WaPo and the Times call for Online activists to help smear Palin

The Washington Post and New York Times are asking for help from online readers to go through the 24,000 emails the state of Alaska was forced to release from Sarah Palin's government account, as well as messages she sent from her private email account to state employees.

Politico reports on the date range:

At 9 a.m. Alaska time (1 p.m. Eastern), 17 media organizations and individuals will each get five 50-pound boxes of printed out and partially redacted copies of emails spanning from the beginning of Palin's term as governor through September 2008, capturing most of the presidential campaign. They won't cover the election itself, its aftermath or her resignation as governor in the summer of 2009.

The Guardian is also asking its readers to help it troll for dirt.

The most likely respondents to this help wanted ad by news outlets are liberal online activists who, to put it charitably, have a less than zealous devotion to truth seeking. They will twist, mangle, shake, spin, and mutilate the intent and context of these emails in an attempt to nail Palin to the wall.

If they can't find anything of significance, they will invent controversy. This is their big chance to take Palin down and deliver a knockout blow. If they can't find anything damaging in 24,000 emails, they never will.

I'm afraid Palin supporters should ready themselves for a rough few days. Minor revelations will be treated as scandals of the century and if there is anything that reflects badly on Palin personally - her wardrobe spending, child rearing, etc. - it will no doubt be touted as evidence of her unfitness for high office.

Can anyone recall anything remotely similar occurring to a major politician? Why not request Senator Barack Obama's senate emails from a similar period? Or even White House emails as was demanded of George Bush?

The media don't have a leg to stand on by denying bias. This is a political hit job, fostered by Democrats and aided by their allies in the press. They should be ashamed of themselves, but one needs to be capable of introspection for that to happen.

No room for self-contemplation when hyperpartisanship is the driving force behind this effort.