McCain Was Against Palin Before He Was For Her

One of John McCain's main selling points as a government reformer is that the Arizona Senator sure hates him some earmarks. He hates them so much that he's been willing to call them out by name. As a Senator, McCain's published "pork lists" full up with government spending he's deemed wasteful. On the stump he has promised much more of the same, vowing to make Congress' major pork players "famous."

That brings us, again, to Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Long before McCain focused the national spotlight on Palin as his Veep pick, he was making her famous as a dedicated feeder at the pork barrel trough. As the Chicago Tribune details:

In 2001, McCain's list of spending that had been approved without the normal budget scrutiny included a $500,000 earmark for a public transportation project in Wasilla. The Arizona senator targeted $1 million in a 2002 spending bill for an emergency communications center in town -- one that local law enforcement has said is redundant and creates confusion.

McCain also criticized $450,000 set aside for an agricultural processing facility in Wasilla that was requested during Palin's tenure as mayor and cleared Congress soon after she left office in 2002. The funding was provided to help direct locally grown produce to schools, prisons and other government institutions, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan watchdog group.

McCain's surrogates contend that Palin had no other choice but to seek funding through Federal earmarks. McCain spokesman Taylor Griffin told the Trib that Palin said she was "disgusted" at the fact that "small towns like hers were dependent on earmarks." But the records actually show that "Wasilla had received few if any earmarks before Palin became mayor."

Comments

[LeviCro]

thats our boy.. I think he was a waffle in another life

[northcan]

The filthy rich lobbyist's still part of Sarah Palins financial campaign budget. Bloggers, are just ordinary folk f that want justice, ethics and secure employment, national security. Instead hints, facts, allegations are talked about. Media, Legislators and voters............................The facts are there. Knowone wants them revealed AFTER ........the election. They want answers NOW. Including Cheney's apparent alleged involvement directly with Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Alaskan Blogger to another; "In Governor Palins speech in January 2008, Sarah Palin said she was receiving coaching, telephone calls from the current V.P. Dick Cheney". "I wonder if he'll still be on the phone to her if she's elected?" ..........................................................."Alaska's government systematically being dismantled".....one blogger's comment, and fear. "What is Alaska going to do with her" ... is asked constantly on blogs entries.

What does this mean America????? Yes she was a mayor, but with 0 deficit when she took office to $22M, when she left is not an accomplishment, especially when staff asking for her resignation. Governor, .... is also impressive of a state of 700,000 citizen's, but, comment's from 'juno' blogger in Alaska...... "lots of fricken drama and still no gasoline". "All we've seen is utter incompetence and absolute lack of judgement with everything Sarah Palin touches". "God help us".

God help all of us globally if this person, this totally incompetent person gets close to the heartbeat of any President. Communism is just a few miles to the west of this woman in Alaska, and in her mind.

[animalhamilton]

this is gold.

it needs to heard.

good job, Jason.

[Jeff1958]

As bad as I feel about his 5 years of torture as a POW, I don't see how it gives him any insight today. In fact, I suspect it hurts, rather than helps him. I seriously question his mental state. I wonder if he's still battling commies in his mind (besides the Vietnamese, consider his involvement in the recent Georgia - Russia incident). "Noun verb POW" is the answer to any difficult question he or his followers face. No way, no how, no Reps.

[swift goat pet for truth]

I am OUTRAGED!

How DARE she say "The Bridge to Nowhere - Thanks, but No Thanks"? ... AGAIN!

We KNOW she was for it and LOBBIED for it.
We KNOW she was against it when it Congress cut it out.
We KNOW she took the $400 mil and put it into the public fund.
We KNOW she took that fund and passed out CASH, MY Tax money, to Alaskans

WE KNOW the FACTS.
How DARE she tell this story a SECOND TIME?

American families are struggling every day. They are handing out our money in Alaska!
How DARE John McCain stand in back of her and smirk?

The nation has a $9 Trillion debt.
How DARE the Republicans stand up and Cheer?

ENOUGH!

I hope the Dems have the Brains and the Guts to call them on this.

[Whinger]

Old man river probably forgot all about that when Sarah smiled at him!

[Denise56]

Please examin the State of Alaska's budget. It is available online, line by line. It is not very large only 5.4 Billion. This includes many items that would fall under local budgets like education.

Of that 5.4 billion I was surprised two things. First the amount of money that the state gets from the federal government, approximately 2.4 billion, and secondly the amount of the states rainy day oil fund aproximately 29 Billion.

As a member of the lower 48. Why does Alaska get more money per capita than any other state in the union? My second question is why do those mineral rights belong to the state and not the federal government meaning the rest of the American people. Given the price of oil and the amount of financial benefit that the state of Alaska gets from drilling it is no wonder that Govenor Palin is in favor of it.

This govenor has never had to do any heavy lifting. Alaska has no state income or state sales tax.

