Debunking Palin Rumors
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, McCain, Palin, Republicans
So far, Sarah Palin’s record has provided a lot of fodder for gossip and speculation. I’ve detailed a lot of the hard facts on this blog, but now it’s time to address the stuff that isn’t true.
- Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years.
- She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a “What if?” question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin’s first term.
- She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She’s been registered as a Republican since May 1982.
- Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a “courtesty” when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.
- Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska’s schools. She has said that students should be allowed to “debate both sides” of the evolution question, but she also said creationism “doesn’t have to be part of the curriculum.”
One thing I do want to add to FactCheck’s reporting regarding Palin’s affiliation with the Alaska Independence Party…Todd Palin has registered twice as a member of the AIP, Sarah attended their 2006 convention, she did record a video greeting for their 2008 convention and one her political mentors, former governor Wally Hickel, is currently a member.
So, while FactCheck’s reporting is accurate that she isn’t a member of AIP, she’s still extremely cozy with a political group that advocates secession.
In any event, does anybody else have any other Palin rumors you want to debunk beyond the obvious ones about her kids?
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, McCain, Palin, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Palin The Unknown
Unless she opens up to the public I do not see how we can consider someone that we know less about then the bag boy at our local grocery store? This is a situation that could place her in the position as Commander In Chief of the United States Of America. During the primaries the media kept asking if America was ready for a woman president. Well after raking Hillary over the coals for months and months the answer was by millions, yes. Like all the candidates she ran the gauntlet, faced the public and the press and by the end of the primaries we knew most everything about Hillary and her counterparts.
WE KNOW VERY little ABOUT SARAH PALIN!
PLEASE do your own research
September 9th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Saying that “students should be allowed to ‘debate both sides’ of the evolution question” is how creationists push their views. So while she may not have said she wants creationism to be taught, she’s using typical creationist tactics to get across their typical curriculum.
That one is re-bunked.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:29 am
“What if” questions about book banning are still deeply concerning.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Because she used phrasing you don’t like? One could offer some commentary on your tactics in pushing your views…weak, dude. Very weak.
That’s NOT “pushing” to have it taught. BTW, creationism and intelligent design ARE taught in schools across the country–in comparitive religion classes, where they belong. That’s also a far cry from mandating the teaching of it in SCIENCE classrooms as science, which is and should be Right Out. Indeed, Palin explicitly stated that while it was a legitimate matter for debate it did NOT belong in the science curriculum. Re-debunked.
I would also note that the theological concept of a Prime Mover is not in the least antithetical to evolutionary theory. It’s the trappings of Biblical Creationism (and it’s stealth cousin, Intelligent Design) that fail all tests of science. But the theological concept of a Prime Mover, being unprovable speculations on the supernatural, is itself above and beyond science, and thus should not be part of any science curriculum.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Right, the debate does not really belong in a science class, unless you’re bringing it up right at the beginning in order to show why it belongs somewhere else. Do we know where Palin thinks it belongs?
Justin, if someone is “extremely cozy” what does that mean. If for example you are extremely cozy with members of your family, and they are pro-life, what does that make you? Well, if you are pro-choice, would it make you any less pro-choice?
I could really, REALLY do without the ongoing sidelong suggestions that jeez, Palin is chummy with these folks and that must mean something bad. Likew maybe she wants to disband the government or whatever.
Seriously. She has been in the PTA, been Mayor of Wasilla, is Governor of AK, and is now running for VP. Why isn’t that ample enough evidence that she is eager to try and make government work for the people.
What’s next? Assertions that she should resign as governor for her VP pursuit, while making a special case that it’s oh I dunno, OK for Obama to stay in the senate?
September 9th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Tully, you said “Indeed, Palin explicitly stated that while it was a legitimate matter for debate it did NOT belong in the science curriculum. Re-debunked.”
I’ve checked out the other sources listed above by Justin, and it doesn’t say anything about this. Would you point me to a place where she explicitly said this?
Not picking a fight here; I’m genuinely curious.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Go get ‘er, Justin!
September 9th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Justin,
I appreciate you posting this, as every bit of this crap has made it into the comments at the Donk.
That said, I am not convinced that your “hard facts” are quite as hard as you indicate here. Some of them look rather flaccid to me, if not completely limp. Be that as it may, I understand that after a week of the most intense media
witch huntvetting in the history of the known universe, you need to go with what you got. Hey, some facts are just not as well endowed as others. But you should not feel insecure about this, adding factual extensions or using other factual enhancement therapy is not the answer.September 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
A few things.
Don’t mix facts. Any interview with the librarian says that Palin fired her over banning books and other issues. It is the LIST that is going around that is fake.
Good comments on the AIP. She may have never been involved, but Todd has 7 total registered years under his belt.
On the creationism issue, this is difficult. By taking the middle ground stance, she is indeed saying creationism should be taught, but she’s trying to cloud the issue by inferring that it is the underdog belief. Palin is a staunch creationist, and if we teach creationism in our schools, wouldn’t we have to teach any theory on the topic even if it’s not based on science?
Good fact check! I still think you could do more though :)
September 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I’d echo what Jeff said: creationists attack evolution by stating teachers should “teach the debate” in science classrooms. This battle has played out in at least two state boards of education (KS, OH) and I think a third (TX).
The ID/teach the debate ploy is found at least at the Discovery Institute.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Why does Todd Palin’s non-GOP status not get more media?
The media went bananas over Michelle Obama’s “For the first time in my life I am proud of this country” but the only coverage of Todd Palin seems to be about his champion snowmobiling.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Debunking the debunking:
After asking the librarian what would be her response to her (Palin) asking her to remove some books from the library. The librarian responded that she would not allow that. A few weeks later Palin fired the librarian.
Is that more like you were trying to say?