Death Threats Against Sarah Palin At “Unprecedented Level”

Notwithstanding any previous criticism of Sarah Palin, this, of course, is inexcusable:

An aide close to Sarah Palin says death threats and security threats have increased to an unprecedented level since the shooting in Arizona, and the former Alaska governor’s team has been talking to security professionals.

Since the shooting in Tucson, Palin has taken much heat for her “crosshairs” map that targeted 20 congressional Democrats in the 2010 mid-term election, including that of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was the main target of Saturday’s attack.

America has always had our share of political nuts, most of whom make threats with no intention or capability of acting upon then but some of whom actually follow through on their threats. So, I don’t blame Palin for being concerned about security, even with her family located in a relatively remote and hard-to-travel-to location.

It does seem, though, that stuff like this has become more prevalent in recent years, or is it just that it gets reported more often?

FILED UNDER: US Politics, , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Axel Edgren says:

    So what caused this?

    Because we just decided that there are insane people doing this, and who they choose as victims is not based on political grievances perpetuated by speakers or prominent figures on any side.

    Curious.

  2. sinewave says:

    Why aren’t there any statements from law enforcement about this? The only statement thus far is from Palin’s press office.

  3. Gustopher says:

    People are probably just offering to survey her house. Everyone seems to be mistaking surveyor’s symbols for cross hairs these days.

    Do we have any confirmation of this from a non-Palin source? Because, frankly, I don’t believe her about anything, ever.

  4. Ernieyeball says:

    In 1970 I drove from Illinois to Colorado and back on I 70. I know I saw a sticker on the wall of a gas station rest room somewhere along the way. It had a crosshairs graphic and the script “The crosshairs are on the back of your neck.” I do not recall any organization name or initials on it. I do remember seeing or hearing that slogan before that trip.

  5. michael reynolds says:

    I’ll pay 10 bucks to your favorite charity for every death threat confirmed by law enforcement.

  6. anjin-san says:

    I would like to hear from law enforcement on this. If there have been any actual threats, certainly the full weight of the law needs to be brought down on those responsible. That being said, a statement from a palin aide all by itself does not carry a ton of credibility.

  7. DMan says:

    There are sick lunatics out there no doubt, but it takes a special kind of sick lunatic who wants to end violent rhetoric by threatening violence…

  8. Davebo says:

    Sarah the perpetually victimized had a bad week so she’s fallen back on the only thing she knows.

  9. Axel Edgren says:

    “Sarah the perpetually victimized had a bad week so she’s fallen back on the only thing she knows.”

    Let’s not be too hasty. We should take the death threats against her as seriously as death threats against anyone. She deserves that despite her previous wolf-crying.

  10. mantis says:

    We should take the death threats against her as seriously as death threats against anyone.

    This is true. And I don’t doubt at all that Palin gets threats. Anyone with her notoriety, and the controversy that often surrounds her, would.

  11. TG Chicago says:

    @michael reynolds Wow, do you really think she’s never received a death threat? While these may not be “confirmed by law enforcement “, they’re clearly threats:

    http://patterico.com/2010/03/25/leftist-issues-death-threats-to-palin-and-family-on-twitter/

    There are at least 10 death threats there. If you want to donate $100 to Oxfam, that would be great.

    Anyway, why would Palin go to “security professionals” and not the FBI?

  12. An Interested Party says:

    “Anyway, why would Palin go to ‘security professionals’ and not the FBI?”

    Too many elitists in the FBI, of course…they would betray her to the Vast Leftwing Conspiracy…

  13. tom p says:

    Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww……………….

    cry me a river….

  14. tom p says:

    And for the record, she has been making threats against people for years (CROSSHAIRS????)(HE IS A TERRORIST!!!!) and you all like to pretend that it is all just political rhetoric that nobody would ever listen to and therefor OK…..

    Now she is on the receiving end… And you want to complain????

    F*ck yo*.

    Come talk to me when she has a bullet thru her brain.

  15. michael reynolds says:

    TG:

    I assume she does get death threats. Are they credible? The kind of thing the SS or FBI or local cops bother to investigate? Don’t know. But I have no confidence in this sudden escalation statement. Palin and her people are congenital liars.

    That said, there’s never a bad time to shoot a C-note to Oxfam. It’s hard to object to feeding starving children.

  16. michael reynolds says:

    Date: 1/13/11
    Gift Amount: $100.00
    Credit Card Number: ************6001
    Name: michael reynolds
    Address: *************
    irvine, CA 926**
    United States

    *Edited address.

  17. anjin-san says:

    Fox News is pushing the death threat story, I don’t know if any actual news organizations are running it.

    What constitutes a death threat? Recently at a company dinner, one of my co-workers said “he should die!” with a considerable amount of venom when Obama’s name was mentioned. Though I think this is a foolish and somewhat shocking thing to say, it is not a death threat. I suspect most of the “death threats” are of this nature.

    That being said, any credible threats need to be taken very seriously, and I would hope the FBI is on the case. All public figures have legitimate security concerns, and a polarizing figure such as Palin probably has more than most.

  18. G.A.P.THEORY says:

    What happens when reckless political opportunists fabricate libelous accusations off of unrelated tragedies to fit their fabricated depictions of their political and hated enemies.

    Good job guys. What you wish for to be true and go to all efforts to create has become real because of you.

    http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wis-officials-talk-about-threat

  19. Axel Edgren says:

    Props to Reynolds.

  20. TG Chicago says:

    @michael reynolds: good on you for the donation!

    While I’m also not terribly inclined to assume statements from Palin are true, it seems quite plausible that there has been an increase in death threats in the last week. That said, if she hasn’t gone to the FBI, then it’s difficult to believe that she feels these are credible threats.

  21. anjin-san says:

    Has the FBI commented on this? If anyone has made a credible threat against Palin, I want the hammer to come down on them hard. If not, well, that is something that should be discussed too.

  22. Guillermo says:

    The first thought I had when I heard about this was “What a bunch of crap!” which is the kind of cynicism she inspires and makes it hard to believe anything she says. That she would take the same day as the memorial service to those who were injured in the shootings to issue her screed on the press and those who criticize her is just amazing. Typical Palin, putting herself before others, thinking she has an exceptional right to the attention of the country before anyone else living or dead.

    No one cares Sarah…