The Lies Told By Sarah Palin

The lies just kept coming during the Republican Convention....

Below are some of the lies told by Sarah Palin

Sidenote: Palin didn't write the speech....it was prepared for her by Republican handlers.

Lie/Distortion #1: She claimed to be an advocate for Special needs children and presented the McCain/Palin Ticket as Shepards for Childrens health.

Fact: John McCain voted against expanding Schip to millions of American children. Remember the 12 year old boy who Republicans attacked last year? Here's a link to refresh your memory.

Republicans don't have much of a track record supporting the needs of children or the healthcare of Americans.

Lie/Distortion #2: She compared herself to Harry S. Truman (as a way of saying that he was from a small town too....and as a way to deal with the experience question).

Fact: Yes, Truman was from a small town in my home State. But before being nominated for Vice President, Truman had years of experience as an Army officer and Veteran of World War I, was a Judge, and was a U.S. Senator for a decade.

This woman can't be serious.

Lie/Distortion #3: Claimed extensive experience to be VP based on her time as Mayor of Wasilla Alaska, and her one full year as Governor. She claimed in the speech that she would explain what her daily duties were as Mayor... but she never got around to explaining.

Fact: The town of Wasilla had a population of about 6 or 7 thousand when she was Mayor. This is hardly proper preparation to run a Country of 300 million and to deal with a $3 Trillion annual budget....the biggest budget in the World. Pat Buchanan (who Palin once supported) and other respected commentators, and former officials agree....she's not ready. Even Karl Rove agrees; Palin does not meet the qualifications for Vice President.

Lie/Distortion #4: She stated that she has a track record of governing with integrity and goodwill.

Not quite, Mrs. Britney Spears of politics.

Fact: She is currently under investigation in Alaska for ethics violations...(also known as Troopergate) for the wrongful firing of her Public Safety director. Palin wanted the Public Safety director to illegally fire a State Trooper, Mike Wooten, who happened to be Palin's brother in law. Wooten was involved (and still is) in an ugly divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister.

As if that's not bad enough, before becoming Governor, Palin was involved in the firings of several Wasilla City officials... who she did not agree with politically. These city officials were not fired because they were not doing their jobs...they were fired for petty political reasons. Sarah Palin was also nearly recalled as Mayor of Wasilla.

Lie/Distortion #5: She is a reformer...and she killed the Bridge to Nowhere.

The "Reformer" title is a stretch...and the Bridge to Nowhere story is a lie.

Fact: In Alaska, Palin took full advantage of wasteful earmarks (when she was on the receiving end of the money). She also initially supported the Bridge to Nowhere...and was a big supporter of her mentor Ted Stevens... who was indicted recently on corruption charges. Palin was in cahoots with the same corporate donors who sent money to Stevens. See more on the Bridge To Nowhere from the Huffpost.

Lie/Distortion #6: Claimed that her efforts to develop Alaska's oil industry would lead the nation to energy independence.

Fact: We can't get that much oil out of Alaska...not enough to free us from foreign oil dependence. And even if Alaska had half the oil that would be needed for energy independence... it would take at least a decade before we would see any benefit...and even then, it wouldn't be a significant savings for Americans. The Republicans keep framing the debate...and making voters believe that more drilling today will lead to lower prices at the pump next week. That's not going to happen.

The best way to achieve energy self sufficiency is to use a broad mix of sources (including some additional drilling)... but the main focus should be to move from oil as a mainstay of our energy policy. That's old thinking. Breaking dependence on outside oil will eventually require an energy policy built around new forms of energy....alternative energy... wind, solar, hydrogen vehicles, new battery technology, ethanol, natural gas, nuclear, and limited clean coal resources.

Palin is looking out for Alaska when she is talking about boosting the oil industry there...she's not looking out for the U.S.

Lie/Distortion #7: Obama never wrote or sponsored one piece of reform legislation.

Well....she was partly right... he didn't write or co-sponsor just one piece of legislation on reform... he helped write/ or co-sponsored at least 3. All significant.

This woman is going to be worse than Cheney.... we will have fond memories of Dick Cheney by the time Palin settles in as VP.

Fact: Obama co-sponsored ethics reform legislation as a Senator in the State of Illinois. After entering the U.S. Senate... Obama co-sponsored a Bill curbing gifts and gratuities for members of Congress... He also supported laws that require more transparancy (supported a Federal Website for the public) so that voters can see how Congress is spending their tax money. There have also been other ethics Bills supported or sponsored by Obama.

