Ever since John McCain added Sarah Palin to his ticket, I have been astounded at the reactions from so ma
ny. Who would have thought that one woman could cause an entire electorate; one which has felt abandoned by its own party, to finally feel energized and engaged in a way that hasn't been seen in decades, while causing such vitriol responses from those who thought they had everything in the bag and were already picking out new drapes for the White House.Maggie made a few assertions that I take issue with.
First, yes, Mayor Sarah Palin did hire a lobbyist to get earmarks for Wasilla, but they were nowhere near the $27 million reported. I found an article by ABC News entitled “Palin’s Record on Pork: Less Sizzle than Reported”. The article stated, “The initial figures on Palin's earmarks came from Taxpayers for Common Sense, whose press release stated that she ‘helped get nearly $27 million in earmarked federal funding’. But the city government, under Palin, only directly received about a third of those funds – $7.95 million between 2000 and 2003 – interviews and city records show. About $18.4 million went to the (Matanuska-Susitna) borough or private entities, some of which the city supported through resolutions, even if it did not request the money itself.”
Second, yes, Sarah Palin supported Senator Ted Stevens and he endorsed her for Governor, before he was indicted in a grand jury investigation on July 29, 2008. As stated in The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008, “Palin, an anti-corruption crusader in Alaska, had called on Stevens to be open about the issues behind the investigation. But she also held a joint news conference with him in July, before he was indicted, to make clear she had not abandoned him politically.” If I'm not mistaken, this is still America where one is innocent until proven guilty. An indictment does not qualify as guilty. Senator Stevens has not had his day in court; that will happen later this month.
If Sarah Palin’s association with Senator Ted Stevens should preclude her from serving as VP, then people had better think twice about Obama as President. His past associates include William Ayers who, according to the Chicago Sun Times (and many other sources), “Spent 10 years as a fugitive in the 1970s when he was part of the ‘Weather Underground,’ an anti-Vietnam War group that protested U.S. Policies by bombing the Pentagon, U.S. Capitol and a string of other government buildings.” Ayers, who escaped prosecution because of illegal surveillance, is still unrepentant of his actions. In 2001 he said, “I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough.”
How about Obama’s 17 year affiliation with Reverend Wright, an anti-Semite, anti-American and anti-white minister? In an interview with Kieth Olbermann on March 15, 2008 Obama said of Reverend Wright, “He and I have a relationship, he's like an uncle.”
Third, Governor Palin did not use her family as “props” at the convention. She introduced them to the electorate and those watching on television. At the end of her speech they joined her onstage. We saw the same thing during the Democrat convention; that is what happens at conventions. However, if FOX News or any conservative group had said anything about the annoying behavior of Obama’s daughters on Monday night after his wife gave her speech, the main stream media would have been whipped into a frenzy. Conservatives would have been labeled as racists or thugs. “How dare they pick on those cute little girls?"...blah, blah, blah. Here’s a news flash. Families, especially children, of candidates have always been off limits. The attacks that were leveled at Governor Palin and her family during the week leading up to the Republican convention were unconscionable and anyone who advocates that it was just fine shares in the blame.
Fourth, John McCain has never been afraid to talk about the issues. McCain sent a letter to Barack Obama on June 4, 2008 requesting that the two candidates participate in ten town hall meetings across the nation. In the letter McCain said, “What a welcome change it would be were presidential candidates in our time to treat each other and the people they seek to lead with respect and courtesy as they discussed the great issues of the day, without the empty sound bites and media-filtered exchanges that dominate our elections…I propose these town hall meetings be as free from the regimented trappings, rules and spectacle of formal debates as possible, and that we pledge to the American people we will not allow the idea to die on the negotiation table as our campaigns work out the details. I suggest we agree to participate in at least ten town halls once a week with the first on June 11 or 12 in New York City at Federal Hall until the week before the Democratic Convention begins at locations to be determined by our campaigns.”
