Ed Koch Defends Sarah Palin & "Blood Libel"

Ed Koch, former Democratic mayor of New York City:

Today the phrase "blood libel" can be used to describe any monstrous defamation against any person, Jew or non-Jew....

...How dare Sarah Palin, cried the commentators, use that phrase to describe the criticism of her by those who blamed her for creating the atmosphere that set Loughner off in his murderous madness. Some took the position that it proved their ongoing charges that she is not an intelligent person and probably did not know what the phrase meant historically. In my opinion, she was right to denounce her critics and use blood libel to describe the unfair criticism that she had been subject to.

Why do I defend Palin in this case?....We should denounce unfair, false and wicked charges not only when they are made against ourselves, our friends or our political party but against those with whom we disagree.

Good for Ed Koch. I bet the Dems don't seat him next to Jimmy Carter at the next Presidential Nominating Convention.

The whole column is worth reading.