Todd Palin Defense Fund Update

Posted on | September 15, 2011 | 136 Comments

While I am grateful for the enthusiastic response to my suggestion that Sarah Palin’s supporters donate to create a legal defense fund for her husband, some of the commenters seem to be under the impression that I’m joking about this. But you see, as a veteran of 25 years in the news business, I understand the tangible publicity value of the Todd Palin “One Nation Joe McGinnis Ass-Whupping Tour.” And if you think about GOP primary voters, the benefits in terms of political strategy should be obvious enough. Imagine the headlines:

New York Post, Oct. 6, 2011
PAPA GRIZZLY
Author of Palin Smear Book Hospitalized,
Todd Charged After ‘Brutal’ NY Assault

Joe McGinniss underwent emergency surgery Wednesday night after police say the author was beaten senseless by Republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s husband Todd at a Manhattan party where McGinniss was signing copies of his new book about the former Alaska governor.
“It was one of the most brutal attacks I’ve ever seen,” said Venona Wineglass, who was waiting in line to get her copy of the controversial anti-Palin book signed at the Upper West Side reception when, she said, Todd “came out of nowhere” and began punching McGinniss. “He was just like bam, bam, bam, and it took three guards to pull him off.”
While police charged Todd Palin with assault and resisting arrest, his wife was campaigning in South Carolina, two weeks after officially announcing her GOP presidential candidacy. Her campaign spokesman refused comment on the McGinniss incident, while the candidate — currently a distant third in polls, behind Rick Perry and Mitt Romney — told a rally in Spartanburg, S.C., that she wants to “focus on the issues important to ordinary Americans and not be distracted by the lamestream media.”
Surgeons at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital expect McGinniss to be able to continue his book tour despite his injuries . . .

Politico, Oct. 12, 2011
Palin Passes Romney in New Poll

Sarah Palin has moved into second place among Republican presidential contenders, passing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the latest Rasmussen poll.
The former Alaska governor, whose late September announcement stunned nearly all political observers, was at 21% in the Rasmussen survey conducted Oct. 8-10, up nine points over a poll conducted just five days earlier, and ahead of Romney, whose support dropped to 16%. Texas Gov. Rick Perry remained in first place in the GOP field, according to Rasmussen, although his 32% number in the latest survey is down slightly from his previous 34%.
Several analysts attributed Romney’s dip in the polls to his statement last week condemning Todd Palin’s beating of Joe McGinniss . . .

Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 14, 2011
Palin’s Husband Arrested After
Second Assault on McGinniss

The husband of GOP presidential candidate Sarah Palin was arrested Tuesday after police say he attacked author Joe McGinniss at a Rittenhouse Square bookstore where McGinniss was signing copies of his controversial new “unauthorized biography” of the former Alaska governor.
Police Lt. Darnell Robinson said Todd Palin was arrested on charges of assault and resisting arrest after he suddenly rushed McGinniss at the Barnes & Noble where the author of “Rogue” had just begun reading from the book. It was the second such attack on McGinniss in the past two weeks, and Lt. Robinson said a police officer on duty was able to restrain Mr. Palin “after two or three punches.”
McGinniss suffered “multiple contusions and broken teeth,” according to a spokeswoman at University Hospital, where the author was treated and released. Mr. Palin was released on $50,000 bail after a hearing where municipal judge Vincent D’Anofrio ordered the Republican candidate’s husband to wear a radio-monitoring device pending another pre-trial hearing next month . . .

Media Matters, Oct. 15
Limbaugh Applauds McGinniss Beating;
‘Hit Him Again, Todd,’ Radio Host Says

Right-wing talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh yesterday endorsed Todd Palin’s repeated attacks on investigative journalist Joe McGinnisss, whose new book chronicles the genuine evil of Republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
“Damn right, he deserved it,” Limbaugh said on his Wednesday show, calling Todd Palin an “American hero” after his second savage beating of McGinniss at a Philadelphia bookstore Tuesday.
“It’s about time some of these lowlife maggots like McGinniss learned they can’t just print lies about Republicans — hit him again, Todd!” Limbaugh said, introducing a Paul Shanklin parody song set to the tune of Michael Jackson’s 1982 song, “Beat It.”
Limbaugh also issued a challenge to what he called “femi-nazis,” demanding that they condemn McGinniss’s sexual innuendo against Sarah Palin . . .

