My third letter in a series comparing dirty Malaysian and American political/media smears.
First letter: Sarah Palin, Anwar Ibrahim and the Politics of Alinsky
Second letter: Proven – the BN/MSMS Complex is Using Alinskyite Tactics
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The smear job image as mentioned, via Malaysia Chronicle:
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Text of my original letter, with extra embedded links:
A follow up to Sarah Palin, Anwar Ibrahim and the Politics of Alinsky.
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Note: They subsequently changed the title as follows:
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Text from the my original:
Via AoSHQ, by I Own The World, it’s going viral:
See also related comparisons at:
UPDATE 29 August 2011: A follow up letter to this has been published, Proven – the BN/MSMS Complex is Using Alinskyite Tactics.
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Text from the my original, with added links:
Sarah Palin, Anwar Ibrahim and the Politics of Alinsky
Ordinary Malaysians are getting fed up of neverending sex allegations against Anwar Ibrahim. This strikes a chord with me – it reminds me of a parallel situation that has been unfolding in the USA over the past three years.
The Big Government article ‘MSM Uses Palin’s Own Children as Political Weapons Against Her’ describes how the liberal-dominated mainstream media in America constantly shines a sickly spotlight on Sarah Palin.
The MSM parades, mocks and lambasts every minute detail that is even remotely connected to Palin, including the personal lives of her children.
The reason for this constant noise, according to the article, is that U.S. Democrats and their allies fear the impact she has on the political scene – even as they belittle her as wholly inconsequential and not worth a second thought.
After all, Palin turned Obama’s 2008 impending landslide against McCain into a mere majority of votes.
Until Palin, 45, burst onto the scene, Obama was headed for a Nixon/McGovern landslide. Palin may not have changed the election result, but she killed what otherwise would have been a rout… The biggest red flag proving her popularity with normal Americans is that liberals won’t shut up about her. – The 2009 TIME 100, Heroes & Icons: Sarah Palin, TIME Magazine 30 April 2009
She has made Senators, Congresspersons and Governors out of underdogs by endorsing them in the 2010 U.S. elections.
Sarah Palin seems to have the magic touch when it comes to her endorsements. According to the NYT her record so far is 24-5 which is an amazing achievement… Her endorsement alone seems enough to get people to take a second look at candidates and reconsider their votes. So she’s building up a lot of good will and political IOUs – all of which would be very helpful for a 2012 run. – Sarah Palin – Political Kingmaker, Ace of Spades HQ, 30 July 2010
–The year of the “Mama Grizzlies”, Michelle Malkin, 8 July 2010
With just a Facebook posting criticizing Obama’s policies, she has gotten the U.S. President and Robert Gibbs leaping to respond – on national TV, no less.
His voice dripping with exasperation, the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said to me one July afternoon in his office: “If I would have told you that I could open up a Facebook account or a Twitter account, simply post quotes, and have the White House asked about those, and to have the entire White House press corps focused on your quote of the day on Facebook — that’s Sarah Palin. She tweets one thing, and all of a sudden you’ve got a room full of people that want to know…” – The New York Times, 17 Nov 2010
If you thought the exact opposite of Sarah Palin, then Congratulations! You’ve been dutifully following the MSM. According to them, Palin is just a retro-hairstyled bimbo who sees Russia from her house and thinks North and South Korea are the same. (Recently, some our own local MSM pundits have not been innocent of this either – you know who you are.)
And then there is Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate in 2008. Besides her retro hairdo and family issues, her main claim to stardom has been her self-proclaimed experience in foreign policy for supposedly being able to see Russia from her Alaskan backyard.
Unfortunately, the Korean peninsula seemed just a little out of reach. She could not tell the difference between North and South Korea.
She was roundly credited for helping candidate Barack Obama win the presidency. In hoping to run for the presidency herself, the Republican Party’s stab at the presidency could self-destruct upon her nomination.
– Only re-election on Obama’s mind now by BUNN NAGARA, The Star 15 May 2011
Surround her with as much triviality as possible, and the American public will grow sick of even the mention of her name. They will think of her only as a joke. “Sarah Palin? That airhead? You can’t be serious!” Soon even the world’s public ends up laughing about her.
