Palin Falsely Claimed She "Would Never Presume To Know God's Will"

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ABC's Charles Gibson on Thursday that "I would never presume to know God's will or speak God's words."

The response came in answer to question about comments Palin made to a group of graduating Wasilla high school students earlier this year, first reported by the Huffington Post. At that ceremony, Palin said: "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she said. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

In her interview with Gibson, Palin sought to compare her words to those of Abraham Lincoln, who famously urged citizens to pray that the country was on God's side, not the other way around.

And it's easy enough to see how Palin's comments on the Iraq war could be viewed through a Lincolnesque lens. But it's simply not true that Palin has "never" presumed to know God's will. In the same speech to graduating high school seniors, Palin explicitly referenced an in-process natural gas pipeline as part of God's will -- in terms much less open to Lincoln-esque interpretation.

"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gasline built. So pray for that," Palin said at the time.

Comments

[Fact Check]

With all due respect Mr. Walls, as a journalist you should know that there is a big difference between the phrase, "I think" and the phrase, "I know". Palin used the former, your column assumes the latter. The only falsehood here is your argument.

[duchessdorleans]

Correction: She was not speaking to a graduating class of high school students. She was speaking to a graduating class from the Master's Commission.

httt://www.mcwasillaalaska.com/

It's creepy.

[Zanti]

Why?

[optech007]

"The prayer that I tell myself every night is a fairly simple one: I ask in the name of Jesus Christ that my sins are forgiven, that my family is protected and THAT I AM AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD'S WILL." - B. Obama

[YouDisgustMe]

the sound of her voice is unbearable...

[Zanti]

Isn't it, though? It causes pain in my ears. Seriously.

[Xenopus]

I am telling you, Sarah and John, all they do is tell Whoppers. Folks, you better get serious here. These two people are pawns for the Bush NeoCon group and they are scary.

[klandish]

A Rovean nightmare of epic proportions.

[shacon]

What puzzles me the most about her god comments is the fact that she is never questioned on which god she is making reference to. Is her god the only god? Do not deities belonging to other religions, have slightly different, or opposing viewpoints, for humanities best interests? Is she among a select few that receives messages from her god to the tune of blaring trumpets and a thunderous voice? If so, more power to her. But please get real. Keep religion out of politics. After all, we are a nation that honors a separation of church and state.

If she insists on her god's plan comments, then it is our duty to question her if she believes in the equality of freedom of religious choice an if she responds affirmative, then ask her why she believes her god is superior to the gods of others.

Thank You for reading this comment

[Zanti]

Nothing in the Constitution prevents anyone, politicians included, from believing their God is the correct (superior, whatever) God. Rather, the document forbids the formation of a state church and any requirement for membership in same when it comes to holding office.

And we have tax laws which (rightfully) deny tax-exempt status to churches that get too political. Beyond that, churches and their members have the same rights as everyone else.

Our founders left it up to the voting public to decide what it wants and what it finds acceptable. If the public digs all the God talk, it's their vote. I agree that using God to win office is tacky and tasteless, but it ain't unconstitutional.

Suppose we had a candidate who receives telepathic guidance from Jupiter. And suppose the public votes for him. Nothing unconstitutional there. Stupid, yes. But not unconstitutional.

Our founders believed in religious freedom. It doesn't follow that they'd exclude religion, or any other tradition or institution, from representation in a representative democracy, or require any individual company, business, sports team, etc. to take into account everyone else's interests when lobbying Congress. Yet, any given church or denomination can't so much as represent itself in print unless it acknowledges every possible faithview? Bull.

This kind of thinking, folks, is why the average person views the left as anti-religion. Once we start labeling certain ideas or behaviors as dangerous and deserving of suppression, we really have to ask ourselves where we're heading.

[optech007]

It's amazing what you can find by doing a little research.

"He also outlined what is being called the Bush Doctrine, a promise that all terrorists organizations with global reach will be found, stopped and defeated." - Charlie Gibson, Sept. 21, 2001

[Guynemer]

What, there isn't a book with the title "THE BUSH DOCTRINE" which outlines pre-emptive war???

The entire far left blogosphere has been doing false victory laps with Palin's supposed "Bush Doctrine" gaff, and now you've gone and spoiled it for them.

[chf2go]

I think that there will be a swing back to Obama as the newness of Sarah Palin wears off and she becomes better known. John McCain has said in essence, he is running a slanderous and full of lies campaign because Obama refused to do town hall meetings with him. So whats he going to do if he doesn't get his way with Congress? With Putin? He'll create some big propaganda crap that we've been fed for the last 8 years.

All I can say is that if the majority of Americans are so ignorant that they believe this crap than we deserve no better. I don't think that is the case. Most of those people are already die hard republicans who have just been energized by the newness of Caribou Barbie. The intellectuals and people who have a desire for real change will bring Obama Biden in with a large majority.

[klandish]

It's near impossible not to feel sarcastic, angry and hopeless when after the Republican convention that ticket gained momentum. What is wrong with this country? Is it the lack of education, sophistication, the selfish amoral rich, the dumbed down religious right, the hopeless fearful racists? I guess it's really all of these things and more. Simply put - without these obvious negatives wouldn't it be a better world?

[ricangirl1805]

I could answer that....The majority of the electorate are stuck on STUPID...they want people in office who will start wars, destroy our middle class, make us dumber if that is possible with poor education. That is what is wrong

[wdw101]

or just hate bo's policies

[wdw101]

nope none of the above......I would vote for almost anyone above bo........I just hate bo's policies......I don't like McCain but he is better than bo........palin at least makes McCain more palatable.......at least she is conservative

so what you liberals don't get is i am voting for McCain but against bo

[magen]

What don't you like about Obama's policies?

[YouDisgustMe]

all of the above

[boing007]

boogiewoman

Americans go to church more then any other country and I think we pray for wealth, wars, death to others, a winning touchdown. That is scary!

You forgot praying for Liberals to burn in Hell.

[wdw101]

do you think that might help?

[Jonny38103]

It might help if some of the Bible thumpers took a little remedial Sunday school training and learned what the love of Jesus really means. And better yet, a ninth grade civics class about what it means to be an American.

[pgtachee]

Palin is the Church Lady!

[saltysea]

but charles couldn't be bothered.

[Whinger]

Anything John can do Sarah can do better and for much longer!

[armadillious2002]

I tried to post this earlier to no avail. In Palin's youtube church speech she mentioned that they believe Alaska will be a refuge for Christians from the lower 48 in the days preceding the "rapture". Now then, she will probably end up being Pres. Do we want her and these radical beliefs with her finger on the red button? What if she and her church decide to hurry things up a bit or maybe help God out a little and go ahead and start WWIII. We can't have this folks - and her radical beliefs are the real danger.

[wdw101]

and bo's beliefs are better?

[Gjam]

ummm, yeah

you think the apocalypse needs to be hurried along?

[Zanti]

Politicians who smile at the thought of the End Times are invariably materialistic folks with broad ambitions. In short, they're not expecting things to end anytime soon. And I don't think they're of a mind to hasten the process.

Not that I believe in End Times, but just saying. Believe me, these people aren't planning their own, or anyone else's, funeral. They're as worldly as they come. While they could care less what happens to you or me, they're in no hurry to depart a world that's been very, very good to them.

[Bettysdad]

Since there is no God guy, what is Palin talking about?

[YouDisgustMe]

LOL you're gonna get people mad