Palin On Pledge Of Allegiance: "If It Was Good Enough For The Founding Fathers, It's Good Enough For Me"

In a 2006 questionnaire for Alaska's gubernatorial race, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin seemed to muddle her American history.

Question: Are you offended by the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

The pledge, of course, was not written until 1892 and the words "under God" were not added until the 1950s. From Wikipedia:

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian Socialist, and the cousin of Socialist Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898). Bellamy's original "Pledge of Allegiance" was published in the September 8th issue of the popular children's magazine The Youth's Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, conceived by James B. Upham.

...

The Knights of Columbus in New York City felt that the pledge was incomplete without any reference to a deity. Appealing to the authority of Abraham Lincoln, the Knights felt that the words "under God" which were from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address were most appropriate to add to the Pledge. In New York City on April 22, 1951, the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus adopted a resolution to amend their recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of each of the meetings of the 800 Fourth Degree Assemblies of the Knights of Columbus by addition of the words "under God" after the words "one nation."

...

Senator Homer Ferguson, in his report to the Congress on March 10, 1954, said, "The introduction of this joint resolution was suggested to me by a sermon given recently by the Rev. George M. Docherty, of Washington, D.C., who is pastor of the church at which Lincoln worshipped." This time Congress concurred with the Oakman-Ferguson resolution, and Eisenhower opted to sign the bill into law on Flag Day (June 14, 1954).

Comments

[zedthewizard]

you might not know speifics, but you should know it was unlikely created by the founding fathers and the k of c change. hey, she's for creationism being taught in schools. she's got problems in my opinion. why all the black? professional looking or feeling empty? biden might not have given a bump to obama. palin may give a bump to mccain due to rallying the conservatives. however, if the media demands good reporting on palin mccain will have trouble. the only things is that without her he had no chance. everything she claims to have done isn't quite the full story. the last thing left is the transcanada gas pipeline. i don't have the contract but apparently, she gave $500 mil to begin with no guarantees and real problems regarding ownership, gas lease owners on board who have their own project, native land rights, etc.

[Sumocat]

"If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance­." -- So since it was NOT good enough for the founding fathers (since they never recited it), does that mean it's not good enough for her and that she won't fight to defend it? Lesson: don't attach false conditions to things you would do unconditionally.

[KaAp]

The pledge of allegiance had nothing to do with the founding fathers ... it is horrible that someone running for the vice presidency does not know the constitution ...

[gevan]

You just don't get it. Lincoln and Ferguson are FOUNDING FATHERS!

[malarson2]

Please, please: someone alert Lorne Michaels fast...how good would a McCain and Palin as Regis and Kelly.

Its just gotta happen - Tina Fey is the host this week.

[iluvsam]

SNL is getting slow. I was waiting for a Bella Karolyi skit and didn't get it!

[BEHM777]

Wow.

BEHusseinM777

[TroubleNYC]

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

[UrbanInterloper]

She's like a female Dubya, only a little better at public speaking.

[TroubleNYC]

Don't forget, 100X better looking.

[HPotamus]

Female Dubya, yes...bett­er public speaker, no.

[VungTauVet]

Two-legged Quayle

[Smirk]

Dear God! Maybe she can show McCain where Czechoslovakia is.

[TheBrizz]

She can also tutor him on the difference between Sunnis and Shiites.

[DavidMG]

If she survives the next few weeks and actually has to answer real questions by reporters and DEBATE BIDEN it will be clear how ignorant she is.

[HPotamus]

The only way she will "survive" is by ducking the questions and crying "SEXISM!" whenever she is challenged on her complete ignorance of all major issues. Biden should not hold back. I hope the Dem's devour her.

[iluvsam]

No, she'll survive because the McCain camp will demand that the questions be submitted before asked. I want a debate where the candidates do not know what the questions will be.

[Boomdog]

Er, the founding fathers were also cool with slavery and women not being able to vote. You go, girl!

[tlou33]

Hey, its okay Cindy Mccain has ALWAYS been proud of her country.

[AutumnHarvest]

Yes, but how does she remain proud of her husband?

[HPotamus]

Your point is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with the fact that Palin is ignorant of American history (among many other things).

[diamoonda2u]

He shoots, he scores :-) Maybe she can understand this (being a hockey mom and all)

[Liam]

She's determined to prove herself the Quayle for a new generation, isn't she.

[Hatchibakku99]

I'm gasping through laughter!!! Thank you!!!

[clocknova]

Let's not forget who won that election. Being silly and ignorant as a VP candidate means very little to the overall ticket. Don't get cocky.

[ejay579]

I do not know about this any more considering the dose of Darth Vader we have been given the last eight years.

[tellner]

What's even more funny about this is the author of the Pledge. He was an avowed (Christian) Socialist. And while "under G-d" didn't appear in the original the words "equality" and "fraternity" did. He took them out because the Conservatives of his day were aghast that he could be seen as promoting equal rights for Negroes and women.

[Quaoar]

"The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian Socialist, and the cousin of Socialist Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898­)."

Any Repub trolls who wrap themselves in the flag and the pledge will certainly be thrilled by that tidbit.

[LeftVetPatriot]

I've reminded my flag-draped family members of that one for years. HA!

[Anonani]

I have run out of things to say. :-(

[SaltySaltillo]

I seem to recall that slave keeping and denying women the right to vote were also "Good enough for the Founding Fathers."