This strikes me as exactly what is being done to Anwar Ibrahim.
There are those who fear Anwar’s impact as an inspiration and figurehead of Pakatan Rakyat – if not the de facto leader – even as they portray him as a sidelined, has-been, depraved lackey of America and Israel.
Surround him with as much tawdry drama as possible, and the Malaysian public will grow sick of even the mention of his name. They will equate him only with dirty jokes. “Anwar Ibrahim? Maybe he can still win the next election if he suddenly comes from behind, ha ha ha!“ Soon even the world’s public ends up laughing about him.
Just try this experiment out: Ask the next armchair pundit you meet if they know what Anwar Ibrahim’s economic, social and governance recommendations for the country are. The sex allegations have so permeated the atmosphere around Anwar that they have crowded out any serious discussion about him as a real political leader.
That is why sex videos featuring men who look nothing like Anwar are being bandied about. Who cares if no one is convinced it is really him caught on tape, as long as they keep talking about it and nothing else! Tomorrow another ‘whistleblowing insider’ could even release a sex tape featuring only women, and still claim it features Anwar Ibrahim!
The late community organizer Saul Alinsky is a major influence on Barack Obama’s philosophy. In Saul Alinsky’s book Rules For Radicals, Rule 12 describes how to delegitimize an opponent: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)
[[Note: I left out the last line originally.]]
You tell me if this does not describe exactly what is being done to Anwar Ibrahim now.
Malaysia has truly ‘matured’ politically if we are using underhanded tactics on par with the experienced Americans. Sadly, this is not something to be proud of.
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Check out the comments at the sites. Apparently many of the commentors totally fail to see the irony of their bashing Sarah Palin based on what they read from the MSM, in the comments section of a letter explaining how the MSM’s coverage of Sarah Palin is misguided.
The Malaysiakini letter referred to in the Malaysiakini version is here. It was the final spur that got me to writing the letter. The first was a certain OMY who casually mentioned Sarah Palin (mixing her up with former Miss Universe’s goof), the second was the aforelinked Bunn Nagara hit piece.
UPDATE: And here Sarah sticks it back at the liberal MSM during her bus tour!
Yeah, that nobody has-been unpopular among Conservatives nobody from nowhere… Right, liberals?
Via Neo-neocon:
His voice dripping with exasperation, the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said to me one July afternoon in his office: “If I would have told you that I could open up a Facebook account or a Twitter account, simply post quotes, and have the White House asked about those, and to have the entire White House press corps focused on your quote of the day on Facebook — that’s Sarah Palin. She tweets one thing, and all of a sudden you’ve got a room full of people that want to know…” – The New York Times
On a tip from hutchrun.
Full reposting from Sarah Palin’s Facebook Notes with fave parts bolded by me. Expect President Thin-Skin to personally attack Palin for this affront.
Peace Through Strength and American Pride vs. “Enemy-Centric” Policy
Earlier this week, I spoke at the Freedom Fest in Norfolk, Virginia; and, evidently, the media was asked to leave – not by me, that’s for sure. I want my message out, so despite reporters making up a story about “Palin people kicking us out” (uh, the “Palin people” entourage would consist of one person – my 15-year-old daughter, Willow – and I have no doubt she could take on any reporter, but I know for certain she didn’t “kick ‘em out” of the event). Anyway, here are some of the key issues I spoke about.
DEFENSE SPENDING
It takes a lot of resources to maintain the best fighting force in the world – especially at a time when we face financial uncertainty and a mountain of debt that threatens all of our futures.
We have a federal government that is spending trillions, and that has nationalized whole sections of our economy: the auto industry, the insurance industry, health care, student loans, the list goes on – all of it at enormous cost to the tax payer. The cost of Obamacare alone is likely to exceed $2.5 trillion dollars.
As a result of all these trillion dollar spending bills, America’s going bust in a hurry. By 2020 we may reach debt levels of $20 trillion – twice the debt that we have today! It reminds me of that joke I read the other day: “Please don’t tell Obama what comes after a trillion!”
