The Democratic Dossier on Palin: 62 Pages of 'Oppo Research' Revealed

The McCain team may not have vetted Sarah Palin with boots on the ground in Alaska, but the Democrats sure did -- two years ago when she ran for governor. The oppo-research, compiled in a 62-page document with countless summaries or direct quotes, largely from local newspapers, covers all of the important issues you would expect to see, from her views on abortion and abstinence to tangled oil pipeline questions. But it also gets into some quirky, if revealing, areas as well, such as Palin founding a company called "Rouge Cru" -- what she called a "classy" way to say redneck -- in case her political career didn't work out a few years ago.

Politico.com obtained a copy and printed merely a handful of the hundreds of findings today. These included serious matters such as her use of the mayor's office in political campaigns. But it also posted a PDF of the entire document which, I'd wager, few have examined. I have completed that task and present here some of the more outrageous, or surprising, revelations. They are posted here under their heading in the document. Note: The Frontiersman is the local paper in Wasilla.

DEATH PENALTY

Palin Said "Hang 'Em Up" When Asked About the Death Penalty. Asked about the death penalty, in extreme cases such as the murder of a child, Palin said, "My goodness, hang 'em up, yeah." [Anchorage Daily News , 8/18/06]

RELIGION

Palin wrote a Letter to the Editor saying only, "San Francisco judges forbidding our Pledge of Allegiance? They will take the phrase 'under God' away from me when my cold, dead lips can no longer utter those words. God bless America." [Juneau Empire, 6/30/02]

WALMART

Palin Presided Over a Wedding at a Walmart. He worked in the pets department. She was a cashier. A romance blossomed. And when it came time to say ''I do,'' they chose -- where else? -- an aisle next to menswear. Sandwiched between racks of cotton pants and surrounded by ''Back-to-School Specials'' signs, Jake McCowan and Rosalyn Ryan exchanged vows last week at the place where they met, work and fell in love: the Wasilla Wal-Mart. A crowd of 200, including passengers from a tour bus and several dozen curious shoppers, watched the two employees tie the knot in an afternoon ceremony officiated by Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin. ''It was so sweet,'' said Palin, who fought back tears during the nuptials. "It was so Wasilla." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 8/28/99]

Palin Delivered "Non-Answers" On Expanding Health Care Coverage and Walmart. "Asked about expanding health care coverage and about Wal-Mart's corporate conduct, she delivered non-answers with a disarming smile." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 1/30/06]

LEGAL

In 1993, Sarah Palin used a drift gillnet to harvest salmon from the Bristol Bay area without an annual permit. Palin plead guilty to the Criminal Negligence charge. Palin also had a case dismissed where she was charged with fishing without a photo ID. The case was filed 6/28/93 and was disposed 8/25/1993. The jurisdiction was the Third Judicial District-Dillingham. [Alaska Criminal History Records, Case # 3DI-93-00249CR0001; Alaska Criminal History Records, Case # 3DI-93-00217CR0001]

GAYS

Palin Opposed Expanding Hate Crimes Laws. Asked if she would support an effort to expand hatecrime laws, Palin responded, "No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate." [Eagle Forum questionnaire]

Palin Said She Supported Ban on Gay Marriage and Denying Benefits to Gay Couples. "Palin said she's not out to judge anyone and has good friends who are gay, but that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment [to ban gay marriage].....She said she doesn't know if people choose to be gay." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 8/6/06]

USED PUBLIC FUNDS FOR POLITICAL GAIN

In her 2002 Lt. Governor bid, Mayor Palin used city employees, telephones, computers, fax machines for campaign fundraising and literature. On her candidate registration form, she used her City Hall fax number, and her mayoral e-mail address. Records show that Wasilla city property was used to contact supporters, donors, media contacts, and media purchasing. [Anchorage Daily News, 7/21/06]

GENDER CARD

Stambaugh Sued for Gender Discrimination After Palin Said She Was Intimidated by His Size. After Palin fired Irl Stambaugh, the police chief, he sued the city in part based on gender discrimination. The [Wasilla] Frontiersman wrote, "The gender discrimination issues stem from statements Palin allegedly made to others that she was intimidated by Stambaugh's size. He stands over 6-feet tall and weighs more than 200 pounds, which, the lawsuit said, is attributed to his gender." [Frontiersman, 2/26/97]

Palin Went to See Ivana Trump at Costco, Saying Alaska was So Desperate for "Any Semblance of Glamour and Culture". "Sarah Palin, a commercial fisherman from Wasilla, told her husband on Tuesday she was driving to Anchorage to shop at Costco. Instead, she headed straight for Ivana. And there, at J.C. Penney's cosmetic department, was Ivana, the former Mrs. Donald Trump, sitting at a table next to a photograph of herself. She wore a light-colored pantsuit and pink fingernail polish. Her blonde hair was coiffed in a bouffant French twist. 'We want to see Ivana,' said Palin, who admittedly smells like salmon for a large part of the summer, 'because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture.'" [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 4/3/96]