Washington Post, Oct. 19
Palin Refuses to Condemn Husband’s
Attacks on ‘Smear Merchant’ McGinnis

Republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin said she is not responsible for her husband’s assaults on the author of a controversial “unauthorized biography” of her, but refused to make a direct condemnation of Todd Palin’s beatings which have twice sent Joe McGinniss to the hospital.
“Todd is just Todd, you know,” Palin said during a Sunday appearance on “Meet the Press,” where she was repeatedly asked about her husband’s assaults on McGinniss. “I mean, he’s always been kinda protective of me, and I’ve tried to tell him he shouldn’t be beating on people like that but I guess . . . Well, he’s kinda got a bit of temper sometimes.”
However, Palin dismissed McGinniss’s book as the work of “a disgusting smear merchant trying to make money off a bunch of lies,” and said the headlines about her husband’s one-man war against McGinniss were “just a lamestream media tactic to distract people from the real issues that matter to America.” . . .

New York Times, Oct. 21
Palin Now First in GOP Field
Candidate Unexpectedly Surges in New Poll

Sarah Palin has moved to first place in the latest New York Times/CBS News poll of likely Republican primary voters, eclipsing former front-runner Rick Perry.
Palin’s unexpected surge — now with 37% support in the nationwide survey conducted Oct. 15-17 — comes despite a flurry of negative coverage of her campaign and the controversy surrounding her husband, Todd, who has twice made physical assaults against investigative journalist Joe McGinniss, author of a new book about the former Alaska governor.
“This completely defies conventional wisdom,” said longtime political analyst Larry Sabato, describing Palin’s gain as “freakish . . . maybe a statistical anomaly of some kind.”
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters in Manchester, N.H., chanted “Todd! Todd! Todd!” at a Thursday rally where Palin’s husband appeared briefly onstage with the new GOP front-runner. Vendors did a brisk business selling “Hit Him Again, Todd” T-shirts and bumper stickers at the mid-day event, where Sarah Palin said economic growth “remains the No. 1 focus of my campaign, despite all the smears and distractions from the lamestream media.” . . .

USA Today, Oct. 25
Author McGinniss in Seclusion,
Search for Todd Palin Continues

A nationwide manhunt for Todd Palin continued for a second day Monday, and author Joe McGinniss cancelled the remaining dates on his book tour after the husband of GOP front-runner Sarah Palin eluded an FBI dragnet.
Police say that Todd Palin’s “whereabout are still unknown” after he apparently removed a radio-monitoring device — ordered by a Philadelphia judge following Palin’s second beating of McGinniss Oct. 13 — sometime Sunday morning. The candidate’s husband had been scheduled to join her at an afternoon rally Sunday in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but did not appear at the event. Palin campaign officials say they haven’t seen Todd since he left a Des Moines hotel without explanation that morning.
The mysterious disappearance came shortly after McGinniss appeared on “Meet the Press” and reiterated several of the accusations made in his controversial unauthorized biography of the former Alaska governor. McGinniss had been scheduled to appear at a Chicago book-signing party Monday afternoon, but cancelled the event after Todd Palin went missing and a red Ford Bronco, leased by the Palin campaign, was found abandoned in the parking lot of a commuter rail station in suburban Oak Park, Ill., Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin continued her four-day bus tour of Iowa. Now leading by double-digits in the latest Gallup/USA Today poll, Palin did not directly address the controversy surrounding her fugitive husband Tuesday night at a rally in Davenport, where an unexpectedly large crowd — estimated at more than 20,000 — waved signs with slogans like “Go Get Him, Todd!” and “We [Heart] First Dude.”
Sarah Palin told the cheering crowd “we have to keep focused on economic growth, putting an end to crony capitalism and fixing the mess in Washington, D.C.” She said supporters shouldn’t “be distracted by phony controversies ginned up by the lamestream media.” . . .

Now, this is merely a hypothetical and I grant that some readers may indulge a laugh at the mental image of Joe McGinniss flinching at every loud noise for fear of another brutal Todd Palin ass-whupping, but that’s not the same as me admitting it’s just a joke. This is known as the Stacy McCain Plausible Deniability Clause in the campaign journalism Code of Ethics, because whatever I may write about any candidate, the campaign can always offer the official response, “Oh, hell, it’s Stacy McCain — everybody knows he’s crazy,” and they’re automatically off the hook for whatever “sources close to the campaign” may have told me.

