Ad hominem, ad nauseam

"It's not about me." —Sarah Palin

The current issue of the liberal news and entertainment rag City Pages, from its parody cover image (right) to the cover story (well-fisked by Gary Gross), epitomizes the left's familiar ad hominem strategy against popular conservative politicians like Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN6) and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

As they camp out overnight in cold weather to greet the former vice-presidential candidate on her book tour, Palin supporters should take care to not let their support deteriorate into an Obama-like cult of personality. Palin herself has said it in recent interviews: "It's not about me." It's about the Constitution, limited government, lower taxes, and free markets.

When the left condescendingly dismisses Palin, Bachmann, or other popular conservative as crazy, they shift the focus away from first principles and the controversies of important issues like the economy, national security, health care, transporation, education. From there, it's not much of a leap to conclude that anyone who follows these crazies must be crazy too, or at least a dupe (e.g., the Tea Party patriots). When Republicans keep at arm's length from these outspoken conservatives without speaking out for the values they are trying to protect, they are not doing anyone any favors — except for the Democrats.

Cross-posted at North Star Liberty.

Sarah: Braver Than Most- A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

Perhaps the thing I admire most about Sarah Palin, other than the fact that she's a phenomenal wife and mother and advocate for special needs children and women, is the fact that she is not afraid to call out individuals regardless of party. This has been the norm for her throughout her political career. As governor, she worked with all parties, and it was a common occurrence to see her reach across the aisle. Just because Sarah stepped down from the governor's office in no way means that she is going to huddle in a corner or simply speak out in favor of all things Republican.

We saw this very recently when Sarah supported the third party candidate, Doug Hoffman, in the NY 23 race. Not only did she prove that values are more important than party, but she successfully illustrated how important the conservative base is to the Republican Party. Following her endorsement of Hoffman, Hoffman's campaign donations and volunteer levels skyrocketed. This is all because of Sarah. No other Republican name has the same power; she is a star. I believe Sarah is the reason Rino candidate, Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race early Saturday morning. When Sarah speaks, people listen. Just in September, Scozzafava was ahead of both Hoffman and the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens. When people began to discover how liberal this woman was, they began to look elsewhere, which illustrates why the latest poll, released this past weekend, placed her behind the other two candidates.



Sarah was right yet again. When she endorsed Hoffman, many political analysts questioned her and criticized the endorsement. Some analysts said if her political career wasn't over before the endorsement, it was definitely over now. Little did they know that Sarah's endorsement of Hoffman was a slam-dunk in defining how smart she really is. I've always known how smart and savvy she is, and you have always known this as well, but many who didn't are beginning to see how right we have been all along. Furthermore, her endorsing Hoffman not only proves her political brilliance, but also illustrates how fearful so many in the Republican Party are of standing up and speaking out. While Sarah was right, Newt Gingrich was wrong. When he endorsed Scozzafava, conservatives turned on him, and I know I wouldn't want to face the wrath of the grassroots conservative political movement. I know and you know that conservatives are always going to have Gingrich's Scozzafava endorsement in the back of their minds. When he endorsed her, he stepped in a huge pile of dog do- do, and when Scozzafava turned around and endorsed the Democratic candidate, Gingrich basically was left out in the cold in the dog house. Sarah led the way for other candidates to see that it was okay and necessary to endorse Hoffman. We began to see others like Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty stand up and speak out. These individuals have Sarah to thank for leading the way to doing what is right.



While Sarah is not afraid to go against her party, when she sees that the party is moving in the wrong direction, she is also not afraid to stand with her party when she sees that it is doing the right thing. This is exactly what she did this past Friday when she posted a note on Facebook encouraging individuals to listen to the Republican Party's Saturday Address by House Minority Leader John Boehner. Like us, Sarah knows that health care reform is needed (Medicare and Medicaid reform is necessary as well), but the Democratic Party is going about reform the wrong way. She stands with Republicans agreeing that free-market principles like Tort Reform, purchasing health insurance across state lines, reigning in malpractice lawsuits and allowing individuals to, according to Boehner, "pool together" to buy insurance at lower prices are some of the options. Unlike the outrageous provisions sought by the Democrats, these are real solutions that will not only drive down health care costs, but also allow people to have choice when it comes to their health care decisions without government interference. The government is the problem, not the solution. I sure as hell don't want the government controlling my health care decision. Do you?



