The Facts on Governor Sarah Palin (and a Petition)
Listed in: Women's Issues, Other Domestic Policy, Reproductive Rights, Separation of Church and State, NJDC News, Opinions
Originally published in The Huffington Post
By Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC)
There is a great deal of information and rumors circulating throughout the Internet and the mainstream media concerning Governor Sarah Palin. The Jewish community deserves to know the facts. Is Senator John McCain's pick for Vice President a reformer or a pork barrel spender? Is Palin a maverick or a right wing conservative? Is Palin an extremist or does she share our values?
Here is the fact sheet that we hope will help cut through the lies, rumors and commentary to reveal the true Sarah Palin:
PALIN - BRIDGE TO NOWHEREQuestion: "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?"
Palin: "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."
- "Did Palin Really Fight The "Bridge To Nowhere"?" The New Republic, 8/29/08"A new ad from John McCain's presidential campaign contends his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere." In fact, Palin was for the infamous bridge before she was against it."
- "Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere," Associated Press, 9/8/08PALIN - CREATIONISM BEING TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
"Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject--creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."
- "Palin in Her Own Words," The New Republic, 8/29/08PALIN - VIRTUALLY ALL ABORTIONS ILLEGAL
"Veteran leaders in the anti-abortion camp say they have never before seen the degree of enthusiasm that greeted Palin's selection as John McCain's Republican running mate. She opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest."
- "Palin's nomination adds fuel to abortion debate," Associated Press, 9/9/08PALIN - BANNING BOOKS
"It's true that Palin did raise the issue [of removing books from the library] with Mary Ellen Emmons, Wasilla's librarian... Emmons reported that Palin pressed the issue...Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny, who was at the meeting, corroborates Emmons' story, telling the Chicago Tribune that "Sarah said to Mary Ellen, "What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?"... According to the Chicago Tribune, Palin did not list censorship as a reason for Emmons' firing, but said she didn't feel she had Emmons' support."
- "Sliming Palin," FactCheck.org, 9/8/08
PALIN - GLOBAL WARNING NOT MAN MADE
""A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location," [Palin] said. "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.""
- "Palin Not Convinced on Global Warming," The Washington Post, 8/29/08PALIN - PAT BUCHANAN, RON PAUL, AND JEWS FOR JESUS
Numerous observers correctly draw attention to Palin's associations with former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, her praise of anti-Israel Congressman Ron Paul, and her attendance at a Jews for Jesus speech in her church as indications that she supports their viewpoints. To be objective, NJDC has no reason to believe that Palin shares the values of Jews for Jesus or the opinions of Buchanan or Paul when it comes to the subject of the Jewish community or Israel.
We, in the Jewish community, have to question Senator John McCain's judgment for choosing a right-wing religious conservative with absolutely no foreign policy experience and a brewing scandal which is being investigated by the Alaska state legislature. For these reasons we believe that McCain made a poor choice in his first critical presidential decision with his vice presidential selection of Governor Sarah Palin.
It is ironic that McCain, who recently turned 72, has said, "The fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over." And then McCain selected Palin?
Please sign the letter to McCain, and tell him how disappointed you are in his selection of Palin.
The vast majority of the American Jewish Community along with so many across America know that Palin is not the right choice to fill the post of Vice President. It's sad that McCain and his dedicated supporters can't see that.
