Calm Down Sarah, It Isn't All Your Fault

I was at brunch the other day when my friend received a news flash from CNN that a Congresswoman from Arizona had been killed at an event in her district.  Of course that initial report was incorrect, but as the details unfolded, there was the inevitable speculation about what motivated the gunman.  Essentially, we appear to have settled in on the fact that he was insane.

Except, crazy sometimes gets help from ouside influences.  Just like an alcoholic cannot claim that his/her misdeeds are the fault of the liquor, it is undeniable that the liquor was there to cheer on the action.

This morning I listened to part of Sarah Palin's whine about not being at fault for the incident, and as usual, she is halfway right.  She did not pull the trigger and her webpage of targeted elected officials in crosshairs did not spur this young man to act when he did.  In all likelihood, he just snapped, and none of that is Sarah's fault.

However, Sarah, you should take responsibility for what you say.  Even if just about everything you say has been written for you by a speechwriter, you are still responsible once the words leave your mouth.  The person who yells "Fire" in a crowded theater is responsible for having made that announcement whether it is true or not.  And you have been yelling "Fire" since 2008.

Come to think of it, why are you still here?  Whom shall I blame?

Well, there is the media that reports on every stupid comment you tweet or have posted on your Facebook page.  Then there is John McCain, who unleashed you on the Lower 48 as some type of modern-day Lady Godiva.  FOX Noise can share some of the blame for giving you a bullhorn and TLC can take a few licks for giving you a reality show.  Quite frankly, the people of Alaska deserve the side-eye for electing you to half a term.  And I guess I could keep on trying to find folks to blame until I get back to the point where your parents met...

Of course, the broader point is that no one is to blame for the actions of someone else unless they knew in advance and did nothing to prevent the disaster.  In legaleese, we call that foreseeability.  In the case of the Arizona shooter, it is unclear whether his actions were foreseeable, but we know that there were plenty of missteps along the way.  When it comes to your culpability, I would say that you need not worry about being sued just yet.

But you should still watch what you say.  Words have power--witness the recent brouhaha over the proposed change of one word in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.  Back when you were busy endorsing witches and other assorted characters for public office, you readily took credit for those who managed to get elected (although true to form, you found a way to deflect blame for the losers).  If you really want to be a credible leader, then you need to own up and face the music.  You can say whatever you want as long as you are willing to accept the consequences.  Thus, if you insist on defending your right to say anything with impunity, then it should not bother you if we insist on calling you a hypocrite.