According to the International Herald Tribune Obama initially seemed enthusiastic about the idea in early May when it looked like he was going to win the Democratic nomination. “The idea slipped away, though, after what appeared to be a half-hearted response from the Obama campaign…The Obama campaign countered with an offer of five - but that included the three debates the two men were already scheduled to hold in the autumn, meaning that Obama was really agreeing to only two of the sessions that McCain proposed. And the Obama camp wanted one of the two to be held on July 4, a day when Americans could be expected not to flock to their televisions.” Hmmmm…I ask you, who is really afraid to debate the issues?
Fifth, Maggie asserted that the Republicans, “Offered no concrete policies to help us mend the country.” I guess through all of her gagging she couldn’t hear what was actually being said. I have copies of both Presidential candidate’s speeches and on my blog I have broken their speeches down and compared them side by side. Unfortunately, in light of the amount of space I have already taken, I cannot put the comparisons in this letter. Let’s just suffice it to say, McCain did offer concrete plans. He is proposing among others; lower taxes to working families by increasing the per child tax credit from $3500 to $7000 (granted it may not be the Robin Hood plan that Obama proposed, but it would be a more fair tax plan for all families), he is proposing a jobs training program for displaced workers, “We’ll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage”, and he is proposing an overhaul of the education system, “We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work.”
Sixth, Maggie made the comment that the GOP does nothing but block any legislation that the Democrats try to pass. That practice is nothing new, and if anyone was paying attention to the news when the GOP was in control they would know the Democrats did the same thing. That is what is so frustrating with our government; neither party is willing to work with the other. The only way to stop this ridiculous mentality is to institute term limits on all politicians. I say throw the bums out and replace them with politicians who remember what they were voted into office to do…SERVE THE PEOPLE!!!!
Seventh, let's talk about honesty in politicians. Believe it or not, Obama has a real hard time with the truth...or maybe just remembering what he said. Cases in point: 1) In 2002, Illinois State Senator Obama gave a speech on the Illinois Senate Floor in which he acknowledged that Saddam Hussein had WMDs. He said, "He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity." Obama then went on to say that he opposed the war because it was a distraction from the real issues. However, today he says, "I was firmly convinced at the time that we did not have strong evidence of weapons of mass destruction." 2) In 2006, Obama voted for a bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions, including English proficiency. However, in June 2007, Obama voted against English as America’s Official Language and on July 22, 2008 Obama said, "Understand this: Instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English ... You need to make sure your child can speak Spanish."…NOT!!! 3) On September 29, 2006 Senator Barack Obama voted in favor of the Secure Border Act which, among other border security measures, authorizes a 700 mile fence along the Mexican border. Then on March 13, 2008 Senator Obama voted against increased funding for border security, 700 miles of fencing, and placing 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border. 4) In February 2007, Obama said, "I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." Then on June 19, 2008 Obama rejected public financing by saying, "It's not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections. The public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who've become masters at gaming this broken system." I have many more examples, but you get the picture. Honesty is not Obama's best policy.
Finally, Maggie wants to know how Palin’s experience equates with Obama’s. What experience does Obama have? He has been an Illinois State Senator for six years and spent only 143 days in the U.S. Senate before running for President…143 days.
In addition, Sarah Palin is not running against Obama, McCain is. However, Palin’s six years as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and her two years as Governor of Alaska have given her more executive experience than either of the Presidential candidates and the Democrat vice Presidential candidate. She has cut taxes, balanced budgets, fought corruption in her own party, and she took-on “big oil”. She has been working in the trenches directly with the people, not in Washington D.C. away from the people.
Sarah Palin’s lack of foreign policy experience is moot. John McCain has that experience. Barack Obama, on the other hand, who will not only be a “heartbeat” away from the Presidency, but is running to be President, has no foreign policy experience (OH…wait…I forgot about his magical mystery tour overseas this Summer). He had to add Joe Biden onto his ticket to compensate for his deficiency. So which is more important, that the President have foreign policy experience or the vice President?
On the lighter side…in a campaign stump speech in Beaverton, Oregon on May 9, 2008; Barrack Obama stated, "Over the last fifteen months we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in fifty-seven states? I think with one left to go. One left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit but my staff would not justify it." HUH?...this is a direct quote folks…I couldn’t make this stuff up. I’m pretty sure Sarah Palin knows there are only 50 states.
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