Palin Explained that She Couldn't Run for Senate Because Then She Couldn't Be the "Team Mom." "A hockey mom and a former standout athlete herself, Palin said she understood her son's concerns. 'How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?' she said." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 4/24/04]

LYING

Palin Exaggerated Work Experience for Mayoral Campaign. In 1997, Frontiersman columnist Paul Stuart wrote that after Palin had criticized her opponent for using City Hall resources for political gain, "when Palin was asked back then (by me) why the lodge where she claimed, in her campaign, to have gained her management experience, had no record of a borough business license or of paying any bed tax, she paused and said it might have been because the place had no clients for a year or so." In an article describing the possibility of recalling Palin, the Frontiersman wrote the "reasons include Palin's alleged falsification of her credentials during the campaign last fall." [Frontiersman, 1/22/97, 2/5/97]

Frontiersman Editorial Said Palin Made Statements That Were "Patently Untrue," Said She Had Shown "Unrepentant Backpedaling and Incessant Whining." A Frontiersman editorial wrote, "Wasilla residents have been subjected to attempts to unlawfully appoint council members, statements that have been shown to be patently untrue, unrepentant backpedaling, and incessant whining that her only enemies are the press and a few disgruntled supporters of former Mayor John Stein." [Frontiersman editorial, 2/7/97]

Frontiersman Editorial: Palin Doesn't Grasp the Truth. A Frontiersman editorial wrote, "Mayor Palin fails to have a firm grasp of something very simple: the truth." [Frontiersman editorial, 2/7/97]

PERSONAL

Palin's Brother-In-Law Appeared on Reality Dating Show. Lt. Gov. candidate Sarah Palin thought it might help her campaign when brother-in-law Jack McCann showed up as a desirable catch on the new "reality" TV show, "Looking for Love: Bachelorettes in Alaska." That hope lasted until she actually saw an episode of the series, which turns out to be your basic meat market twitch & grin. "Oh Lord," she said. "My sisters and I watched it in horror." Jack, who is scheduled to appear again even though he crashed a mountain bike in the first episode, is pretty cute and has a sense of humor, Sarah reports. "He described his occupation . . . as an office environment consultant," she said.
"He sells furniture." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 6/9/02]

Palin told The Associated Press that she and her husband, Todd, made a bet on whether Murkowski would run. If the governor says he'll enter the race, Palin has to get the Big Dipper tattooed on her ankle. If Murkowski says no, Todd gets a wedding ring inked on his finger.
[Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 5/26/06]
*
Greg Mitchell's latest book, on Iraq and the media, is "So Wrong for So Long."

Comments

[DickTater]

It is true that Republicans turn everything to their advantage. Know why? Corporate Media. There is no difference anymore between republicans and corporations. They are the same beast.

It's no miracle since the republicans own the media. They can take any fact and polish it. They control the lighting, and the lens and where it is pointed. They don't light stuff they don't want you to see, and they never point the lens at it if at all possible. They have 24/7 to reverse your opinion on what you THINK you saw. Did B H O have 75000 people on the edge of their seats, on the cusp of changing Americas direction and reversing our slide? You might have thought so for an hour or two - if you managed to walk away from the TV. If not, they started in right away changing your mind and casting doubt and emboldening our opponents.

The media helps the Repubs lower the bar, but only for the Repubs. We don't need excellence, we need Regular Folk. Of course, the media helps to say B H O isn't excellent enough in the same breath that they say Palin is a fresh breath of air, appealing to the Normal Folk. But B H O isn't Normal Folk, he either sucks or is TOO popular and high falutin and elitist.

We aren't going to win a media war with the Media Party.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Great post. A few random thoughts on the Palin Oppo - The Mall-Wart Marriage: "It was so Wasilla." - 'nuff said.

"Asked about expanding health care coverage and about Wal-Mart's corporate conduct, she delivered non-answers with a disarming smile." - Puts me in mind of http://youtube.com/watch?v=7mNDHTfdn1A

Ivana Trump at J.C. Penny's is glamor & CULTURE? - Vice President of the United States of America, ELLIE MAE Palin. Give her a big hand.

'How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?' - Better yet, how are you going to raise an infant with Down's Syndrome, plan your teen-age daughter's shotgun wedding and deal with charges of Abuse of Power while on the campaign trail?

"Wasilla residents have been subjected to attempts to unlawfully appoint council members, statements that have been shown to be patently untrue, unrepentant backpedaling, and incessant whining that her only enemies are the press and a few disgruntled supporters of former (opponent)." - Okay, now we're getting to her Repub CVs.

"He described his occupation . . . as an office environment consultant," she said.
"He sells furniture." - Lace Curtain RedNecks.

And lastly, not to pick nits or anything, but doesn't the Bible forbid piercing and tattooing and describe it as an abomination?

