Sarah Palin aide says it's "obscene" to link map of targeted districts to guns

by Charlie Smith on January 9th, 2011 at 11:31 AM

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One of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's staff members has denounced those who've linked her boss to an Arizona shooting spree.

The Alaska Dispatch has reported that Rebecca Monsour said the now-famous map of targeted House districts was never intended to refer to guns.

She also told radio interviewer Tammy Bruce—a self-described Tea Party independent conservative—that it was "obscene" and "appalling" for anyone to make those claims, according to the Anchorage paper.

"We never imagined, it never occurred to us that anybody would consider it violent," Monsour stated.

The interviewer then claimed that the crosshairs targets were "surveyor's symbols", and Mansour agreed.

However, Palin herself referred to the crosshairs targets as "bullseyes" in one of her own tweets.

"Remember months ago 'bullseye' icon used 2 target the 20 Obamacare-lovin' incumbent seats? We won 18 out of 20 (90% success rate; T'aint bad)," Palin tweeted on November 4.

The Palin aide also mentioned in the recent radio interview that the graphic was contracted out, and it was approved quickly. The paper reported that Mansour maintained there's "nothing irresponsible about our graphic".

After the image appeared on her political action committee website and her Facebook page, Palin issued a tweet saying, "don't retreat, instead-RELOAD!", which linked to the graphic.

There is no evidence linking Jared Loughren—the 22-year-old man who allegedly shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others yesterday—to the image or to the Tea Party.

Comments

16 Comments

barry william teske

Jan 9, 2011 at 12:16pm

" ...Rebecca Monsour said the now-famous map of targeted House districts was never intended to refer to guns. "

really?...sure fooled me.
maybe you need to pick up a dictionary and re understand what intent entails.

chris jackman

Jan 9, 2011 at 1:12pm

When palin first came out with her target map she tweeted reload and said to check her facebook. There was negative press about the map. Elizabeth Hasselbeck, campaigned for palin, called it despicable.
Palin supporters need to quit defending the indefensible. I've felt palin was dangerous since 2008 with her ranting and now she has a devoted cult. Scary.
A innocent beautiful child is dead, also,5 others dead, 12 wounded, Congresswomen Gifford fighting for her live. Many heroes yesterday, many in mourning. A national nightmare.
Let's all do what we can to have a more civil discussion.

Shasta Right

Jan 9, 2011 at 1:17pm

Well I guess those guilable so called USA Americans have crossed the line”¦welcome to the world of hate. Where so call idiots like Palin, Beck, Limbaugh, O’reily , etc can stir and stir until it boils over to this. I hope they too one day experience the pain that these folks have in Tucson. As the old saying goes what comes around goes around”¦fate will catch up.

NDB

Jan 9, 2011 at 1:30pm

"don't retreat, instead-RELOAD!"

A comment like that and still they say its not related to guns?

Bruno15

Jan 9, 2011 at 2:47pm

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants". I'm sure this Tea Party favorite is also a call to civil debate.

beakerless

Jan 9, 2011 at 3:18pm

Sarah Palin and her defenders are "obscene" and "appalling".

Taliban Jack

Jan 9, 2011 at 4:33pm

1. Rallying people to murder is "A-OK".

2. When the people kill someone it is "unexpected".

When someone makes the connection between the two it is "obscene".

David L.

Jan 9, 2011 at 5:24pm

Sarah Palin and her adherants are without doubt amongst the most frightening things about the USA today.

barry william teske

Jan 9, 2011 at 8:10pm

Update:
i have been following this story for hours now. all i can conclude regarding the maps which may or not be related to the selfish deed of murder, is that it is a favored tactic of bullies to map their territory. you see it in playgrounds of grade school children a lot of the time.