Here’s Palin defending her attacks on Obama’s associations with Ayers, Wright, etc., and blaming the media for portraying comments like “he pals around with terrorists” as negative:
“If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations, 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.”
Is she being dishonest or does she just not understand? The First Amendment wasn’t designed to protect government officials from the press, it’s supposed to protect the press and the people from government officials. It’s a right that is often misinterpreted, and many people equate freedom of speech with freedom from criticism.
But someone running for vice president should know better than that. I, too, worry about the future of our country “in terms of the First Amendment,” but only if Sarah Palin somehow gets into office.
Alec over at PBH has been compiling a list of Sarah Palin’s “greatest hits” from the campaign so far. This is, to me, one of the more disturbing quotes from her, and I think it’s worthy of an honorable mention at least.
UPDATE: A McCain spokesperson had trouble explaining Palin’s comment. VIDEO HERE.