Olbermann: Sarah Palin Is A Socialist

In a Special Campaign Comment, Keith Olbermann cites yet another example of the McCain campaign accusing Barack Obama of something of which they themselves are guilty. In this case, Sarah Palin is accusing Barack Obama of advocating socialism when she literally used that word to describe the collective wealth sharing in her home state of Alaska.

Watch:

Comments

[123dee]

I thought Keith comment was just fine, and very necessary. We are warn out and frustrated
listening to McCain and Palin make absured remarks, and the use of false labels.
We listened for weeks as Palin called Obama an elitist, and when she was finally questioned
by Brokaw what was an elitist? She guessed and gave an incorrect answer.To quote, "Joe the Plumber", Obama's answer, sounds like socialism, was an absolutely ridiculous way for her
to interject socialism, into the campaign.

Keith was right on, some of her decision and policy in governing can be interpreted as socialistic.
I believe Keith calling her out, will put a stop or at least reduce mud slinging false accusations
and out right lying in campaigning.

The media is the only protection / safeguard the American people have against deceitful
and or incompetent politicians. I trust Keith and the entire MSNBC team.

By the way Joe the unlicensed plumber was interviewed by Hannity, he is a 2nd generation welfare recipient.

[p marie]

"...he is a 2nd generation welfare recipient"

Ha! that's rich! LMAO

McCain and Palin are such dolts

[bryansmith]

lol, I love KO!

[chuckgintn]

Sarah Palin does not know what a socialist is or what socialism is. She is spouting words that are political killers in our culture. If she says them enough times, she hopes someone who might vote for Obama will change his/her mind and vote for McCain.

If she knew what socialism WAS, she would NOT have tried that tactic as she comes from a State that sponsers a (limited) form of socialism. Yet again, talking points do not a campaign make!

[sociocanuck]

Hypocrisy from the Republican Party is nothing new.

[vschicago]

The "Worst's Persons" segment from this show had the best quote ever: "Sorry, I don't speak psycho!"

You go, Keith O :-)

[darrick72]

Why isn't this plastered everywhere? This is a huge story!

[cheeriogirl]

Because it would show the hypocrisy of Palin, McCain and the Republican party, this story will be buried, to keep the vote "close".

If this was about Obama, you know it would be front page headlines for days, since our press is brought to you and paid for by The Republican National Convention.

I hope Keith takes on the hypocrisy of the free press next.

[TallGrrl]

Here's a thought:
Take Palin's quote about "spreading the wealth" and post it EVERYWHERE.
Get yourself an account at the Freeper Psych Ward and post it there.
Send it to the MSM outlets and ask them if Obama's a socialist, then is Palin one as well?
Send Palin's quote to the McCain Campaign. (Go to the Contact Us box on their website and send it to them under the Donations heading. They'll have to read it then!)
SEND PALIN'S QUOTE EVERYWHERE. Making sure that you put that it's a quote by her.
And if you're at work and surrounded by McSame/Failin' supporters, print out her quote and HIGHLIGHT the part where she says "spreading the wealth".
Post it near your desk where they can't help but read it.

I love guerilla campaigning.
; )

[Lotus19]

Keith is hilarious! "King who is still let out of the house each day without adult supervision".
"Governor Palin...over there".
"It's collectivist, sharing the wealth, socialist, communism...I'd say".

Wow...PALIN: "Alaska is described as America's socialist state because of it's collective ownership of resources" She's a fraud alright.

And why isn't this story the HEADLINER? Maybe because everyone already knows she's a fraud? Just asking.

[jazzycafe]

You're right, this should be on every news program. Palin's such a fraud - Keith gets it exactly right, of course. Hypocrite is too soft of a word. How dare she hurl names at Obama and tell her adoring crowds how dangerous he is. She is telling lies and there is a small percentage of people out there who are eager to hear those lies. So, for a few more days, she'll continue to feed her "fans" this garbage. After the election, Governor, you should go back to Alaska, take care of your children, and try to get right with God. You've been sinning big time.

[kellygrrrl]

Thank You, Keith Olbermann! You are a REAL American!

[Kay72403]

Keith keeps America safe and sane.

[fraserseth]

Keith is right on, but he should really stop laughing at his own jokes midway through making them. He just comes off as snide and smarmy.

[jpsd]

Cornell needs to take back his diploma. Profit sharing is much different than wealth sharing. Profit sharing is the basis of Capitalism. If you are a shareholder your sharing increases as profit s improve, either by increased share price or dividend. The citizens of Alaska are by law shareholders in their oil reserves. Wealth sharing is when you take one citizens personal money through taxes and distribute it to others through Govt payments. Go back to school KeithO!

