Stop Reading Now

I was thinking about a column that I recently read from Dean Baker. He was angry at the Washington Post, and the rest of the media, for printing obviously wrong items, without comment, because they were said by someone of note. For instance Sarah Palin’s “death panel” posting. It reminded me of something I saw during the Reagan administration, which I am adapting here.

I believe that Palin’s comment was irresponsible. If you feel that it was a legitimate expression, helpful to a policy debate, you should stop reading now, because what comes next might upset you.

Reactions to Former Governor Palin's Recent Remarks

Monday: Associated Press, “Ex-Governor Palin asserts, in a new posting on her Face book page, that ‘up’ is ‘down.’”

“Both liberal and conservative spokespeople have refused to make an immediate comment, saying only that they want to ‘study’ the matter.”

Tuesday: Washington Times, “We are sure that many on the left will give little credence to former Governor Palin’s new pronouncement regarding ‘up’ and ‘down.’ We, however, think that the always thoughtful and provocative Palin may have caught something of the angst of America’s silent majority who for months now have had the feeling that something is out of whack. We predict that many, who previously thought the matter was closed, will give verticality a new look.”

At town meetings throughout the country angry citizens questioned their congress people about this new allegation. Protesters had signs that said variously “Wazzz “up” Obama?” “What are you “up” to?” and “Up with Palin, Down with Obama.”

Wednesday: Washington Post, “President Obama today addressed the issue of ‘up’ and ‘down.’ ‘This administration has always maintained that ‘up’ is ‘up’ and ‘down’ is ‘down.’ I will not sign a bill that changes this.”

Looking directly at the assembled reporters he went on to say, “Come on people, some statements are just plain silly. I didn’t even want to speak to this, but Rahm told me that many seniors who have always depended on ‘up’ being ‘up’ are scared now and don’t know how they will be able to adapt if there world is suddenly turned ‘up’ side ‘down.’”

Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican Minority Leader, responded, “The President needs to keep an open mind on the issue. If you just look at the charts that graph our socialist, mismanaged economy the advantages of changing ‘down’ to ‘up,’ in the stock market alone, are obvious. If this change becomes widespread the liberal, east-coast elites will no longer be able to look ‘down’ on those of us who live in ‘fly-over’ country. You know that part between the coasts, where the real Americans live.”

Thursday: Associated Press “A spokesperson for Governor Palin today has stated that what she meant to say was that ‘up’ could be a very slight incline, and ‘down’ could be a very slight decline, so that the differences between ‘up’ and ‘down’ are so small as to be indistinguishable.

Rush Limbaugh weighed in: “People let’s just remember who else took the orthodox, liberal position that ‘up’ is ‘up’ and ‘down’ is ‘down.‘ Hitler, that’s who, and Stalin felt that way as well. The parallels between these liberals and the Second World War dictators just go and on.”

I’ll bet that if Ted Kennedy had said that we should look at this up/down business Obama wouldn’t have been so quick to call it ‘silly.’ He’s just saying that because Palin is a woman, and Obama is secretly a sexist.

You know we should take our hats off to Sarah Palin. I think she nailed it, and the response of the liberals proves she is on to something.”

Friday: Denver Post: “A Gallup poll today indicates that 32% of respondents believe that ‘up’ is ‘down.’ This is an increase from the previous poll conducted in May, where only 21% of respondents held this view.”

Sunday morning: This Week with George Stephanopolous. “Hello, I’m George Stephanopolous . Today our distinguished panel of experts will discuss the issue of direction on the x-axis… Their opinions may surprise you.”