McCain: Sarah Palin is Not Inciting Violence

CBS

Sen. John McCain is defending his former running mate Sarah Palin against charges she is inciting violence against Democratic lawmakers.

Earlier this week, Palin unveiled a so-called target list of the Democrats she is focused on defeating in the November midterm elections. On her Facebook page, she also offered a graphic showing where the lawmakers are located -- with targets over each of their districts.

That angered liberal bloggers and Democratic officials who are sounding alarms about threats to Democratic lawmakers in the wake of passage of the health care reform bill. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that more than 10 members of Congress have received threats in the wake of the vote, prompting FBI and police investigations.

"Republican leaders are themselves engaging in actions and rhetoric that previously would have been limited to fringe elements of the Republican Party," Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine said in a statement Wednesday. "Sarah Palin has invoked health care 'death panels' and has now placed gun sights on 20 Members of Congress who supported reform."

Palin was also criticized for inciting violence for writing this on Twitter: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!'"

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On NBC's "Today Show" Thursday, McCain was asked about what host Ann Curry described as Palin's "incendiary language."

Ann, I have seen the rhetoric of targeted districts as long as I've been in politics," he replied. "Please. This is -- any threat of violence is terrible, but to say that there is a targeted district or that we 'reload' or go back in to the fight again, please...Those are fine. They're used all the time."

"Those words have been used throughout of my political career," McCain added. "There are targeted districts, and there are areas that we call battleground states, and so please, that rhetoric and kind of language is just part of the political lexicon. There is no place for threats of violence or anything else, but to say that someone is in a battleground state is not originated today."

After a testy back-and-forth, Curry said, "I think it is the 'reload' and 'crosshairs' that's caused a lot of people to be concerned, senator."

"Maybe it has, and we condemn any violence, any threats of violence," responded McCain. "But I've heard all of that language throughout my political career."

The Arizona senator said that anger about the bill "should be channeled into voter registration and go continue the struggle that we're in to regain America and stop mortgaging our children's futures."

CNN.com reports that Palin's team is also contesting critics' claims. An unnamed Palin adviser pointed the site to instances of Palin pushing for civil debate and said that Palin "has been vocal about condemning violence."

[AnnaMouse]

Sarah Palin and the Tea Party crazies are directly responsible for the shooting that happened at the Rep. Gabrielle Giffords event.

Send her a message to let her know how you feel:
http://www.SarahPAC.com/
http://twitter.com/SarahPalinUSA

[Aquinnah1]

Sarah Palin has Congress in the crosshairs. Literally. Considering her inflammatory rhetoric and the questionable stability of some of her fans,
is it wise to use such imagery?
www.eightfits.blogspot.com

[Just1ce]

That type of comment shows a lack of understanding of the English language; has anyone ever heard of a figure of speech, word pictures, or simply colorful language. Has the American education system so dumbed down the population that we can't make distinctions between real incitement/encouragement to violence and simply words used to illustrate the gravity of the situation. All these comments alluding to lack of character and lack of mental capacity are of course okay as long as its aimed -oops! might incite someone to shoot a gun - at who the old media deems as not part of their philosophical leanings;-)
Some of these comments show just how much some people in the U.S. have been brainwashed by the liberal establshment in America and in some cases have become intellectually lazy. In short, understand language and its use ay.

[pasmalltown]

I'm sure glad I don't live in your neigborhood. Can you grasp the idea that wacko's exist on BOTH sides of the political spectrum?? You're busy explaining the finer points of "understanding the English language"....?? and how it's "liberal brainwashing"'s fault for making something out of nothing? When was the last time you got off your couch? It's easy to explain how "some people" don't understand the English language, yet much more difficult to assess the inner workings of a diseased mind that understands English and doesn't care about which direction it's "aimed"...........

