Who Is Sarah Palin?

Until the Republican Convention, very few had ever heard of Sarah Palin... and now this mean-spirited campaigner is asking who is Barack Obama?

I'm asking who is Sarah Palin?

I know that she's a woman who doesn't believe in allowing women the right to choose their own reproductive health decisions even if they are victims of rape... but approves of these victims getting billed by the government for the rape kits used to examine them.

I know she's a beauty pageant runner-up who is a gun totin' extremist in her views on the environment, religion, women's choice and the separation of church and state.

I know she's a woman who along with John McCain would divide this country while pledging that she and the Senator are "mavericks" who know how to reach across the aisle.

I know that as mayor of the small town of Wasilla she increased spending by 63% and left behind a $19 million long-term debt, which was non-existent before she took office.

I know she hired the same good-ol'-boy network of Washington lobbyists she says she will fight if elected, in order to secure millions of dollars of earmarks for Wasilla.

I know that she's been found guilty of abusing her power as governor by pressuring a state official to fire her former brother-in-law and then firing the official when he refused... an investigation that began prior to her selection as vice president.

And I know that the American public has had less than two months to vet Sarah Palin, and during this time the press has had to fight tooth and nail to secure just two network interviews with her... while she still refuses to appear on the tougher Sunday news shows.

On the stump, Sarah Palin and John McCain continue to avoid addressing the critical issues facing our country. Neither of them provides any substantive conversation on what they will do to steer our country on a journey back to prosperity. Palin's sheer ignorance and lack of experience precludes her from speaking thoughtfully about the financial and foreign policy dilemmas we face. And John McCain's voting record forces him to change the subject.

McCain knows his policies have contributed to the unraveling of our financial systems due to excessive deregulation. McCain knows that he supported the war in Iraq since its inception, which has been a tremendous financial and military drain on our country. Both Sarah Palin and John McCain know that if this election continues to be about the housing market, the economy, healthcare, the environment, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- the issues that affect everyday Americans -- they will lose this election. And after eight years of Republican control that has left this country in deep distress... they should lose. So now that we know who Sarah Palin is... do we want her a heartbeat away from the presidency?

Comments

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

Please allow me one giddy fan moment. FIRST BRUCE AND NOW BARBRA!!! Squeeeeee!

I believe Sarah Palin was selected as the VP nominee for one reason: her son Trig. Have you noticed she's mentioning him again? And has been seen with him in her arms on camera? He's the official poster child for the "pro-life is the only issue" base McCain so sorely needed to reach. If only Palin could have shown off a gay child who'd been "cured" by her minister. That would have rounded her skill set out perfectly.

Kim

[Pulemerci]

Did Obama pick Biden for his public speaking skills? Please, candidates choose running mates for political expediency and what they can bring to the ticket. How Obama picked a guy who stated "Obama is not ready to be POTUS. I stand by my statement," is beyond me. How the guy who said Obama is not ready to be POTUS accepted the VP candidacy is beyond me. Talk about standing by your convictions. Or were those some Labour Party official's words Biden spoke. Governor Palin is not liked by Hollywood, the media and the Left. That makes me like her all the more.

[CubanVoice]

Actually, your statement should read...

"Governor Palin is not liked by Hollywood, the media, the left AND the right!" The initial far right excitement toward her has dwindled quite a bit.

[CubanVoice]

Ms. Stagliano - I'm glad you got your giddy fan moment. Ive surpressed mine and am living vicariously through you! (OMG it's Barbra!!!) oops!

[richmond46]

Sarah Palins support comes from three places. The ignorant women who wanted Hillary to win are one source of support. The men who want to screw her are another source of support and the third source are the racists who will not vote for Barack and would rather vote for stupid white people vs a leader.

Great article and so on time.This is my article. Sarah Palin: The Dumbing Down of The American Woman http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1087146/sarah_palin_the_dumbing_down_of_the.html?cat=75

[oncethere]

Obama has spoken over and over again about the circumstances of his childhood, his political philosophy, his plan for change, his hopes and dreams, while Palin, as you note, has not gone on any of the tough news shows and has gone around the country speaking in generalities. We have not heard from Todd Palin, who appears to be a shady character, while Michelle Obama has been on many shows. And yet, the Republicans say, "Who is Obama." It is all so bizarre, this inversion of reality.

[NamelessGenXer]

You are 100% correct about the disaster that is Palin, but one minor disagreement about "McCain knows [stuff]" McCain know nothing except for what his Rovian puppetmasters tell him to know.

[penelope]

great post Barbra, It´s good to have wise people talking truth. The American public is extremely vulnerable to negative spin and false information, and this election is too important to let it go. God willing things will change coming January 2009!
Rock on!!!

[Pulemerci]

This is who she is: The governor of one of our most important energy producing states. A talented working mother and executive that most people (outside of DC, the media and Hollywood) like. She is a breath of fresh air (as opposed to Joe Biden's 4 decades in Washington).

