**UPDATE BELOW**
Todd S. Purdum has really outdone himself.
The Vanity Fair national editor most recently known for publishing a withering criticism of the Clintons during the 2008 presidential race has chosen a new target for summary destruction: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
This is no mere attack on the Governor’s policy positions, nor on her performance during the 2008 campaign – nor even on her performance since. Purdum, in this article, plies his very best Luca Brazzi impression – hopelessly pathetic, yet reliably purposeful in ‘whacking’ the opposition.
In spinning his yarn, Purdum goes well below the belt:
Palin is unlike any other national figure in modern American life—neither Anna Nicole Smith nor Margaret Chase Smith but a phenomenon all her own. The clouds of tabloid conflict and controversy that swirl around her and her extended clan—the surprise pregnancies, the two-bit blood feuds, the tawdry in-laws and common-law kin caught selling drugs or poaching game—give her family a singular status in the rogues’ gallery of political relatives. By comparison, Billy Carter, Donald Nixon, and Roger Clinton seem like avatars of circumspection. Palin’s life has sometimes played out like an unholy amalgam of Desperate Housewives and Northern Exposure.First, I think we might all agree that Palin is nothing like Anna Nicole Smith. Since that puzzling non-sequitur is agreed upon, let’s deal with the meat of this statement. Billy Carter came under senatorial scrutiny for allegedly taking money for promoting the causes of Libyan dictator Mu'ammar al-Gadhafi to the President of the United States, his better-known brother Jimmy Carter. While he was acquitted, his actions were hardly circumspect.
Donald Nixon’s many sins include his acting as a conduit for campaign contributions to his brother, from accused embezzler Robert Vesco.
Roger Clinton was a drug dealer, and pled guilty to charges to that effect.
These three characters were comparative “avatars of circumspection”?
Moving on, Purdum writes:
The top McCain aides who had tried hard to work with Palin—Steve Schmidt, the chief strategist; Nicolle Wallace, the communications ace; and Tucker Eskew, her traveling counselor—were barely on speaking terms with her, and news organizations were reporting that anonymous McCain aides saw Palin as a “diva” and a “whack job.”This quote, irritating as it is, is merely a setup for a later assertion:
Some top aides worried about her mental state: was it possible that she was experiencing postpartum depression? (Palin’s youngest son was less than six months old.)One might ignore the jab about being a diva – after all, then-candidate Barack Obama said:
"Like any politician at this level, I've got a healthy ego."However, quoting anonymous sources to imply that a national political figure may, in fact, have been mentally unstable during a campaign is beyond any stretch of journalistic integrity. And yet, Purdum is not content to smear Palin with the ethereal possibility of postpartum depression:
More than once in my travels in Alaska, people brought up, without prompting, the question of Palin’s extravagant self-regard. Several told me, independently of one another, that they had consulted the definition of “narcissistic personality disorder” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—“a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy”—and thought it fit her perfectly.
It is amusing to consider the idea that random, unidentified constituents would, unbidden, pick up the copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that they just so happened to have sitting on the bookshelf, and wonder if Sarah Palin suffered from a mental disorder.
For the sake of argument, however, let us simply settle on the fact that failing to identify these people – or their expertise in the field of psychiatric medicine – leaves this paragraph as a near-libelous attack on the mental state of a public figure.
Bottom line, this is an indefensible political drive-by shooting. Mr. Purdum should take care not to forget the cannoli.
**UPDATE**
William Kristol has written a short, albeit typically smart piece on this same Vanity Fair hit-piece. He claims that it was former McCain staffer Steve Schmidt who made the accusation about postpartum depression.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Just look at Gov. Palin's record
June 30, 2009 - 13:43 ET by urbuggenmeThis is nothing more than more liberal biased BullS#8t. all anyone has to do is look at Sarah Palin's record as Governor.
This really doesn’t even need comment.
day scared and day should
June 30, 2009 - 21:08 ET by TruthMongerday scared and day should be :)
Palin/Prejean 2012
MORE LIBERAL BOVINE SCATOLOGY
June 30, 2009 - 13:54 ET by LEWIS IN COLORADOIf any normal person or, heaven forbid a conservative talk radio host, said anything even remotely like this, we would be put on bass and napolitano's terrorist watch list for hate speech.
