no longer ‘Sarah Palin’ , You are the Governor of AK and the VP nominee of the Republican party.If you don’t like the limitations such Public titles place on you - Get out of the Public Representation Buisness!

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By Jim Yell, November 1, 2008 at 8:46 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

If you can’t take the heat than get out of the kitchen.

This is just one more silly claim from a party that makes up its lies out of whole cloth. Truth and the Republican Party are literally strangers.

The alarming things are the racist and hateful things people such as Palin have been saying off camera. If McCain/Palin should win Tuesday it will break our Republic, destroy our Democracy and confirm to the world that we are lying jerks. That is not the America that should be. The Government and the Consitution and the Bill of Rights should be for everyone, not just the rich and religious.

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By hippy pam, November 1, 2008 at 8:21 am #

Why mcshame chose palin???....He CHOSE ms.perky butt cheer leader cuz she draws ATTENTION AWAY from his INEPT,DODDERING,FUMBLING ATTEMPTS to pretend he has ANYTHING TOGETHER…EVERY ONE is so busy LOOKING AT HER and we ain’t payin’ attention to what “bullsh*t/mcshame” may be pulling BEHIND OUR BACKS…

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By thebeerdoctor, November 1, 2008 at 7:38 am #

What will the inimitable Mrs. Palin say about this latest gaffe?
“Well I guess I got my hats mixed up between journalist and candidate.”
You betcha.

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By Allan Krueger, November 1, 2008 at 7:22 am #

I know, you are Bimbo darling of the far right, religious nut jobs group! Sarah, I must say, you have accomplished an amazing feat! It took me almost 18 months to develop revulsion at the sight of Bush - you have accomplished this in less than two months!

And please, you can say anything you want - just do it somewhere else! Get real, you would never be able to garner enough support to be elected to National office - just not enough lunatics in the other 49 states! You and first dude ought to pursue secession! Then, you can run for pResident of the United States of Alaska and pick Stevens as your running mate! What a ticket! The Bimbo / Felon combo!

Shoo! Back to Alaska with you!

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By Major Domo, November 1, 2008 at 12:57 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Someone should explain to Palin that slander and criticism are not synonyms.

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By Louise, October 31, 2008 at 11:07 pm #

Lets see now ... isn’t the First Amendment there to guarantee the right of the citizenry and [the media] to speak out, challenge and question their elected officials?

Oh, I forgot Palin hasn’t been elected yet.
At least not by us!

Quick! Sombody sit this lady down and read her the Constitution! Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to sit McCain down too!

And while I’m thinking about it give them all a spelling lesson ... especially Joe! Love that new add, the one where Joe wants McCain elected, because he’ll protect EVERBODY.

Someday someone will write about this republican candidacy and nobody will buy it, ‘cause nobody will believe it! smile

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By Harlan, October 31, 2008 at 7:52 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I’m no constitutional law expert, but doesn’t the 1st amendment concern the government censoring a persons speech, not criticism when a person makes themselves look like a twit. So, unless some governmental body is keeping her from being heard…I don’t think it is a 1st Amendment issue if the media reflects the public notion that she is a twit.

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By mill, October 31, 2008 at 6:31 pm #

Seems Mrs. Palin speaks freely, and without retribution.  That others say nasty things about her is just more protected 1st Amendment activity.

if she doesn’t want to have people say mean things about her, maybe she shouldn’t be so mean.

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By Thomthum, October 31, 2008 at 5:24 pm #

Let’s just hope the American people have the next 4-8 years to fully vet her as she sits in Alaska and not DC.

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By rage, October 31, 2008 at 5:10 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

No, everytime Sarah Palin opens her mouth these days, she fears and loathes the hell-to-pay consequences of having so freely expressed a cognitive deficiency that substantiates rumors that her IQ is lower than snail piss. I think she’s finally starting to realize that all the folks rolling on the floor screaming in tears when she gives interviews are not laughing with her. Folks who are not absolutely stunned and terrified by the ungodly prospects of a Palin presidency are hyperventilating from the comedy of her mindless political rants. Seriously, the woman can see Russia from her porch WITHOUT WEED! For many, that still demonstrates a certain level of derrangement. Where it’s not frightening that this oaf is basing her lethal foreign policy on this note, it really is very funny. SaraCuda, however, did not intend that to be a joke, and she’s starting to resent that no one really takes her seriously.

And, we don’t take her seriously. Both real and fake America sees her as little more than MILFy bumps in cute pumps handed to Gramps as a gift for his 72nd birthday. She’s apple-bottomed political bootycall for which Grampy is paying with his career and reputation. Still, America, particularly pundits and the entertainment industry, encourages Palin to speak freely as often as she can, preferrably way off the script. Tina Fey needs that material for SNL’s ratings.

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By rylly, October 31, 2008 at 3:58 pm #

Nothing magnanimous about Sarah, self-serving is her by-word. She never gave thought to special needs children until she had one and then all of a sudden she was arranging funds for everything she might benefit from.
She is s-o-o-o right wing, dyed in the wool in that habit of accusing others of the very thing you are guilty of…divert attention away from your own failings and really nail the opponent, false or not.
A born dishonest politician…a born lying leader, helluva hand.
Yup, that lst Amendment lets us tell all about her, gone are the days that only a few “knew”.

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By WykydRed, October 31, 2008 at 3:18 pm #

It’s standard bible-thumper moronity. They have all been on a hot tear to totally eliminate the First Amendment for years, even bringing Newt Gingrich into it, demanding an “end to the First Amendment because it allows people to speak against Christianity, and that simply cannot be allowed.”

However, when a bible-thumper hurls invectives, it’s “free speech”.

Just like non-American idiots who wave the flag and preach patriotism use it to speak THEIR minds, but demand that everyone else who speaks against their guv’ment be arrested and deported to some other country. Usually, when they use the brilliant and well-though out tact of, “Well if you don’t like this country, get out!”, they usually add, “Why don’t you go someplace like….Rawanda!”

I think the First Amendment DOES need amending. “Each individual above the age of 21 may practice their religion freely and as they wish, but may not in any manner whatsoever impose their religious beliefs on anyone, regardless of age. Nor may gatherings be allowed to practice any religion and any mention or hint of politics immediately negates any freedom to practice the religion involved.”

Dear Palin Rider and horse:
Thanks for bumping up Atheism in America from 25% to 43%! It takes a Christian to disgust people to the point where they no longer need to believe in invisible friends. Well done!

Now to get that pesky religion thing outta that there First Amendment thingy <wink>. And now ... a flaming baton!

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By squeaky jones, October 31, 2008 at 2:57 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

After I read Sarah Palins wants wolves to be shot in the wilds of Alaska from planes,and watching a video of wolf killers shooting wolves in the wild from planes, I cried for the wolves killed in this manner; and I cried for the world that an evil person Sarah Palin hiding behind the bible could be president. Squeaky

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By hippy pam, October 31, 2008 at 2:02 pm #

O.K. you betcha….This “pit bull wearing lipstick” has not got the common sense to be afraid-of anything….not moose…..not wolf…..not mcshame….not FIA…..not public opinion…..not her own lack of education…not her own bigotry….and so on….so she wants us….now….to believe she is a “frightened citizen??????funny….Shae has most people believing she ain’t even afraid of goin’ against her own party…..

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By ProUnionProLabor, October 31, 2008 at 1:28 pm #

I think it’s pretty obvious now that Bible Spice has never had a political science class. Maybe someone should check how she did in her high school government class. If she even went to high school.

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By GrammaConcept, October 31, 2008 at 12:56 pm #

Oy.

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