Palin Repeats "Bridge To Nowhere" Falsehood Again Despite Intense Criticism

Speaking in Lebanon, Ohio today, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin repeated her frequently debunked lie on the "bridge to nowhere," which originated in her speech to the Republican National Convention last Wednesday. As the crowd cheered, Palin (falsely) recounted how she told the U.S. Congress "thanks but no thanks" for the project that has become a symbol of wasteful government spending.

Virtually every media outlet -- from the Wall Street Journal to FactCheck.org -- that has investigated the claim has found it to be a wholesale fiction. Though Palin did abandon her onetime support for the bridge after winning Alaska's governorship, she did so only after federal dollars dried up. Moreover, she kept the federal funds already given to Alaska.

Yet Palin still continues to use the line in each and every stump speech. In response, the Obama campaign is turning to humor. "On the same day that dozens of news organizations have exposed Governor Palin's phony Bridge to Nowhere claim as a 'naked lie,' she and John McCain continue to repeat the claim in their stump speeches. Maybe tomorrow she'll tell us she sold it on eBay," said Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor.

The eBay dig is a reference to another tall tale from the McCain-Palin campaign -- the idea that the governor sold a luxury jet online. Palin herself has scrupulously avoided saying outright that she sold the plane on eBay -- merely saying that she "put" it on eBay. But McCain himself strayed into the realm of untruth last week by claiming that Palin not only "sold it" through the online auction site, but also did so "at a profit." In fact, the eBay auction was a failure, and Alaska had to sell the plane offline, at a $600,000 loss.

Comments

[qrubicon]

This should be the bridge to her political future. Go MOOSE A LEENI !!!

[libratine]

Where is the accountability? With lies, deceit and treachery, neither McCain or Palin appear fit to serve the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Furthermore McCain's new ad is an EMBARRASSMENT to himself and the GOP! I know republicans who are repelled by it! If his advisers keep this up, insular McCain the Maverick will drive what's left of his cattle herd over a cliff! Hope it's soon.

Here's some more of the Real McCain: http://therealmccain.com/videos.php

[Daniboy]

Who is worse. a governor who takes earmarks or a Washington politician who hands out earmarks? What do you Libs think? I guess I'm just a greedy repub but I'll take any money that Washington wants to give back to me. No Brainer!!!

[boycottpalindotcom]

the worse one is the one who takes the money and says "i championed reform on the wasteful spending by Congress.

Not quite.

[Daniboy]

Governors are for earmarks from the fed gov if they come to their state. Congressmen and Sen who hand out earmarks are buying votes-that is all but Barrack and Biden. Hope and change!!

[MYSTERIOUS]

THERE ARE SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES COMING OUT ABOUT GOVERNOR PALIN. JUST KEEP WATCHING. SHE CAN'T BE TRUSTED. BARACK OBAMA HAS INTEGRITY, AND TELLS THE TRUTH. KEEP WATCHING.

[rollingdivision]

Both Obama and Biden voted for the bridge to nowhere, twice. Second time was after it had become a big controversial issue and they both voted for it again. In the end Palin stopped the state funding killing the project, no thanks to Obama or Biden.

[Heavenhelpusall]

That is incorrect. Congress decided against the fund and then Palin was against it after she spent the money to build a road to the bridge to nowhere.

[hotwire]

No, heavenhelpusall you are incorrect, rollingdivision IS right on this one!

[reliant1]

you are ly ing

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2005-263

Vote Number: Senate Vote #263 in 2005 [primary source]
Date: Oct 20, 2005 12:00AM
Result: Amendment Rejected
Related Amendment: S.Amdt. 2181: To ensure reconstruction of the Twin Spans Bridge. amending H.R. 3058 [109th]: Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the...

Overview
Totals Democrats Republicans Independents All Votes
Ayes: 33 (33%)
3 30 0
Nays: 61 (61%) 37 22 2
No Vote: 6 (6%) 3 3 0
Required: Simple Majority of 94 votes (=48 votes)

Illinois
Nay IL Durbin, Richard [D]
Nay IL Obama, Barack [D]

[hotwire]

What the heck is all tha jiberish about, did you just print that off the Sesame Street web site? And what exactly did the big O and Gulag Durbin vote nay on?

[cat1203]

I'm beginning to think this country is insane. If McCain gets in I sense we truly are doomed. Will the Dems ever learn that you can't fight clean with the dirty Republicans? They KNOW what the Republicans are like, theyve seen it with Kerry and Gore, yet they NEVER learn. If they don't take off the gloves and go for the throat then they will once again lose this election. Lets put the hockey mom in with the hot tempered McCain... let the press give them both a free ride just like they did Bush... straight into the White House.

[Daniboy]

Obama may be backing off increasing taxes on rich-something about the economy being too bad to increase taxes.
but wait-hasn't he said all these years that increasing taxes on the rich does not effect the economy. Can some Lib please explain?

[Daniboy]

Look how long it took to bring the Messiah down. We don't have enough time to bring Sara down!

[cnobody]

if she keeps repeating the same lies, she'll bring herself down.

[TGrantE]

Palin/McCain - She's the FLIP to his FLOP

[lp1]

So no one in the media can talk about this now?
I mean are we allowed to talk in the media if all this flips/flops are to be fact checked? ....

[Daniboy]

Is that the majority consensus here-any women who votes for Palin is stupid? Speak up Libs-dig the hole deeper!

[TVI]

I think any human being who votes for McCain/Palin is stupid.

[XME]

Uh...no, just the ones who vote for her BECAUSE she's a woman! (Duh)

[cnobody]

any woman who claimed to be a hillary supporter, based on issues and not gender, who votes for McCain/Palin, is stupid. yup yup.

[TGrantE]

Palin/McCain - They ARE a bridge to nowhere!

[Daniboy]

We don't need Sara-Nancy Pelosi is cleaning up the House and Washington!!

[MilesTone]

If any woman is stupid enough to vote for Palin because she is a woman, then she deserves what happens to women rights and the country if McSame and Paloser are elected.

[Daniboy]

Facts can always get in the way of a Libs Hope!