Media All Over The Map On 'Bridge To Nowhere' Story

UPDATE: A round of thanks is due Homer, Alaska's Charlie Stock, who notes that the original image I provided totally Swift-Boated the wrong bridge! I regret the error. A correct map has replaced the erroneous one.

As all politics are local, it makes sense that the most plainspoken account of VP nominee Sarah Palin's involvement in the famous "bridge to nowhere" fiasco is found in the Anchorage Daily News:

"I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere," Palin told the cheering McCain crowd, referring to Ketchikan's Gravina Island bridge.

But Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it.

The Alaska governor campaigned in 2006 on a build-the-bridge platform, telling Ketchikan residents she felt their pain when politicians called them "nowhere." They're still feeling pain today in Ketchikan, over Palin's subsequent decision to use the bridge funds for other projects -- and over the timing of her announcement, which they say came in a pre-dawn press release that seemed aimed at national news deadlines.

This morning's Washington Post actually takes the story a step further, with this statement, attributed to Palin:

While campaigning in Ketchikan in September 2006, Palin indicated support for the bridge project, assuming there was no better alternative. "This link is a commitment to help Ketchikan expand its access, to help this community prosper," she told the local chamber of commerce, according to an account in the Ketchikan Daily News.

Again, that's Palin, supporting the bridge. Yet somehow, Post editors gave this piece the headline, "Democrats Say Palin Initially Backed Bridge," and began the story by reporting, "Democrats accused Gov. Sarah Palin (R) on Sunday of misrepresenting her role in scuttling a controversial bridge project to a remote island in southeast Alaska." But what "Democrats say" is entirely irrelevant when you have what Palin said staring you straight in the face.

The New York Times went even farther in obscuring the story, which has Dan Kennedy wondering:

So why does the New York Times today weigh in with a weak story, headlined "Account of a Bridge's Death Slightly Exaggerated," that leaves you thinking that maybe she did, maybe she didn't?

Comments

[StandUpAmerica08]

Palin eloped with her high-school boyfriend, Todd Palin, on August 29, 1988, when she was 24 years old.[7] "It was a shock but she did it because she knew we couldn’t afford a big white wedding", her mother said.[109]

44-19=25

Was Sarah pregnant when she married Todd?

[WFV]

Aaah, yes. Family values.

This is going to be fun.

[ExposeMcCain]

Something is wrong with the timing of Bristol's pregnancy. According to stories, she was home from school with mono for 5 months leading up the the delivery.. If true, how did she get pregnant while home sick from school?

The parents must have been totally MIA. How is that good Christian parenting?

[SurrealPumpkin]

Good Catch.

[rafael44]

damn people here dont miss one could you please post that in one of those neocons blogs? LOL

[NYC07]

" Immaculate Conception" of course.

[jacqmac]

Obviously you haven't been listening. Bristol's PREGNANCY was just announced. Unless she's a quick recovery she DID NOT HAVE that other baby. Of course, she's being designated care taker NOW because Mommy Dearest is running for Vice President and besides, it will be a 'lesson in adulthood'. LAY OFF her pregnancy. LAY off the special needs baby. Ask these questions-What mother would go off for three months on a bus tour of the lower 48 and take a special needs baby with her? And exactly WHEN is Bristol going to marry her boyfriend? SOON, I hope! Barack Obama is RIGHT---LEAVE the family OUT of this. If you want to start a debate-start with the questions I just asked-and if THOSE are too personal--ask this one 'Does this CHOICE on the part of Palin's daughter mean that the GOVERNMENT has the RIGHT to IMPOSE it on EVERYONE? THAT is what is really scary here.....

[ex-pat]

She obviously has a successful marriage... yours is a mute point

[SeaBoatbuilder]

About as "moot" as your opinion, Gomer.

[thefringecenter]

A mute point except for that pesky family values and morality mantra.

[CTmom13]

More proof MCCain failed with his firswwt test

McCain put POLITICS FIRST and CONTRY LAST

[rafael44]

COME ON! we all know that for republicans politics and cuntry are an inseparable ...it is almost like the Vatican country religion and politics all tied together forever under one name (christ) and in their case St. Ronald the American redeemer

[Gib]

What can you expect from the left-liberal media?

[solarenergy]

no the MSM is right-wing s&*theads, they're not covering the story, yet....

[cindyw]

It sounds like some of the "left-liberal" media are giving her a break. Did you read the article?

[BannedFromCommenting]

Explain,GIB, what makes the media Liberal when its owned by Big Corporation, Murdoch? Who is Republican?? Explain???

