re: #265 researchok

Here, let me give you a small example of what I’m referring to:

Back in June Bristol Palin was supposed to be on Huckabee’s radio show and she stood him up. His response, in part (emphasis mine):

[…] “Too bad,” he said. “But you know, I guess sometimes kids don’t have anything to do with their parents getting in the spotlight when they become candidates, but they do choose to continue to be in the spotlight. And that’s a choice that she, for whatever reason, has made.”

Huckabee went on to say that Bristol — the 21-year-old daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — has become “fair game” for criticism.

“The sad thing: I hope that she is ready for it,” he said. “Because now, it’ll come not because of what her mother chose to do but because she has said, ‘I want to be in the spotlight.’”

To some, that may sound like simple, needed advice to a young person, but I heard a threat in there, loud & clear. So did Bristol Palin, judging by her response:

[…] Not pleased with the characterization, Bristol responded, “I understand Gov. Huckabee has a huge challenge creating a radio show he wants as the alternative to Rush Limbaugh. I understand he wants to fill his show with a little controversy — and what better way than to create headlines telling the world he now considers me ‘fair game.’”

“However, does he really believe I don’t understand what it’s like to be ‘fair game?’” she went on. “Anyone who’s seen this blog — or the newspapers or the television — knows I’ve been through quite a bit of media speculation, ridicule, scorn. I’ve been writing about my own political ideas and have been “fair game” in my comments sections. I’ve also defended myself from vile comments from leftists like Bill Maher. Is Mike Huckabee joining into that scorn supposed to intimidate me?”