Like the good parent she is, Sarah is not afraid to chastise her party when it does wrong and praise it when it does right. What an awesome woman! As I have repeatedly noted, the Republican Party finds itself out in the wilderness. While they are out in the wilderness, Sarah is waiting at home with the porch light on, and she is going to do everything in her power to help her party see the light. In praising Boehner and the Republican Party, she seemed to be saying, "I will stand with my party when it does the right thing, but I will also call my party out when it veers away from its conservative principles." Way to go, Sarah! When so many make the mistake of following the herd, you take a different path, the right path. You illustrate that the status quo is not always the right option. On the contrary, most of the time it is the wrong option. You are not afraid to stand up and speak out, which is so refreshing and http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifinspiring. With Sarah leading the way, America will once again see the Republican Party that accomplished so much during the years of Ronald Reagan. America will prosper once again as long as we as conservatives stand together and hold the Republican Party accountable. Dede Scozzafava learned a valuable lesson this past week. She learned that if you turn on the conservative base, you will not succeed and win the war. Let's hope others will to Scozzafava, the candidate, as an example of what happens when you turn on the all-too-important conservative base. Sarah knows this, and you and I know this too.


(I'm a Conservative Girl with a Voice!!! Visit my blog and become a follower: http://www.conservativegirlwithavoice.com. I'm on Twitter too: http://www.twitter.com/rachellefriberg.)

Values DO Matter: A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

Tim Pawlenty and Mike Huckabee have something in common other than the fact that they are prominent Republican men. The commonality these men share is the fact that they have yet to endorse the third-party Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman in New York's 23rd District Race. By now, you all know Newt Gingrich endorsed the liberal Republican, Dede Scozzafava (whom, by the way, is even more liberal than the Democrat in the race) recently, but Pawlenty and Huckabee have yet to take a stand. Now, to me, your little humble blogger, the decision is an easy one. When you look at Hoffman and Scozzafava, it is clear that the only true conservative in the race is Hoffman. What's so hard about making a decision based upon values and principle instead of party? I'm not even going to discuss the displeasure I have in Gingrich's decision, for that would have to be an entire new blog entry in itself, and I don't want to pain you in having to read an entire post about Newt Gingrich and Dede Scozzafava’s newly formed partnership. Instead, I want to focus today's random thought post on Pawlenty, Huckabee and Palin, all of whom are possible 2012 presidential contenders.




Values over party- that's exactly what Sarah chose when she threw her support behind Hoffman. In doing so, she illustrated the maverick streak we, her supporters, have come to know and love. In "shaking things up," Sarah did exactly what needed to be done. As I discussed earlier this week, the Republican Party has drifted further and further away from its core principles and ideals. Sarah made an important statement; literally taking a stand by basically saying enough is enough. While you may call yourself a Republican, values matters. If you don't believe in the values that once made the Republican Party the Grand Old Party it once was, then you don't deserve to be supported. If you are going to support many of the same issues as your Democratic counterpart, then you need to realize that the conservative base is going to look elsewhere. In this case, Hoffman IS the other option, the better option. As Sarah mentioned in her Facebook Note, endorsing Hoffman is a matter of principle:

"Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty.... Political parties must stand for something."


Sarah is exactly right. Once again, she is doing what she always has done: Talking the talk AND walking the walk. It's too bad that the same cannot be said for her Republican counterparts. Unlike Sarah, who is actually taking a stand, Pawlenty and Huckabee have yet to follow suit.




I find it very striking that while individuals like Huckabee and Pawlenty have no problem speaking out against the Obama Administration, they seem to become tight-lipped on issues that matter most. As a voter, I see this as a clear example of putting party first at the expense of doing what's right. It is clear that Scozzafava makes Rinos like Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe look like conservatives. Yet, Pawlenty and Huckabee refuse to take a stand. Instead of simply saying that they don't want to go against the Republican Party, they give excuses, saying things like they don't know enough about the race or haven't researched the candidates enough. Give me a break; do they really think we are that stupid? This election has been discussed on every news network, so unless they've been hiking the Appalachian Trail, I think they know enough to know which candidate shares their values. Here's what Huckabee told Neil Cavuto yesterday about the race and Conservative Party Candidate Hoffman:



"Certainly his views represent more closely to mine.... I'm not taking a role in that with my PAC, simply because I feel like it would be inappropriate with me at this point -- mainly because I'm already speaking to the Conservative Party next week. But it is not an endorsement speech, it is an awards speech, and I don't want to get the two confused.... I'm never gonna support somebody who does not believe that every human life has value and meaning. I'm not gonna support people who would do things like say TARP is one of those great, wonderful things. I think I have a right and responsibility to only support people who hold to principles, above party and above just the politics of winning and losing."



