While Tea Party talking head and former vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin prefers to speak in the “pro-America” (or predominantly conservative) parts of the country as she said at a North Carolina fundraiser, she still felt it was necessary for her to chime in on a local controversy in New York City.
With her BlackBerry, Palin tweeted that New Yorkers and Muslims reject plans to build a Mosque and Muslim community center near Ground Zero, and she made a fool of herself in the process by inventing a new word – “refudiate.”
“Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn’t it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate,” Palin tweeted.
She later corrected herself, after liberal commentators pounced on her misuse of the English language, and wrote, “Peaceful New Yorkers, pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw, too real.”
Yesterday, she then fired back to critics by comparing herself to Shakespeare.
“Refudiate,” “misunderestimate,” “wee-wee’d up.” English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!
Palin served as governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009, when she resigned, and currently does not hold public office.
Local
New York’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio has also spoken out against plans to build a mosque near ground zero. At a Landmarks Commission meeting Lazio asked that the site be landmarked to stymie the mosque’s construction. Lazio has also demanded an investigation into the mosque’s financing.
Daisy Kahn, a spokesperson for the American Society for Muslim Advancement, which is planning to set up shop at the downtown site, said in a statement, "We agree with Ms. Palin that it is time to heal from the wounds of the tragic events of 9/11. We peace- loving Muslims have a responsibility to lead the effort of rebuilding Lower Manhattan. We envision a community center for multi-faith collaboration that is focused on promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion."
