Can any Republican presidential candidate withstand being Palinized?
from Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion by William A. Jacobson
Not a fan of Ed Rollins, but you know that. I guess this qualifies as Part 3 of the "Hey Ed Rollins, you deal with it" series.
More than being not a fan of Ed Rollins, I keep questioning why Michele Bachmann started her campaign by having Rollins attack Sarah Palin in very demeaning terms, and if it was not planned, why Bachmann did not fire Rollins on the spot.
That question becomes important because as Bachmann rises in the polls and spotlight, the process of Palinizing her by the left-blogosphere and mainstream media also is rising. The disgusting Rolling Stone article about Bachmann is tame compared to what is to follow.
Scott Johnson at Power Line Blog, linking to a cover article at The Weekly Standard about Bachmann, makes a point I have been asking here for years every time an establishment Republican or Repulican know-it-all lashes out at Palin; can anyone withstand the Palin-treatment:
Reading Continetti's article, I wonder if anyone can withstand the treatment that Michele will elicit from the media if she emerges as a serious player in the nomination process. If anyone can, Michele might. But can anyone?
The answer is maybe, but only if we are united in defending that person.
Republicans did not uniformly defend Palin when she falsely was accused of comlicity in the Arizona shooting, and establishment types like David Frum piled on Palin. We see that process of piling on almost daily among Republicans, and Rollins was just the latest and most high profile example.
Bachmann, by keeping Rollins on staff, has signaled that she is not ready for the type of unity needed to defend all Republican candidates against Palinization. Ironically, Bachmann is the candidate who needs that unity the most. |
