Sarah Palin Isn't Not Not Dis-Un-Lying About Banning Books
My grandmother Grace was a librarian in a tiny northern town. (Population 20,000. Average annual snowfall 11 feet.) She was a little old Irish lady. Flinty. You'd have liked her. She'd help you find a book. So, while I know there are lots of other, better reasons to dislike Sarah Palin, bullying the librarian is mine.
You might think that makes me sound like someone with a petty grudge, but I prefer to think of it as rising above politics and putting the family first.
If my grandmother had been a rape victim, I'd probably be more annoyed that Sarah Palin made rape victims pay for their own exams. And wants to make them deliver their rapists' babies.
If my grandmother had been a wolf, I'd probably think Palin's least attractive proclivity was hurting animals for fun.
We may never know exactly what happened between Sarah Palin and Wasilla's librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons. Alaska under Palin has replaced war as the province of uncertainty. But we can certainly agree that the mayor wanted the librarian's head.
We also know that Palin asked Emmons three times about banning books in the library, and Emmons refused and Palin tried to fire her. But does that prove Palin wanted to ban books? "It's an old wives' tale," Palin told Charlie Gibson, in a statement that only resembles a denial from a distance.
Everything gets slick in Alaska, I guess. Even the past. Palin admits that she had at least one discussion with Emmons but, according to FactCheck.Org:
Palin characterized the exchange differently, initially volunteering the episode as an example of discussions with city employees about following her administration's agenda. Palin described her questions to Emmons as "rhetorical," noting that her questions "were asked in the context of professionalism regarding the library policy that is in place in our city."
She wasn't asking Emmons to remove the books. She was sounding out Emmons on her feelings about an agenda. Of removing the books.
This statement, by McCain spokesman Brian Rogers, looks a lot more forceful:
"The fact is that as Mayor, Palin never asked anyone to ban a book and not one book was ever banned, period."
That's true, as far as it goes, but look at it again. Fans of Jesuitical hair-splitting might think the wiggle room here comes from the distinction between asking someone whether you can ask them to do something and asking them to do it. But that's not it.
Ignore "period." Look at the place where he might have said "dependent clause." The important words are:
"The fact is that as Mayor,"
Sarah Palin never asked anyone to ban a book as Mayor. As Mayor -- of a Wal-Mart and a snowmobile trail -- she was only interested in censorship in general.
As the New York Times reported this weekend, she only pushed to ban books by name when she was on the city council.
I hope that clears up everything.
Why was it so important for Brian Rogers to slip in the words "as Mayor" a week ago, before anyone had heard about Sarah Palin's city council campaign to protect Alaska from Daddy's Roommate?
The fact is that when silent, Brian Rogers isn't lying.
Period.
--
Brian Rogers kind of reminds me of something John McCain said during the national pig/lipstick crisis last week:
"Senator Obama chooses his words very carefully, okay? He shouldn't have said it. He shouldn't have said it. He chooses his words very carefully."
He's right. You've got to despise people who act like that.
--
Speaking of choosing words.
As FactCheck.org points out, when Sarah Palin said her questions were "rhetorical," she probably meant they were "hypothetical."
Sometimes you'd almost swear the person John McCain wants breaking ties in the Senate is a numbskull.
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Palin sent a letter to the Librarian asking for her resignation - and it was over the questionable books on the shelf. Anything else put forward by her defenders is just more smoke.
She didn't want books on the shelf that she disagreed with her religious idiology.
Get it straight and stop skirting round the issues !!
Wow, a lot of emotion here; if you don't want your kids reading certain material, then monitor them, just like the TV or the Computer; I remember when libraries had an adult section; what happened to that; as a former librarian, I can tell you that libraries get censored by their patrons; books disappear, their pages are torn out; etc. It's just a fact. A lot of time and money is spent replacing destroyed materials. Sadly this election we have completely slipped away from the seperation of religion and state. Even the Holy Bible asks us to "render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasars and unto God, that which is Gods. How can a true Christian be thinking of mixing these things up. God has given us free will, not asked us to legislate morality. If man has no voice in his choices, then there is nothing honorable in having done the right thing.
