In an editorial posted on its website Saturday night, Sarah's Palin's hometown newspaper in Wasilla, Alaska, warned author and journalist Joe McGinniss (who has moved next door to Palin as he conducts research for a book on the former governor) about a state law that allows the use of deadly force to defend one's property.
The editorial, titled "Wasilla fence fascinating for national media outlets," paints a disparaging portrait both of McGinniss' work and the national media's coverage of his controversial decision to take up temporary residence so close to Palin.
Its concluding sentence reads, "Finally, those who are fond of Joe McGinnis [sic] might remind him (if he doesn't already know) that Alaska has a law that allows the use of deadly force in protection of life and property."
Managing editor Tom Mitchell, who wrote the editorial, said that it was vetted by the Frontiersman's publisher, Kari Sleight, and a reporter at the newspaper.
"I didn't see it as being controversial. It's just a statement of fact," Mitchell told CBS News. "Plus, it was intended to be more humorous than anything."
Mitchell added that he wrote the editorial because he was surprised by how much national interest the controversy had generated.
"I don't think Joe McGinniss is a violent guy, no, and I don't believe anyone around here would bother about taking offense," he said.
An editor's note was later added to the editorial apologizing for being "a bit too creative" in the concluding sentence.
"I certainly did not mean to suggest that McGinnis would or should be the victim of violence," Mitchell wrote. "For that matter, I didn't mean to suggest the Palins would do such a thing."
The controversy surrounding McGinniss' move next door to Palin became public when the former governor wrote a note on her Facebook page sarcastically welcoming McGinniss to the neighborhood. Along with the note, Palin posted a photograph of McGinniss looking over the balcony of his rented home.
The Palin family then constructed a fence to physically divide their property from the rental home.
Next, Palin called into Glenn Beck's radio show to reiterate her concerns about McGinniss, the bestselling author of "The Selling of the President," about Richard Nixon's 1968 presidential campaign. Last year, McGinniss penned a magazine piece that was highly critical of Palin's work on the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline.
"He's an odd character, if you look at his history, and the things that he's written and the things he's been engaged in," Palin told Beck.
On Saturday, McGinniss told his side of the story to the Washington Post, emphasizing that he respected Palin's privacy and was not interested in spying on her children, as Palin had suggested he was.
"Look, this is a pain for them," he told the Post. "I understand that. If I were her, I'd be upset. I'd be annoyed. But I'd be an adult about it, and I would figure out, okay, how can we resolve this in a way that's not going to make this into something that everybody gets obsessive about?
"By being here, I have learned things, and I've gotten an insight into her character, into her ability to incite hatred, that before I only knew about in the abstract."
Before getting into politics, Palin worked briefly at the Frontiersman as a sports reporter. As a vice presidential candidate in September of 2008, she took time out from her hectic campaign schedule to submit written answers to a long list of questions from the newspaper.
Scott Conroy is a CBS News digital journalist, and is the co-author of "Sarah from Alaska: The Sudden Rise and Brutal Education of a New Conservative Superstar."
Last edited by Esther; 06-04-2010 at 10:09 AM.
Reason: removed cuss word per request
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
mcginnis is an idiot and he is just a part of that wacky hard left that has been so vile toward Palin all these years now.
The man writes about right and left. Did you show your distaste as a christian when he wrote a derogatory book about Kennedy, or were you gleeful? The point is a editor of a paper made a veiled death threat but you don't care about that. You talk about the first amendment rights yet if someone you don't says or writes something you don't like, first amendments don't apply, they are a scum bag. Palin uses her right to tell out right lies but you say nothing.
The man writes about right and left. Did you show your distaste as a christian when he wrote a derogatory book about Kennedy, or were you gleeful? The point is a editor of a paper made a veiled death threat but you don't care about that. You talk about the first amendment rights yet if someone you don't says or writes something you don't like, first amendments don't apply, they are a scum bag. Palin uses her right to tell out right lies but you say nothing.
You are a bitter, bitter man. I think you thrive on fighting. That must be why you like to hang out here so much!
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
You are a bitter, bitter man. I think you thrive on fighting. That must be why you like to hang out here so much!
So stating my opinion is thriving on fighting but yours and the others here who have a different opinion aren't fighting???
Call it what you will, you are for free speech as long as it goes along with your thoughts. How sad you are!!
The man writes about right and left. Did you show your distaste as a christian when he wrote a derogatory book about Kennedy, or were you gleeful? The point is a editor of a paper made a veiled death threat but you don't care about that. You talk about the first amendment rights yet if someone you don't says or writes something you don't like, first amendments don't apply, they are a scum bag. Palin uses her right to tell out right lies but you say nothing.
I didnt know about the book about Kennedy. I dont care.
there was no death threat. It was simply the same thing I would tell a knuckelhead here in Texas.
make the mistake of tresspassing and you can and will get your head blown off.
the Editor didnt suggest anyone do harm to this guy simply because he was sitting in the house he rented.
the Editor told the idiot not to tresspass.... consider it a public service.
There is a part of me (that needs to repent.. I know I know....) that really wishes this guy would treasspass.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
The man writes about right and left. Did you show your distaste as a christian when he wrote a derogatory book about Kennedy, or were you gleeful? The point is a editor of a paper made a veiled death threat but you don't care about that. You talk about the first amendment rights yet if someone you don't says or writes something you don't like, first amendments don't apply, they are a scum bag. Palin uses her right to tell out right lies but you say nothing.
and what lies has Palin told that I have said nothing about?
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
The man writes about right and left. Did you show your distaste as a christian when he wrote a derogatory book about Kennedy, or were you gleeful? The point is a editor of a paper made a veiled death threat but you don't care about that. You talk about the first amendment rights yet if someone you don't says or writes something you don't like, first amendments don't apply, they are a scum bag. Palin uses her right to tell out right lies but you say nothing.
A local yokel made a borderline "joke" that would probably make most folks feel a little uncomfortable depending upon how close they were to the actual situation.
Alaska is way far away from the lower 48. They don't take any kindlier to "interfering outsiders" than you would if I camped out on your doorstep. Both your attempt and the attempt of the itinerant gossip writer to somehow paint the editorial as being Sarah Palin's own words is a desperate reach - AND it probably does indicate just how she is able to "incite hatred" IN HER POLITICAL OPPONENTS.
There was a phenomena that struck the media and President Bush's critics that was known as "Bush Derangement Syndrome." Governor Palin seems to cause the same malady in the same group of people.
Or maybe... you folks are just simply deranged all by themselves?
Hybrid Mode