Something has to be done urgently to stop the out of control Obama-Reid-Pelosi spending machine, and no government agency should be immune from budget scrutiny. We must make sure, however, that we do nothing to undermine the effectiveness of our military. If we lose wars, if we lose the ability to deter adversaries, if we lose the ability to provide security for ourselves and for our allies, we risk losing all that makes America great! That is a price we cannot afford to pay.
This may be obvious to you and me, but I am not sure the Obama Administration gets it. There isn’t a single progressive pet cause which they haven’t been willing to throw billions at. But when it comes to defense spending, all of a sudden they start preaching a message of “fiscal restraint.” Our Defense Secretary recently stated the “gusher” of defense spending was over and that it was time for the Department of Defense to tighten its belt. There’s a gusher of spending alright, but it’s not on defense. Did you know the US actually only ranks 25th worldwide on defense spending as a percentage of GDP? We spend three times more on entitlements and debt services than we do on defense.
Now don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wrong with preaching fiscal conservatism. I want the federal government to balance its budget right now! And not the Washington way – which is raising your taxes to pay for their irresponsible spending habits. I want it done the American way: by cutting spending, reducing the size of government, and letting people keep more of their hard-earned cash.
But the Obama administration doesn’t practice what it preaches. This is an administration that won’t produce a budget for fear that we discover how reckless they’ve been as fiscal managers. At the same time, it threatens to veto a defense bill because of an extra jet engine!
This administration may be willing to cut defense spending, but it’s increasing it everywhere else. I think we should do it the other way round: cut spending in other departments – apart from defense. We should not be cutting corners on our national security.
THE U.S. NAVY
Secretary Gates recently spoke about the future of the US Navy. He said we have to “ask whether the nation can really afford a Navy that relies on $3 to $6 billion destroyers, $7 billion submarines, and $11 billion carriers.” He went on to ask, “Do we really need… more strike groups for another 30 years when no other country has more than one?”
Well, my answer is pretty simple: Yes, we can and, yes, we do because we must. Our Navy has global responsibilities. It patrols sea lanes and safeguards the freedoms of our allies – and ourselves. The Navy right now only has 286 ships, and that number may decrease. That will limit our options, extend tours for Navy personnel, lessen our ability to secure our allies and deter our adversaries. The Obama administration seems strangely unconcerned about this prospect.
OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY INHERITANCE
When George W. Bush came into office, he inherited a military that had been cut deeply, an al Qaeda that had been unchallenged, and an approach to terrorism that focused on bringing court cases rather than destroying those who sought to destroy us. We saw the result of some of that on 9/11.
When President Obama came into office, he inherited a military that was winning in Iraq. He inherited loyal allies and strong alliances. And thanks to the lamestream media pawing and purring over him, he had the benefit of unparalleled global popularity. What an advantage! So their basic foreign policy outlines should have been clear. Commit to the War on Terror. Commit to winning – not ending, but winning the war in Afghanistan. Commit to the fight against violent Islamic extremism wherever it finds sanctuary. Work with our allies. Be resolute with our adversaries. Promote liberty, not least because it enhances our security. Unfortunately, these basic principles seem to have been discarded by Washington.
THE WAR ON TERROR
His administration has banned the phrase “war on terror,” preferring instead politically correct nonsense like “overseas contingency operations.” His Homeland Security Secretary calls acts of terrorism “man-caused disasters.” His reckless plan to close Guantanamo (because there’s no place to go after it’s closed) faces bipartisan opposition now.
The Attorney General just announced that a decision about where to try terrorists like 9/11 master mind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would not be announced until after the mid-term elections. Is there something he’s afraid to tell us?
The President’s new National Security Strategy does not even use the word “Islamic” when referring to violent extremism. Does he think the ideology of those who seek to kill Americans is irrelevant? How can we seek to defeat an enemy if we don’t acknowledge what motivates them and what their ultimate goals are? President Obama may think he is being politically correct by dropping the term, but it flies in the face of reality. As Senator Joe Lieberman noted, refusing to use the word Islamic when describing the nature of the threat we face is “Orwellian and counterproductive.”