Pleading insanity is more than a legal tactic, of course. It’s also a valuable marketing tool. Let’s face it, this blog gets thousands of hits a day from people just clicking over out of curiosity: “What kind of crazy stuff has that fool written this time?”

Absolute gonzo has rarely been tried as a political strategy. However, when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro, and if Todd Palin shows up at a Joe McGinniss book signing — just for a “friendly chat,” you see, rather than a felonious assualt — maybe some of y’all will realize that my “One Nation Ass-Whupping Tour” idea was only half-joking.

I’m not saying which half, though.

TODD PALIN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
Just in Case He Actually Needs It, IYKWIMAITYD

UPDATE: For the benefit of Andrew Sullivan readers.

Category: Books, humor, Media Bias, Sarah Palin

Comments

136 Responses to “Todd Palin Defense Fund Update”

Garym
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:10 pm

And she has still contributed more to this country than your lame-ass ever will. Jealousy looks good on you.
Anonymous
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:11 pm

heheheh, yeah, y’all just keep sendin’ yer money to this centuries version of tammy faye baker…YEEEHAAAWWW…. btw, are they still sendin’ out a “free” copy of that fraud dvd at anything over a hunnert bux ?
Anonymous
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:18 pm

ah come on, gimme somthin’, anything at all that the $kank quitter has contributed to this country besides those mind numin’ platitudes. translate me some o that would ya ? i wanna hear it…
Anonymous
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:27 pm

sound like a black wanna be – probably wears his pants hanging down too – guess you wanna be some guys bitch huh???
Anonymous
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:30 pm

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Go Todd Go. lol .Love it.
M Simon
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:31 pm

Jeeze,

I thought this was for real and was going to complain about a lack of links until I saw the Oct 25th dateline from one of your “sources”. Heh. BTW I came over here from a C4P link.

I’m all in for Sarah.

In my ongoing effort to get Rs up to speed on the up coming Ken Burns movie on Alcohol Prohibition (2 Oct PBS) I have added some craziness of my own to the www.

http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2011/09/looking-for-counter-strategy.html

And I have given Sarah a heads up on the above. So when the topic goes national she will be ready.

Of course I have given the Ds (through my contacts) the same info. I’m a big fan of open source. My hope is that it will drive the front runners out of the R field and open the way for Sarah “we have better things to do” Palin.

Another note. I did a squib for Donald Sensing on the above and he thanked me.

Palin/Johnson 2012
M Simon
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:32 pm

Donald Sensing’s blog.

http://senseofevents.blogspot.com/2011/09/prohibition-movie.html
JPeditor
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:33 pm

Reported on AttackWatch…
JPeditor
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:41 pm

“means ‘ol shit fer brains todd just had more meth stashed in his dropbags in the check points than the other guys,”

You’ve either got a good lawyer on retainer or Nurse Ratched should be shuttin’ down your internet access in an hour or so.

IOW, either Todd will be suing your and your Dem paymaster’s useless asses into cardboard boxes, or you are never getting out of the nuthouse.
Anonymous
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:50 pm

FTFY.
Anonymous
September 15th, 2011 @ 11:53 pm

He’s going to have to fish somewhere else now.
M Simon
September 16th, 2011 @ 12:05 am

I comment on a recent Cynthia Yockey piece:

http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2011/09/keys-to-next-election.html

She discusses the totalitarian right.
Rabid Conservative!
September 16th, 2011 @ 12:41 am

Something Interesting from a Palin Supporter.Letter I sent to everyone affiliated with Glenn Beck’s GBTVI don’t appreciate Brian Sack taking unfair, juvenile swipes at Sarah Palin. I am Canceling my GBTV subscription.I am a diehard Conservative and Glenn Beck fan, but I gotta tell you, Sack is not funny and what he said about Sarah, well frankly it pissed me off. Cancel my GBTV subscription or I’ll do it myself.BTW, Sack will never be as funny as Stewart. Seriously, he’s not funny.If he publicly apologizes to Sarah and her family, I will consider coming back because I really like Glenn.Greg LegakisPS I brought 110 people down to 8-28 rally in 2010. There was nothing Honorable about what Sack said.______________________________________________He implied she had affair and child with that basketball player Rice and was a quitter in general. It was raunchy and offensive. Brian Sack is the comedian Beck has on at the end of his new subscriber based show from 5pm-7pm. Trust me he’s not funny. (Beck said he wants Sack to be bigger than Stewart). Not gonna happen.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:00 am

