Sarah Palin proves she’s not presidential

When nations mourn, leaders heal.

Sarah Palin, the darling of the right and self-appointed standard-bearer of
appropriate political rhetoric, demonstrated she is incapable of rising above a
tragedy or controversy to project the kind of leadership that brings Americans
together in times of crisis.

Too bad. I had hoped for more from her.

Earlier this week I was talking with my colleagues at the office and we were
discussing how unfair it was that Sarah Palin was linked to the tragic and
senseless rampage in Tucson because she had included Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
(D-Ariz.) on a list of targets she wanted to defeat in the 2010 elections. The
connection between Palin and the shootings hinged on a map she posted online
that included crosshairs over the congressional districts — including Rep.
Giffords’s. In poor taste, no doubt, but thin gruel for sure.

I told my colleagues that I was reserving judgment of Palin until she responded
publicly. She has a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate strong leadership, I
said. How she handles this controversy will give us an inkling of what she
would be like as a true national leader.

So when her video response was posted yesterday, I was eager to see it. But by
the time her eight-minute rant was over, all I could think of was “Why is Sarah
Palin yelling at me?”

Her comments were angry, defensive, unfocused and lacking in compassion. In
more than 1,400 words, she was unable to utter the names of the fallen victims,
despite releasing the statement on the same day of the massive memorial
ceremony for them. Beyond her superficial “condolences,” she attacked the media
and protested her innocence belligerently and childishly.

For days, Palin hid in her personal underground bunker — the television studio
she had built in her home (anyone know how many other “mama grizzlies” have
their own personal television studios in their homes?) — working on her
statement, carefully choosing the words (“blood libel,” really?). And this was
the best she could do?

What the speech lacked in leadership she made up for with hubris. She purposely
timed the release of her statement to attempt to pre-empt President Obama’s
remarks at the ceremony in Tucson. She took the opportunity to attack the media
in an attempt to draw more attention to herself. And there is no doubt in my
mind that she carefully chose the words “blood libel” fully knowing it would
create even more controversy. Where were the passages on unity? Where was the
call for America to overcome this controversy? Where was the emotional
connection or the inspiring rhetoric for Americans?

American leaders are supposed to rise above these controversies and bring us
together. By every measure, Sarah Palin failed miserably at her first test of
presidential mettle.

David
Di Martino is CEO of Blue Line Strategic Communications Inc. The views
expressed in this blog are his. Follow David on twitter: bluelinedd