Geoffrey Dunn writes:
Sarah Palin's speech delivered in Anchorage on Wednesday -- the one in which she declared "screw political correctness" and wondered why "we have to pussyfoot around our troublesome foes" -- repeatedly lifted from an article written four years ago by Newt Gingrich and Craig Shirley without attribution.
While Palin twice mentioned Gingrich in the speech (she never acknowledged Shirley), she frequently mixed her own remarks about Reagan with passages that appear to be pulled directly from the Gingrich-Shirley article.
Although one can argue that Palin didn't blatantly rip off Gingrich's writings - as she at least mentioned him twice in her speech but can't tell the difference between "recently" and 4 years ago ,it is interesting to note that she didn't mention Craig Shirley at any point during her seemingly endless preamble. The reason for that would most likely reside in the fact that Palin likely thinks that she will be seen in a more "respectible" light now that she has "quoted" Newt.
If this was Palin's plan, it's standard fair with conservatives. The rationale is the more you mention or pander to anyone within your base, the more likely they are to see you as favorable and a "team player". Gingrich refused to name Palin as an "emerging leader" in an interview with Christianity Today. But now that Palin has done so, the chances of her being reconsidered by Gingrich increases. That is, unless he has aspirations of his own to run in 2012.
Perhaps the only other thing Palin could do in order to get Newt's attention is to out some "pagan" group in Alaska that is calling on their "god" to help bring in a better haul of crab in the coming season. Now that would make for a great episode of "The Deadliest Catch".
-------------------------------------------
Back to the "plagarism/quotation" issue, this was something that came up in reference to Barack Obama when he used lines in a speech origianlly used by Governor Deval Patrick:
The allegation came as it emerged that Karl Rove, the former chief strategist for President Bush, has been involved in putting together an attack plan to counter Mr Obama, amid a growing Republican belief that he will win the Democratic nomination.
Howard Wolfson, the communications director for Mrs Clinton, referred reporters to a passage in Mr Obama’s speech in Milwaukee, comparing it to one delivered by his friend Deval Patrick, the Massacussetts Governor, in 2006. Referring to Martin Luther King, the Declaration of Independence and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mr Obama said: “Don’t tell me words don’t matter. ‘I have a dream.’ Just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Just words! ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words — just speeches!”
This became a very hot talking-point on the campaign trail, as Hillary Clinton came off with the zinger of "that's change you can xerox".
Whereas Obama was on the "other team", this was great ammunition for conservative Republicans. But since this is Sarah Palin we are talking about, no one is to mention her name aloud without being accused of "sexism" or simply being "afraid" of her.
More than just aobut any conservative politician out there, Palin is ready to act at a moments notice. You never see her in any form of "normal" light that you are likely to see other politicians in. She's quite possibly the greatest publicitiy-hound within the Republican party - ready to pander to Limbaugh, Fox"News", and do and say anything and everything that will keep her in the spotlight for just one moment more.
The broader question is, will Palin's "quotation" of Gingrich bring her into his favor? This seems to be her angle these days.
With the continuing talk of the GOP somehow gaining ground in 2010 and 2012, Palin seems to be continually placing herself within proximity of those that are considered more of a power-player than herself. What Palin has to bring to the table is that folksy wisdom and a psuedo-sexual vibe that you won't find in virtually any member of the GOP. She's the "pretty set-dressing" that Republicans need. After all, they have always been style-over-substance in not only their rhetoric, but their implementation of policy and the practice thereof.
So, will Gingrich respond to Palin's posturing and supplication?
Only time will tell.
No comments:
Post a Comment