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Wall Street Journal Sticks A Fork In Sarah Palin’s Criticism Of First Lady

» 37 comments

Sarah Palin has repeatedly expressed that First Lady Michelle Obama‘s antiobesity campaign leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Already Republican Mike Huckabee declared his allegiance to Team Michelle on the issue. And now, somewhat surprisingly, the conservative-leaning Wall Street Journal editorial page admits they also don’t smell what Palin is cooking.

In addition to Palin being upset during her reality show that the first lady was trying to take away her dessert, she also said in a recent radio interview with Laura Ingraham:

What [Michelle Obama] is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat . . . instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician’s wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions.

In an editorial titled “Palin’s Food Fight,” the Journal admits they hate the “nanny state” of government monitoring and forcing its citizens to do anything, but doesn’t see the first lady’s efforts as anything more than “telling kids to eat their vegetables and run around the block” and “to take responsibility for their own choices.” The editorial even uses Palin’s words against her, pulling a quote Palin said in 2009 that easily could be confused for the first lady today:

Health-care reform on an individual basis is often just this simple: We could save a lot of money and a lot of grief by making smarter choices. . . . It starts by ending destructive habits and beginning healthy habits in eating and exercise.

The most damning critique of Palin, is the advice that she “would be more effective if she made some distinctions among the Obama policies that really are worth opposing.” With the implication being Palin is too simple-minded to comprehend which Obama policies might actually be beneficial or is too partisan to care, the real story here is why are conservative intellectuals at the Wall Street Journal sharpening their knives for Palin?

With no frontrunner for the GOP 2012 presidential nomination besides Palin, the elites on the right (yes, “elite” is not a term exclusive to the liberal side) are clearly fretting over the possibility she could be their nominee. And with Fox News contributors Dana Perino and Juan Williams just yesterday questioning Palin’s capacity for intellectual discourse, it seems this drumbeat is getting louder from all corners.

In the end, Palin should not worry too much about these critiques because her unpredictability, authenticity and unpolished tone, the very characteristics that frustrate the “experts” in the media, are precisely what keeps her passionate supporters coming back for more helpings of what she continues to serve.

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  • cjd ohio 1

    man is this the sarah palin wab site, because that is all you people write about

  • Fox News: Serving the Freeper community since 1996

    ” helpings of what she continues to serve.”

    Once again she is serving up nothing but shameless demagoguery.Pretty bad when the WSJ takes note of it.

  • TangledThorns

    Another Sarah Palin hit piece? How about more about Obama going out of his way to praise a former dog murderer/torturer for his football skills? That deserves attention today! Obama is slime for liking a evil man like Vick!

  • nighean donn

    Why does everything about Sarah Palin here get deflected to President Obama? Is is because your undying, unthinking defence of Mrs. (not Governor) Palin is indefensible?

  • Just4thefax

    Fact: Some time in the near future the trigger will be pulled and the democrats will have to put up or shut up. I’m awaiting the day that will come and the fact still remains the same when the kitchen gets hot the democrats have no backbone or the will to succeed in any endeavors and in the end always will hide the heads in the sand and play possum until the threat is over and they will stay that way when Palin decides to run because they show it on every thread or post you can feel and see the fright in seeing this dynamic woman glow hits their face!

  • jjay7381

    She’s just a mean girl who never grew up after high school. But that’s okay, because the more people see of her, the less they like.

  • juan

    Sarah knocks ‘em to their knees!

    Be afraid, Be Very Afraid!

    Go, Sarah!

  • timzank

    nighean donn said:
    Why does everything about Sarah Palin here get deflected to President Obama? Is is because your undying, unthinking defence of Mrs. (not Governor) Palin is indefensible?

    In this case it’s because the topic is the criticism by Palin about PRESIDENT OBAMA’S WIFE and her one woman crusade to spend 4.5 BILLION DOLLARS of our money, which HE (Barry) is 100% on board with.

    Does that clear it up for you?

  • Scott_in_MI

    jjay7381 said:
    She’s just a mean girl who never grew up after high school. But that’s okay, because the more people see of her, the less they like.

    Its funny that anyone would criticize Palin for beiing mean. Most of this woman’s criticisms stem from the irrational hatred the left has for her. Since most of them have been put into a eunuch status through their devotion to political correctness they’re intimidated by S.P. The see Ms Palin as a strong, confident woman who possesses more balls than they have.

  • MediaWhore

    Thank you Sarah. Your continued stupidity is the gift that keeps on giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

    And giving.

  • noekk

    Scott_in_MI said:
    Its funny that anyone would criticize Palin for beiing mean. Most of this woman’s criticisms stem from the irrational hatred the left has for her. Since most of them have been put into a eunuch status through their devotion to political correctness they’re intimidated by S.P. The see Ms Palin as a strong, confident woman who possesses more balls than they have.

