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The Franklin County DemocratThe truth for a change. |
Published by the Franklin County Democratic Central Committee Office: 6908 West Argent, Pasco, Washington US Mail: PO Box 4883, Pasco, Washington 99301 USA Email: news@franklincounty-dems.org |
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Who is Sarah Palin?By David Chassin, Sunday August 31, 2008On John McCain's 72nd birthday, we got to know his new running mate. Given his advanced age, it seems we should be sure she's ready to be president and she'd be the kind of president this country wants and needs. After months of slamming Barack Obama for being inexperienced, McCain chooses someone who's even less experienced. Early speculation was that her choice was meant to appeal to Hillary supporters who sincerely want to see a woman in the White House in their lifetimes.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton. She is as far right as you can go without falling off the political map.
So who is Sarah Palin, exactly?
First the facts.
1. She served as 6 years mayor of Wasilla, a town of about 9000 outside Anchorage. She ran on a platform of raising sales taxes, reducing property taxes and cutting city services. Her approach to taxation is typical of regressive Republicans, who shift the cost of government onto lower and middle class citizens, while cutting services to them and increasing protections for wealthy landowners and protecting them from having to pay their privileges.
2. She chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for less than 2 years, and resigned in protest over the unethical behavior of a fellow Republican. Her action led to his resignation and the resignation of Alaska's attorney general. This incident is where she gets her reformer street creds.
3. She became governor of Alaska in 2006 after running on a clean government platform and winning a plurality of the vote. As governor, Palin has strongly promoted the interests of oil and gas companies and opposed the Interior Department's listing of polar bear as endangered. In June she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan. Monega alleges she retaliated against him after he resisted firing her ex-brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten, who is engaged in a bitter custody battle with her sister Molly McCann.
Her most extreme positions:
1. She is stronly anti-choice.
2. She believes creationism should be taught in public schools.
3. She doesn't think human activity is the cause of climate change.
Reports that she was being considered at McCain's running mate first surfaced on her Wikipedia page on August 12. McCain only spoke to her a few times and met with her once before choosing her.
Not only is Sarah Palin a dangerous choice to shore up McCain's right flank, but his decision shows how impulsive and dangerous a president he would be. Send us your comments to Reader's Letters |
Featured LinksPresident Obama's 2010 State of the Union Address |
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