[libjust]

Between her wolf killing, and now the bullseyes on the map, its clear Sarah is better suited to that legacy than trying to run a important nation where liberties and justice are paramount, unlike her anger management that is 'way overdue'. Enciting riot by clever use of wording is not only unchristian Sarah, but shows violent tendencies. Just like mcCain and the anger management he missed out on during the campaign ( remember the debates ). Republicans are showing their true colors now, and whom they truly represent which are the insurance lobbyists and all their money , but when its comes to the little guy getting help, oh no we can't support that, and instead call foul on death panels; what a farce they are. What was it Jesus said again, all you republican christians out there,,that a rich man will have a tougher time getting to heaven , than a camel through eye of needle...think about that next time you vote against helping those in need, and remember what that makes you yea hypocrites; do that while at the office for your anger management.

[nirak2-2009]

Oh yes McCain, Sarah does encite violence and it started when you were campaigning and she did the dirty work for you and she hasn't stopped. We hold her, Limbaugh and the Glenn Becks responsible should someone get hurt or god forbid something worse

[skysoldier4325]

get a life
why didnt anyone speak out and hold Janet Reno responsible?
Do you? One of her snipers killed an infant in the arms of it's UNARMED Mother.
Get a clue Rube!

[Just1ce]

nirak2-2009,
If your going to take someone to task in writing how about spelling correctly i.e. incite not encite :-) If people can't distinquish between colorful language and real "incitement" to violence then the American population has ben dumbed down. What you say indicates lack of understanding of the English language and that human beings can't think for themselves; I hope you're not one of those.

[Retired_MSGT]

Unclemercer, I don't know how old you are but there are a lot of us that remember the 50's and 60's. Watching John McCain laugh about this is not funny. People are getting real concerned about what will happen. This is not 50's and 60's. People will not just stand by and be beaten down like then. This is not being twisted. These is her own words. And people are taking them literally. The type of fear that is being raised here will only cause this to get out of hand. Everyone involved, Republican and Democrats had better stop this now. This type of political game playing is only going the get someone hurt. STOP THIS NOW.

[skysoldier4325]

People! I have been watching politics since '68. I have seen "bullseyes"
placed on many maps, listen to the "talking heads" speak of "battle ground states", "targeted districts or states", "targeted groups", and the like. Oh, by the way, I was watching politics probably around the time John McCain got shot down over Hanoi. I heard these very same phrases used then. So what, Sarah used them! Big deal!, so did John Chancellor, David Brinkley (sic) and Edwin Neuman! For those of you who were not able to pass 1st grade math that is 42 years ago! Yea they talked like then, some of you may remember.
Now.
On to the meat of the matter.
Has it occured to anyone that maybe some of the folks running around misbehaving might just be REALLY miffed off? I have govt. health care, this changes nothing for me. The only thing that upsets me is that some of you may now have to endure what I do every time I go to the doctor, AT THE DEPT. of VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER IN ATLANTA. For those "misguided few" who supported this crap, weeeell, you asked for it AND YOU GOT IT !. yOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF IF IT HAD BEEN A NEW TOYOTA.
If you live in a populous state go to a VA. MED Center, esp. Atlanta, Ga or Jackson, Ms. Then you will see what govt. health care is all about. Talk to some of the vets, not the retired guys, just the ones who are DAV. I took 9 and 1/2 years to get my teeth fixed and then it was with dentures. Now thats living.
Sarah didn't cause this crap. To insinuate that is like saying Janet Reno had nothing to do with the death of most of Randy Weavers family or she was not, at least partially, responsible for the some of the death at "The Branch Davidian" compound. Remember Ruby Ridge? Remember Waco?
I'LL KEEP MY GUNS!
I'LL KEEP MY MONEY!
YOU KEEP THE CHANGE!
MY CHANGE,
THE CHANGE I NEED,
THE CHANGE I WILL BELIEVE IN...
NOVEMBER '10,
I PRAY!
Thank a VET that you STILL have THE RIGHT to discuss this issue openly.
If we are not careful that right and many other may go away.
Why does The US, Dept. of Education need 27 12 guage riot shotguns?
Why do we need 16,000 more IRS agents?
Why does our govt need to grow exponentially every time a liberal is elected.
Why do we lose more of OUR (personal) $$MONEY$$ every time a liberal is elected?
Why do liberals feel that only part of "The Bill of Rights" apply to the citizens of this country when we have the 14th amendment telling us IT APPLIES?
With so many important issues at hand for our educators, why does a school princapal worry about placing a ban on hugs? When I was in hi9gh school we lost a few of our friends and some of us huged each other, some for sympathy, some for rememberance and others just because of sadness.