[Marlyn]

Gib was joking.

[usecommonsensepeople]

If the internet would have been used the last election cycle George Bush would have never been elected. It takes just regular Americans like us to push the truth before the Media is embarrased into covering it like should be. Let's keep pushing to always get the truth out. Great job bloggers!

[nellie]

I think you may be right. There was a lot that wasn't brought to light about W or Cheney until it was too late.

The only drawback with the internet is that material can be scrubbed. It's good to have a printed record that can't be easily altered. For example, Palin has taken her support for Obama's energy plan off her website.

[Daly]

when they try and be smart altering sites and scrubbing information; some cached version nearly always appears exposing them to be liars.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/29/1304936.aspx

[lennix]

msm is a peice of s**t they will sell out the country again like they did with bush the are the threat to america the bunch of lairs

[PHM]

The MSM we have now is what we get when we elect Republicans who allow people like Merdoch to buy up all the outlets and create conglomerates controlled by one person...

We HAVE to pay attention this election. We HAVE to elect Democrats from the top down and we HAVE to hold them accountable to break up the media and financial conglomerates.

[norkas]

I hate msm and i am a Republican. Our news is more controlled by these IDIOTS and it is not fair and balanced. PHM is correct very good post

[firewmn]

**
I was for it before I was against it"..

**

hmmm.. geuss we'll see if this gets any legs or is buried because that's the way it happens.

[Totto]

Don't count on the American corporate media to report anything remotely resembling the truth. It has become the equivalent of Pravda and Vremya, only more cynical. Its "journalists" are more concerned about their real estate holdings and cocktail parties than in discovering and reporting the truth.

[rafael44]

well to its credit Pravda is a state run media right? it is to be expected
ulike here where they still try market themselveshas having the best political analysts in the nation
the only reliable media is FOX news at least they dont pretend to be objective

[Marlyn]

I think the most reliable media news source is Comedy Central's Daily Show & Colbert Report.

[JRandomPoster]

It seems that Governor Palin, their embodiment of "values", can't tell the truth so well.

[indyleftist]

If the democrats have any brains they will pounce on this

This is literally the first thing that she said to the American people as a national figure
And it was a bold faced lie

And a stupid one. You're from Alaska, did you think nobody was going to look up your position on the bridge to nowhere? What an amateur

[combatveteran]

She is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is a smart honest lady who is ready to lead.she is not.

[Ohioliberal]

There is effective medication for your condition - please check into it.

[norkas]

time for your medication combatvereran

[PATina]

hahahahahahahaha...

Are you hoping that if you say it enought times you'll actually start to believe it?

hahahahahahahahahahaha

[PATina]

my bad... I just saw the 'she is not' at the end.

[TroubleNYC]

Anyone noticed the "thanks, but no thanks" line was so ironically close to Clinton's speech?

[rafael44]

they have been taking all the phrases and slogans fromt he dems for th elast few days this is a new deliberate strategy

[Marlyn]

Yes, this is the right wing strategy. Since the GOP has NOTHING, they are mimicking the Democrat message, hoping that the average Joe who isn't paying close attention won't be able to tell the difference.

John McCain, the REAL audacity of hope, the REAL agent of change.

[kellygrrrl]

Tucker Carlson is on CSpan right now saying that WE should all be phony!

[Yuma]

I do not like him.

[rafael44]

another blowhard with badhair and no cojones

[norkas]

Tucker will be out of a job soon. I never trust him he is to far right and lets everyone know it.

[LAB10]

For the earmark "bridge" before she was against it. Mac and Pal, a match made in heaven.

[Mitchell4A]

McCain: Doesn't help Vets and Doesn't Vet Help.

"McCain Just Lost the Election with a Hail Mary (or Political Ambition 21, Country 0)"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[bitterinsc]

OMG, did you see the picture of her included with this article?

[Shasta]

I just checked out your excellent blog. I'll be visiting again.

[ibsteve2u]

Hey, what do you suppose all of this is just McCain's way of getting back at the Republican Party for letting George W. Bush assassinate his character in 2000?

And after this is all over, John and Cindy will retire with their millions to Bahama or somewhere, to sip daiquiris and laugh together at their fond memories of coldly serving the RNC a deep dish of revenge?

[edwarvir]

The New York Times supports Methuselah. They can't defend him, so they are
trying to give him a wink and a nod. This is not going to fly. This election is
too important to allow msm to do a half A$$ job again. Sarah needs to be
vetted the same way any other candidate is. Methuselah has had far too many passes.
it's time to hold him accountable.