It would have been better for Sarah if she had showed her Mama Grizzly teeth and gone after Joe McGinniss herself. Having her husband fight her battles for her makes her look rather weak. If it is really her desire to become POTUS and leader of the free world she must know that she will have to deal with crisis a lot more demanding than a book about her past indiscretions. Todd may be the first dude but she will be the one sitting in the Oval Office making the hard decisions. World leaders want to deal with the person in charge, not with their spouse. Let’s hope in future that it will be her who will be the one issuing the written statement.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:17 am

Interesting. An author avails himself of his Constitutionally-guaranteed right to free speech by writing a book, and the conservative response is to have lurid fantasies of assault and violence. If the book is BS, then point that out with substance, a befits a real American. This reflexive instinct to crush anything and anyone whom you perceive as not being a part of your “tribe” is classic old Soviet stuff. Traitors.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:28 am

Stop making so much sense. It’s highly annoying. We want blood!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:31 am

elaine wrote:

“She lacks family values? Are you KIDDING me?”

Ah yes, the authoritarian Republican instinct, in which sputtering assertion is supposed to take the place of logic. Things are true simply because you say so, really loudly. I’m sure Thomas Jefferson would have been extremely impressed with you, and the notion that a person with your intellectual capabilities having a voice as part of an American Democracy would have filled him with such hope……

So please, give us actual hard evidence of Palin’s so-called “Family Values”. And while you’re at it, prove that your evocation of the term is something more than a hoary elitist Republican rhetorical burp that’s meant to convince people that you are more moral than they are.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:35 am

But Pagan, you really shouldn’t be surprised at the popularity of Sarah Shakespeare. After all, there are plenty of folks out there who are every bit as bigoted and stupid as you.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:36 am

Three sources have confirmed to me that pkat is into bestiality. Refute that allegation with substance.
Ardiva
September 16th, 2011 @ 1:53 am

Your getting rooked into sending money, guys. Be careful now.
Ardiva
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:11 am

Four sources have confirmed to me that PGlenn has joined the Mormon Church and has three wives. *sigh*
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:13 am

Mr. McCain:

That was fantastic! I cannot recall laughing so hard i cried & stomach hurt in quite a while!

The Elites might not see the humor in it, but us everyday Joes (i am a carpenter) can truely enjy it!

Where can i get the “HIT HIM AGAIN, TODD!!” Tshirts?

Thanks again for true laughs and entertainment. I think you might have just put in one foot back on the Palin Team! WELCOME BACK FRIEND!
Michael Wiley
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:21 am

I could hardly blame Todd if he had the occasion to apply some whoop ass.
Garym
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:27 am

Now this is something new, a progressive calling a conservative a raaaaacist. Get a new playbook , you fucking dimbulb.
Garym
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:35 am

Gee, so are you. See how this game is played. FOADM
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:43 am

Ardiva confirmed to me that he/she is too stupid to have understood my point. Yet another braindead lefty . . . sigh.
Garym
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:48 am

Interesting. Another author avails himself of his Constitutionally_gauranteed right to free speech by writing several blog posts, and the Communist response is to display horrid reading comprehension. If the blog post’s are BS, then point out with substance, as befits a real Commie. This reflexive instinct to crush anything and anyone whom……..Jesus Christ who fucking writes this way? Go back to Palingates troll.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:51 am

We learned from the experts, like Trumka.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:55 am

Defending his wife is both a husband’s duty and his proud privilege.
Garym
September 16th, 2011 @ 2:59 am

On a serious note, read again what you just wrote here and apply that logic to Sarah Palin. You can’t because you are blinded with hatred for this lady. You will believe ANYthing that is said or written about her or her family.
P.S. I heard Barack has a nob that needs polishing, why don’t you go help him with that.
ThePaganTemple
September 16th, 2011 @ 3:18 am

You know, you might have something of a point. You could very easily make the point, for example, that Barak Obama is not eligible to be President because he was not born in this country. That he might have lied about having a birth certificate, which would actually make him a common criminal. That the Social Security number he has given does not pass the smell test.