Sagewoman
I happen cherish my local library. I was raised that way. Love books, do not burn them, deface them....ev
"Well, I don't care what he reads, as long as he's reading."
Naturally, I didn't understand half of it, but my Dictionary got a good work out.
How unfortunate to have a pitbull wearing lipstick as a running mate to a fossilized Vet. She would just as soon chew up, and spit out a book than read it. Unless, of course, it's written by Barbara Cartland.
Disrespecting books is just as sinful as wearing short skirts and having trashy children, in my way of thinking. But this is Palin's world, and I want to get off....
Well its really no different than the eBay comments about 'putting' the plane on eBay... not mentioning that it wasnt actually sold on it. I suppose the next thing to do is ask the campaign whether or not she tried to ban any book as a member of the city council. The various media out there who have access to ask these questions of the campaign need to be on the ball and look for these kinds of things. Whoever asked the question could have simply said "what about as a city council member?" But to be fair perhaps those asking the question put it in context of when Sarah was mayor, and not more general.
Someone said,
Therefore, the books/materials that are purchased are based on the needs of the community, regardless of the views of the librarian, mayor, grand poobah...e
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Yes that is true, but who selects the books to be in the Library? I have written several books, and in the libraries where they have been shelved, they were checked out so often I had to replace them.
But still some librarians have "censored" my books, by not buying them for the public in her area.
WOW!!!
Even the Library of Congress does not have room for all the books that are printed in this country alone, so who is qualified to censor the books that aren't on your library shelf?
Theoretically, the public expresses a need for certain books/materials and the librarians are supposed to buy the items. If your books are not getting purchased at certain public libraries, it may be that the staff does not feel there is a need or interest in their community.
Also keep in mind the library's budget is often one of of the first to be slashed when cutbacks are implemented so the library has to be sure that it is is spending wisely.
Also, I'm sure there is some censorship by certain librarians (unfortunately). I have not worked at a public library so you may want to talk to one more in depth about this.
Librarian's under pressure by Sarah Palin, at about the same time Bush was giving librarians a hard time. Geee it sounds like she was more in lockstep with the Bush administration than she now professes. The Maverick mantra they are touting rings oh so hollow. The latest wanna Bee's have got to be the biggest liars of all. So much so I had to animate one of my weekly political cartoons and put it up on You Tube, it's called "Liar's Club!" and here's the link;
http://www
it's also up on my site
www.whatno
When Charles Gibson interviewed Palin, she claimed that she was quoting Lincoln and she added,
“I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words."
Politifact correctly noted that Gibson inappropriately left out the "Pray for" line, which resulted in Politifact concluding that her statement quoting Lincoln as "Mostly True," however, he missed a much more relevant part of her speech:
"… that spirit of revelation, including that spirit of prophesy, that God is going to tell you what is going on and what is going to go on…."
"Prophesy," used in her western religious connotation, is a prediction, especially one made by a prophet (supposedly) under divine inspiration as if to know God's will. (If it's not divinely inspired, it is not prophesy.)
She was "praying" that the students would get the same thing from the church that she did. (Watch the whole thing again, you will see this too.) The “gift of prophesy” IS to presume to know God’s will.
Does America really want a book-burning Fascist in the White House?
Apparently it's OK as long as she's pretty and can field dress a moose.
I don't know about others, but I don't find her attractive, considering the smug hostility and pandering that lies below the surface. No amount of lipstick will cover up that ugliness (with apologies to pit bull owners everywhere).
the books she didn't want to see on the library shelf were books about Daddy becoming a gay boy, and loving it up with another man. I wouldn't want my kid to read that either. It's sickening.
That's fine. Don't allow your child to read that book. What we are talking about is an elected official trying to ban books from public access, which is unconstitutional. Can you see the difference?
For example: I would not like my child to be reading a book that says she will go to hell and burn forever if she doesn't follow somebody else's arbitrary rules based on mythology. But I don't want Christian books to be banned publicly. That would be wrong.
