President Obama provided a stark and welcoming contrast to his former rival from the 2008 presidential campaign, Sarah Palin, when he implored the nation to communicate in ways that heals instead capitalizing on victimization.
“At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, it’s important that [we] are talking to each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds,” Obama said admonishingly to a capacity crowd at the University of Arizona.
Conversely, Palin pitched her tent on the sinking soil of victim-hood when she said the criticism that she received is akin to “blood libel.” Instead of addressing the media as the leader she so desperately wants to be seen as, she took to Facebook to tell the world that she is being wrongly attacked for her campaign style rhetoric. Her camp also stated that death threats against her have increased exponentially since the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Jan 9.
Furthermore, Palin’s reckless railing against critics unearthing the antiquated and inflammatory term “blood libel” incited another controversy in and of itself. Jewish American leaders were outraged that Palin would arm herself with such a phrase. The term “blood libel” was used against Jews by Christians during Biblical times who believed that Jews killed Jesus and was the excuse given for mass killings of Jews in subsequent centuries in Europe. So, instead of dousing the populous rage against her, Palin managed to actually inflame her critics anger and increase the membership in the anti-Palin camp.
Contrasting Palin‘s words and actions, Obama visited Gifford in the hospital in Arizona and reported that she opened her eyes, just a few days after ordering a moment of silence outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
“At a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who happen to think differently than we do — it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds,” he said.
Obama resisted pressure from the left to to ratchet up the animus between the two philosophical camps in America by calling for compassion over conflict. Meanwhile, Palin sends a typed defense of her actions and mean-spirited speaking style to fellow arch-conservative Glenn Beck one day, then produces a video the next day ripping into those who dare challenge her right to unrestrained speech.
Palin may be the most recognizable personality within the conservative ranks these days, but she is far from the most respected. And her actions in the wake of the Tucson tragedy are further confirmation of the sentiments of her critics. –terry shropshire