Sarah Palin video gets negative media reviews. The conservative lightning rod responds to allegations that she was somehow responsible for the tragedy in Tucson. It’s seems clear that no matter what she said the left-leaning media wasn’t going to be pleased. Predictably, the pundits found a new line of attack in the video. They had to with original charge withering before their eyes. Seizing upon Palin’s use of the term “blood libel,” they now want us to believe she’s anti-Semitic. Fortunately, fair-minded leaders of the Jewish community have chosen not to pile on.

Meanwhile, an online commentary on ABC News’ The Note almost laughably (funny if the subject weren’t so serious) snarks “Sarah Palin, once again, has found a way to become part of the story.” Excuse me, but I think it was her critics who, without evidence, contorted themselves to insert her into a tragic event that she had nothing to do with. She was merely responding and defending herself from unfair attacks. She had every right to do so.

ABC News also quotes an aide to Palin as saying that death threats against her have soared since the Arizona shooting. Hopefully, well-intentioned liberal commentators will help dial back the the anything-goes attitude that seems to exist when it comes to verbally attacking Palin. Disagreeing with her policy ideas and even suggesting that she’s not too bright is fine. Fanning literal hatred against her isn’t. Conservatives should apply the same principle when criticizing President Obama or anyone they disagree with. Both sides need to remember that our political opponents are not our enemies. They’re just people who have arrived at different conclusions — and who are worthy of basic respect.    

As President Obama said at yesterday’s memorial service honoring the victims of the Tucson shootings “at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized — 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 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.”

Wise words even if Tucson never happened. Conservatives and liberals alike should heed them.