Disagreeing with The Anchoress (UPDATED)

It's rare for me to do so, in fact I can't recall offhand when I've last done so, but I surely do here:

You know what? I don’t like game-players, I just don’t. I especially don’t like them in politics, which is why I like so few politicians, any more.

And it seems to me that Sarah Palin is going out of her way to play a game, here, and I can’t say I’m admiring it. I know some do. I know some feel that the press has treated Palin very badly, and so she’s entitled to treat them badly, too.

...

Palin is ducking and dodging them, not telling them where she’s going; she’s playing cat-and-mouse. And some people like it, admire it; they’re diverted by it.

Well…Sorry…I’m not. I think what she’s doing now seems childish and spiteful, and frankly if I want to vote for childishness and spitefulness in 2012, I can vote for Barack Obama.

Palin is a Christian, and part of our Christian adventure — and it is admittedly a hard part of it, sometimes — is to respect the inherent human dignity in other people, even if (and here’s where the rubber meets the road for the Christian) those same people are incapable of respecting the inherent dignity in you. To make buffoons of the press by walking out the front door while they’re waiting out the back is one thing — that can, once in a while, even seem like a merry, Beatlesque trick — to put reporters in a position where they’re not sure where they’re heading, when they have equipment and travel considerations as well, becomes a bit more risky. Lugging equipment into unplanned territory can invite real problems and even be dangerous. Palin — Chris Matthews’ opinion to the contrary — is not stupid. She is savvy enough to know all of this. And she is Christian enough to know that playing fast-and-lose with people, especially when it’s just to get a little of your own, back, is a step too far. And it’s small.

Wrong.  Plainly wrong.

Palin is taking control of the meme as best she can.  Palin is turning the tables on these media pimps and whores who are interested in doing nothing more than finding that which they can use as a bludgeon.  Palin is attempting to show that they don't wield the control they think they wield.

More power to her.  She's manipulating the manipulators... and I think it's grand... moreso, I think it proves that she's no where near as stupid as the manipulators would like us to think she is.

UPDATE: The Anchoress in email reminded me of the last time we disagreed... it was a small, tiny little dustup over communion... but thankfully, that ended well.

Comments

[Mick]

I, like you, seldom disagree with the Anchoress. She is wrong on this one. The press has treated Ms. Palin with total disdain and outright nastiness. Her ignoring them is truly right and just.

[Karinee]

The last time I checked Sarah was a private citizen. If she wants to travel in a bus, boat or on a bicycle, it is her decision. Sounds like you are in a twit over Sarah's independent streak. There are serious problems with our present leaders. Get a life and cover some serious news. I for one
am enjoying watching Sarah and her family.

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

“Palin is taking control of the meme as best she can. Palin is turning the tables on these media pimps and whores … is attempting to show that they don't wield the control they think they wield.”

Bingo, Rick.

And more power to her, she doesn’t owe the media or us anything. If she runs she runs, if she doesn’t she doesn’t, she’s doing what is best for her and her family. If she needs some time to figure it out and that rubs some people the wrong way…oh well. Those put off by this already didn’t like her that much.

I didn’t realize everyone had to be “in” by a certain time.

[Pierre]

Fold Spindle and Mutilate the press...and Sarah is doing it. My goodness I might head off right this very second and donate some more money for the "Family Vacation"!

[allyHM]

The Anchoress is wrong. Mrs. Palin, as someone noted, is a private citizen, and as such she can do whatever she dang well pleases. Period. It also seems to that she has turned the other cheek enough times, and it also seems to me that we are admonished to forgive, but not to forget. Wise as serpents, gentle as doves. Yep. That's exactly what Mrs. Palin is doing. Good for her!

[chuck aka xtnyoda]

I keep trying to convince myself that Sarah is probably not going to be a major "political" candidate ... but then again ... she scares the he..ck out of the MSM ... and that is pretty hard to ignore.

[Leslie]

In Canada, our Conservative Prime Minister successfully navigated consecutive minority governments and has recently received a majority mandate from the people of Canada.

How he did it? Stonewalled the media, which minimized the opportunity for them to lynch him.

Avoiding the liberal media is the only way for conservative politicians to be heard in this day and age.

[Locutisprime]

Palin is the 'scrappy dog' for the party right now, no more, no less. She is good at tweaking their cheeks and pissing them off. (which is good)

But she is neither a viable candidate (presently) nor will she be for this cycle.

Right or wrong, the party is in disarray and come this time next year, (barring miracles) we will be going into the end game with a party chosen loser to challenge Obama.

The GOP needs a game changer, much like Obama was four years ago for the dems.

JMO

[Steve B]

Theologically, I'm not sure where she's getting the concept of "inherent human dignity."

According to the Bible, we are all sinners, desperate and forsaken but for the salvation of Christ.

We treat others with love because Christ calls us to it, not because of some "inherent human dignity" we must respect just because us humans are so awesome and respectable.

Jesus did not respect the Pharisees' inherent human dignity when he repeatedly raked them over the theological coals. While far from deifying Ms. Palin, I see a similar attitude towards the Pharisees in the press. Why should she give the time of day to those who have made no secret of their agenda to attack, denigrate and destroy her?

[BroKen]

Steve B, I think "inherent human dignity" comes from the image of God decreed in Genesis. Creation comes before sin. The deepest truth about us is that we are God's children, not that we are sinners. Yes, we are sinners. The image is twisted and distorted often beyond recognition but that's our view. God still sees the image He wants to restore.

I think Jesus did respect the Pharisee's human dignity. They had a choice (part of God's image) and they were choosing the bad, hence the theological coals.

I think the press, Pharisee analogy is a bit of a stretch. Basically, as others have pointed out, she owes them nothing, especially not an itinerary. They are upset that she doesn't think she needs them. I, for one, hope she's right.

[Kathteach]

Someone should send this to the Anchoress, Elizabeth Scalia, who calls all those who respond favorably to Palin's throwing down the tablets in the temple (metaphorically) as being members of a cult. Truly - send this comment to her because you say it so much more succinctly than I tried to:

Jesus did not respect the Pharisees' inherent human dignity when he repeatedly raked them over the theological coals. While far from deifying Ms. Palin, I see a similar attitude towards the Pharisees in the press. Why should she give the time of day to those who have made no secret of their agenda to attack, denigrate and destroy her?

The Anchoress needs to hear from others - those in her sudience who responded to her post this week (me! a very rare commenter) were called out as liars and Palinophiles. She has a very thin skin with Palin commenters -why?