    So does Andrew Dice Clay. You see, that’s the problem..

  • http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/ jamesalfred

    Fox News: Serving the Freeper community since 1996 said:
    ” helpings of what she continues to serve.” Once again she is serving up nothing but shameless demagoguery.Pretty bad when the WSJ takes note of it.

    El wrongo. The headline is more misleading that anything HuffPo ever put on line. SP was clearly making a joke, not a formal complaint about the policy, which does suck by the way. It is Huckabee and the media that are making a big deal about it. The Plain quote is also misused, as most of her quates are. She said,

    “Health-care reform on an individual basis is often just this simple: We could save a lot of money and a lot of grief by making smarter choices. . . . It starts by ending destructive habits and beginning healthy habits in eating and exercise.”

    Thuis is 100% true but the govenment doesn’t have to make the choices for the people because the current first lady thinks the people are not smart enough to make the choices themselves. This is not the same thing at all. Also, why can’t SP speak out against all Obama policies she doesn’t like whether they are big or small? Is she, or any American required only to pick a few major policies they don’t like and speak out against tem only? DADT has zero impact on the world, the economy, unemplyment, immigration, either of our wars, terrorism…yet some people focus on it alone, why waste any effort at all on such a small thing???

    This is nothing more than Palin bashing, plain and simple. Both sides need to stop, all it does as drag SP on to the front page.

    http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/

  • http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/ jamesalfred

    MediaWhore said:
    Thank you Sarah. Your continued stupidity is the gift that keeps on giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving. And giving.

    You are clearly suffering from PDS. How is speaking out agains the bigg assed, self appointed food boss of the U.S. stupid? I love SP amily becaus eshe pisses people like you off. Hilarious irony here is that the only thing that keeps the woman in the spotlight is crazy lefty hatred.

    http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/

  • http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/ jamesalfred

    jjay7381 said:
    She’s just a mean girl who never grew up after high school. But that’s okay, because the more people see of her, the less they like.

    What? She is a popular now as she ever was. How the Hell is what she said mean anyway?

    http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/

  • Just4thefax

    MediaWhore said:
    Thank you Sarah. Your continued stupidity is the gift that keeps on giving.
    And giving.
    And giving.

    Fact: At least Sarah Palin wasn’t cowed, she stood up and spoke up for many patriot minded people. She spoke for all the people that wants smaller government who have been sneered at, derided, called horrible names, besmirched, ridiculed, mocked, and condescended to. And you feign outrage, utterly shocked when someone finally breaks and is fed-up with your socialist elitist attitudes? That is exactly why she’s “outburst” occurred calling Michelle Obamabot out for her failures which in my count are many. And it’s why she is not an “idiot” or a “jerk,” as many are claiming and have said on many occasions. Run run run…And giving and giving and giving. That, in fact, is part of the problem; that whole dumb-dumb idiot’s you are with your characterization of Sarah. You posture that you are better than Sarah, Smarter Than Sarah… don’t you see that as part of why people are so angry? They are tired of being looked down upon and sneered at that you are simply showing you are just afraid of her admit it. Sarah can and will be a force in 2012 and you better get your game on because she intends to win!

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    Just4thefax said:
    Fact: At least Sarah Palin wasn’t cowed, she stood up and spoke up for many patriot minded people. She spoke for all the people that wants smaller government who have been sneered at, derided, called horrible names, besmirched, ridiculed, mocked, and condescended to. And you feign outrage, utterly shocked when someone finally breaks and is fed-up with your socialist elitist attitudes? That is exactly why she’s “outburst” occurred calling Michelle Obamabot out for her failures which in my count are many. And it’s why she is not an “idiot” or a “jerk,” as many are claiming and have said on many occasions. Run run run…And giving and giving and giving. That, in fact, is part of the problem; that whole dumb-dumb idiot’s you are with your characterization of Sarah. You posture that you are better than Sarah, Smarter Than Sarah… don’t you see that as part of why people are so angry? They are tired of being looked down upon and sneered at that you are simply showing you are just afraid of her admit it. Sarah can and will be a force in 2012 and you better get your game on because she intends to win!

    When did patriot become a synonym for simple?

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    The New England Simples

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    TangledThorns said:
    Another Sarah Palin hit piece? How about more about Obama going out of his way to praise a former dog murderer/torturer for his football skills? That deserves attention today! Obama is slime for liking a evil man like Vick!

    The problem with our criminal justice system, personifie. We pay $25-50,000 a year per inmate, many unnecessarily. Separate who you are afraid of from who you’re mad at. Michael Vick is an example of someone who made a mistake, served his time, and is now back to being a productive member of society. What he did was wrong, terrible, yes. But he served his time. That’s how America works. They eat dogs in China and worship cows in India. Michael Vick just happened to touch a societal nerve.