So, let me get this straight. While Huckabee is not going to endorse the liberal Republican Party candidate, he is not going to support a man who believes in the same things he does? For the sake of conservatism, take a stand! Stop using the Republican Party, for its current state serves as a roadblock that is blocking the way for the real change that is necessary to reclaim America and the Republican Party. Readers, it gets even better; here's what Pawlenty said about the race:


"You know I haven't been following that, I haven't studied the race at all.... It's not that I would or wouldn't, I just don't know anything about it. I haven't taken the time to study their positions, their records, so I haven't taken a position on it.


I think we're going to win them both.... In New Jersey, I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. But it sure looks like Republicans are going to win in Virginia. New Jersey's going to be a closer call, but that's also a tougher state for Republicans. But if the election were held today I think we'd win them both."



Don't you just love it? While I respect both of these men, I have to admit that I have lost a lot of the respect I once held for reasons like the quotes above. These men live and breath politics, but it seems that the establishment has clouded their good judgment.



Instead of standing up and doing the right thing, they seem to care more about the Republican Party itself and the money and favors they receive and will continue to receive as long as they keep under the Republican Party's thumbs. It's time these men and other individuals like them realize that the Republican Party is not all it's cracked up to be. Don't misunderstand me. I value the Republican Party, but I want THE Republican Party back; I want the Grand Old Party of Ronald Reagan. The Republican Party that, at one time, stood for all of the right things: smaller government, fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and strong national defense. The Republican Party has a long way to go before it once again is the party of right, but in standing up for the Conservative Party candidate, individuals like Sarah, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann are sending a clear message to the Republican Party establishment that values do matter. In standing up and taking a stand, Sarah and Michele prove, yet again, that they more guts than their male counterparts will ever have! The Republican Party could use a lot more guts and a lot less playing the fence.



(I'm A Conservative Girl with a Voice!!! Visit my blog and become a follower: http://www.conservativegirlwithavoice.com. I'm on Twitter too @rachellefriberg.)

Representative Michele Bachmann Welcomes Governor Palin Comparison

By Adrienne Ross - www.motivationtruth.com

The New York Times reports the growing popularity of Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann and basically coins her "the other G.O.P. Lightning Rod." We all know who the perceived lightning rod is.

Not bad for someone less than three years on the job.

Here in Ms. Bachmann’s district, and in much of the country, that outsized celebrity has boiled down to this: They adore her or they loathe her.

As the health care overhaul moves closer to a full debate in Congress, Ms. Bachmann is under attack from the Democratic National Committee for spreading “reckless lies” about the overhaul, one of a handful of Republicans singled out as part of the committee’s “Call ’Em Out” campaign.

Sound familiar? Seems that not too long ago Governor Palin was called a liar by those who took offense at her fearless comments about "death panels," which caused even President Obama to cast off all self-restraint as he referred to her time and time again. Talk about being all wee-weed up.

Some of Ms. Bachmann’s fellow Republicans, meanwhile, are drawing glowing comparisons between her and Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and Republican candidate for vice president. Sean Hannity, the conservative talk show host, has introduced Ms. Bachmann as “the second-most-hated Republican woman in the country, second to Governor Palin, which is a good position.”

Being compared to the governor, who is as admired for her common sense conservatism as she is hated by the those who fear the same, is a badge of honor. And what reaction does Representative Bachmann have to such comparisons?

Ms. Bachmann, a lawyer, former state senator and mother of five who with her husband, Marcus, a clinical therapist, has opened their home to 23 foster children, has not so far objected to the speculation, particularly the comparisons to Ms. Palin.

“Sarah Palin is a dedicated mother, committed public servant and strong political figure who has fought hard to protect life, the family budget, and freedom,” Ms. Bachmann said, noting that Ms. Palin’s book — not yet out — was already selling in enormous numbers, while “Nancy Pelosi’s book sold a paltry 2,737 copies in its first week of sales” in 2008.

Read the entire article here.

Personal Foul: Unnecessary "Rushness" - A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

As a die-hard NFL fan, I am outraged by the actions taken against Conservative Talk Radio Show Host Rush Limbaugh. Like many of you, I have been raised with a love for God, family, country and sports. As someone who participated in various sports while growing up, I have learned so much about hard work and teamwork. When football season rolls around, I can't wait to pull out one of my San Diego Chargers' jerseys and root for the home team. I love football so much that a little depression sets in when my team is done for the season. When I was in college, I always played the sports' anchor role in my journalism classes. Sports is just about who I am as an individual. There is just something about football that brings people together. When you invite people over to root for their team, it's just a special thing. Not only are you gathering together to enjoy good food and beverages, but you are bonding with your fellow man and woman. I've cried over football, laughed over football, and cheered over football. I know there are so many of you out there who share this love for football like I do.



