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

[GOP4MoreTears]

Palin is going to *REFORM* our government... yeah, by relieving us of our Constitutional protections.

[jasondarby]

You all are just talking to yourselves. Do you realize that? You think because most of the comments are like yours that America thinks the way you do. You are far-left; a very small segment of our society. I personally tune in here to try to get a read on the far-left, to see if you all are making any sense yet. But so far, overall, I get a read that is anti-God, anti-tradition, anti-American.

[fredamae]

"Traditionalism" is not a good argument as to the reasons Why the right wingers believe mac/palin "ticket" is the right choice.

The left is NOT Anti-God....I personally believe in the right to worship however, whenever as long as it is NOT interspersed and used as a foundation in Administering policy to ALL Americans.
I am Christian, btw.

Anti American? To stand on freedoms of choice and religion is "Anti-American"? I cannot think of Anything MORE American than exercising Freedom.

Which is it, again...Exercising freedom is Anti-American...right? I get lost when you all try to have it both ways.

[cretinlung]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,"

It sounds like the First Amendment is Anti-God, doesn't it?

Then again, the Constitution and Bill of Rights were anti-tradition.

Does that make them anti-American?

[Zanti]

At the time, having a national (established) church meant that everyone was required to pay a church tax whether they attended the national church or not. Our founders decided that was unconstitutional. So, no, not anti-American. More like anti-unfair-tax.

[Sparty1]

Who gave the Repubs the God mantra? Who says a person who's LIBERAL can't believe in God, loves tradition and America? That is BS and you know it. I'm not so far-left, I believe that a person should be able to have a gun if they want. I'm for school vouchers even though I'm in one of the best school districts in Dallas. I'm for capital punishment, but I would cut my hand off before I voted for this pair of yahoos!

[WoodyIV]

The problem with the far right is, they have no idea what America truly stands for. The far right spits on the constitution every chance they get.

[runnerin1]

i am a christian and a Democrat, and I take offense to your comments. The difference with liberals is we realize this is a country 'for all'. We care about all the people of this country, and know thats how our forefathers meant for it to be. Now, you conservatives have for decades been trying to change our countries image into one of everybody's on their own, expect no assistance from your own goverment, even in the case of natural disasters. You conservatives want to keep raping the country of all it's tax dollars, by eliminating the need for you to pay your fair share, to a country that allows you to prosper, like no other country would. Then, you have the other group of conservatives, your blue colar white workers, who simply think being republican is being anti-minority. Even though, they are poor and barely getting by, they continue to vote for the bush's simply because they know who bush does not represent, non-whites. We are the only county who has a large percentage of the population, that continues to vote against it's own self interest.

[zenlikejen]

Of course we are all just 'talking to ourselves' - this is a *message board*. We comment on the blogs/stories, we rant about how we feel - we practice our 1st amendment rights! Sounds pretty American to me....as for "anti-tradition" - traditions morph and change over time in all segments of society....and *some* "traditions" need to be dropped.

I *would* like to know how you feel that this "far-left, very small segment of society" somehow shows themselves to be "anti-God". Is it wrong to ask that while we give you the freedom to believe as you see fit and follow whatever religion suites you, you not take every waking moment to shove your belief down our throats?

I must have missed the memo showing how the right now owns God......

[MikeKilo]

Gov. Palin continues to be attacked on the ground that she intermixes religion and politics. Solely because of a few comments--made to religious audiences in religious settings--to the effect that she prays God's will is being done.

Yet B. Hussein Obama, whose neo-Marxist "black liberation theology" is profoundly political in all respects, and far outside of anything that could be called "mainstream" in America, is presented as being no more religious than, say, George Carlin?

Comrades, you're either duping yourselves on this point, or you're just being duplicitous. If you're going to attack Gov. Palin on religious grounds, you're going to have to defend Obama on the same grounds.

[Sparty1]

So speaking at a high school graduation is now considered a religious setting? Also, what do you have to say about Gov. Palin's pentecostal preacher's sermons? Nothing, I'm sure. She can do no wrong. I forgot.

[MikeKilo]

(Also, what do you have to say about Gov. Palin's pentecostal preacher's sermons?)

What do you have to say about Jeremiah Wright's sermons? About "black liberation theology" as embraced by the Rev. Wright and by Obama as a member of Wright's congregation?

