In the eight-minute video, Palin says, “Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.”

Palin’s use of the charged phrase “blood libel” — which refers to the anti-Semitic accusation from the Middle Ages that Jews killed Christian children to use their blood to make matzo for Passover — touched off an immediate backlash. (see: Full text of Sarah Palin's statement)

“The blood libel is something anti-Semites have historically used in Europe as an excuse to murder Jews — the comparison is stupid. Jews and rational people will find it objectionable,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a New York-based Democratic political consultant and devout Jew. “This will forever link her to the events in Tucson. It deepens the hole she’s already dug for herself. … It’s absolutely inappropriate.” (see: The Arena: Palin's 'blood libel' defense fair?)

There are a lot of good tweets today about the reprehensible and ludicrous 8 minute statement by one-time Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin.

Her "blood libel" charge against US liberals is off the reserve. The term, as noted above, is one that is deeply charged with vitriol and smear - historically against the Jews who were targeted by pogroms.

If Palin doesn't understand the meaning of this term, then she is demonstrating a fearful lack of knowledge. If she did understand the meaning of the term, then she appears to be trying to incite a loathsome comparison between medieval anti-Semitic hatred and US liberals. Both options are bad.

In a further shock, Palin then goes on to compare the current political debate to "those 'calm days' when political figures literally settled their differences with dueling pistols". Really? After the Giffords attempted-assassination, Palin's minders should have cut that comment, as it just shows a grotesque lack of sympathy and understanding.

Lots of pundits have said that the Giffords shooting is the acid test for Palin's presidential aspirations. The history books have yet to be written, but I suspect that Palin won't get the Republican nomination.