Palin Dabbles in Birtherism, Backtracks

Sarah Palin now says the birth certificate issue is a “stupid conspiracy.” From her Facebook page:

“Voters have every right to ask candidates for information if they so choose. I’ve pointed out that it was seemingly fair game during the 2008 election for many on the left to badger my doctor and lawyer for proof that Trig is in fact my child.”

Hold on. When has she ever said that? I actually do not believe that was fair game. Regardless, she continues:

“Conspiracy-minded reporters and voters had a right to ask… which they have repeatedly. But at no point – not during the campaign, and not during recent interviews – have I asked the president to produce his birth certificate or suggested that he was not born in the United States.”

Except that she told right-wing talk show host Dusty Humphries:

“I think the public rightfully is still making it an issue. I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t know if I would have to bother to make it an issue, because I think that members of the electorate still want answers.”

She also said she’d like to make “past association” an issue, which we can safely assume means Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright.

I get the impression that many liberals would look forward to a Palin candidacy; they believe she could hand Obama 40 states. I think they may be right. But would the victory would be worth the terrible price of a Palin candidacy? The woman can only be described as a political arsonist. She deliberately ignites the most ugly, explosive battles in the broader culture war. Isn’t that something we could all do without?