I had forgotten

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."

I had completely forgotten that the raison d'etre of the First Amendment was to protect politicians and government officials from a hostile media. Thanks, Sarah, for reminding me.