But isn't it your job as the parent to make sure that your kid doesn't read anything you find inappropriate instead of Palin or the librarian?
Lucky kid you got there, growing up surrounded by such warmth. By the way, even though I've heard the term "gay boy," I've never heard a straight person use it. Oh, I'm not implying anything, just thought that was interesting.
Apparently you didn't read the book. This book is written for children of gay couples or other family members to help them deal with homophobes or hate-mongers that they'll encounter. It gives them a nice, normal view of a family that looks like them; and helps teach other kids not to hate or prejudge based on differences. The "sickening" activities they engage in in this book are eating, shaving, and sleeping, just like any family. Are these sickening? There are books to help kids deal with death, adoption, handicaps.
Again, I don't believe it was the school library we are talking about. I believe it was the library of Wasilla or whatever it's called.
I love this article. Palin was feeling the Librarian out to see if she would support banning books. When Palin decided the Librarian would not support her on the books she wanted to ban Palin fired her. But, there was so much outcry that Palin reinstated the Librarian. This goes to the fact the she wanted to ban books but wanted to make sure that there was a Librarian that would support Her (Palin's) Views
I think we should just stop trying to dig dirt up on the opponent and stick to putting out there the best ideas for getting our country on the right track in every area. The American people need it and these character assination bunny trails do not further that effort.
BS. For the good of the country, you've got to hit people like Palin so hard they never get up. Ever.
Kind of like those wolves she hunts.
This "dirt" is important. If Palin would do it in Wasilla, she would try it as Vice President. This "dirt" tells a lot about her. What we need to stop is the "he called me a pig" garbage that sounds like kindergartners.
Anyone who would even consider banning books should be kept far away from the highest office in the land. She is a fanatical right wing evangelical with a mission to turn this country into a "christian" nation. I don't want to live in a theocracy, do you?
The truth is of course, that Palin is unqualified for the office that she seeks. Every time someone tells you that she is, they are lying (or misinformed). She is not qualified. Period. That isn't slinging or digging dirt. It's stating fact.
I presume then, given that Obama has never held any position of responsibility as serious as Palin's, that you would agree that he is even more unqualified?!
Semper fi
Why are you reading this thread then? There are many other places where you can read the "best ideas." This discussion is an important one; we can't always be high-minded when we have to get in the trenches to fight this kind of fascism. Too bad we have to, I agree.
It doesn't matter if the president and vp try to change the law or not. Their ideas can excert enough influence on this country to make a difference. In the case of McCain/Palin - a bad difference.
Apparently, Sarah Palin didn't have to censor books from the Wasilla Public Library. Her like-minded zealots did it for her: http://www
"For years, social conservatives had pressed the library director to remove books they considered immoral. 'People would bring books back censored,' recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin’s predecessor. 'Pages would get marked up or torn out.'”
Great points! But let's face it, here at HuffPost we're all pretty much preaching to the choir (and I don't mean preaching about Alaska being a safe haven when the Apocalypse comes or about asking parishioners to pray for a pipeline). We need, I mean NEED, to get these messages out to the general public. That is, the ignorant, misguided, and uniformed. We've got to get people to bury this ridiculous concept of identity politics. I don't want someone like myself to be VP; I want someone smarter and more knowledgeable. WE NEED TO DRIVE THIS MESSAGE HOME!! And we need to convey to people how vehemently the McCain camp is trying to manipulate us with smear and fear and outright lies. So, please, I implore everyone to spread this message to battleground state newspapers and other media outlets. We need to do all we can to win this election. And with 50 days left, I'm starting to get really, really scared.
HuffPost's Pick
Great idea.... Lets get the word out to others. But before we do, make sure we get their attention by calling them names, such as ignorant or misguided. Best way I know of NOT getting their attention.
We can always just keep stating the FACT that Palin is unqualified for the office that she seeks. Just as the Conservatives keep repeating the lie that she is qualified. It isn't an opinion, it's a fact. Palin is not qualified.