My point is that if you want to attack Gov. Palin based upon her religious perspective, which is actually far closer to the mainstream than Obama's, you've got to defend Obama at the same time against the same sort of attack.

[zenlikejen]

You're right, although I don't necessarily agree with your take on Obama's religious stand. I would prefer that we stick with the real issues. I don't care what either feels when it comes to religion unless they start insisting I believe exactly as they do.

I suppose you are comfortable defending Failin on her actual body of "work"?

[MikeKilo]

Yes, I'm comfortable defending Gov. Palin's resume. It's certainly coming under far heavier scrutiny than Obama's or Biden's.

Do men always get a pass?

In any event, my position is that if Obama is qualified to be President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, then certainly Gov. Palin is as well.

[gadfly55]

Palin was born a Catholic and is now a pentacostal, with tongue speaking in her congregation and a clear statement of her seeking to do God's will. Obama recognises the value of Christian belief as it is understood generally throughout history, a religion of compassion, care, self-sacrifice for the betterment of the community, including non-Christians, forgiveness for those who have sinned, hope for eternal salvation, faith in the divine nature of Jesus Christ as saviour who leads us to the Kingdom of Heaven, not in this world. There is no comparison with hysterical self-deluded belief in God telling you right and wrong, especially in a situation where nuclear destruction can destroy countries in an apocalyptic flash. This is the problem, not whether or not a potential President believes in Christian values, which of course is obviously required in the USA. Whatever about a man with an African father, the day when a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or agnostic can become Commander in Chief is beyond imagining whereas in Europe, Asia, South America or Africa, religious belief and practice are inconsequential.

[KateinAZ]

Gov. Palin seems to confuse being arrogant with being smart and informed. I do believe that this woman is a throw-back to the 1950's. McCarthy anyone?

[LemonMeringue]

We already have a scary president who thinks every voice inside his own head came from God.

[GSMRaleigh]

Where do you think she pulled that Lincoln line from? Her coaches knew questions about her churh video would come up, and they fed it to her to use. It's not like anything she said last night were original thoughts of her own.

[SunshineDaydream]

i get the impression she is not a very friendly person. she seemed to be snarling and giving charlie (or us?) the stink eye through most of the interview. the way she leaned in to him and did that semi-point thing with her hand. idk, i found her to be an extremely nasty woman.

[LemonMeringue]

I find her absolutely chilling. There is no love in those eyes. Not even when she is talking about her children. Not even when she is holding the baby.

She doesn't strap Trig into a car seat. She threw Bristol out of the house on learning she was pregnant. She forced Track to join the military because he is an out of control kid in trouble with the law.

Alaskans know of adultery, it's an open secret.

What does that tell you about Sarah Palin's capacity to love?

[sirgorpster]

You can tell how the GOP mind works. THey figured someone would ask aobut the video but did not prepare her for real issue of the Bush Dontrine - she had no clue.

So we know she is clueless and GOPs don't think issue matter.

[Jamchinadian]

The worst part is Gibson never called her on it. Neither did he bring up scandalous lies like the one she had been spreading on the campaign trail about being opposed to the "bridge to nowhere".

He never called her out although there's is video proof that she initially championed the cause and only dropped it when it became a political liability to continue championing it. He had her "Bosnia Sniper Fire" moment and he let her totally off the hook.

He also never called her out on her "no thanks" claim which is another lie - she took the money anyway!

[LemonMeringue]

So many Palin lies, so little time!

Gibson could have filled all three interviews with challenges to Palin's lies.

But he would have been accused of sexism.

[Sparty1]

He's a Republicanista. He was totally trying to give her a chance to answer the Bush Doctrine question. What happened to our journalists?

[gadfly55]

Hysterical religious belief projected into political ideology is responsible for the most destruction of any human behavior. When person's refer to acting out God's will, they are displacing personal responsibility from consequences of their actions. Both Tony Blair and George Bush acted out of this belief in justifying to themselves the invasion of Iraq, and they are sufficiently educated to understand their advisors and comprehend the briefings presented to them. This woman is not, clearly, and if she is considered a capable representative of the hockey mums who can lead this country from the oval office without any need other than establishing good communication with God in order to make decisions, the consequences for America, world peace, etc. are devastating, because no one, not even any Pope has ever been able to demonstrate effective communication with God. Of course, out of respect to Islam, there is one person who is considered by them, and even he was not directly in communication with Allah, who of course is too great.

