Silenced Majority Portal: Palin Uses Anti-Semitic Slur in Newest Rhetorical Outburst

In a propaganda opportunity aimed at pre-empting President Obama's speech iin Arizona, Palin used a controversial term. She is either ill-informed or malicious, possibly both. She will get publicity, her ultimate aim - to keep her name in the media. Sarah, don't wish for something too hard - you just might get it!

Sarah Palin brands media's attacks over Arizona shooting as 'blood libel' | World news | guardian.co.uk

She said: "Journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible."

Palin's bizarre use of language is sure to provoke further controversy. A blood libel refers to a notorious passage in St Matthew where Jews said of the crucifixion: "Let his blood be on our heads." Later it referred to a medieval myth that Jews killed Christian children as part of a religious ritual. Giffords is Arizona's first Jewish congresswoman.

Blood Libel | Sarah Palin |Gabrielle Giffords | Mediaite

While there is widespread outrage over Palin’smisappropriation of the term “blood libel,” very little attention is being paid to the fact that her response is fixed around the lie that criticism of Palin has centered around the use of common electoral “targeting” metaphors, rather than the specific use of crosshairs, a lie that was called out last March byGabrielle Giffords herself.

The quote that’s getting the lion’s share of attention is Palin’s assertion that “journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel,” a term that has very specific historical connotations. Even conservative pundit Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online had trouble stomaching this:

I should have said this a few days ago, when my friend Glenn Reynolds introduced the term to this debate. But I think that the use of this particular term in this context isn’t ideal. Historically, the term is almost invariably used to describe anti-Semitic myths about how Jews use blood — usually from children — in their rituals. I agree entirely with Glenn’s, and now Palin’s, larger point. But I’m not sure either of them intended to redefine the phrase, or that they should have.

Making the term even less ideal is the fact that several of the victims of Saturday’s shooting, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, were Jewish.

Daily Kos: UPDATED 3x: No, Sarah. Blood Libel does not mean what you think it means.

Herein, more discussion of use of the term "blood libel."

Palin's use of 'blood libel' and Reagan comment in statement on Tucson shooting - Fact Checker

Blood Libel, Host Desecration and other Myths - AntiSemite Palin Knows What Blood Libel Is

Sarah Palin Blood Libel: Palin opposes collective blame for monsterous crimes, unless they are committed by Muslims. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

Palin, Like Most Conservatives, Fails To Understand The Controversy - Ron Chusid - "Liberal Values"

Daily Kos: National Jewish Democratic Council reacts to Palin Video