  • Just4thefax

    Publius219 said:
    When did patriot become a synonym for simple?

    Fact: Don’t speak liberal?

    Publius219 said:
    The New England Simples

    Fact: Huh again! Face it assmagot you and your kind got their asses handed to them in November! Ouch!

  • Just4thefax

    Publius219 said:
    Michael Vick is an example of someone who made a mistake, served his time, and is now back to being a productive member of society.

    Fact: You need help! What’s the topic here on this thread?

  • Just4thefax

    Publius219 said:
    example of someone who made a mistake

    Fact: Here practice here first then post!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrZpCCT7hh0

  • SarahP

    Just4thefax said:
    Fact: At least Sarah Palin wasn’t cowed, she stood up and spoke up for many patriot minded people. She spoke for all the people that wants smaller government who have been sneered at, derided, called horrible names, besmirched, ridiculed, mocked, and condescended to. And you feign outrage, utterly shocked when someone finally breaks and is fed-up with your socialist elitist attitudes? That is exactly why she’s “outburst” occurred calling Michelle Obamabot out for her failures which in my count are many. And it’s why she is not an “idiot” or a “jerk,” as many are claiming and have said on many occasions. Run run run…And giving and giving and giving. That, in fact, is part of the problem; that whole dumb-dumb idiot’s you are with your characterization of Sarah. You posture that you are better than Sarah, Smarter Than Sarah… don’t you see that as part of why people are so angry? They are tired of being looked down upon and sneered at that you are simply showing you are just afraid of her admit it. Sarah can and will be a force in 2012 and you better get your game on because she intends to win!

    You are a blithering idiot who can’t seem to put two sentences together. Were you home schooled?

  • Just4thefax

    SarahP said:
    You are a blithering idiot who can’t seem to put two sentences together. Were you home schooled?

    Fact: sarah p talk here!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubl6lrpKMrs

  • Magister

    TangledThorns said:
    Another Sarah Palin hit piece?

    Yeah. That pesky Murdoch-owned WSJ will really go out of their way to hit Palin.

    Otherwise, it was a neat little editorial trick, where they attributed the Palin quote to Mrs. Obama, then corrected themselves in the next paragraph.

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    Pl

    Just4thefax said:
    Fact: Don’t speak liberal?

    Fact: Huh again! Face it assmagot you and your kind got their asses handed to them in November! Ouch!

    Just because I hate the loud base of the GOP doesn’t make me a Democrat, silly goose. I hate them too. I just find class warfare to be ever so slightly less despicable than race warfare, in most cases. Hell, I supported my newly-elected GOP governor, I like my GOP congressman. But they have brains and aren’t unintelligible jackasses who just regurgitate Foxnation or Rush or wherever you choose to feed from your virtual trough.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Westover/1496648721 Tony Westover

    “Already Republican Mike Huckabee declared his allegiance to Team Michelle on the issue.”

    That’s because that fascist forced school children to weigh themselves in class in order to calculate their BMI and send it to their parents. So why should we be surprised that that busybody supports Michelle Obama’s plan to stick her nose in every parents’ business because one of her own kids got fat?

  • Gasket

    jamesalfred said:
    El wrongo. The headline is more misleading that anything HuffPo ever put on line. SP was clearly making a joke, not a formal complaint about the policy, which does suck by the way. It is Huckabee and the media that are making a big deal about it. The Plain quote is also misused, as most of her quates are. She said,

    “Health-care reform on an individual basis is often just this simple: We could save a lot of money and a lot of grief by making smarter choices. . . . It starts by ending destructive habits and beginning healthy habits in eating and exercise.”

    Thuis is 100% true but the govenment doesn’t have to make the choices for the people because the current first lady thinks the people are not smart enough to make the choices themselves.

    First of all, the premise of your last quoted statement in the above quote is false. The Govt is NOT and I repeat NOT choosing what you choose to eat. That is a fallacy. The latter part of your statement is equally specious. I would say unequivocally that Americans are stupid when it comes to making SMART choices involving FOOD and HEALTH. This is a fact. painful, but true. Look at health statistics. We are the fattest nation in the world! However, even with this known health shortcomings, Mrs Obama or the Govt is not dictating what you or I should eat. It’s a classic strawman since your position is indefensiblet.

    “This is not the same thing at all. Also, why can’t SP speak out against all Obama policies she doesn’t like whether they are big or small? Is she, or any American required only to pick a few major policies they don’t like and speak out against tem only? DADT has zero impact on the world, the economy, unemplyment, immigration, either of our wars, terrorism…yet some people focus on it alone, why waste any effort at all on such a small thing???”