Come now people
June 30, 2009 - 14:06 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarGov. Palin or "her extended clan" have not been unjustly dragged through the muck for almost a month.
What's that old adage? "There no such thing as bad publicity" These buffoons have been doing a great job at keeping her in the public's view and their constant bashing is slowly garnering the sympathies. Guess this idiot didn't get the "Dave Letterman made an asshat of himself" memo.
"You should always tell the truth, because if you tell the truth you make it the other person's problem." Sean Connery
why on earth......
June 30, 2009 - 14:17 ET by sojournerdoes the liberals attack her so much? I like her, but even if I didn't, they go overboard on attacking her - are they afraid she might run - and win - in the next election?!
right disorder, wrong politician
June 30, 2009 - 14:17 ET by soosanit's the commander and chief who suffers from narcissm, not the Alaska guv. this is elitism pure and simple - and it's tiresome.
This same writer attacked
June 30, 2009 - 14:24 ET by BlondeThis same writer attacked Clinton, too. I beleive there were some relavent points about Palin in the article.
Oh my.....
June 30, 2009 - 14:46 ET by BlondeThat's not exactly correct, is it?
I hope he fails, too.
If you notice, I mentioned
June 30, 2009 - 15:24 ET by Mike SargentIf you notice, I mentioned that in the article -- as well as provided a link to the NewsBusters write-up of the Clinton piece. I think it was more about Bill Clinton than it was about Hillary (the "cavernous narcissism" quote, for example, was about Bill).
And whether or not there were also relevant points in his article, the fact that he uses anonymous sources (and therefore of dubious expertise) to question Sarah Palin's mental state is, as I said above, nearly libelous. This is beyond normal discussions of liberal versus conservative; it is the smearing of a conservative with absolutely zero evidence to back it. That's not journalism, it's Goebbels' campaigning tactics -- and he cannot hide that behind other items that may be true.
Oh I agree wholeheartedly.
June 30, 2009 - 15:32 ET by BlondeSee your pm.
The only thing that fatigues me more than Obama worship is the incessant smearing by the media of all things conservative.
I originally said something like....the DSM4 is really expensive, as evidenced here on Amazon.
Personally, my DSM4 diagnosed the writer of this hit job as a near terminal case of liberal projection. :)
I hope he fails, too.
Anonymous aides and anonymous rumor mongering.
June 30, 2009 - 14:29 ET by acaiguanaWell, we have to take into consideration that when a Liberal wants to simply make up a story line opinion article, they write for Vanity Fair.
By setting up the article through using the statement:
"anonymous McCain aides saw Palin as a “diva” and a “whack job.”
...the author is now free to liberally (pun intended) let his pen flow freely through misanthropic butchering of English to rant and rave about a person who isn't even a National Washington Political Figure.
Go figure...
The over the top intellectual dishonesty of the Liberals in the media and in Congress is so blatant that even the slowest of the slow can see it spattered on the walls of their minds.
There's a commercial advertisement out on TV (I seriously do not remember what product or company is behind the Ad) that takes a kid and gives him a toy for about 3 minutes (10 seconds) and then takes it away and gives the kid something totally outrageous.
The tag line goes something like; "Even kids know hiding behind the 'fine print' is wrong... Why don't....?"
It's a great commercial and reflects the Obama Gangster rap group like a mirror.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
So, who are you going to trust?
June 30, 2009 - 18:35 ET by needleI for one can easily tell the difference between a suit hired by the McCain Campaign and Sarah Palin, and which one is trustworthy.
When you hear stuff like this, you have to make a decision.
- Relying upon the MSM for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
Libs Love Sarah
June 30, 2009 - 14:33 ET by 411why else do they attack her relentlessly? Its like the schoolboy who makes fun of the girl. He really likes her and doesnt know how to show it. Where are all the womens groups standing up For Gov. Palin? Even though she has more balls than most men politicians, shes still a woman!
RB/411acrossamerica.com
About Roger Clinton..
June 30, 2009 - 14:55 ET by Gary HallThat reminds me.. I remember hearing an audio of what was claimed to be Roger Clinton accusing his brother - that would be then AK Gov. William Jefferson Clinton - of having a nose like a vacuum cleaner (topic being cocaine). Supposedly the audio was from a police interrogation.
