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

[Cramus]

Sarah Palin for President. She is what we need for this country. She's the one that can make the rest of the world crumble at our feet. I bet if we let her go find Bin Laden, it would only take a mater of days before she'd string him up. She is the one that would change Washington. Small town America would then rule this country and the elites would serve. We should have her at the top of the ticket. McCain would make a good VP. She is just what the doctor ordered in this time of need. This woman is amazing!

[eden4barack08]

Wait.., wasn't McPow running for Pres?

[muadibe]

You are obviously one very confused person.

[Cooper1608]

Cramus I like the first of your name, you need to take what you just posted and CRA M it up yours, you are truly sick if you believe the hype.

[jgalvan]

must be some good sticky icky.

[hhyatt]

Maybe she could tell us that she had captured Bin Laden and we would be as gullible as we were about her Bridge lie.

[Jaid]

When eight (8) long years of lying and deceit are not enough vote McSame/Palin.

[happycat]

The media needs to shout this story out from the rooftops if need be. People need to hear it and read it everywhere. Palin is a poorly educated, immoral, lying sack of potatoes. The American people are brain dead if they don't hear the truth about this woman and still consider her a great candidate for VP. The only job Palin should have is that of a used car saleswoman. She obviously is selling alot of people such crap, and so far she is getting away with it since many are buying it.

[mesut]

The people lining up and standing before her are partly the blame as well. Each time they clap at that lie they reinforce it. A few people in the audience should start booing when she makes that nontruth. It's one thing when she says it and no one knows it's a lie BUT when it's reported and reported that she is lying then the people are to accountable listening to the lie and cheering for it.

Just like the surrogates that get on t v and repeat it. They in a sense are lying and no amount of justifying diminishes what it is -- A Lie!!

[happycat]

I think that would be a very powerful thing if people starting booing after Palin or any other candidate lies. That would really get the message out there. You are right. A lie is a lie and there is no justification for it.

[GrkAm]

In keeping with the GOP philosophy, say it, say it and say it until people BELIEVE it.

[Heavenhelpusall]

John Bush's campaign wants her to keep lying so she draws media criticism and they can say it is unfair. Doesn't Sarah Cheney remind you of lying, cheating ex?

[Citizen08]

Heartbeat-Sarah is a Mirror of Bush-Cheney

[ShamusNYC]

Even the WSJ said that she's lying about this.

Apparently, there's a point beyond which where even the right-wing media will not support Palin.

Hopefully, the Obama camp will catch on to this - along w/ McCain's lies - and quote all the news reports.

[TamilSelvi]

Your messiah's camp is already in panic about the unchanging poll numbers!! LOL, don't you realize that he is toast?

Thanks to but no thanks to the bridge to nowhere! GO PALIN, GO HILLARY 2012-2020

[missusam]

When she is allowed to talk to the media or debate, the fantasy will be over. The beeyotch in lipstick will run with her tail betwwen her legs and go back hiding.

The clock is ticking, your dream will shortly be turning into a nightmare.

[Bluejay00234]

But you gal cant even talk to the press? LOL you idiots tickle me.

[Piatt]

Maybe she's simply unable to deviate from the speech they've written for her. AP reports that during Palin's twenty months as Governor of Alaska, she requested over $750 million in earmarks..­.the largest per capita request in the country. How does the Queen of Earmarks become the Earmarks Battler in a few short days? The same way that the lobbyist-run McCain campaign becomes the Heroic Dispatcher of Special Interests. They lie.

[DWP]

They are not going to pay any attention to the media or facts. They are just going to say the same old things over and over again. This is a Republican trick -- remember all the swift boat attacks. This bridge too far is something else. She was for it and then against it. But she did not stop it. It was stopped by Congress. She kept the money -- she could have sent that money to Katrina victims or returned it to Congress. But none of this will make any difference -- she has her stump speech memorized and she is like a parrot -- she is going to say it over and over.

[Bluejay00234]

Do we want 4 more years of liars in the WH...yes we do yes we do.

[JustDanish]

Sept 3rd, 2008:
Sarah Palin Acceptance speech September 3rd, 2008: And I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress — I told Congress, “Thanks, but no thanks,” on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we’d build it ourselves.

Anchorage Daily News October 10, 2006:
(Source: http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510378.html)

5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?
Sarah Palin: Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.

From CNN on September 22, 2007: (Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/alaska.bridge.ap/)
Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday the project was $329 million short of full funding.

"We will continue to look for options for Ketchikan to allow better access to the island," the Republican governor said. "The concentration is not going to be on a $400 million bridge."
The governor urged Alaskans not to dwell on the bridge.
.
"Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here," Palin said. "But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened."

[JustDanish]

From the Office of the Governor, Sarah Palin September 21, 2007:
http://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/projectinfo/ser/Gravina/images/092107_palin_gap_release.pdf

“Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer,” said Governor Palin. “Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it’s clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island,” Governor Palin added. “Much of the public’s attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened.” The Department of Transportation has approximately $36 million in federal funds that will become available for other projects with the shutdown of the Gravina Island bridge project.

[JustDanish]

OK, SO I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, COPY/PASTE THESE INFORMATION, EMAIL THEM TO YOUR FRIENDS AND ASK THEM TO EMAIL THEM TO THEIR FRIENDS AND SO ON...LETS EXPOSE McCAIN AND PALIN AS NOTHING BUT A LYING SACK OF...YOU KNOW WHAT

[MJJM]

Chris Matthews did a great job showing the number of times she told lies about the Bridge to nowhere and Gov. PUPPET is not getting the responses that she did before.

They need to make this an AD for TV!!

[wallyman]

Palin changed her mind. First she voted yes for the bridge then she voted no. What is worse; voting the correct way the second time or voting wrong twice as did McCain, Obama, and Biden.

Will Hillary's doll clothes fit Sarah's doll?? Maybe, but we can be assured Hillary can't wear Sarahs!!!

[Actionmac]

Obama live

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog

http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream3