Hungry and cold has become the narrative of many in Western Alaska. Outrageous fuel prices, inflated food costs, low subsistence harvests and low or no incomes aligned to create the perfect storm of a devastating reality.The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern.
--Proverbs 29:7
Dennis Zaki, an Alaskan journalist, raised money for food and traveled to several western Alaskan towns several weeks ago and documented their dire straits. CNN picked it up and Sarah Palin had some 'splaining to do. With her cabinet, Sarah's press conference last week was like watching a brainstorming session -- not exactly gale force winds. When asked what she personally had done for her citizens in need, she stumbled and had no answer.
Reverend Franklin Graham is in Alaska with Samaritan's Purse, his not-for-profit charity. Governor Light Sean Parnell and Governor Sarah Palin are escorting him to the villages of Russian Mission and Marshall. Mr. Graham, son of the legendary evangelist Billy Graham, has done some fantastic missions. Wow, actually doing God's work. What a concept. Working to treat AIDS, but not providing condoms because it condones "sin" is one of the controversies surrounding his work. The Samaritan's Purse, unlike the parable of the Good Samaritan has some pretty mighty strings.
So was Reverend Graham watching the CNN coverage of Emonnak and inspired to help? Well, that's unclear...but what is clear is his connection to Greta Van Susteren of Faux News.
Greta's "You gotta see the baby" interview with Bristol Palin was filmed at our local Anchorage library last weekend. The BFF relationship between Van Susteren and Palin is like none other in media. Greta doesn't ask "gotcha questions." Snowmachine rides with Todd, dinners at the Wasilla home, trick-or-treating with Piper on the "Straight Talk Express" are just few of their play dates. Greta has several BFFs other than Sister Sarah including Franklin Graham. Her coverage of Billy Graham's 90th birthday pales in comparison to her trip to North Korea with the Samaritan's Purse Tour. Susteren is featured on Graham's website. Did she pick up her Crackberry and send Franklin an S.O.S. on Palin's behalf?
I shouldn't be so picky about where the food to help the hungry comes from. In truth, I don't care if Osama Bin Laden pulls it out of his pantry. The people of Western Alaska need help. The last church that tried to "help" the First People of Alaska is now bankrupt after paying restitutions to the victims of their sexual predators.
God doesn't need the P.R., but the church does...and so does Sarah Palin.
So why does this matter?
It's the photo op, stupid.
Senator Mark Begich is assessing the situation in Bethel on Friday. His attention to the region has been sincere and unwavering. Begich doesn't come holding a cross or with a self-indulgent film crew documenting how much he loves Jesus. The separation of church and state requires no explanation. People shouldn't have to check a box defining what, if any, god they worship to get food or energy assistance.
With Senator Begich and Governor Palin scheduled to be in western Alaska the same week, Sarah has pulled the political trump card with the celebrity preacher...a postcard to her national base. Unfortunately, Alaskans are paying the postage.
Except giving the people in the villages more food stamps would not have resulted in a big photo op,
and worse it would have fixed the problem.
Governor Palin Outlines Continued Support for Alaska Seniors
February 21, 2007, Juneau, Alaska — Governor Sarah Palin introduced legislation today to continue support for low-income older Alaskans by extending the Alaska SeniorCare Program. Without passage of this legislation, the program will end June 30, 2007.
“We must support our seniors,” Governor Palin said. “I’m pleased to present a plan that continues this important assistance to Alaska seniors, and helps keep pace with cost-of-living changes.”
The SeniorCare program was created in 2003 to help low-income Alaska seniors with monthly cash payments of $120. The program was expanded in 2005 to help cover prescription drug costs. Currently, nearly 7,000 Alaskans are enrolled in the SeniorCare cash assistance program and about 140 receive prescription support.
Governor Palin’s legislation will continue the $120 SeniorCare monthly cash payment to low-income seniors for five years and will tie eligibility to the annual federal poverty income guidelines for Alaska. Currently, the program’s eligibility is frozen at 135 percent of the 2005 federal poverty level.
I can't believe people like you have the gall to to give Palin credit for Murkowski's SeniorCare program (now called Senior Benefits), but there you go again. . .
P.S. - Redboots, dollars to donuts, you are not an Alaskan. Shannyn Moore is. Big time. I think she knows more about what's going on in Alaska than you do.
BS! BS! BS!
The Longevity Bonus/SeniorCare issue was very much covered in the Alaska press, exhaustively covered. It was much discussed, debated and covered during the 2006 gubernorial primary. It was brought up at many, if not all, of the debates.
Palin grabbed many headlines with her abundant Longevity Bonus/ SeniorCare pronoucements. Funny, though, I never recall her giving any credit to the Murkowski administration, grudging or otherwise, for creating SeniorCare.
Even if her hands were tied in relation to the use of state resources, she could have made use of her celebrity and national profile to raise awareness of the plight of her people, she could have made an announcement at the start of the Iron Dog race for donations and food drives, she herself could have donated food, money, clothing and she also could have used her influence with Greta Van Susteren to bring help to her people. She did NOTHING. Not one thing for 5 weeks since this matter was brought to light. Nothing. Until the media started to ask some long overdue questions.
I invite you all to visit The Mudflats blog - great posts daily on the great state of Alaska.
Palin is one cold heartless piece of work.
If you are unsure - you can also try to contact the blogger who will be more than willing to pass on info.
I know at my local supermarket every checkout stand has a collection box for monetary donations to the local foodbank. I usually drop the loose change that I get into the box, or sometime I'll drop an extra bill or two. It's something that all chain food stores should be doing.
Here's a time line for people in the lower 48.
http://www.anonymousbloggers.com/timeline.cfm
She saves up positive photo ops to use when she needs to get the attention away from bad press in the main stream media. She's been saving this one for a long time!
Mommadona, please read the Quoran, and then realize that it is the extremist that are trying to get the 12,000,000,000 Muslims to goose-step to the finatical side of the religion. Ignoring this fact will lead to a place that you or I, or anyone else in America wants to be!
Oh, never mind.
Sarah Palin...do not underestimate this chronic pathological narcissist. That would be a mistake.
http://palingates.blogspot.com/