Anyone?
(;~> gary
Gary... I remember it
June 30, 2009 - 14:59 ET by bigtimerGary...
I remember it well.
Plus let's don't forget he was pardoned by his big bro' if memory serves me right.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
AR not AK
June 30, 2009 - 15:42 ET by LEWIS IN COLORADOAR not AK (Arkansas not A las K a)
Lewis...uh-oh...I missed
June 30, 2009 - 15:50 ET by bigtimerLewis...uh-oh...I missed that too....Gary, you're in big time trouble here....lol.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
The Palin Derangement
June 30, 2009 - 15:02 ET by Scuba DudeThe Palin Derangement Syndrome continues unabated. These libtards are absolutely scared fecal-less of Gov. Palin. Is it because they know deep down that she is infinitely more qualified than the Zero that is now occupying the White House and her and like minded conservatives pose a significant threat to them in 2010 and 2012?
p.s. It is sooooooo nice to be able to read and comment on any thread that mentions Gov Palin and not be subjected to the ravings of Pop Tech.
The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER
Too true, scoob
June 30, 2009 - 15:10 ET by BlondeThe liberals will continue to hammer anyone and everyone who poses a threat to la la land.
It is a relief to be able to actually post on the topic of Sarah Palin without the thread going ballistically bizarre.
I hope he fails, too.
The liberals will continue
June 30, 2009 - 15:27 ET by Mike SargentThe liberals will continue to hammer anyone and everyone who poses a threat to la la land.
I believe the actual name of La La Land is "Camelot." Apparently we were there in the early 60's, until the dream was interrupted by that warmongering Lyndon Johnson...
/semisarc...
Camelot!
June 30, 2009 - 16:00 ET by Blonde***smacks forehead****
How could I have forgotten we've now recreated Camelot? What with all of the rainbows, rivers of chocolate, and happy children riding unicorns on the White House lawn....sorry, won't let it happen again.
I hope he fails, too.
The ongoing leftie fear of
June 30, 2009 - 15:04 ET by robert108The ongoing leftie fear of Sarah is pathological, IMO.
Insecurity
June 30, 2009 - 15:53 ET by PoolPlayerPurdam is another in an ever growing group of propagandists posing as journalists. They know that Palin has tremendous popularity and has as much or more charisma as 'fearless leader'. The game is to marginlize this threat to their Marxist agenda by their personal destruction tactics. As long as they can convince 50+%, which they sure did in the last election, they don't care that the rest of us know the game they play.
If McCain's aides really
June 30, 2009 - 16:01 ET by Radical1979If McCain's aides really didn't like Palin, it's entirely possible it was because they weren't expecting such a bright popular runing mate. Maybe they didn't want McCain to be outshone.
I guess that's what explains Obamas choice of VP. Surely there's a lot more to be said of Biden than Palin, but we never seem to hear it...
And . . .
June 30, 2009 - 17:01 ET by DoktorFrankenWhat is the hell does that political hack, Schmidt, know about postpartum depression? Is he some sort of medical or psych doctor? Sheesh!! What an idiot!! It easy to see why McCain's campaign failed continually and miserably.
Journalistic integrity??
June 30, 2009 - 16:56 ET by DoktorFrankenJournalistic integrity?? Those two words don't belong in the same paragraph together let alone the same sentence when talking about the U.S. Main Stream Media and the turds that inhabit it.
I, once again, point out that Governor Sarah Palin is the most dangerous Conservative in America. The proof of which occurs daily within the toilets of journalism.
And that especially goes for you, Turd Purdumb.
great minds
June 30, 2009 - 20:05 ET by American.Patriotthink alike... thanks for the turd comments for this un-manly-man.
Can you imagine what kind of pussy some guy has to be to work for this type of media outlet?
"When I look in the mirror, I say, 'He did not sell his soul for short-term politics.'" President George W. Bush, June 18, 2009
The more the Godless,
June 30, 2009 - 17:22 ET by RogerCfromSDThe more the Godless, anti-American scum attack her, the better I like her.
Palin 2012!
A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.
gangster president leads to thug editors
June 30, 2009 - 17:25 ET by snaggletoothieAt one time (59 years ago) Vanity Fair was a decent magazine. Now, I guess they think they can make a living out of stabbing conservatives in the back. You elect a gangster president and thugs start appearing everywhere.