    Nobody said SP has no right to speak. This is the usual victim-hood you Palinisters relish in. She is the antagonist. She’s being criticized (can’t we do that too?) for her vacuous criticism of FLOTUS on this specific topic. The criticism has no standing in any objective observer’s eyes. She’s a demagogue and was just looking for any opportunity to muddy up FLOTUS. Again, no one on the left did anything remotely close to Laura Bush when she embarked on her education platform.

    This is nothing more than Palin bashing, plain and simple. Both sides need to stop, all it does as drag SP on to the front page.

    If she doesn’t want to get “bashed” she should stop bashing others. She’s a big girl, she can handle it. Mrs Obama has never said a SINGLE negative thing about Sarah Palin, Not ONE! Who is the bully again?

  • Gasket

    DADT has zero impact on the world, the economy, unemplyment, immigration, either of our wars, terrorism…yet some people focus on it alone, why waste any effort at all on such a small thing???”

    DADT has/d zero impact? Tell that to the 13,000+ service men and women who lost their jobs over that discriminatory law. Just because something does not affect you does not mean it’s effect elsewhere is redundant.

  • Chuck316

    $3.00 a gallon gas. Let’s talk about something important.

  • Just4thefax

    Publius219 said:
    Just because I hate the loud base of the GOP doesn’t make me a Democrat, silly goose. I hate them too. I just find class warfare to be ever so slightly less despicable than race warfare, i

    Fact: i will not tell anyone that you are a closet republican! Ssssssssshhhhhhhiiiiiiisssssshhhhhhhh……Okay.

  • Jayson

    Just4thefax said:
    Fact: At least Sarah Palin wasn’t cowed, she stood up and spoke up for many patriot minded people. She spoke for all the people that wants smaller government who have been sneered at, derided, called horrible names, besmirched, ridiculed, mocked, and condescended to. And you feign outrage, utterly shocked when someone finally breaks and is fed-up with your socialist elitist attitudes? That is exactly why she’s “outburst” occurred calling Michelle Obamabot out for her failures which in my count are many. And it’s why she is not an “idiot” or a “jerk,” as many are claiming and have said on many occasions. Run run run…And giving and giving and giving. That, in fact, is part of the problem; that whole dumb-dumb idiot’s you are with your characterization of Sarah. You posture that you are better than Sarah, Smarter Than Sarah… don’t you see that as part of why people are so angry? They are tired of being looked down upon and sneered at that you are simply showing you are just afraid of her admit it. Sarah can and will be a force in 2012 and you better get your game on because she intends to win!

    Now we know why you seem to hate everyone & everything. With the exception of your precious Sarah P of course. You’ve just written about your own life. If you’re gullable enough to think SP will fix it by being president, you’re sadly mistaken. You need to work on that yourself.

  • The Tea Weasel

    “Sarah Palin has repeatedly expressed that First Lady Michelle Obama’s antiobesity campaign leaves a bad taste in her mouth”

    I believe it is Todd who is leaving a bad taste in her mouth….

  • Nacho

    Sarah Palin hates orphans and children that come from absentee parent , poor, and/or dysfunctional homes.

  • Just4thefax

    Jayson said:
    Now we know why you seem to hate everyone & everything. With the exception of your precious Sarah P of course. You’ve just written about your own life. If you’re gullable enough to think SP will fix it by being president, you’re sadly mistaken. You need to work on that yourself.

    Fact: Written about my own life? Sarah Palin can fix it all? Look the facts are the facts. She does have a place on the GOP debating stage! Yes she does. She is a better candidate then Ozero was at the same time of being on that stage.Yes she does. Will I vote for her? If she shows me she’s my best candidate. Same result applies on the democrats stage! But if they the democrats continue to be wrong on every issue it’s like Global Warming! It’s not happening! Who at this point do I Like?
    http://mikepence.house.gov/
    So you need to be spoon feed like a true liberal that was it and you need to fill up this time and change into an American! Try joining the Tea Party the can show you the light!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lars-Svensen/100001028197161 Lars Svensen

    Dana Perino: Empty cranium under Maddow haircut. Juan Williams: Buffoon at NPR & Fox. WSJ: Establishment mouthpiece. Super Sensational Sarah Palin: Alaskan Aphrodite, American Athena.

  • Fuzzytoes

    Being stupid or being a teabagger
    or for that matter being
    a republican or democrat
    does not qualify a person as a
    patriot.

    Followin Falin Palin doesn’t either.

  • Chatty Kathy

    Palin: ” instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician’s wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions.”

    This woman has the audacity to call a healthy eating program intrusive while she ignores her extreme anti-choice position on abortion. What could be more intrusive than “some politician” deciding on whether or not I should have a child or not, for whatever reason. Stay out of my womb, beyotch!

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