# Palin to media: So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 28, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540 "2009-07-28T12:47:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/1 "2009-07-28T12:47:50Z")
Palin had this message to the media in her “Today, I become a quitter” speech: “So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things.” What in blazes was she talking about? I either missed something in the 24/7 news cycle, or I’m just flunking Palintology 101. Can someone enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/2 "2009-07-28T13:23:22Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > What in blazes was she talking about? She doesn’t know. The answer to such a question is a matter of opinion so probably belongs in IMHO. My take on it is that she is trying to simply link herself, with no justification, to our troops and somehow claim that lies about her (her endless whining about her treatment by the media) hurt our troops. It’s the age-old technique of politicians to wrap themselves in the American flag. You know, politics as usual. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/3 "2009-07-28T13:40:53Z")
She randomly name-drops the US military _a lot_. From her statement on Letterman’s apology, for example: “She also thanks “our U.S. military women and and men putting their lives on the line” to protect Letterman’s right to “joke””. There are probably few groups that had less to do with the Letterman/Palin spat then the members of the US military, but she appears to think that merely by mentioning them, she gains some sort of moral high ground. She’s hardly the only politician who does this, but she really seems to have taken it to a new level. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/4 "2009-07-28T13:51:14Z")
I don’t see any factual answer to this. Since this is political, it’s probably best for GD. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/5 "2009-07-28T13:59:27Z")
You’d probably have gotten more colorful answers had you posted outside of GQ, but since we’re here: Put yourself in Palin’s position. This means that everything she says gets maximum benefit of the doubt. Read about a scandal? Read it with facts and assumptions most favorable to her, and consider everything she’s said to be either completely honest or fully believed to be honest. Also, consider the number of stories that went nowhere — Trigger as her grandson, for example. Regardless of who made up those stories—and however they came about they were necessarily invented—it was the media that carried them, and the media that gave them credence. Furthermore, irrespective of what _others_ think the reality was, to her it was the media who painted her as X, Y, and Z — maybe she made a misstep or two, but there was a lot of gotcha journalism involved. If it helps the imagination, consider things from the opposite political spectrum’s point of view. Or take it back to a full belief that the Swift-Boating of Kerry was wholly unfounded and unjust (you don’t have to believe this per se, but it’s just a thought experiment). Stories were planted and reported on that hurt her/his credibility and polling numbers. Even the whisper of it will last longer than the basis. Can you imagine yourself — if not, just read some of the Fox news Pit threads — yelling at the media to knock off all this partisan shenanigans? Palin aside, wouldn’t it be better if the media was less sensationalized and cared less about the gaffe of the week? Do you think that after the last campaign, Cronkite was unabashedly proud of the job the media did? Again, whether or not you personally agree, I’m approaching this in a GQ-like answering for her frame of mind. If one does extend this degree of benefit of the doubt, she makes sense (no comment, in keeping with GQ). As for the troops bit, I think that given her background and familial relationship with the military, it is a natural interjection. It’s a “For the love of all that’s holy!” or “Won’t someone think of the children!” type phrase, meant to invoke some solemnity in what follows or secure a modicum of discrete attention to what comes next. Alternately, you can cast all the above in a bucket and go with a more mercenary view: she is about to embark on an ostensible political king-maker career (i.e., campaigning) and a lucrative book writing and talk-showing stint. Funding for all this is going to come from a solid base, a base that reacts strongly to mentions of troops. Furthermore, she has learned from the past decade or so of media marketing (see Fox, Rush, etc.) that positioning yourself as an alternate, truthful source of news against the monolithic and nebulous “mainstream” media is a successful niche. “Us against Them” works wonders for keeping an audience. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/6 "2009-07-28T14:23:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I don’t see any factual answer to this. Since this is political, it’s probably best for GD. That’s fine, of course. I originally picked General Questions because I thought there was a chance her comment was making reference to a specific, concrete, reality-based incident. I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/7 "2009-07-28T14:24:28Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > . . . > > — Trigger as her grandson, for example. > . . . No wonder she resigned! :eek: Somebody had better tell Roy Rogers. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/8 "2009-07-28T14:25:42Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > That’s fine, of course. I originally picked General Questions because I thought there was a chance her comment was making reference to a specific, concrete, reality-based incident. Her son Track is in the military. I think that’s as close as you’re going to get. I haven’t seen the speech but I don’t think she was talking about a specific lie, just reiterating her statements that the press is out to get her. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/9 "2009-07-28T14:54:05Z")