This is who she isn't: She did not attend a church for 20 years listening to a racist, anti-American preacher. She did not work on boards or have dinner at the home of an unrepentant domestic terrorist. She did not work with and associate with a corrupt slum lord. She doesn't have a history of plagerism or bumbling gaffes.

[WilburPig]

What are you smoking or is this sarcasm?

I especially love "no bumbling gaffes". Do you own a television or read the newspapers?

[Pulemerci]

I do own a TV. It seems as though Joe Biden must love the taste of shoe leather. That man is a train wreck when it comes to public speaking. While Governor Palin is new to the national stage (5 weeks) and has clearly fumbled a bit in interviews. That would be expected for a newcomer to this arena. But what's Biden's excuse? He's been doing this for 4 decades. I forgot to mention his interview with Katie Couric when he said FDR got on TV when the market crashed in 1929. Of course she didn't press him on it or correct him. She should have asked what news sources he goes to to get those facts. That was gold.

[Merrybrandybuck]

Barbra, What about building your house just weeks before your first statewide run for office, with the volunteer help of a few "contractor" buddies, who turn out to be the same gang who are building your municipal hockey rink? If it smells like poor, innocent, hunted, dead moosemeat , it is poor innocent hunted dead moosemeat. Come on Alaska....Impeach Palin!

[MsDebate]

That is such a good question, and one the MSM is not asking. Kudos to you and all at Huffingtonpost for getting the real issues out there, when everyone else seems to be on their own agenda. Americans deserve to know the whole truth to make intelligent decisions on election day, and waiting until November 5th is too late.

[longislandlol]

Palin is scary-- if you can reach women in Florida -the east coast and lay all this out-- because they are so impressionable down there

[SMP]

To me, Palin is and has been, nothing more than a "puppet" for McCain and her husband. I, as a strong independent married woman, am astounded at so many women saying they identify with her. Have we not progressed over the years? Is there only a minimal percentage of woman that are truely and profoundly independent? We have uncovered so many negitive aspects about Palin in a very short time, what scares me most is, what we still have to discover.

[OttoMann]

When a complete nobody suddenly arrives on the scene, the burden of proof lies with them to prove they belong on the big stage. Since Sarah has given us such little information to go on, we must assume she's got nothing. She is a fraud until proven otherwise -- and by refusing to do the normal round of interviews that any serious candidate would do, she leaves us no other choice but to reject her out of hand.

[mzwednesday]

Love you babs!
You're the real deal
xxx

[Alethia]

Barbara Streisand, you are an American patriot as an American patriot can be!

You said it kid!

I love you!

From Alethia-a fellow Brooklynite

[LonghornDem]

LOL...Nice observations! This is the exact same thing I've been saying! We don't know about Obama? Can the McCain campaign be serious about this statement?

Since they picked her, their campaign has been in constant contradiction. It's like some kind of personality crisis. They're experienced, but also outsiders. They're going to continue Bush tax cuts and the Iraq War, but offer mavericky change on other things that never really get specified. They're the fresh face, but also the steady hand. They're under ethics investigation, but they're going to reform Washington and bring transparency and accountability. It's been a mess. The campaign can't figure out which message it wants to get out. Worse yet, it seems to be different depending on which person is speaking. It's been disorganized, confused and, ultimately (because of McCain going out and hiring all of Rove's boys), vicious and hateful. It IS funny to hear Palin say we don't know about Obama. I'm just grateful we're not gonna have to spend the next four years learning more about her.

[Academic]

That is a question which the US media only thinks is relevant to a black person - in this case Barack Obama. Since, as far as they are concerned, they already know who Sarah Palin is - white, bigoted and just like them - so the question doesn't arise.

Propfessor Dr. Stanley Collymore.

[GrainOSand]

Sarah Palin is who we think she is. If the Republicans want to crown her then let them. But we, the reasonable, the truly patriotic, should not let her off the hook of our determination that she is not ready to lead.

I will let Dennis Green tell you about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDAq5tyfk9E

[rucognizant]

Huh?????
WHo are th bears?who is Dennis Green? How does this relate to sarah palin?

[GrainOSand]

It was meant as humor. If you replace Bears with Palin and if you were a sports fan, it might be funny. I was trying to answer the posed question with a bit of humor is all, sorry to confuse. Dennis Green was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. After a crushing defeat, he had a now infamous post game press conference where he kept saying, "The Bears are who we thought they were!" What he meant was they were prepared to beat the Bears, the Bears were over-hyped, and if they lost it was only because they did not do what was necessary to win, not because the Bears were a great team.

If Obama loses, it will not be because McCain and Palin are better for they are who we now think they are. It will be because what needed to be done was not done, whether that is thwarting attempts at voter suppression, meeting character assassination head on, or stopping incidences of computer-based ballot box fraud. Listen to the video again and replace Bears with McCain and/or Palin. With all of the negativity occurring, that some in the media want to glaze over (Scarborough) I thought it was a good idea to introduce levity.