This crap gets old. These
June 30, 2009 - 17:26 ET by Gary P JacksonThis crap gets old.
These liberals are just tiring, at best. I write pretty extesively about this stuff, and our group continually researches those behind the attacks. Trust me, most of these attacks come straight from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Here's some info on the latest phony "ethics complaint" they are gonna try and float. It's even more ridiculous than the last one:
http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.blogspot.com/2009/06/face-of-democrat-insanity.html
These people are scared to death of Sarah Palin. The absolutely know that if she runs for POTUS, it's a done deal. Their hope is to destroy her at all costs.
Of course, the RINOs aren't helping. And yeah, they fear her as well. She took down much of the good old boy network in Alaska. Her efforts took down the leadership of the Republican party. She really dosn't care what party you are in, if there is some shady stuff going on.
Been doing it since her days as a city council woman when she stopped a fellow member's ordinance that would have given his waste management business a monopoly in town.
Those in DC know good and well if she wins, and has a solid majority in Congress, she will spend a LOT of time cleaning that mess up. It's in her DNA. So look for both sides to hit her hard.
I can't wait for 2012, because I for one am ready to do battle for this woman anytime, anywhere!
She is the real deal!
Gary
June 30, 2009 - 18:04 ET by DoktorFrankenThanks for the great link!! And whatta mug shot!
http://3.bp.blogspot...
I am guessing it's the visage of 24enak.
And count me in for the battle in 2012. Palin makes the most sense to me for the Presidential candidate. Nothing against others, but we all have our favorites.
Oh, if you enjoyed
June 30, 2009 - 20:01 ET by Gary P JacksonOh, if you enjoyed that...
One of our members has a whole website devoted to parodying Linda Kellen Biegel, as well as the rest of the hate bloggers and assorted loons in Alaska! She made the "mugshot", although frankly I think that shot looks better than the real ones!
http://divasbluetinker.blogspot.com/
From what I understand it's driving them crazy too! Basically the site just parodies what the losers do on a daily basis! :-)
Gee, Thanks . . . .
July 1, 2009 - 00:06 ET by DoktorFrankenNow I just wasted an hour and a half reading (and re-reading) that crappy site.
I have never seen anything like it. Perhaps the Onion - maybe. I can sure get into the creepy, oozing feeling of hate.
;-)
2012 cannot come soon enough.
June 30, 2009 - 18:23 ET by needleI too am ready to do battle for this woman anytime, anywhere!
"She is the real deal!" That is exactly what Joe the plumber said after riding in the campaign bus with Sarah last fall.
- Relying upon the MSM for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
I don't know...
June 30, 2009 - 20:27 ET by Mike Sargent...if she'll run.
She has some work to do in rehabbing her public image from the smear campaign; and that work, by the way, does not include counterattacking. It's the simple things, such as being able to mount a coherent argument for or against different philosophies of foreign policy -- being able to tell people why it's important that taxes be low, that government be small, and that firearm ownership should not be a wedge issue.
And most important, I don't know that she's interested in running.
Sure, she made a PAC. Everyone does. But she always seems to be moving on a message of the conservative definition of feminism; an alternative philosophy to that of NOW and Rush's 'feminazis.' Remember her messaging during the recent Letterman flap: She wanted him to apologize to all women. Another example is found at the end of this Runner's World interview she did:
That's not the message of someone angling for another shot at presidential politics. That's the message of someone who believes she has more influence outside of politics; as a national issues leader more than a national policy leader.
And can you imagine if she started knocking down the wall of modern feminism?
Good lord, just think of the weeping and gnashing of teeth that would rise from the left. It makes me smile just thinking about it.
Interesting, Mike
June 30, 2009 - 20:50 ET by BlondeI think you may be on to something.
And I love your conclusion, too....it's something all of us conservative women try to do every day of our lives, but to have a figurehead like Palin would rock, truly. It makes me smile, too.
I hope he fails, too.