My county Palm Beach, Florida has a bigger budget. Maybe my county commissioner should run for VP. She has more international experience. Did Govenor Palin actually know where Afghanistan actually was before she become head of the Alaska National Guard? Somehow I doubt it. I Bet she did not even realize that it borders Russia, just like her great state.

[UnintendedConsequences]

Governor, when you became Mayor of the small town of Wasilla population 6000 it had no debt, yet you left the town saddled with a $22 million debt in just 2 terms.

Governor, tell the American people why Mayor Palin is not George Bush Lite with a bitter after taste (BUSH LITE).

Henceforth, let it be know the republican candidates are McBush and McLite

[swift goat pet for truth]

You forgot about the $27 mil in Fed Earmark money that Wasilla got, with the help off the Jack Abramoff connected lobbyist, and indicted Sen Ted Stevens.

[WaVoter]

I want to know why Palin is getting millions of dollars of earmarks from Washington, and then giving $1200 rebates to each Alaskan! Essentially, the American people are subsidizing a rebate for everyone in Alaska. What kind of fiscal responsibility is that?

[northcan]

That was discovered by a tax break, she claimed as an 'ethical person' belonged to the people, although it was really to keep all citizens dependently tied to her for their absolute loyal in voting to keep her in office. Akaskans were put in a vulnerable position by this nutcase.

Aug. 12, 2008 from Rosemary Shinora entry (Alaskan resident); "Alaska attorney General Talis Colbert says he'll investigate why gasoline prices are so much higher than in the lower 48. He states that Sarah Palin asked him to do it".

2 Alaskan Senators, Bettye Davis and Bill Wielechowski also sent a letter to the AG(?) asking him to see if there is "PRICE FIXING" going on. Colberg sent letter back to Senators, telling them he's having the "Law's...Consumer Protection Unit" start an investigation". Exxon......."The Supreme Court took it upon themselves to write new law that sheilds corporate wrong doers". "Palin paying citizens gas profit tax of $1200 per person for this bribe". "Halcro (Palin's co-conspirator, has something to do with the charge of troopergate".
These quotes from Alaskan bloggers and columnists are trying to get the attention of the American people....it's rampant throughout the state. People are vulnerable but need an advocate. Can someone in Power, not take up this cause for the voters, citizens of Alaska????? Apparently fell on deaf ears to the WH administration. Investigate please for all of America.

[kazz]

from what i've heard, mccain didn't pick palin ... W did

[teapartydude]

She's a good whiner w/a script.

Let's now go after her lame record as a Mayor and City Council.

A mayor of a town that has a huge center of meth labs and a town she left in debt.

[toby25]

...and Obama voted for the bridge to nowhere. That is a fact.

[ThunderMongoose]

Wow. She is such a reformer. She has a vast amount of Exec. experience. She is a real Maverick. A true soulmate for the republican party.

BUNK!!! Man, she's getting so effin PWND by her own problems. I hope Biden roasts her real good at the debate! I'll have my beer and popcorn ready that night - if she stays in the race ;)

[slpmom]

Let's see the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. take on the governor who just got a passport. ROFLMAO
Oh, wait.........if he is "mean" to her that will be sexist.

BTW -she said"no thanks" to the Bridge to Nowhere, but KEPT THE MONEY

[rshrink]

Isn't Palin a Pentecostal? And she is for guns. She is for abstinance only, but her daughter got pregnant as a teenager. And she is still for abstinance only, right? She doesn't believe in global warming, but she does believe in drilling for oil in her backyard, which would be approved of by Halliburton and Cheney I think. God talks directly to her, so she is certainly more in the know than the rest of us, right? Should we all join the Pentecostal church now and maybe we can all be on the same direct line with God, right?

[Jeff1958]

Sarah may be for abstinance only, but her daughter had other ideas. And that's the problem with those on the right - they can't see past themselves. Just because Sarah thinks it's wrong to have sex before the wedding day, she will inflict her morality on others.

But this is America. I don't subscribe to HER morality.

[CaptainSunshine]

Reformer . . . I think the teleprompter is broken . . .

[joyfultoo]

My impression of Palin's speech is that she spent a lot of time bashing Obama/ Democrats and not enough time addressing anything substantive.

And what a squeaky little girl voice which, before I get bashed for being sexist ,let me just say I believe is important because she could potentially be president and have to command respect from a multitude of leaders from many cultures.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

who was that insufferable, miserable, nitpicking human being? Palin? Who is that? And why did she spend so much time making fun of trivial things while claiming to run for Vice Presidency of the United States!?

and what group was that acting like an eighth grade clique in front of her pretending to listen to her speak? I've never seen a more disrespectful group of heartless naysayers who merely seem content to do what they're told.

[watchandwait]

Our next Vice-President of the United States...Karen from "Will and Grace"...