She sounded like someone doing a bad impression of Tina Fey doing an impression of Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/10 "2009-07-28T14:56:16Z")
Trigger? Track? Where do they come up with these names for their brood? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/11 "2009-07-28T14:58:50Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Trigger? Track? Where do they come up with these names for their brood? horses. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/12 "2009-07-28T15:01:20Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Trigger? Track? Where do they come up with these names for their brood? Bristol. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/13 "2009-07-28T15:02:34Z")
Not Trigger, just Trig. Trigger is a word. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/14 "2009-07-28T15:15:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Not Trigger, just Trig. Trigger is a word. I’ll take “Subjects Sarah Palin failed in high school for $400, Alex”. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/15 "2009-07-28T15:15:34Z")
If you read it in context of the speech it seems pretty straight forward to me: > [@](#): > > We face challenging times with some hell-bent on tearing down our nation by perpetuating pessimism and apologizing for America. They suggest that our best days were yesterdays. But how can this pessimism exist? Proof of our greatness and pride is all around us today. We produce proud and great volunteers who sacrifice everything for their country. This week alone, at the chapel at Fort Rich, I heard the last roll call and the sounding of Taps for three very brave, very young Alaskan soldiers who gave their all for all of us. > > Together we stand with gratitude for the troops who protect all our cherished freedoms. This includes our First Amendment guaranteed freedom of speech – which, par for the course – I shall exercise. First, with some “straight talk,” I will address some, just some, in the media because another right that is protected is the freedom of the press. You have such important jobs reporting facts and informing the electorate and exerting power to influence. You represent what could and should be a respected and honest profession that could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy. Democracy depends on you. That is why our troops are willing to die for you. So, how about in honor of the American soldier you quit making things up. And don’t underestimating the wisdom of the American people. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/16 "2009-07-28T15:20:35Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > If you read it in context of the speech it seems pretty straight forward to me: But not to me. Explain it to me as if I was a five-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/17 "2009-07-28T15:24:55Z")
[A full transcript does not make it clear what some in the media are making up.](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090727/palins-farewell-speech-transcript.htm) Presumably she means that anything she is accused of doing is made up. The speech in general and this part in particular is a true Palinesque jumble of ideas, and the bit about the media does not follow at all from the statements about volunteerism and the military. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/18 "2009-07-28T15:25:42Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Her son Track is in the military. I think that’s as close as you’re going to get. I haven’t seen the speech but I don’t think she was talking about a specific lie, just reiterating her statements that the press is out to get her. I had forgotten that. My interpretation was that she supports the troops therefore any criticism of her is by default critical of our military. It seemed more a desperate grab at anything that might get the criticism to stop. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/19 "2009-07-28T15:45:46Z")
She’s simply invoking a sacred cow in order to make her careerist, self-serving aim of asking the media to lay off reporting nasty stories about her seem more virtuous. How about, in the name of the sweet baby Jesus, you just agree to shut your stupid yammering pie-hole for a few consecutive minutes, Ms. ex-Governor, okay? See how that works? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540/20 "2009-07-28T15:50:46Z")
I was going to say, “_In before the reflexive Palin apologist brigade!_” but Sinaijon got here first. 😃 Palin is a stupid, small person who resonates with the stupid, small people of the Republican Base. The party has shed the smart people and only the most radical, angry and ignorant remain. She’s playing drummer boy for the retard regiment and they’re comin’ for teh libs! It is amazing that she was shown to be uneducated and unthinking during the campaign. She doesn’t read, she doesn’t know about SCOUTS decisions, she doesn’t understand the VP’s job, she doesn’t understand the _Department of Law_ (lulz), shit, I could go on. She’s pretending the media has it in for her, because the media talks about how someone who wants to rule the civilized world is clearly subnormal! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540.md?page=2)