AFGHANISTAN
In Afghanistan, it is true that President Obama approved deploying additional forces to the conflict – most, but not all the troops requested by commanders on the ground. But it took months of indecision to get to that point, and it came at a very high price – a July 2011 date to begin withdrawal.
This date was arbitrary! It bears no relation to conditions on the ground. It sends all the wrong signals to our friends and to our enemies. We know our commanders on the ground are not comfortable with it.
As that great Navy war hero, Senator John McCain recently put it: “The decision to begin withdrawing our forces from Afghanistan arbitrarily in July 2011 seems to be having exactly the effect that many of us predicted it would: It is convincing the key actors inside and outside of Afghanistan that the United States is more interested in leaving than succeeding in this conflict.”
Does the President really believe the Taliban and al Qaeda won’t be empowered by his naming of a starting date for withdrawal? They now believe they can beat him simply by outlasting us. What sort of effect does he think this will have on the morale of our troops – and of our allies?
ALIENATING OUR ALLIES
It’s not the only area where the Obama administration has failed our allies. They escalated a minor zoning issue in Jerusalem into a major dispute with our most important ally in the Middle East, Israel. They treated the Israeli Prime Minister shabbily in Washington. When a Turkish sponsored flotilla threatened to violate a legal Israeli blockade of Hamas-run Gaza, the Obama Administration was silent. When Israeli commandos were assaulted as they sought to prevent unmonitored cargoes from being delivered to Hamas terrorists, the Obama Administration sent signals it might allow a UN investigation into the matter – an investigation that would be sure to condemn our ally Israel and bemoan the plight of Hamas. Loyal NATO allies in central Europe were undermined by the cancellation of a missile defense program with virtually no warning. At the same time, Russia and China are given preferential treatment, while remaining silent on their human rights violations.
CODDLING ADVERSARIES
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration reaches out to some of the world’s worst regimes. They shake hands with dictators like Hugo Chavez, send letters to the Iranian mullahs and envoys to North Korea, ease sanctions on Cuba and talk about doing the same with Burma. That’s when they’re not on one of their worldwide apology tours.
Do we get anything in return for all this bowing and apologizing? No, we don’t. Yes, Russia voted for a weak sanctions resolution on Iran, but it immediately stated it could sell advanced anti-aircraft missile to Iran anyway, and would not end its nuclear cooperation. In response to North Korea’s unprovoked sinking of a South Korean Navy ship, China warned us not to take part in military exercises with our ally.
And while President Obama lets America get pushed around by the likes of Russia and China, our allies are left to wonder about the value of an alliance with the U.S. They have to be wondering if it’s worth it.
AN “ENEMY-CENTRIC” FOREIGN POLICY
It has led one prominent Czech official to call Obama’s foreign policy “enemy-centric.” And this “enemy-centric” approach has real consequences. It not only baffles our allies, it worries them. When coupled with less defense spending, it signals to the world that maybe we can no longer be counted on, and that we have other priorities than being the world leader that keeps the peace and provides security in Europe, in Asia and throughout the world.
Together with this enemy-centric foreign policy, we see a lessening of the long, bipartisan tradition of speaking out for human rights and democracy. The Secretary of State said she would not raise human rights with China because “we pretty much know what they are going to say.” Democracy promotion programs have been cut. Support for the brave Iranians protesting their government was not forthcoming because President Obama would rather try to cut a deal with their oppressors.
When the world’s dictators see the United States unconcerned with human rights and political freedom, they breathe a sigh of relief, because they know they have a free hand to repress their own people.
This goes against the very ideals on which our republic was founded. There is a long bipartisan tradition of speaking out in favor of freedom – from FDR to Ronald Reagan. America loses something very important when its President consigns human rights and freedom to the back burner of its international priorities.
A DIFFERENT VIEW OF AMERICA
We have a President, perhaps for the very first time since the founding of our republic, who doesn’t appear to believe that America is the greatest earthly force for good the world has ever known.