That is what makes this post so difficult to write. I sit here, looking out the window of the cabin at the beautiful lake, and I my heart is heavy regarding the events that have taken place over the last few days. What Rush has gone through, no one should have to endure. Not only am I outraged, but I fully agree with Rush when he said:

"This is not about the NFL, it's not about the St. Louis Rams, it's not about me.... This is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative."



We are seeing this assault on conservatism coming from many angles. We see it with the vicious all-out attack on prominent conservatives like Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Michele Bachmann. Now, we are seeing that this cancerous assault is targeting sports fans. This attack has nothing to do with Rush Limbaugh the man, but instead with Rush Limbaugh the conservative. Had he been a member of the liberal left, he would be praised and encouraged for his attempt to purchase an NFL team. One of my great friends, Camille Friend, whom I have gotten to know on Twitter is an avid football fan. As a conservative African-American woman, she is disgusted by the way in which Rush is being treated:


"The fact that Rush Limbaugh has, essentially, been banned from ownership in the NFL is disheartening. Not only is it a blatant display of the hypocrisy of our current political environment, but, on a deeper level, I think it also demonstrates how a person's aspirations can be stunted by those who may not agree with his politics. Limbaugh is a devoted fan of the game of football Maybe it was his dream to one day own a team? And now he has been shut out. All because of political mob rule. Rush is correct when he says this episode is not simply about him. It's really about any one of us who dares to speak our minds when 'society' disagree."


My friend, Camille, is so right in her assessment. I encourage you to follow her on Twitter @twittonande, and visit her non-political blog at http://friendfiles.wordpress.com. You can also catch her over at the http://palintwibe.blogspot.com where she is a political contributor.




It is absurd to call Rush a racist when he is nothing of the sort. One of Rush's long-term friends, former NFL player Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson, called into the show today to defend Rush against these outrageous attacks by the left. As an African-American man, "Hutch" is not only mad about what is happening to his friend, but he also is worried about what this means to America as a whole:

"If Americans don't wake up, it's going to happen to them."

"Hutch" is right. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you hope to accomplish. If you are a conservative, you better watch out, for the liberal left, who supposedly is supposed to be oh-so-accepting and tolerant, is going to target you. You don't have to be rich, and you don't have to have a prominent name. These cronies are out to get anyone who dares to speak out against their president and his radical agenda.



As Rush stated on his show this morning, all that is happening to him is the Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals at work. Not only does Obama know of these rules, but he and the members of his administration use the rules. One of the rules at work here is the rule of targeting an opponent and destroying him/her. In attempting to destroy the likes of Rush, Sarah, Glenn and Michele, we see this rule in full force. Many members of the extreme liberal left are not only the most intolerant people I have ever come across, but the most bitter and cruel when they do not get their way. Talk about a bunch of crybabies. As I have stayed in other posts, if you agree with the liberal left, you are treated fairly, but as soon as you speak up and use your First Amendment right, you are mocked and harassed. Where is the justification for doing such a thing? It's simple, there's no justification for treating anyone this way just because the individual doesn't agree. As a young conservative, I am not afraid to speak out, but I can understand why so many are. During the 2008 campaign, I remember hearing the evil, outrageous false stories that were reported about Sarah. I also remember hearing commentators speak of the need for more young, conservative female candidates. While I agree that we need more strong, intelligent, classy, articulate, conservative women like Sarah and Michele, I also see why so many women are weary of running for political office because of the all-out assault from the extreme liberal left. It makes me extremely saddened to see the treatment good conservatives receive. Yet, it is so important that individuals not give into the liberal left. They want you to back down, they want you to give up. Don't fall for the Chicago-style attacks, and don't fall prey to Alinsky's rules. I will continue to reinforce the need for the conservative party to remain strong and vigilant because unlike the liberal left, we know how to fight the good fight. Ignore the attacks, and remember, if you are attacked, take it as a compliment because the attacks mean you are seen as a threat. With every attack I receive, I actually feel good because I know I am making a difference. Just as Sarah, Michele, Glenn, Rush and other conservatives continue to speak out, I will continue too, so you speak out too.




I'm sorry, but I'm not afraid to call NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a hypocrite. Not only is he a hypocrite, but he's a corrupt hypocrite at that. The following quote from Goodell sums up why I feel this way. In speaking about Rush, he said:


"...divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about.... I've said many times before, we're all held to a high standard here. I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL -- absolutely not."



