Charles Krauthammer on Friday tore into the liberal media for being obsessed with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
After Krauthammer scolded the "editorial judgment" of the producers of PBS's "Inside Washington" for week after week prominently displaying her as the "only representative of conservatism of any importance" in this nation, the Washington Post's Colby King proved his point (video follows with transcript and commentary):
GORDON PETERSON, HOST: In an exclusive interview with Barbara Walters at the White House this week, when asked if he thinks he could beat Sarah Palin in 2012, the President said, “I don’t think about Sarah Palin.” Perhaps Sarah Palin will lead us out of the smoldering ruins of public life, perhaps not. Former first lady Barbara Bush apparently thinks not.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
LARRY KING: What’s your read about Sarah Palin?
BARBARA BUSH: I sat next to her once, thought she was beautiful, and I think she’s very happy in Alaska, and I hope she’ll stay there.
(END VIDEO)
PETERSON: Former first lady Barbara Bush.
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: I should explain again as I do every week to the viewers as a kind of a viewer's guide that this is the weekly Sarah Palin segment in which the impression is given that the whole of conservatism in America is encapsulated in this one glorious woman?
PETERSON: Why do you oppose her candidacy if she has one?
KRAUTHAMMER: I never took a position on her candidacy. I am making a comment on the editorial judgment of this show in which she is prominently figured week after week, which is I think in the liberal imagination she is and will always be the only representative of conservatism of any importance.
COLBY KING, WASHINGTON POST: She is the most significant Republican, conservative around. She brought this your party back from oblivion to this wonderful state that it is in now...
NINA TOTENBERG, NPR: (Laughter)
KING: ...where the nation’s Democrats are quaking in their wake.
KRAUTHAMMER: You see what I mean?
KING: You ought to be proud of her. The elites, the elitists in the Republican Party puts this poor woman from Wasilla down. I think it’s a shame.
KRAUTHAMMER: Perfect evidence of how liberals are obsessed with Sarah Palin.
Indeed. Taking this further, this media obsession also comprises a compulsion to bash her at every turn.
As I noted Tuesday, this is destined to get far worse as Republicans announce whether or not they're running for president in 2012.
