I don't mean to keep writing about Sarah Palin.  Really, I don't!  But the well is just so deep.

Speaking to the Illinois RNC delegation at their breakfast this morning, convention deputy chairman Frank Donatelli urged McCain supporters to "defend" Palin from scurrilous rumors flying around the Internet.  From the Tribune:

"There's going to be a lot of stuff thrown out there by anonymous bloggers and so forth and so on. But this is a fine woman. This is a woman with a loving family. This is a woman with a great record. And she's going to make a terrific partner for John McCain," he said.

Ah yes, the anonymous bloggers at the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and the Wall Street Journal. How dare they spread those well-reported "rumors" about her undue use of executive power, her penchant for earmarks (despite claims to the contrary), and her participation in a fringe Alaskan secessionist organization!

Critics of any political stripe should avoid using the pregnancy of Palin's daughter as a political tool. Family matters aside, Palin the candidate has enough problems as it is.

While speaking to the Illinois delegation, Donatelli also argued that the concept of "change" is vacuous and that "reform is a much meatier topic." The Tribune's Rick Pearson noted the irony in this:

Donatelli was apparently unaware of the sign on the lectern from which he addressed the Illinois Republican delegation. The sign read: "Change for Illinois."

Here's a photo of the stage, with IL GOP chairman Andy McKenna at the stage: