Paul Streitz Backstabs Governor Palin; Updated

More RINO talk? Are you kidding me?

I have very little tolerance for backstabbers. And I have even less tolerance for backstabbers who are motivated by a desire to control the decisions of people who have proven that they operate on principle, not pressure.

Tonight Paul Streitz, co-founder of the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee, sent out an email blasting Governor Palin for her support of Senator John McCain, among other things. Streitz no longer holds a leadership position with the committee, nor has he for almost a year now. Although he phrased his email as if he is speaking for the committee, he is not.

His email states in part:

She has now chose to align herself with several bad actors. What should this be called, the Rinoization of Sarah Palin.

At the time of the election, perhaps Sarah Palin could have been forgiven for her ideas on immigration (and lack of knowledge) because she was governor of Alaska, not Arizona. But in the intervening months, she has done little but promote herself as a celebrity, known because her brief time on the national stage..

She is certainly entitled to write a book and make money for her and her family, but other than what has she has done to support Republican and patriotic candidates.

Where was she in VA?
Where was she in NJ?
Where was she in Mass?

Guiliani showed up in Mass because he knew what was at stake. Perhaps, Sarah was too busy talking to her agent about her Fox deal. Where the hell was Sarah?

Napoleon once said that he wanted Generals that went to the sound of the cannon. That they instinctively were fighters. He also said he wanted generals that had bon chance, good luck. Well, Sarah has had good luck, but she has not gone to the sound of the cannon, where critical battles were fought in 2009.

First of all, I'm not sure where Paul Streitz has been hiding out, but Governor Palin has always said that she would support John McCain's quest for re-election. Did he not know that she is a woman of her word? Did he expect her to turn tail and run when the time came? Mel dealt with this in an earlier post.

And where does he come off questioning her willingness to roll up her sleeves and run into the fight? If she's not the general fighting for common sense conservatism, who is? There is no other person who has put herself on the line for love of country as she has. There is not one other public figure who has gone through the hell that Governor Palin has gone through--her every word analyzed, her every step sized up, her family picked apart. Who else has sacrificed personal comfort and family privacy to the degree that she has in order to make a difference in this nation? She has undergone scrutiny to a degree none of us has ever seen before. The attacks, the accusations, the utter hatred she has endured are unprecedented. And with each new occurrence, she only speaks out even louder. That's not called celebrity; that's called selfless public service. Governor Palin's commitment to the success of this country is without question. Where does Streitz come off accusing her of only looking after self, simply because she's not a puppet whose strings he can dangle? That's really what this is all about, isn't it?

Governor Palin has supported candidates who support the values that she espouses. She has rallied the American people to do the same in key races in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusetts. In addition, SarahPAC has given generously to aid in these efforts. As promised, she will soon hit the road and support other candidates she stands behind, including Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and yes, John McCain in this critical year.

If Paul Streitz's support of Governor Palin is contingent upon his agreeing with every decision she makes or her selling out her deeply-held values, that's unfortunate. While all support is appreciated, the governor has never been for sale. Ask the Alaska establishment, who learned that early in her political career.

Paul Streitz should note that true character is revealed, not necessarily when we agree with someone, but in areas where we may disagree. The way we deal with those situations says a lot about who we really were all along. When disagreements lead to backstabbing, undermining, and trying to rally others to buy into it, I have to wonder if the knife was waiting in the back pocket all along.

Once again, Paul Streitz was not speaking for the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee. In a soon-to-be-released Alert, Chairman Randy Highsmith states:

Paul Streitz, co-founder of the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee, who has not held a leadership position with the Committee for almost a year now, sent out an email tonight voicing his disapproval of Governor Palin’s recent decisions. If you have received his email, you were probably under the impression that he was speaking for us, for he phrased it in such a way as to give that impression. However, he was not—in any way, shape, or form—speaking for the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee. He was speaking for himself. We do not, as a Committee, support his perspective or condone his approach.

Governor Palin has always acted on principle, which is one of many reasons we have supported her so vehemently and will continue to do so.

Randy Highsmith
Chairman

Update: As most people who are paying attention know--people unlike Paul Streitz, that is--Governor Palin did endorse both McDonnell and Christie and gave them the maximum money allowed by law. The governor also offered to go campaign for them, but her physical assistance was not required, and the offer was politely declined. As for Massachusetts, it was wisdom on Governor Palin's part not to go stump for Scott Brown, as he was working hard to stand independent of the national Republican establishment. Her arrival in a blue state like Massachusetts may have easily worked against him--something the Left was hoping for--so she let him stand on his own, and we all know how this panned out for him. Streitz would be wise to get his facts straight before running his mouth.