Highlights:

Honest Leadership & Open Government Act of 2006

Legislative Transparency & Accountability Act of 2007

The Coburn-Obama Bill (Federal Funding Accountability & Transparency Act of 2006)

Obama's Work in Illinois Senate

Obama's work with Russ Feingold

See Obama's Page on Ethics and Lobbying reform.

Obama has been applauded for his work on ethics and lobbying reform.

Lie/Distortion #8: Obama is against producing energy.

Fact: No response really needed here. But Obama has been the leading candidate (since early in the Campaign), along with John Edwards, for reforming U.S. energy policy and breaking U.S. dependence on foreign oil. McCain didn't become the Alternative Energy guy until he stole Obama's message about 3 months ago. And he only became the "change" candidate about a month ago.

Lie/Distortion #9: McCain will show compassion to the powerless.

Fact: McCain's record simply does not match the infomercial that the Britney Spears of politics was trying to promote.

From SCHIP (healthcare for poor/needy children) to his lack of support for a better GI Bill for Veterans... and his 19 votes against raising the minimum wage; (and so many other issues) McCain's record just doesn't match the rhetoric.

Lie/Distortion #10: She stated she received more votes as Mayor than Joe Biden received during his latest run for President.

Fact: She wasn't even remotely close to the truth on this. As a matter of fact, she wasn't close to the truth on hardly any of her major claims.


The plane she sold on Ebay?

ANOTHER LIE

The above list represents lies that I caught myself... Fact Check may have more. See here.

12 Year Old Boy Sends Republicans Into Frenzy

More Neo-Conservative Nuttery

White House Endorses Website Threatening 12 year old Childs Family.

Over the past week, the White House has been on the attack, trying to prevent Bush's SCHIP veto from being overturned in the House of Representatives. But the target of their fury, 12 year old Graeme Frost, shows how desperate the Right Wing has become. With things not going so well in Iraq, a lame duck figure head President in office, and with few political victories (or any significant legacy) to speak of at the end of a failed Presidency, they need something to talk about and need someone to stand in as a target for their attacks. If not Frost, then who?

Instead of offering good arguments on the merits of why SCHIP needed to be vetoed, they have chosen to attack Graeme Frost, a youngster who benefited from the funding. The Republicans are attacking the messenger, since they have few good arguments for not extending the SCHIP program, particularly during a time when hundreds of billions of dollars have been wasted in Iraq.

Bush & Co., and their Republican machine are also attacking the messenger because they know that they are on the wrong side of history once again. Survey after survey has shown strong public support for both the renewal, and for the expansion of the SCHIP funding. Most State Governors (Republican and Democrat) also support the new SCHIP funding, which would be paid for by a limited Tobacco tax; unlike the Iraq War....which is not paid for. The Iraq war = debt spending, while SCHIP is covered. Yet, the Republicans are concerned all of a sudden with the concept of watching every penny when it comes to healthcare for Americas children.
There is something seriously wrong about this country's priorities.

I also find it interesting that the White House is claiming that Democrats used the boy as a prop, even though he was a recipient of the funding and is a legitimate voice for children who may need healthcare through the program (just like Susie Flynn with her campaign). The Bush administration is making a bold claim, particularly when it is known for using props of all kinds to support its policies....whether it is using an Aircraft Carrier as a prop (and wasting fuel on sorties), using American soldiers as backdrops for pro-war speeches, or using 911 victims and their families as tokens. The entire legacy of the Bush administration has been more about stage props than actual substance. Yet they are criticizing the Democrats who actually used an American who has something to do (legitimately) with the policy that they are supporting?

Now the White House has officially endorsed a website that has been involved with the smear campaign against the Frost family. The website RedState, even contains threats against the childs family.

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Related Blog Post

More on SCHIP and the Graeme Frost frenzy from The Carpetbagger Report

Rudy, SCHIP, and the Democratic Trainwreck

A Nation of Distorted Priorities

Bonus

Neocon Bill Kristol Calls Cutting Child Healthcare A Good Idea

Republican Party Spokesman Bill Kristol: “Heartless Assault On Children” Is “A Good Idea”

House Passes New SCHIP Legislation

The House of Representatives approved an enhanced version of the popular SCHIP child healthcare program, by a vote of 265 to 159... just short of being Veto proof. See how members voted.