Okay, Roger, let me get this straight. It's okay for you to speak out against Rush Limbaugh, but men like Keith Olbermann, who called George W. Bush a liar, and repeatedly personally attacks Sarah with the most vile comments is allowed into the living rooms of NFL fans every Sunday night? Where is the outrage of that, Mr. Goodell? It is pretty clear where your alliances lie. I encourage you all to contact the NFL, and voice your outrage. I encourage those of you who attend the NFL games this weekend to make a sign in support of Rush. Put some pressure on the NFL. If the NFL is refusing to allow a good man like Rush, but allow a vindictive lunatic like Keith Olbermann, what does that say to conservative people like you and me? That it's okay to speak out against and be critical of America and be an employee of the NFL-America's game? Rush has not said nearly the amount of hateful things Olbermann has. If this isn't a prime example of the vicious attack of conservatism, I don't know what else would be.



Rush made another great point when he recently said,


"Therefore, this is about the future of the United States of America and what kind of country we're going to have."



Exactly. What kind of America are we turning into? Seems to me that we are turning into a nation of hypocrites and whiners. Instead of the First Amendment, it seems to have become the anti-First Amendment right. The intolerant left is not going to stop their assault on conservatism, so we will not stop our fight for freedom and liberty. It is OUR RIGHT to speak up, and last I checked, speaking out was not a crime. If Goodell is so worried about allowing an out-spoken conservative to purchase a football team, why, then, is he standing by and allowing felons and drug addicts to play the game? Why, again, is he allowing an out-spoken liberal to a weekly commentator? The answer remains the same. It is no longer okay to be a conservative in this country in the eyes of the left, and it is no longer okay to speak out against our leaders. But, quite honestly, I don't care about what the left thinks, and I don't care about what people like Roger Goodell think. I know who I am, and you know who you are. Like Rush, Sarah, Glenn and Michele, we are God- fearing, American-loving patriots, and we will NOT going to give up, and we will NOT back down. We are in this fight for he long haul. The liberal left better watch out because their greatest fears will be realized, for conservatism WILL win out in the end.



(I'm a Conservative Girl with a Voice!!!Visit my blog and become a follower: http://www.conservativegirlwithavoice.com. I'm on Twitter too @rachellefriberg.)

Shhh...Sarah is Speaking!

I just love Sarah Palin. You know why? Well, the list is long, but one reason is her courage. The day after they try to shut her up by calling her a racist, she comes out swinging--not about the racist accusations; she's got more pressing issues on which to focus. This woman is fearless. I love that about her. And she doesn't use her courage all willy-nilly. She speaks on matters that matter. And she does it like no one else. Oh, plenty of people open their mouths, but Sarah speaks. The difference with Sarah is that it always comes from her heart. Shoot, it seems to come from the depths of her soul--and it's always about right vs. wrong. She calls Obama's proposed health care plan "evil," point blank.

She speaks about how this plan devalues life because it shows no respect for the elderly or disabled. You see, many tried to make her a one-issue person: some loon obsessed with opposing abortion. Not that that issue isn't reason enough for opposition, but Sarah values all life--whether it's the unborn, our senior citizens, our special needs community, or the life we are leaving for our progeny.

And boy, did Sarah speak today! No wonder they want to silence her: Her words are dangerous--to those who are on the wrong side of right, that is, and to their agenda.

The thing about Sarah is that she knows the cost. She's been put through enough to know that what she says will heap coals of fire upon her head. She's no neophyte lacking understanding of what will come down the pike. Whenever she opens her mouth, the haters go crazy. They label her an attention-seeker, a rambler, and of course, a racist. But she does it anyway. With the price so high, why does she do it? This is what some don't understand. Sarah does it because it's right. She does it because she knows it's her calling. She does it because there's a fire shut up in her bones that won't let her hold her peace, to steal from the prophet Jeremiah.

Sarah Palin loves her country, and she will continue to speak--so we will continue to listen. What she is saying must be heard. Of course, that's not a problem because whenever she speaks, the whole world listens.

Here's the statement Sarah released today found on her Facebook page:

Statement on the Current Health Care Debate

Today at 4:26pm

As more Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we’re saying not just no, but hell no!

The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

Health care by definition involves life and death decisions. Human rights and human dignity must be at the center of any health care discussion.

Rep. Michele Bachmann highlighted the Orwellian thinking of the president’s health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of the White House chief of staff, in a floor speech to the House of Representatives. I commend her for being a voice for the most precious members of our society, our children and our seniors.

We must step up and engage in this most crucial debate. Nationalizing ourhealth care system is a point of no return for government interference in the lives of its citizens. If we go down this path, there will be no turning back. Ronald Reagan once wrote, “Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” Let’s stop and think and make our voices heard before it’s too late.

- Sarah Palin

Rep. Bachmann's speech can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHBvKGmevI

From http://www.motivationtruth.com/