What happens at the pitch meeting stays in the pitch meeting. Calling the target audience ignorant and misguided at the meeting isn't disrespectful as much as it is accurate. And in getting out any message, accuracy is at a premium, or would you have the message spread to those who do not want to ban books? Seems kind of unnecessary, don't you think.
SOT
12:10 pm, Central Time
Carly Fiorina on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell regarding Obama/McCain and lobbyists said Obama's campaign "Pot calling the kettle black." I have been waiting for the McCain camp to use this one ever since the lipstick crap!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH! Shall we mock some outrage, folks?
Jennifer
I am outraged by the blatant racism of that remark and demand that Sen. McCain denounce it at once.
I'll bet you think the word "denigrate" is racist as well, don't you?
Semper fi
jhw22
I am black and not outraged over the Pot calling the Kettle black. This is an old saying black people have used for years. In this case Obama would be the Pot and McCain would be the Kettle. We all know McCain is a long way from being black. What was outrageous was Mitchell giving Fiorina 10 minutes of time to spout her lies and distortions, without any representation from the Obama camp. Fiorna was one of the people on the news last week in an huff over the Pig /Lipstick scam. She has no credibility. In addition, the new slant from Palin and McCain going after CEOs who walk away with hugh sums of money.....
I, too, am greatly incensed by Carly Fiorina's racist remark. Thanks, Jennifer, for bringing this to our attention!
Would you give your reference for this as being racist? As far as I'm aware it is a reference to cooking, and made to reveal similarities in thought and behavior.
Semper fi
How was the remark "pot calling the kettle black" racist? If anything, it is a reference to cast iron cookware which is, last I checked, black.
To even consider the concept of removing books from the shelves of a public library is so un-American that it boggles the mind!!! Is this how she would defend the first amendment?
Yup, yup.
A children's story about same sex parents is worth trashing the 1st Amendment over. And if Gov. Palin's threshold is that low, that must make even Cheney a bit uncomfortable.
and so you are all for Playboy, Hustler, et al to be on the shelves for your kids to read? How about some x-rated porn videos. After all, that would be censorship. So what is the difference if someone doesn't want their child to read that it is okay for Daddy to change sexuality and become Mommy? that is okay for you? If everyone in the world became gay, then what would happen to reproduction of the human race? You people are acting like Governor Palin was forcing someone to become a (gasp) moral person.
Human sexuality is not comparable to pornography.
All libraries have books that you would consider unsuitable for your child. As a parent, you get to choose what your child reads. Show other parents the same courtesy.
Your hyperbolic "what if" defies logic. It's like asking "what if" the sun didn't come up in the morning.
As parents, we're telling folks like Palin that WE'LL decide how to raise our children. We're saying that we're entitled to make those choices, not her. We're saying we'll decide what's moral and what isn't. That's our job as parents.
Just how simple minded does one have to be to think, given the opportunity, the world will become gay. I don't know about you, but my sexual preference is not going to change because the opportunity arises.
Are you suggesting that gay people are immoral?
Silly me. Of course you are.
kenx-
I agree that the banning of books from a public library is un-american, especially if the decision to do so is left up to an individual or small group of people.
As a school kid in the late '40s I enjoyed the 'Tales of Uncle Remus" and the short story of 'Little Black Sambo". But, years later, while in the military, Iwas stationed in a part of the US where Racism and the Civil Rights issue was on the mind of the entire country. There seemed to be a consensus that these and some other books promoted Racism and should be removed from school and public libraries.
In this case I don't think the citizens have been deprived of important writings. -Anyone can still purchase these books, so they have not been 'Banned' entirely.
I also think it is going a little bit far, however to ban the 'Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn' solely because of the mention of the 'N' word, which is an ugly word, I admit.
Lastly, I think it to be un-american for anyone to listen in to my phone calls without a warrant, but that seems to be OK with a lot of people.
Removing books from a public library may be an unamerican concept, but its is very Republican.
Yeah, those Big Brother Republicans. Always wanting to police everything up. Scary!
Usually, when books get removed from a library, it is public outcry, rather than government, which gets such books removed.
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