Everyone expected the press to praise the speech tonight regardless of content or tone. I almost didn't watch it fully knowing that I would be disappointed with it's coverage. Well, I couldn't resist and watched the speech. The amount of falsehoods and insuinations bothered me so much I have woken up from bed to write this diary. It's up to us to set the record straight!
Most of my research is curtsy of hilzoy
Palin: "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."
Fact: Sarah Palin might have changed her mind on this one recently. However, Palin actually slashed funding for schools for special needs kids by 62%! Budgets: FY 2007(pre-Palin), 2008, 2009(all pdfs).
Palin: "As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man."
Fact: Here is a list of McCain flip-flops You be the judge (thank you to Steve Benen).
Palin: "I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves."
Fact: Seriously? They're still bringing this up? Citing the Anchorage Dialy News via Nexis: During her campaign, she said she supported funding the bridge:
"5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?
Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."
(thank you Brad Plumer). Here's what residents of Ketchikan AK saidwhen they heard her recent remarks regarding the bridge:
"In the city Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community, because she had supported the bridge and the earmark for it secured by Alaska's Congressional delegation during her run for governor. (...)
"People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I'm for this' ... and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting," Weinstein said."
Palin: "But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate."
This is the part that bothered me the most because it was the easiest lie to swat down. Of course, no one I saw on TV did.
Fact: "He (Obama) helped pass a far-reaching ethics and campaign finance bill in the Illinois state Senate and made the issue a priority on arriving in Washington. Much to the displeasure of his colleagues, Obama promoted an outside commission to handle Senate ethics complaints. He co-authored the lobbying reform bill awaiting President Bush's signature and pushed -- again to the dismay of some colleagues -- to include a provision requiring lawmakers to report the names of their lobbyist-bundlers. He has co-sponsored bills to overhaul the presidential public financing system and public financing of Senate campaigns." Oh wait you want more? (thank you hilzoy)
No accomplishments indeed.
Just noticed that the Obama camp is up with a full rebuttal! It's better than my diary so study and charge with the facts. It's up to us to push this story and bring the facts to light!