[MikeKilo]

>>Hysterical religious belief projected into political ideology is responsible for the most destruction of any human behavior.

[observer007]

One who doesn't know and the other who can't remember. Heckuva team.

[Grannysue]

I don't recall Lincoln ever saying God wants a pipeline, or God wants the civil war or God wants slavery? In this womans mind whatever she and her right wing zealots want is God's will, everything else must be the work of the devil. Oh good just what this country needs another toad who thinks God speaks to her.

[pollyrobin]

But Lincoln did say this:
"Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose - and you allow him to make war a pleasure."

That is why if you do not know what the Bush Doctrine is or if you believe in it, you
put America in a very dangerous place. She is a danger to America. No one in their
right mind can vote for this McCain/Palin ticket. Period.

[fistbump]

Can we stop talking about Palin now?

Yes, I know she was terrible yesterday, but obsessing about it is not going to win us new votes. The left saw her as laughable, the right thought she did fine, and the middle doesn't really care. We need that middle. We need to address their needs then get them to the polls to vote for our guy.

Our obsessing about Palin is not helpful. It makes the right just fight harder to protect her, but we need to be attacking McCain right now. He's the top of the ticket. He's the one we can take down.

ECONOMY, ECONOMY, ECONOMY. Speak to the needs of people in the middle.

Then each of us need to contribute to the ground game and sign up those people to vote for Obama.

[MilesTone]

How can we stop talking about Palin, a woman who very well could be POTUS should McCain get elected and kick the bucket? Her policies or lack thereof, are frightening. Her lack of knowledge of foreign policy, the economy and the issues affecting us globally cannot be simply overlooked. People are not obessing simiply for the sake of obsessing, but for good cause.

[gadfly55]

She has to be taken down, and the blind ignorance she represents. This entire campaign for change is a battle to energise, to motivate, to engage people in participating in the political process. This woman is dangerous, and McCain is incompetent to have chosen her. This is the issue because she has inspired the values voters to wake up and start fighting the left who have had it all their way. This is a battle and now is the time to challenge these people to get real.

[pollyrobin]

I totally agree. Palin who? But, do not think the "middle" is thinking just about the economy. They want their leaders knowledgeable in foreign affairs and their
view points on war. We are in the economy of today, because of the Bush
Doctrine of yesterday.

I think running an ad with her own words just rolling down a blank screen
would speak volumes about what this ticket is about. She is dangerous.
McCain lacks judgement. America can not vote for this.

[makatak]

You are spot on! Absolutely right! We cannot afford this pitiful, painful DISTRACTION! McCain is displaying the extreme position of being out of touch right now. He said as much last night. He said that during his time in the senate he has been "divorced" from the real world, the day-to-day that most Americans experience without end. He said he doesn't know much about economic policy ... our economy in his view has "experienced great progress."

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN ... NO MORE DISTRATION!!!!

[IslandGyal]

PLEASE FORWARD:

Have you seen this?

Sarah Palin’s Brutal Attack on Wolves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQobIUE1zTU&eurl=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/

Sarah Palin’s Tax Issue
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/09/sarah-palins-ta.html

Planned Parenthood Rebuttal to McCain’s Lies About Barack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0kiLoMY1hg

[gadfly55]

We bankrupted the Russian communists and transferred capital and factories to the Chinese communists and brought shock and awe to the Islamic nations, and demonised Muslims, and sustained the Yahweh Hebrews with billions and military hardware, and supported the mujahadin in Afghanistan who we are now fighting, and supported the Shah of Iran and are ready to attack or tolerate an Israeli attack on Iran, and this woman talks of the will of God. Exactly wahloo, squat, nada, zilch, below zero does she know, is she capable of knowing, nor is she at all interested in considering regarding the complexity of a planet with 6 billion and rising to 9 billion within her lifetime, but hey, a lot of empty ground up there in sub Arctic wasteland.

[Gjam]

amen brotha!

[wrightthewrong]

But remember, she is prepared for National Security issues because of her ability in Energy... Where have we heard THAT before in regard to a vice presidential nominee????

[GSMRaleigh]

Well, either she lied to Charlie Gibson or she's lying about her religious convictions. Either way, she's another Republican thug liar.

[Vote For America]

Obama 298, McCain 240
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

A Referendum on Who?
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