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[http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/peter_worthington/2008/11/14/7406596-sun.html
Why are knives out for Palin?
By PETER WORTHINGTON
Updated: 14th November 2008, 3:11am
Why is the Republican Party so angry at Sarah Palin?
They've just lost an election to the Democrats, and suddenly unidentified elements in the party are attacking the Alaska governor.
Why? It makes no sense, unless they want to eliminate her as a credible influence in the party, and fear she has aspirations to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2012.
They are so heavy-handed these modern Republicans. Fair enough to criticize Palin or any politician, but to do so with the protection of anonymity is cowardly and smacks of ulterior motives that journalists should suspect.
Even worse, judging from reports, it seems there were no anonymous sources, just journalists citing these sources and other media picking them up as genuine -- like the Post and Globe, which saw nothing untoward in publishing derogatory stories "on condition of anonymity."
The silliest accusation against her is the anonymous claim that she thinks Africa is a country, not a continent. This has since been shown as false in her interviews on FoxNews with Greta van Sustern and on CNN with Larry King Live.
Since she's a university journalism graduate, the accusation lacks credibility. Rather, it shows the credulity of her critics.
Again, supposedly not knowing the member nations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been persuasively refuted by her. As governor, she's had to know something about NAFTA in dealings with Canada.
The $150,000 the Republican National Committee invested in Palin's campaign wardrobe is much ado about very little. Who cares, especially since the RNC has re-possessed the clothes. They're the dumbos, not she.
Although beaten in the election, Palin's now anonymously described as "volatile, unreasonable and grossly ill-informed," with the implication she lost the election for John McCain.
Again, the question begs, why so much Republican venom on a loser? The answer may be she's the only one to emerge from the 2008 election campaign with a strong and seemingly committed base within the party, with aspirations to challenge for the presidency in 2012. This has Republican so-called "moderates" in a tizzy.
AT ODDS WITH ITSELF
The party seems hopelessly at odds with itself. McCain Republicans are moderates (relatively speaking) and dislike the religious right conservatives who are unbending on abortion, same-sex marriage, immigration, etc., and view bi-partisan cooperation with Democrats as treason.
Liberal-minded Republicans want Palin neutralized as a possible presidential contender before her future ambitions get traction. As it is, some 90% of conservative Republicans are said to support her as an inspirational and fearless foe of corruption, and a symbol of family values.
Some Republicans fear a Goldwater-like revival of ideology and convictions that Palin seems to embody, when she drew record crowds during the campaign. She was also a magnet for financial contributions.
It seems obvious that Palin is unlikely to disappear among the "Wasilla Hillbillies" as one anonymous source suggests. She's proven to be a quick learner, with an IQ probably higher than that of her Democratic rival, Joe Biden, who is as prone to gaffes as she.
It'll be interesting to see if the move to disparage Palin gains momentum. She's giving interviews she avoided in the campaign; her star quality remains bright.
She's tough, ambitious, cheerful, not easily intimidated, weathers criticism, stands tall against corruption, and can dish it out.
When Barack Obama eventually overreaches and stumbles, as inevitably will happen, media jackals will pounce and Palin will have a respite to continue her learning process.
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