Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention

[autorank]

Source: Associated Press

By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer

Wed Sep 3, 11:48 PM ET

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.
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Some examples:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

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Others:

Palin - Obama will raise income tax.

NO - he will reduce middle class taxes by $2200 by 2012.

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McCain - She's in charge of 20% of the US oil supply

NO - No more than Bush was in charge of Exxon when he was governor of Texas

etc.

[4lbs]

1. The truth has never prevented them from doing anything before

so why would they stop now?

[Doctor_J]

2. She's a pathetic liar, just like EVERY REPUBLICAN

[radfringe]

3. reactions from various co-workers

one fence-sitter: "oh god help us... I was going to just stay home but now I have to vote for Obama. My dad* is voting for him too"
* her dad is in his 70's, until palin's skreetch last night, he was not going to bother to vote in november

republican co-worker: "can we get a do over? turn back the clock?"

another republican co-worker: "is it possible to impeach before they are even elected?"

unknown affiliation co-worker: "please tell me this is a joke. a really really really bad joke"

[autorank]

4. I had the same feeling about her that I did about Bush in the 2000 debates

She's a total liar. She's nasty. She's enjoying this.

At least part of AP is doing it's job.

[radfringe]

6. bush - palin campaign talking points

bush 2000:

-- executive experience because he is governor of a big state
-- texas is a big state
-- foreign experience because texas is on the border with mexico
-- washington outsider
-- uniter
-- family values

palin 2008:

-- executive experience because she is governor of a big state
-- alaska is a big state
-- foreign experience because alaska is near russia
-- washington outsider
-- uniter
-- family values

[olddad56]

7. so right on the money

both of them ran on the strength of their inexperience and lack of a track record. Well for all of those who were suckered in by Bush in 2000, now that Bush has a track record, how do you like him now? You won't like President Palin any better. Once McCain is elected, the neo-cons will dust him so they can get another total stooge/puppet in the oval office.

[autorank]

8. Nailed it

At least they're recycling something;)

[cosmicone]

5. Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention

Source: AP/Yahoo

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.


Some examples:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

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Wonderful !!!! The press is on it

[autorank]

9. AP is in big trouble over Fournier 'I'm with you' email. Good. Work a little.

Palin is annoying to listen to and she lies. What a combo. Mission Accomplished.

But McCain is building a new stage. Isn't that what they call style over substance.

[hedgehog]

12. Does Yahoo usually run this kind of story? Or am I mixing Yahoo up with AOL?

[SemperEadem]

10. wait a minute

"She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply.

Since when was oil production in the US nationalized and a governor was put in charge of it/ran it/responsible for it?

[hedgehog]

13. I question that figure, 20% of national energy supply.

It might be 20% of oil produced in the US, but I doubt it's 20% of the total supply which includes coal, natural gas and nuclear power. Plus, doesn't most North Slope oil actually go to Asia because it's hard to get it to the mainland US?

[SemperEadem]

11. and this is why romney is irrelevant

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."

George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

Gawd!!! What a dumbass!!!

[RiverStone]

14. Some of Palin's remarks stretch the truth (Anchorage Daily News)

Source: Anchorage Daily News

Gov. Sarah Palin's remarks to the Republican National Convention about her record in state government stretched the truth.

GAS PIPELINE

PALIN: "I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly forty billion dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence. That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart.

THE FACTS: Palin implies that construction has begun on a major natural gas pipeline from the top of Alaska into Canada. That is not correct.

In fact, no building has begun and actual construction is years away, if it ever happens. This summer the Alaska Legislature, at Palin's request, passed a bill under which the state will issue a "license" to a Canadian energy company, TransCanada Corp., and pay it up to $500 million as an incentive to someday build this enormous project, which Alaska politicians have long sought with little success. The license is not a construction contract, and federal energy regulators have not yet approved the project.

Palin also puts the price tag for the project at $40 billion, an exaggeration. This is roughly $10 billion more than most cost estimates industry players and consultants have made to date.



Read more: http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515517.html

[firedupdem]

15. not surprising at all... n/t

[Synnical]

16. Co-Workers asked me about "not a single major law or reform"

When I told them it was a lie, they asked why Obama can't sue her for libel? Proving malice, etc I said. Besides, it doesn't matter, she said it, and you fell for it - it's out there.

At least the AP is kinda doing it's job for once.