Why a real writer, or a ahem news reporter might legitimately point out that Obama has shady connections with the likes of American terrorist Bill Ayers and his stinking wife Bernardine Dohrn, who once, upon hearing the news of Charles Manson’s murders of the LaBianca family, publicly applauded the act and the sticking of a fork in one of the dead bodies, referring to the murder victims as pigs and that “the Weather Underground digs Charlie Manson”.

Once might easily write volumes questioning the integrity and values of Barak Hussein Obama for associating with scum such as this and noted America hater the “Reverend” Jeremish Wright, and other noted communists and anarchists of the past four decades, radicals who mentored Obama.

One could write that Obama is himself a far left extremist radical and socialist who would be far more radical and leftist than he has been were he not so constrained by the American Constitution and our Separation and Balance of Powers, for which he can barely hide his disdain.

And leftist pieces of shit have a right to respond, though so far the best you’ve come up with is “RAAAAA-CIST”

Oh, and Sarah Palin didn’t really give birth to Trig.

Here’s a bit of free speech for you. You’re kind of a stupid motherfucker, aren’t you?
Dianna Deeley
September 16th, 2011 @ 3:40 am

Too good, too funny! I just love it!

I haven’t even read the book, and I’d punch McGinnis, never mind say, “Good for you!” if I were on either Rice’s or Todd’s jury.
Dianna Deeley
September 16th, 2011 @ 3:42 am

Don’t you just wish.
Garym
September 16th, 2011 @ 3:44 am

Pagan you say so much better than me. ; (
Dianna Deeley
September 16th, 2011 @ 3:45 am

I’ve known my share of gay guys who were seriously tough. Generally, though, they are “out”.

That particular characterization makes absolutely no sense. Especially if it’s from a lefty, who celebrates “diversity”.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 4:08 am

Beck lends his name to vile Palin jokes. He is a slimeball

http://godandcountryfirst.com/2011/09/15/brian-sack-makes-tasteless-sarah-palin-joke-on-the-glenn-beck-program/
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 4:17 am

Calling Joe a McPenis helps to block out that picture of that huge big black penis that Sarah got her some huh?
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 4:22 am

He can beat Joe senseless but it won’t take the Rice off Sarah’s breath.
Garym
September 16th, 2011 @ 4:42 am

Put the penthouse forum book down and go wash up now. your gonna get your keyboard all sticky.
guest
September 16th, 2011 @ 4:46 am

What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Paradoctor
September 16th, 2011 @ 4:52 am

You threaten but you do not refute. Is the book accurate or not? If not then give him the lie direct, and that will do; if so then he’s got her fair and square. Do you think you can bully the facts? Bluster proves only pride.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 5:06 am

Ah, the old ‘force the opposition to prove the obvious’ argument.

I’ll take your challenge if you first take mine: Prove that the moon is not made of green cheese.
Paradoctor
September 16th, 2011 @ 5:13 am

Would you be happier as a barbarian?
Paradoctor
September 16th, 2011 @ 5:16 am

Agreed.
Paradoctor
September 16th, 2011 @ 5:42 am

Her night with Rice was unprofessional but romantic. The coke off the oil drum was hysterical. I don’t mind her hedonism. But I don’t like her meanness and pettyness – traits on display on this thread.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 5:55 am

It means we have another troll.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2011 @ 5:57 am

Since when are anonymous allegations given the same credence as facts?

Oh right, when they would hurt Republicans. Get a job, lefty.
Nina
September 16th, 2011 @ 6:01 am

What about collecting money to pay for assault & battery?
Ed from justice
September 16th, 2011 @ 6:03 am

Hey Beaverton, Palin already challenged Obama to a fight to the finish in a ring like the ultimate fighters have. She said the last one standing gets to stay in the White House. He said he didn’t want to fight a girl. I bet she can out shoot, out fish , out navigate, out run (in a sprint or a marathon) and play basketball better than Obama. As far as the creepy “author” is concerned as soon as Todd and his Partner lawyer up that guy is going to be nervous as a man sliding down a forty foot razor blade into a barrel of alcohol. Finally before you say it . Yes Sarah is my hero and my future general. I would walk through hell in gasoline drawers over broken glass for her.
Paradoctor
September 16th, 2011 @ 6:07 am

I give you credit for trying to make an argument rather than a threat; but we were discussing Palin and McGinnis, not Obama. Also your facts are wrong. Obama was born in Hawaii, and he’s a centrist, not a leftist.

And speaking of birth certificates, where’s Trig’s?