When Palin Thought Wasilla Wasn't Cosmopolitan Enough

When is being cosmopolitan a bad thing? When you're in the bowels for the Republican convention.

One of the many memorable lines from Rudy Giuliani's convention speech Wednesday was the dig he took at Obama for an alleged condescension towards small town America.

Said Hizonner:

"Gov. Palin represents a new generation. She's already one of the most successful governors in America and the most popular. And she's already had more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket combined. She's been a mayor. I love that. I'm sorry -- I'm sorry that Barack Obama feels that her hometown isn't cosmopolitan enough. I'm sorry, Barack, that it's not flashy enough. Maybe they cling to religion there."

Some Democrats I talked with after the speech drew racist undertones from the remark - the idea being that Obama, as Rudy was hoping to paint him, was the product of the inner city. Others simply noted the irony that the former mayor of New York was ripping the city life. But the most potent rebuttal offered was this email from another source.

Back in April 1996, it seems, Palin (not Obama) was the one bemoaning her hometown's lack of cosmopolitan glitz. From the Anchorage Daily News archives.

"Sarah Palin, a commercial fisherman from Wasilla, told her husband on Tuesday she was driving to Anchorage to shop at Costco. Instead, she headed straight for Ivana. And there, at J.C. Penney's cosmetic department, was Ivana, the former Mrs. Donald Trump, sitting at a table next to a photograph of herself. She wore a light-colored pantsuit and pink fingernail polish. Her blonde hair was coiffed in a bouffant French twist. 'We want to see Ivana,' said Palin, who admittedly smells like salmon for a large part of the summer, 'because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture.' Ivana Trump, the former Czechoslovakian Olympic skier who found fame and wealth as the wife of the New York tycoon, came to Anchorage Tuesday to push her line of perfume."

Then there is this from New York Magazine:

After Rudy Giuliani cartoonishly suggested that Wasilla, Alaska, wasn't "cosmopolitan" enough for Barack Obama, we did some digging into his archives. Despite the air quotes and funny voice he used when saying the word, there was a time when a city's "cosmopolitan" nature inspired him. From a 1995 address to the U.N.: "After several days of being confronted with New York City's diversity, any resident or visitor will conclude that our many differences are vastly outweighed by our similarities. That's why New York is not only the world's most diverse city, but also the world's most cosmopolitan and tolerant city."

Comments

[thedailymccain]

Hilarious video John McCain explaining the Palin pick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIt7N63XhLY

[mountainmama]

this pathetic video actor, who shows only his upper teeth when he talks, is not at all like John McCain, who shows only his bottom teeth when he talks

[Viper]

But they are his.

And by the way w/o surgery and other modifications... your upper teeth dont show as you get older, the lower lip pertrudes downward more... To see his upper teeth takes work at 72.

As does gaining 3" in height when you put your shoes on.

Regards

[gevan]

Does that infer that Wasilla isn't so tolerant? That can't be right. Not for a Republican town.

[kasinca]

The (R) after the name means liar or that they just make crap up as they go. These people avoid the truth and reality the say dracula avoids sunlight.

[redsongia]

Maria Comella, Palin's poised and competent spokes person, seems to have all the answers all the time.

Maria Comella for VP!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!
Maria Comella for VP!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!
Maria Comella for VP!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!
Maria Comella for VP!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!
Maria Comella for VP!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!

[tel8034]

It seems as if every time Palin claims she is something, or did something, information emerges to refute what she claims.

HAS PALIN SAID ANYTHING THAT WAS TRUE SO FAR?

[jeanrenoir]

What difference does it make? She's an instant icon, like Reagan, meaning that the mob totally identifies with her, and thus refuses to listen to anything "bad" about her, not only because "bad" things come from the liberals/elites, and are thus insulting to all of us (icon and us), but because we never, ever want to give the elites, who already look down on us, any hint of victory over us. All the mob wants is something plausibly "genuine" (meaning something that supports their cliches and myths) to believe in. Trying to explode their illusion is hopeless, and only makes them cling to it longer. Remember how the Silent Majority REFUSED to admit that Nixon could be involved with Watergate until he personally confessed on national TV.

So the issue is never trying to tell the mob the truth. The issue is simply whether there are more mob voters than reasonably clued in ones. Since it's usually the former, the Republicans rarely lose. Carville's by far the best Dem at psyching the mob out. I hope Obama listens to him. It's the Dems' only hope.

[TheSecularist]

And remember how the South African government (pre Mandela) clung to their apartheid policies as more and more nations around the world criticized them? In the end, economic sanctions and time wore them down. The Republican party base is very much like the white South African government: intolerant and steadfastly clinging to their ideology.

[GetoffMylawn]

What is true is that she is arrogant, sarcastic and divisive. She also speaks with contempt for all community organizers. She truly wants to take away your right to choose and have the US Government take control of your uterus, even if you don't have one.