The real reason
June 30, 2009 - 19:42 ET by zachlindWhen I read Todd Purdum’s Vanity Fair article attacking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a bad case of male jealously over female success. Such jealously might suggest that Purdum had a problem with Todd Palin’s advanced selection skills rendering the Purdum choice at best mediocre. But, after some thought I realized there was probably a deeper reason, one that Mr. Purdum has been burdened with since the Clinton days. Its likely Purdum is panicked that a more comprehensive list of female conquests covering interns, staff and other women of marginal speed from the ex-president’s past will surface and his article probably represents nothing more than a classic case of diversion.
well look...
June 30, 2009 - 20:02 ET by American.Patriotthis turd is another in a serious of left wing liberals who Cant Understand Normal Thinking (CUN...)
It's upsetting but hey, how many poeple actuall buy this pussy magazine? I doubt that this turd could even "man-up"
M.O.
June 30, 2009 - 23:54 ET by ozarkianIs this becoming the White Houses's m.o., this labeling opponents as mentally troubled?
Post-Purdum Indigestion
July 1, 2009 - 04:36 ET by Jack BauerI'm suffering from post-Purdum Indigestion...
He really is a remarkable journalist is Toddy-boy.
Some people MAY claim that he's just like one of those journalsts you read about who "make stuff up" to fit their preconceived agenda.
Anyone familiar with the storyline in The Wire (final season) knows what I mean. Some might accuse Pardum of that offense.
Not me though. No -- he's brilliant. He has AMAZING investigative chops.
He trips over ordinary folks in Alaska who just happen to have clinical defintions from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
What are the odds? None for the normal hack schlubb -- but Todd is made-up of better stuff.
He's been here before back in 2004, just as one example in his long career that is not made-up, I hasten to add.
Back then the object of his obsessive Borderline Personality Disorder...
(I've checked the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and that seems the diagnosis)...
...was George Bush. But maybe a restraining order has him leaving Bush and stalking Palin? Who knows. But he has switched.
Covering the 2004 election in the New York Slimes, Toddy-boy wanders into an old Wisconsin Diner, and on every table filled with ordinary cheeseheads, he finds something remarkable that just happens to fit the story he's working on.
Don't hacks LOVE it when that happens?
According to Todd, all the cheeseheads, "questioned whether the Bush administration was trying to manipulate the terrorist threat for political advantage."
Three years after the worst mass murder terror attack in US history on 9/11, in an election BUSH won, he could find NO-ONE who thought the terrorist threat was actually real.
Not real!!! Get that. Not "well there has to be some truth, right."
No. Todd found no one who believed the President. No one who even contemplated that Bush was doing, well, okay?
No -- they all echoed the lunatic fring and far left talking points of the time. There was NO real terror THREAT, it's all whipped up by Bush, Karl Rove, et al.
Again? What are the odds?
Jack, ignore the man behind the ACA Post above.
July 1, 2009 - 07:18 ET by acaiguanaI have no recollection of ever saying anything like 'he made it up'.
But your rememberance of 2004 is a great one. I like it when you bring the actual history of an idiot to these pages.
Of course, the terrorist threat was never 'real'. It was just a buncha misguided pilot trainees who happened to go to a bad school. For some reason, all they learned was how to fly planes into two buildings in NY and another into the Pentagon and another into a field.
Shucks, they might have action here over that training. Don'tcha think?
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
jessieH
July 1, 2009 - 11:24 ET by jessieHjessieH Let them rant about Palin. I think she can roll with the punches. My ol man used to say " give em enough rope & they'll hang themselves". I agree. Look at Pelosi. She has just about killed her career. Frank has put his in jeopardy. Same with Reid & Dodd. " It is better to keep silent & thought a fool, than to speak up & prove you are a Democrat": ME Palin-Jindal in 2012
I agree Jessie
July 1, 2009 - 11:30 ET by BlondeI think Palin has got what it takes....she is more than capable of handling whatever the media flings at her (and I suspect she was rather shocked when it first happened...now she's an old hand at it).
Time will tell...but it's great to see her handle the furor in an ever more commanding manner.
I hope he fails, too.
Liberal tolerance on
July 1, 2009 - 11:29 ET by wiwfLiberal tolerance on parade.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
"Paranoid"
July 2, 2009 - 03:53 ET by sudmufThis is just more typical liberal arrogant condecending BS. I think Mr Purdumb needs to look up the term "paranoid schizophrenic" in the DSM. Just because your paranoid Mr Purdumb doesn't mean we're not after you!