[NavyMom44]

What I see is she is smart in "Alaska" politics, not national politics which is completely different. We've had enough of lies from this current administration but instead of listening or being upset separately Americans are organizing ensuring our concerns are heard.

Sure she can try that whining, say whatever to fit the current question but she will quickly realize that the MSM may let her off with her lies the bloggers will scream loud and long to shine a spotlight.

So rest easy, have confidence in our ability to push back and have our voices heard not only by Obama but MSM, eventually anyway.

[usafirst777]

This Dossier is wonderful! It relates real experiences about real people. She is human. She is not perfect. Her record is one of service and reform. No VP candidate comes into that office with VP experience. Many leave with the experience. She is a Governor. She has some great experience in leadership.
The choice for President is a very important matter. In a time where the world has leaders with uncertain intentions. We need someone like John McCain and SARAH PALIN to bring this country into reform. We need a President who will reach accross the isle to all parties. John McCain Has the record to reach accross the isle. We need fiscal accountability, a strong national defense, and both democrats and republicans to reach accross the isle to make the difficult changes regardless of the political fallout. We need this country to go forward.

[ShamusNYC]

If Palin started in any city of size she would have NEVER gotten to this level.

I see absolutely nothing exceptional about her.

[dve2z]

last few months I read a few books on economics, detailing evolution of international monetary system and the current dollar crisis. Then I discovered my views were similar to Ron Paul's views. Realistically though he is ahead of time, and the best bet is with Democrats. At least they provide some efficiency and are progress-oriented and I happen to think Obama is open-minded and can maneuver in dire circumstances. Because with Republicans is just same old spin and incompetence.

But. The twice-Bush phenomenon and strong support for McCain/Palin now shows how prevalent is the religious/values/status quo movement. This is no surprise given that American public is sensing a loss in world leadership, and the national pride is bruised. This is similar to post WWI Germany and post SovietUnion-collapse Russia. Excessive patriotism becomes nationalism, excessive "values" becomes intolerance. Liberties collapse, progress stops.

There is nothing we can do about it. It will get worse, much worse. There will be real catharsis. But I am a believer. I think America will survive and prosper again. In 50 years maybe.

[ShamusNYC]

As Sinclair Lewis said,"When facism comes to America it'll be wrapped in the flag and carrying a bible"

This is what scares me about the Repubs

[dve2z]

none of this matter. Nothing will stick to Sarah Palin's image.
Note how Republicans turn everything to an advantage. Tomorrow is going to be a celebration of family values, parading the big Palin's family and (boy)friends. (so much for hands off Palin's family)

All this political circus with absolutely no substance... Is this the death of American political system efficiency? How can someone like Palin stand in the same row as Washington, Lincoln, FDR, JFK?

There was 8 years of incompetence. Now as if nothing is learned, there is a real risk of another 4 years of incompetence. The difference is however that circumstances are getting dare, and on top of that Dr. McStrangelove is now going to handle the Red Button.

This is how civilizations die. They lose their ability to evolve and think.

[Ethics101]

Regards to the RNC:
The Republicans sure have studied their talking points.
Any questions asked about Palin turn into "But Barack......."
Call them on their bullshit - on - national television!
Don't thank them for the friggin' interview of lies.

Thanks Greg for the article(s).

[TXfemmom]

She has had difficulty with the truth for a long time, and fits right in with PUBs. However, doesn't she sound somewhat like a slightly more sophisticated Clampett?

[Ohsnap]

Simply amazing. Isn't the number one rule in politics to define yourself before the opponents define you? Since the McCain camp is going into lockdown mode and withdrawing interviews, bloggers will go find the information themselves. Unless McCain starts talking, the McCain camp will be on perpetual defense, defending any potential damaging statement aimed at them. The fact that he sent an army of lawyers up to Alaska is only fueling the fire.

[DickTater]

You're forgetting the Corporate Media will not publicize this. At best, they will mention it so they can say they mentioned it, but in reality it's first appearance will be it's last. They move the bad stuff out of the newscycle real fast, if they can't just ignore it anymore.

[Jacksonian]

Some of this is hilarious! Maybe, after she and McCain lose, Palin could develop a line of salmon-scented fragrances.

[Rescisco]

Yes Greg, very disturbing indeed. Even more disturbing, she won the election. Call me crazy, but I am fearful that this nonsense candidate with rightwing notions and an empty mind will be far too popular with far too many.

[jacqmac]

I, too, am afraid that there really isn't too much that will deter anyone in 'the other America' from voting for McCain/Palin. However, let us NOT become immobilzed by this fear and give up before every last vote is counted. Just this last weekend a Voter Registration drive I worked on brought in over 1,000 new voters! That's 1,000-NEW-VOTERS! Now that they are registered, I find it my personal duty to educate them on the issues, get them involved in the campaign and GET THEM TO THE POLLS ON NOV. 4. Let's let the people who we have trusted with campaigning for our real values do THEIR JOB and get themselves elected. This is MORE of the SAME and then some! It JUST WON'T WORK!