Dartblog

That horrid little cube is, it appears, ABC News’s advertisement for its exclusive interview with Sarah Palin. It reflects, I suppose, the fact that the only dirt on the demographically impure governor is fabulous dirt or, if not entirely invented, at least heavily skewed. A “Holy War”? Sarah Palin did say this:

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”

A statement that we all of us have uttered at one time or another: “God willing,” “God forbid,” and so forth. In other words: we have elected to undertake something, and not knowing the ultimate good, let us hope that our works are congruous with it. This is what Mrs. Palin said of the war—as she, and legion others, would say of any war, with anyone, at any time.

Oh, but Charlie Gibson, Journalist, peeks behind the scrim hiding Governor Palin’s Christianismosity:

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, “Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.” Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

I didn’t see the interview, but I imagine Mr. Gibson was leering impressively at Mrs. Palin over the golden precipice of his half-glasses. “Exact words.” Except that he omitted the opening clause of the statement which was, of course “Let us pray that…” And Mrs. Palin made this point as she continued in her response:

PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln’s words when he said — first, he suggested never presume to know what God’s will is, and I would never presume to know God’s will or to speak God’s words.

But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that’s a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God’s side.

That’s what that comment was all about, Charlie.

Which all seems to me rather dispositive. But the standard is different when you are going about smearing someone. Thus the lying cube above, an effort to drum up something—anything—to foil Barack Obama’s foil.