Taking Pilot to Task

As of Saturday, January 22, 2011

Ordinarily, when I read your paper, I feel inclined to take pen in hand and take you to task about some misinformation or other. However, after counting to 10, I consider the source, and, remembering the First Amendment, I go on to other things.

But today, even after counting to 100, I feel compelled to rebel about the heinous Sarah Palin cartoon in your paper. It and Tucson Sheriff Dupnik place direct blame on Palin and friends for the unspeakable horrors committed by a madman who obviously is claiming his 15 minutes of fame.

I would expect and understand this vitriol from Dusty Rhoades, but I would expect better on the editorial page.

Ben Larson

Seven Lakes

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JER 2 years, 4 months ago

Mr. Larson, how do you feel about the Glenn McCoy cartoons which are also published by the Pilot?

JimHeim 2 years, 4 months ago

Sheriff Dupnik did not mention Palin, conservatives or Republicans in his comment at the press conference. He said, "When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

If you thought of Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck when you heard the words unbalanced, anger, hatred and bigotry, you were not alone.

blake 2 years, 4 months ago

Sheriff Dupnik stated, ""When you have people like Sharron Angle in Las Vegas running against [Harry] Reid making outrageous statements such as we may need to resort to taking the second amendment in certain cases, for people like Sarah Palin to say we have people like Gabby Giffords in our crosshairs, they are irresponsible not without consequences and we be seeing the fruit of it here"

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/01/09/az_sheriff_blames_vitriol_from_palin_on_rep_giffords_shooting.html

JimHeim 2 years, 4 months ago

Check the time line. Dupnik made the remarks I quoted on January 8th. After a firestorm of criticism from the right, he made subsequent, more pointed remarks the next day in response to those attacks.

My point stands.

jamjam 2 years, 4 months ago

You’re right Ben, the hours needed to sift through the many lines of distortions and untruths to find that little pearl of wisdom that fits ones conceived version of reality. It might follow that Sarah’s predatory instinct are to much for the average person. Is she the Mommy Grizzly, or the Pit bull dog with lipstick? Is she not the lock and load Princess? I guess its hard to appreciate her style if you are use to civility in conversation or debate. Well, as for me, I would stop to think what makes certain individuals react to the overwhelming feelings of hate, or why do they desire fame and fortune? I would say that the person suffering from a mental illness is more easily categorized opposed to lets say a person that would inflame or incite violence towards others. I agree, such hateful behavior is deplorable.

Yukonjohn 2 years, 4 months ago

I think you give Sarah Palin much too much credit for the acts committed in Tucson. I fully believe her ignorant comments had NOTHING to do with this horrific act, but to even mention it gives her too much creedence. She is a poor, ignorant soul, that because of her narcisisism (sp) thinks that she could be President. The only reason she wants to be President is because she knows she cannot be queen!! Living in Alaska for almost 3 decades, I can tell you with confidence, she could not get elected for dogcatcher anywhere in this state any longer. She is not who she appears to be, and she will do anything to promote her quest for ruling. I used to be her biggest supporter, but she changed, and she has been rejected by Alaskans from every walk of life.

SH59 2 years, 4 months ago

Next time count to 200. It's just a cartoon and a joke making some people laugh and others cringe. That's the point.

madstork 2 years, 4 months ago

Mr. Heim,

If you take a look at the Wolf Blitzer interview w/ Dupnik, he admits he had no basis for his conclusion, just his opinion. I don't want opinion from a law officer. I want them to uphold the law. Dupnik contradicted himself in the interview stating that he had been aware of the culprit for the last 3 years. Long before Palin etc.