Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
It has been reported that Joe McGinniss' upcoming biography of Sarah Palin The Rogue contains some striking accusations. While the book has already garnered criticism from the NYT among others for a general lack of credibility, it has nonetheless been turning heads with claims of cocaine and marijuana use, extramarital affairs, and even a tryst with NBA star Glen Rice.
As a rule, I would be hesitant to comment on these sorts of claims regardless of verity, as I see them as largely irrelevant to one's current role in the political sphere.
In that vein my gut feeling would be to treat Sarah Palin no differently. However, the notion also occurs to me that Palin generally approaches national issues not from purely political grounds, but also from a strong sense of morality. As such, should she be held accountable for her moral indiscretions (that is, if they are revealed to be accurate)?
How do Ricochet members feel? That is to say, should these allegations (again, if they are shown true) color Palin's standing as a political figurehead? Or, should they perhaps be noted, but deemed more or less irrelevant to her standing today?
For the record, I'm extremely skeptical that McGinniss' claims are accurate, but they do bring up an interesting question.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
"I see them as largely irrelevant to one's current role in the political sphere."
Me too.
They almost seem created by a screenwriter who based his story on tired old stereotypes. If you believe that Palin supprters are rigid bigots who have irrational reactions to alcohol and recreational drug use, and no capacity to overlook youthful lapses in behavior, you'd cook up a story like this to discredit her in their eyes. The tryst with th black NBA star seems too pat. As does the image of Palin snorting lines of coccaine off a barrel of Alaska crude.
Ho hum.
May '10
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
I can't recall Gov. Palin as being particularly prudish, but perhaps you can refresh my memory?
Jun '10
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
I don't think of her as prudish either. The sense of morality that Sarah Palin often draws from in her positions is centered in self reliance and an exceptional work ethic. Pull your own wieght. Fight for your beliefs. Respect life. Our rights are God given. If there is a prudish side to Palin, it's not one that I've noticed.
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
I wouldn't call her prudish, but I would point to her strong social agenda as evidence of the importance she places on morality--for example, her firm views on marriage and abortion.
May '10
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
Well, right. She has moral beliefs. And she probably recognizes that doesn't live up to her moral standards, if she's not a complete egomaniacal nut. (That's in inherent part of Christianity -- that nobody lives the way we should, try as we might, but we have to still keep trying.)
So for any of three reasons -- the flimsiness of the allegations, the time that has passed since they're alleged to have happened, and the apples/oranges comparison to her current moralizing, if you'd call it that -- we shouldn't honor the allegations by giving them airtime. IMHO.
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
I am not a huge fan of Mrs. Palin but really, Joe McGinniss needs to get a life. Stop trying to get the last squeeze of publicity from the rotting fruit of Palinmania. Go write horrible stories about someone new. No one cares with whom Sarah Palin hooked up, did drugs--because, you know, it's better to do a "little blow" than snort cocaine--or smoked. Journalists and mediapersons love Palin because they think she is an alien specimen or genetic freak that they can study obsessively or poke to observe hostile reactions. What does she read? Whom does she date? We'd really rather not know. We have more serious things to think about.
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
This is a hit piece, pure and simple. It doesn't matter whether any of the claims are true or whether they're pure unfounded speculation -- the aim is to throw a bucket of manure all over Ms. Palin and her lovely red wool suit. I'm not a huge fan of hers, but this is despicable.
Also, what does it matter if some media starlet like Ms. Palin smoked weed in her youth? Does that disqualify her from giving her opinion on Fox & Friends or from going on a bus tour?
I will admit, though, that if I discovered that a presidential candidate was presently a cocaine addict, I would not trust his or her judgment and would never cast a vote for him/her. But that's neither here nor there.
Sep '11
Re: Thoughts on Joe McGinniss
Um, snorting cocaine off of a barrel of Alaska crude?
I call...well, I suppose calling that would be a violation of the CofC--so let's just say that I call effluvium.
A "barrel" is a unit of measure in the oil industry: Alaskan oil, particularly crude oil, is not shipped in physical barrels--it is shipped by pipeline. If Joe McGuinness claims somebody saw Sarah and Todd snorting blow off a barrel of Alaskan crude, the whole thing is a sham. That's just nonsensical.