The Senate is also expected to pass the legislation later this week.

This is a battle that Bush might lose. Republicans, concerned about next years elections, may be willing to switch their votes in hopes of averting bad PR. It's hard to know if enough Republicans would be willing to change their votes to override a Veto.

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Previous blog entries on SCHIP

SCHIP Deal Forces Bush's Hand On Veto

Bush To Veto Child Healthcare Program

An Enduring Relationship in Iraq and The Child Healthcare Veto

A Nation of Mixed up Priorities


The leader of the Compassionate Conservative Party has a problem with adding $30 billion for childrens Healthcare. But there is no problem with wasting $400 billion for a war that the Country did not need.

Deal on SCHIP Forces Bush's Hand on Veto

Hat tip: Politico.com:

Deal on children's health bill sets up veto showdown


Despite a clear veto threat from President Bush, Democratic and Republican negotiators on Friday announced a breakthrough deal on the children's health insurance program, agreeing to expand the initiative by $35 billion in an attempt to provide health care to million more uninsured children.

The agreement sets up a major showdown with the White House over a key domestic policy initiative backed by Democrats as well as a growing number of GOP moderates. The House will vote on the bill Tuesday and the Senate could vote as early as Wednesday. President Bush has promised to veto the legislation, and even though the Senate has the votes to override Bush's veto, the House does not yet have the votes for an override. It takes a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override a presidential veto.

The expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will be funded by a 61 cent increase per pack of cigarettes. While conservative Republicans, along with President Bush, have said they will never support any tax increase, plenty of Republicans in both chambers seem to find a tobacco tax increase more palatable than virtually any other potential tax hike.



Under a deal announced Friday afternoon, dental coverage, along with mental health benefits, will be provided to all children eligible for the SCHIP program. Pregnant women will also receive expanded coverage under the deal. The program, which currently covers 6.6 million uninsured children, could provide benefits to up to four million more children.

The joint announcement by Senate and House leaders released Friday also pointed out that children of higher income families will not receive the SCHIP benefits. President Bush, in his press conference yesterday, complained that congressional negotiators wanted to provide the health benefits to children in families making about $80,000, but several lawmakers pointed out that there is no such provision in the legislation.

Moderate Republicans like Ray LaHood of Illinois are hoping Bush doesn't veto the bill.

"This is a good bipartisan compromise to help the millions of uninsured children in our country," LaHood said. "Whatever financial strains a family may endure, it should have no impact on the type and quality of care their child receives for health related matters. I support this bill and will encourage my Republican colleagues to do the same."

Of course Bush is going to veto it. Can't have children being covered by insurance. Oh, there's money for his War Profiteering buddies in Iraq, but making sure that children have health insurance, well we can't have that, can we? We can spend 400 Billion in Iraq, and Billions of that has been wasted,if not out and out stolen and just looted by his friends, but 35 Billion to make sure that children are healthy - can't have that. Suddenly he become a fiscal conservative. Wouldn't want those children to be healthy. If they weren't born to a well-off family, then why do they deserve health care? Where are the pro-lifers on this? Where are they on the health of children already here?

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Previous Post Regarding Bush's Schip Veto Threat

Bush To Veto Child Health Insurance Bill

Well well well....

It looks like compassionate Conservatism is rearing its head once again.

Coming on the heels of Michael Moore's Sicko, Bush & Co. gives the middle finger to America's children- pledging to veto a new child healthcare Bill. They supposedly believe in "Family Values", but apparently they don't value the idea of healthy families. Interesting irony indeed.

Bush & Co. does not support an increase of a few billion dollars per year over the next few years (to total $35 billion). The increase would expand the existing Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which is scheduled to expire at the end of September. The proposed increase would provide insurance for an additional 4 million uninsured children. But Bush & Co. advisors are encouraging George W. to veto the Bill....it is just not worth the investment. Yet the U.S. wastes $10 billion EVERY MONTH on the unneccesary war in Iraq. (1) Even Republican members of Congress are challenging Bush & Co. on this Bill and are not happy about the planned veto.

Meet Susie Flynn, a 10 year old running for President as a way to put pressure on the 2008 Presidential candidates to make healthcare for children a priority. The above Bill is the legislation that she was promoting. This just illustrates how screwed up America's priorities are.