[alteregoess]

There are many definitions of and facets of "socialism," and the term is being bandied about by the candidates to suit their own scare tactic needs, but government ownership of means of production and resources is one of them, and in this sense, what Alaska does IS socialism. My relatives who live there even get annual checks for their two small children, and none of them have never purchased any shares in any Alaskan extractive industry. The payments are not at all like shareholder dividends. You must buy stock to receive those.

[jpsd]

The Federal Govt leases huge amounts of Federal to private companies. The money collected goes into the treasury and is spent on public services. Alaska does the same thing except is give the excess money to its's citizens. As a citizens of Alaska you most definitely are a shareholder in the state you buy shares by paying your state and local taxes.

[Earl]

There is no such thing as a citizen of Alaska. There are residents of Alaska, but citizens of the US. Who do you think is paying the Alaskans $1200 apiece? Do you consume Alaskan resources? Why should the American citizens of the lower 48 have to pay more for American resources so that other Americans can get a freebie? That is redistribution of wealth, my friend. As to shareholders, they invest and take a risk in exchange for the possibility of profit. The residents of Alaska have not invested in the American resources that are in their states.

[Earl]

In case you don't get it, Americans in 49 states pay a little more for gas because of a tax in Alaska, and then Alaskans get a cash payout. So if you live outside of Alaska, your money is going into some Alaskan's pocket for nothing. That Alaskan has neither worked nor taken a risk to get that money. It is pure redistribution from one American citizen to another.

[jpsd]

Educate yourself before you put your foot in your mouth!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_citizenship

[OnceYouGoBarack]

What Alaska has setup is actually very close to real socialism. It's the owning of resources and means of production by the government. Palin is just confused because she, like a lot of her supporters, doesn't know what socialism is. They just know that it's a buzzword they can throw around.

[jpsd]

We all own a part of our state and federal resources, that is the definition of a country. You pay taxes to own and protect these resources.

[Earl]

Like "fascist," as in "Islamofascist." Mussolini himself described fascism as the marriage of government and business, making it sound kind of like a prophecy describing the Bush administration's relationship with Halliburton/Blackwater/Titan/SAIC/Booz, etc. If Bush wants to see a fascist, by Mussolini's own definition of the word, all he has to do is look in the mirror. Or better yet, at Cheney.

[AngryAmish]

"Wealth sharing is when you take one citizens personal money through taxes and distribute it to others through Govt payments."

Oh, kinda like the 600 billion dollars that Republican trickle-down economic policies have taken from working- and middle-class citizens and distributed to the super rich?

[Earl]

I'd say you been beat on this one, jpsd. Go get drunk on your $1200 and hope Obama the socialist wins so you can keep getting your "Alaskan Citizen" payout compliments of the lower 48.

[jpsd]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_citizenship

[Vanessao]

I am confused as to why Republicans feel it is socialism to redistribute the wealth in America, however it is not socialism for the government to decide whom a person can marry or what a woman can do with her body? You can't have it both ways!

[BillyT]

And $700 billion taken from tax payers without consent to give to Wall Street tycoons so they can meet their bonus projections....that's not redistribution of wealth??

[Kay72403]

It is welfare for the wealthy. Listening carefully to McCain leaves little doubt about his protectionist position of the wealthy and big corps.

[foxfan]

Just curious. Why does a woman use the argument that she has the right to make decisions abut her own body when it comes to justifying abortion, but she never argues that she has the right to practice safe sex or abstinence and not get pregnant?

[p marie]

That was brilliant!

I've been wondering why so many of her supporters don't make this connection when they hear her speak. As soon as I heard her call Obama a socialist I thought it was the pot calling the kettle black. She had bragged about her wealth redistribution cheques to all Alaskans from day one and the collective ownership of Alaskan resources. Do these right wing republicans not read?

The media MUST call these things out. It's a disgrace to hear her try to disparage Obama using such loaded words and descriptors and no headlines the next day screaming 'FRAUD'. Where's Campbell Brown when you need her?

Thank you Keith!

[JustCommonSense]

So, Keith likes one socialist and not the other. What's the point?

[chrissstopher]

the difference is that one specifically is a socialist and the other is falsely accused of socialism. making up a lie about someone when you are in fact actually guilty of it is the point.

[1drumbum]

It sounds like the point went right over your head.

[Lotus19]

The point is....the one doing the accusing is the one who actually IS the socialist.

[DCX2]

Have you ever heard of the phrase "that's like the pot calling the kettle black"?

There's a certain irony in using the term "socialist" as a pejorative when you yourself engage in socialism.

[willypowwow]

Why, the hypocrisy, of course.

[VivaMariaElena]

Great job Keith,you are the man (after Obama and Biden).

[photog3000]

The Palin wink is equivalent to the Bush smirk.

[gorgonzola2]

she also wink when sit on c i n d y fa ce