[Bongborg]

She said she couldn't understand why that Walter Monaghan guy hadn't fired her ex-brother-in-law like she wanted, right before she fired Walter. That was probably true.

[Zingaro Zorro]

Why expect truth from a Desperate Hockey Mom?

[stepintothelight]

She did say "hello" once.

[23000Days]

I Guess that if it weren't so much fun, we wouldn't even notice her......

[Chillinout]

I don't think it is the salmon that is causing that smell on her.

[jwatso7]

Ouch! Touche!

[UrsaMajority]

What was particularly offensive was Giuliani expanding upon his prepared remarks to say, "For four days in Denver, the Democrats were afraid to use the term “Islamic terrorism.” I imagine they believe it is politically incorrect to say it. I think they believe they will insult someone. Please tell me, who they are insulting if they say, “Islamic terrorism.” They are insulting terrorists!"

First, by equating Muslims and terrorists, Giuliani is fomenting religious bigotry in this country.

Second, he is undermining the war on terror! According to the National Counter Terrorism Center: “Avoid labeling everything ‘Muslim.’ It reinforces the ‘U.S. vs. Islam’ framework that Al-Qaeda promotes. Be specific (Egyptian, Pakistani) and descriptive (South Asian youth, Arab opinion leaders), where possible.” The Dep't of Homeland Security takes the same position.

It was bad enough that Giuliani tried to scare Jewish voters with the long since debunked view that Obama is soft on Palestinian-Israeli issues. But fomenting religious bigotry is unconscionable.

[PhilTListener]

I wonder if anyone knows how many pairs of prescription glasses the governor owns?
I recently bought my first pair after 52 years of not needing glasses. They cost me over $300. Granted they were top of the line, light adjusting, flex frames, but Mrs. Palin's look pretty upscale, or dare I say, "cosmopolitan".

It would be interesting to see how much her collection costs in total.

[teferet]

Prescription glasses? LOL

She wears glasses to look intelligent. Take a look at any side-on picture of her face and you will see that her lenses have no refraction. They are plano lenses.

Just get's me wondering...what else about her is fake?

[linux]

Is this is really true? How vain.

[GeoLee]

They are glare free glasses which cost more and I have some myself. After cataract surgery they are primarily for astigmatism and hardly show refraction at all. They look pretty expensive to me, but what do I know. I have only worn glasses since 1947 when I was less than two years old.

[Michael08]

As long as arcane concepts such as evolution, or the reality that, women have been compelled to abortion before 1776 are fully realized the likes of Sarah Palin will continue to emblemize those that actually believe that John McCain is a political reformer

[Jody2167]

Hey-- I lived in Toronto for over 25 years and actually had dinner with Pierre Trudeau. I should be appointed Secretary of State!

[DebbieinPhx]

Wow... no kidding. You've got like, loads of foreign policy experience~~

[Bongborg]

When you get the job, keep me in mind for ambassador to the Court of St. James, please. Once when I was in London, I saw the Queen from about a half a block away, and I thought the city was awfully nice too.

[Venom5809]

My neighbor is an NBA player.
I am going to try out for the Pistons tomorrow. lol

[Promise]

I went shopping in Tijuana a couple of times. And I am a woman---a shoo-in for Secretary of State.

[rmadilo]

I thought of this exact example when she said it. It was in a long list of mental notes under the heading: "does she really want to go there?"

I had read this story prior to her speech, it was in circulation. It was no secret. Yet she went there. This is what happens when you try to vet someone in a week.

Also note that as mayor, she herself flew to Washington to lobby for money. Her eye has always been on the big-time, and she has basically used back-stabbing as her ladder.

Something like that probably works well in Alaska and the Republican party, but her shelf life is very limited.

[justobserve]

And Palin mocked Obama to say something to a group of people then different things to others in San Francisco! Hypocrites at its finest. LIES AND MORE LIES!
Vote for issues: EQUAL PAY, WOMEN'S CHOICE, UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Well it only applies to republicans. Anything democratics say or do are way out there. Rudy should be ashamed of himself. His speech will backfire. After last night speech I quickly pulled out my check book and sent money to Obama Camp. I have never done anything like that before.

[Criticalthinktank07]

Obama has reported raised 8 million dollars since Palin's speech. It is projected to reach 10 million by tonight.

[Promise]

God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform... I just sent some more $.

[proveit2me]

Cosmopolitan, Educated, Intellectuals who waste their time trying to help the disenfranchised? Eloquent speakers who inspire generations to participate in the political process? Constitutional Scholars? Come on, America, is this really the kind of people you want leading America? How are we ever going to get back to the Dark Ages with smarty-pants leadership like that? Wake up, America, this Theocratic Oligarchy isn't going to build itself , you know.

It's times like this I wish there was some sort of person in our community that could help get us organized...

[23000Days]

Yup!

[bdul26]

Well put! Can I get an AMEN?!

[rageagainstmachine]

This was rich.. thank you!