People we, as a country, have problems!
There are examples, all around the world that socialism does not work!
Social communism failed!
We are not perfect. I have visited about 20 different countries. So far this is the best one running. When we have problems we fix them.
Quit worrying about what some out of work politician says or posts on a map. MSGT retired. If someone is going to go do a shoot 'em up, they'll do it because they want to. Not because of some crap on facebook. If they do and then say it was because of facebook, WELL THEN, you'll know they were so dumb that their bodies could not even complete cell repition to begin with.

[skysoldier4325]

Oh yea. I almost forgot!
Palin and someone, or someone and Palin '12.
People, She is the only one talking. Like what she says or not, at least she is talking. You want to criticize her, OK. Get out there a do something. We need leadership. Where are our leaders, those in the GOP who keep crying and complaining about everyone else. Stand up, stop crying and lead from the FRONT.
If you don't like what Ms. Sarah says or does then offer us a choice but stop crying!
PALIN '12
want some cheese to go with your WHINE?

[steeepe]

Well, Wacko was caused by a bunch of wackos who could have spared their own lives by acting rationally. The government grew more under Bush than under Clinton, and so did the federal deficit, so there goes your argument. I think you lean toward too many conspiracy theories and are fixated on guns. I do thank you for serving the country in the military, though. I am liberal and have always liked the military. I opposed specific wars for, as it turns out, pretty valid reasons. But there is no doubt that WW2 was absolutely necessary, and we all owe vets for our freedom today, no question. Fighting the Taliban and al Queda -- also necessary. But communism is no threat to the US. It only perseveres in a few countries and will probably fade away for good within a generation. Promoting public health and welfare is not communism or socialism. It is one reason we have a government of the people and FOR the people.

[Unclemercer]

Sarah Palin is a decent, loving, kind, charitable woman. She is a good wife & mother, a dedicated public servant, and a devout Christian. She would never advocate political violence. Everything she says or does is twisted and spun by the lefty media.

[Susanmg]

Of course...and when someone is shot due to her implicit instructions, it will, of course, be the fault of the President. Get real. She does not mother, she is no longer a public servant but a narcissist obsessed with making money and remaining in the spotlight, and she is hardly kind, decent or charitable (just where is all that cash the right keeps sending her? I never heard that she contributed to Haiti relief.) devout Christian? She supports violence and war with all her heart...that's Christian? I do hope you are being sarcastic.

[bassinapple]

There was no outrage after this headline. Dems Put DeLay in Crosshairs.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/26/politics/main691128.shtml

[Susanmg]

Maybe because the left doesn't go around toting loaded assault weapons and throwing rocks at windows and cutting gas lines to homes..plus it was 2005, and as far as I remember, an abortion doctor hadn't been murdered, Congresspeople weren't being spit upon and called racist names, and Dems were not on the Capitol balcony egging on war protesters (although that would have been nice!) The right is more prone to violent reaction because they love their guns so much. They are terrified that a police state is coming, not realizing that their actions are leading us there, not the President.

[bassinapple]

During Sarah Palin's book tour, tomatoes and eggs were thrown at Sarah.On page 138 of Going Rogue, Governor Palin shares an extremely disturbing threat against her daughter Bristol during the 2008 campaign. She wrote: And during the VP campaign, among so many other threats, a guy from New Jersey wrote that he would "shoot her pregnant body from a helicopter."
After the election her Church was it by arson with children inside.
Dennis Zaki describes himself as an "freelance photojournalist based in Anchorage, Alaska" Perhaps most disturbingly, Zaki recently posted Governor Palin's address, directions to her home, pictures of her home, and this message:
In the winter you can walk out onto the ice and walk up to the house through the back door.
She doesn't mind visitors, just walk right up to the house and say hello!
Kathy Griffin openly stated she'd like to push Governor Palin down the stairs.
Just the other day, while on the Glenn Beck Show, Governor Palin spoke out against violence.