Sarah from A to Z

Having a hard time keeping track of all of Sarah Palin's statements, beliefs and record? In sympathy, I received this "Guide to Sarah Palin, A to Z", just in time for the debate..... Feel free to grab it..


Sarah Palin, A to Z

Abstinence-only education: Palin opposes all other sex education programs.

Bridge to Nowhere: Repeatedly claims to have said "thanks, but no thanks" to Congress. This is not true. Palin supported the bridge boondoggle before Congress said "no thanks," and still took the earmark from Congress for other projects. Palin has continued to spend earmarked funds on a second Bridge to Nowhere -- Don Young's Way -- named after Alaska's champion pork-barrel congressman (Young raised funds for Palin's campaign for Governor).

Censorship: Palin inquired about banning books at the Wasilla public library. Palin prepared to fire the Wasilla librarian, but backed off when the community rallied to the defense of the librarian.

Debt: Palin left Wasilla with $19 million in long-term debt (Wasilla had no debt before she was Mayor).

Earmarks: McCain has repeatedly said that Palin rejected earmarks from Congress. This is not true. Palin requested nearly $200 million in federal earmarks this year alone, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation.

Five Twenty Seven: Palin was a director of a 527 political slush fund organized by indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens from 2003-2005. The 527 --"Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc." -- could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors. Stevens actively campaigned for Palin in her 2006 campaign for Governor, before being indicted by a federal grand jury for not disclosing massive home renovation, autos and other "gifts" from Veco, an oil services company.

Global Warming: Palin said in August, 2008 that man-made pollution is not contributing to climate change. Palin changed her position after becoming the Vice Presidential nominee, and now says "it doesn't really matter what caused it at this point."

Hate Crimes: Opposes expansion of hate-crimes laws.

Investigation: The Alaska legislature is investigating claims that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner for refusing to fire a state trooper who was involved in a custody battle with Palin's sister (Troopergate). Todd Palin has received a subpoena from the Alaska legislature, but is refusing to testify.
John McCain's Judgment: Impulsively selected Sarah Palin as running mate in his most important campaign decision, placing her Just a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

K St. (Washington, DC lobbyist central): Palin hired a Washington lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for Wasilla totaling $27 million. Lobbyist was former chief of staff for indicted Senator Ted Stevens (see 527 above).

Lies: See Bridge to Nowhere, Earmarks, etc.

More Regulation: Asked by Katie Couric to give specific examples in McCain's 26 years in the U.S. Senate where he pushed for more regulation, Palin said: "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring `em to ya."

Newspapers: Couric asked Palin to name newspapers and magazines she regularly reads to stay informed about issues. Palin responded: "All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years."

Oil Company Supporter: Supports drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, and took contributions from Veco oil company executives in her 2002 campaign for Lieutenant Governor (see 527 above for relationship between indicted Senator Ted Stevens, Veco and Palin; also, see Polar bears).

Polar Bears: Palin sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as a threatened species, over concern that the special protection would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska (see Oil Company Supporter).

Question: "What is it exactly that the Vice President does every day?" -- Sarah Palin to Larry Kudlow in CNBC, July, 2008.

Roe V. Wade: Palin would overturn. So would McCain. Palin would make abortion illegal, even in cases of rape and incest. McCain voted against extending Medicaid coverage to pregnant women and infants up to one year of age with incomes below the Federal poverty line; Opposed legislation requiring insurers to provide the same level of coverage for contraceptives as they do for other prescription drugs; Voted against funding for preventive health care services intended to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Supreme Court: When asked by Katie Couric to name even one Supreme Court decision other than Roe v. Wade that she disagrees with, Palin drew a blank.

Travel Expenses and Tax Records: Palin bilked Alaska taxpayers for 312 days of travel expenses for nights she slept at home during her first 19 months as Governor. Palin's husband and daughters charged Alaska taxpayers over $43,000 for travel. The Palins have refused to release their tax records until after the election, raising questions about whether they disclosed their taxpayer-funded travel income.

Unprepared: "I think she has pretty thoroughly — and probably irretrievably — proven that she is not up to the job of being president of the United States," -- David Frum, former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush.

Violence against Women: Victims of rape forced to pay for their own forensic evidence kits in Wasilla while Palin was Mayor. McCain has repeatedly voted in the Senate against funding to confront and prevent domestic violence. McCain opposed a program to aid children who have witnessed domestic violence.

wolves: Palin strongly supports an aerial hunting program targeting bears and wolves, described as "brutal" by Defenders of Wildlife. The program has killed 800 wolves, including many pups. In March 2007, Palin's administration announced that it would offer $150 for the foreleg of each freshly killed wolf, in order to encourage hunters. Palin spent $400,000 in taxpayer funds to defeat a recent ballot initiative to stop the program.

X: Palin has XX Chromosomes in common with Hillary Clinton, and virtually nothing else.

You Tube: Palin in her own words on foreign policy:


and as portrayed by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live:


Zero foreign policy experience: "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." -- Palin quoted in the Alaska Business Monthly. Asked by Katie Couric to explain statements about proximity to Russia giving her foreign policy experience, Palin said: "Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of…... As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."