NYT by way of TPM: Palin Personally Sought To Ban Book From Library

[dkf]

By Eric Kleefeld - September 14, 2008, 12:02AM

Among the many startling accusations against Sarah Palin in the new profile of her in The New York Times, this one truly stands out: Not only did Palin want the Wasilla librarian to ban books, but she is alleged to have personally pushed for a particular book to be removed before she became mayor:

Witnesses and contemporary news accounts say Ms. Palin asked the librarian about removing books from the shelves. The McCain-Palin presidential campaign says Ms. Palin never advocated censorship.

But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book "Daddy's Roommate" on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein. Ms. Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it.

"Sarah said she didn't need to read that stuff," Ms. Chase said. "It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it."

This is not the only accusation that Palin personally targeted a particular book for removal from the library on ideological grounds. It's also worth noting that Rev. Howard Bess, a liberal minister from the nearby town of Palmer, has accused Palin of successfully getting his own book, Pastor I Am Gay, banned from the library while she was mayor.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/nyt_palin_personally_sought_to.php

[donco6]

1. Another flat-out lie by Palin.

And golly, it's about gays - who'd a thunk it?

She specifically said in her interview with Gibson that she merely "asked" about the process for removing a book.

Fucking homophobe.

[yardwork]

2. So Sarah Palin is a proven homophobe. Why am I not surprised?

[Union Thug]

3. This nut-job, holy-rollin' fantasy worlder needs to be exposed

This incident provides the foundation of an attack ad by the Obama campaign. Palin wants to censor what you see to conform to her religious zealotry.

Let's see some Fahrenheit 451 imagery in the background of the book burnings...or maybe get even edgier with some Nazi footage. Blast her.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Apparently, Palin's office wanted to outlaw blogging as well

and that was not too long ago. Palin is not a friend of the right of freedom of expression.