In reality, the definition of 'blood libel' according to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions 1997 Edition is the following:
Blood-libel. "The accusation that Jews murder non-Jews to obtain blood for Passover rituals. The accusation was repeated in many places in the Middle Ages and was the cause of anti-Jewish riots and massacres. It was a regular motif in anti-Semitic propaganda until the Second World War."
(Source : JOHN BOWKER. "Blood-libel." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com :http :http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101_Bloodlibel.html)
This anti-semitic canard inspired some of the most heinous genocides in Europe, ( including the Spanish Inquisition and the holocaust of some 6 million Jews) so when a possible presidential contender from the 'Tea Party' abuses this term, anti-semitic intent will be suspect.
Politically Correct Language vs. Political Judgment of Presidential Contenders...
Without meaning to sound 'politically correct,' a presidential contender MUST carefully choose his or her words. Often potentially explosive international incidents can occur when presidents or presidential contenders use words carelessly, especially words which carry such bigoted import.
When Mrs. Palin chose the phrase 'blood libel,' she chose a phrase so inflammatory that it rivals Nazi jargon straight from the ranks of the Third Reich.
Her remarks regarding 'blood libel' charges were either the by-product of gross diplomatic incompetence or the 'artifact' of an anti-semitic mind. Though Palin claims to love the Jews and Israel, (she has a flag of Israel in her office) she chooses to invoke the most racist anti-semitic code words known to history.
There are those who claim that Palin was using a phrase which is meaningful to evangelical Zionists. That may be, but both Palin and such evangelical groups should not be shocked when Jewish groups scream foul. For Palin to compare her alleged political persecution to that of the Jewish people through the history of the Diaspora is disingenuous at best and suspiciously close to what the Tea Party leaders would label ...a scam. If she has such a poor sense of diplomacy, history, and international relations, then you have to wonder what GOP leaders are thinking granting her serious consideration as a presidential contender or running mate.
Are Palin and the entire Tea Party Movement an aberration of the times or a vehicle mainstream GOP corporatists are using to fully enact a corporate dictatorship? In short, how mainstream is the Tea Party and various Tea Party 'stars' such as Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, Andrew Breitbart, etc.?
Contacting GOP Leaders Regarding Palin's Remarks...
Since Palin's most recent blunder, I decided to contact GOP leaders regarding her politics in the Tea Party, her competence, and obviously her choice of diplomatically explosive language which has aired internationally. I contacted via phone the offices of GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, her former presidential running mate Senator McCain, and House Majority Leader John Boehner. Though each office took a message which was meant for each legislator's respective press secretary, no response has been received as of this writing.
Tea Party Leaders and Consultants Dick Armey & Matt Kibbe of FreedomWorks Have Official GOP Credentials...
During this war of words between the Tea Party, Sarah Palin and the Jewish-American community, various 'mainstream' GOP politicians have offered modest criticisms or corrections of Palin's 'blood libel' shout-out. The overall impression becomes one of cautious coddling of Tea Party Grand Dame Palin and an equally cautious political distancing from what could be a media implosion.
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