When asked whether he believed in American exceptionalism, President Obama answered, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” Amazing. Amazing.
I think this statement speaks volumes about his world view. He sees nothing unique in the American experience? Really? Our founding, and our founding mothers and fathers? Really? And our history over the past two and half centuries?
Really? He sees nothing unique in an America that fought and won two world wars and in victory sought not one inch of territory or one dollar of plunder? He sees nothing unique in an America that, though exhausted by conflict, still laid the foundation for security in Europe and Asia after World War II? He sees nothing unique in an America that prevailed against an evil ideology in the Cold War? Does he just see a country that has to be apologized for around the world, especially to dictators?
President Obama actually seems reluctant to even embrace American power. Earlier this year when he was asked about his faltering Middle East peace process, he said “whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower.” Whether we like it or not?! Really? Mr. President, this may come as news to you, but most Americans actually do like it. And so do our allies. They know it was our military might that liberated countless millions from tyranny, slavery, and oppression over the last 234 years. Yes, we do like it. As a dominant superpower, the United States has won wars hot and cold; our military has advanced the cause of freedom and kept authoritarian powers in check.
It is in America’s and the world’s best interests for our country to remain the dominant military superpower, but under President Obama’s leadership that dominance may be slipping away. It’s the result of an agenda that reeks of complacency and defeatism.
(I went on from there to talk about our need to end the negative, defeatist attitudes of those in leadership. I spoke further on American exceptionalism, and Willow and I ended a great evening with some great patriots. Sorry the media chose to report anything other than what actually happened at the event.)
– Sarah Palin
FYI, I and the rest of the free world have a vested interest in a strong America doing the dirty work in keeping us safe:
Cartoon by Michael Ramirez:
The Obama Touch vs The Palin Touch
A summary of the results of their endorsements created by R Martin (click for full sizes):
vs
Ann Coulter can attest to the above.
Even the liberal NYT notices – scoring her 24-5.
A less serious addition to the list of reasons why Palin is better than Obama.
He went to Massachusetts to campaign against Scott Brown; Brown is now a senator. He went to New Jersey to campaign against Chris Christie, who’s now governor. He went to Virginia to campaign against Bob McDonnell, who’s now governor. He campaigned for the health-care plan extensively, it became less popular. He campaigned in 2010 for the Democrats, they were shellacked. He began, in a sense, his presidency flying to Copenhagen to get Chicago the Olympics; Chicago was the first city eliminated.
So who still thinks that Palin is not popular among true Conservatives?
File under I for Irony.
Here’s the Punditkitchen submitted version:
Also posted as Number 274 at Palin Derangement Syndrome: A Collection.
See also similar teh irony, Separation of Church and Hate.
Than someone who:
Goes golfing instead of paying last respects to the deceased Polish leadership.
Gives an American DVD collection (that doesn’t even run on PAL systems) to Britain’s PM as the official gift.
Gives an iPod with one’s own speeches to the Queen of England as the official gift.
Returns the bust of Winston Churchill to the British.
Bows to the leaders of China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
Lets the Dalai Lama out the garbage door.
Leaves the Israeli PM hanging in order to have dinner, and no photos together allowed.
Disses the President of Afghanistan after his election victory.
Opposes the legal and constitutional ouster of Honduras’ President, then belittles the free and democratic elections held to choose his successor.
Attacks private citizens who dare raise criticisms (when did Bush ever do this with any of his countless 24/7 critics?).
Contrast with going to great lengths to accomodate the leaders of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuala, Burma, Sudan – which has earned the USA squat in reciprocation.
Focuses on passing socialized healthcare that the majority of Americans don’t want, restricting carbon emissions to stop global warming that hasn’t been happening for the past 15 years, open-borders illegal alien amnesty… Anything but jobs (10% unemployment) and the faltering economy (2 trillion debt) which is the number one concern of most Americans now.
Goes golfing, shooting hoops, two vacations while a masses oil leak destroys the environment.
Boy, aren’t you glad we dodged that IDIOT Sarah Palin? /sarc
And as I recall, she was running for Vice President.
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