Alaska Politics Blog : How McCain chose Palin

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This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.

Contributors

Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

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Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

How McCain chose Palin

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: August 29, 2008 - 1:27 pm

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

I've been talking to the McCain campaign this morning. Here's how a spokesman describes the events leading up to McCain picking Palin for his running mate ...

Palin was on the phone with McCain while at the state fair?

John McCain first met Governor Sarah Palin at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington in February of 2008 and came away extraordinarily impressed. John McCain followed her career and admired her tenacity and her many accomplishments. She was scheduled for a high profile speaking role at our convention and included in the VP selection process because of his admiration for her strong reform credentials.

Last Sunday, Governor Palin and John McCain had a conversation over the phone. Governor Palin was at the Alaska State Fair, and John McCain was at his home at Phoenix. Previously, Rick Davis, John McCain’s campaign manager, had also been in regular contact with the Governor as part of the on-going selection process. This past week, Governor Palin arrived with Kris Perry in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Wednesday evening. Upon arrival, Governor Palin and her longtime aide Kris Perry met with Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter of the McCain campaign at Mr. Bob Delgado’s home in Flagstaff. Mr. Delgado is the CEO of the Hensley corporation, which is Mrs. Cindy McCain’s family business. On Thursday morning, Governor Palin and staff were joined by Mrs. Cindy McCain and later joined by John McCain at the McCain family home in Sedona, Arizona. At approximately 11:00 a.m. Thursday August 28, 2008, John McCain formally invited Governor Sarah Palin to join the Republican ticket as the vice presidential nominee on the deck of the McCain family home.

Later that morning, John McCain departed for Phoenix and Governor Palin departed with staff to Flagstaff, Arizona. Governor Palin, Kris Perry, Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter proceeded to the Manchester Inn and Conference Center in Middletown, Ohio. They were checked into the hotel as the Upton Family. While there, Governor Palin’s children, who had been told they were going to Ohio to celebrate their parents’ wedding anniversary, were told for the first time that their mother would be a nominee for Vice President of the United States of America.

Today, John McCain was proud to announce that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, a proven-reformer, will share a partnership with him to shake things up in Washington and to make government more effective for American families.

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21 December 26, 2008 - 10:53pm | jeffreyfrog

There is much talk about the

There is much talk about the reasons that McCain chose Palin. None of them seem to make any sence except this.

McCain wants to drill for Oil in Alaska. Palin is in charge of the Alaskan Land. McCain tells Palin that she can be VP if we can drill on her land. Palin agrees and McCain begins to drill. Oil Prices in America drop and McCain looks like a World Hero for fixing the Oil Crisis.
Flagstaff Doctors

20 August 30, 2008 - 11:09am | om500

A another white christain

A another white christain full of themselves .Just Remember your history right wing white christians , prolifer's your fore fathers Killed the native americans who had women that were pregnant with babies, husbands, wives and growm kids prolife I think not. soccer Moms is that code for whites only read the history. God or no god we are all going the same place six feet under or burned thanks Omar

August 30, 2008 - 11:49am | jkero98

No we're not

*correction - Our Earthly bodies are going six feet under or getting burned.

Our forefathers probably did not know any better. There are some things in every body's heritage that can best be forgotten. So get over yourself. I'm sure your fore fathers were not perfect either whatever your background.

19 August 30, 2008 - 8:14am | shasta2

WHO SAYS SO?

jUST LOOK AT THE iVE LEAGUE SCHOOLS AND LOOK AT THE MEN WHO HAVE COME FROM THEM. wERE THEY HONEST, DID THEY WIND UP IN JAIL. dIDN'T THEY JOIN THE "GOOD OL BOY'S CLUB"?
pALIN WILL CLEAN THE CROOKS OUT OF POLITICS SO JUST COOL IT AND LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS. aLL YOU ELIGIBLE GUYS FROM HOT SHOT UNIVERSITIES..kISS MY ASS.

18 August 30, 2008 - 7:18am | damselfly

Pandering

A day later, I'm still shaking my head. While I was never a Hillary supporter I find it the highest form of ego that Gov. Palin would believe her pro life, pro gun, pro dig up ANWR stance would in anyway appeal to those women who did support Clinton.
And, as a Ketchikan resident who has had to listen to years of "bridge to nowhere" crap; I'm especially offended that she would state during her speech "I told Congress No Thanks on that Bridge to Nowhere". Give me a break. If she "told" congress I don't recall seeing it. She issued a national press release, without any warning to the congressional delegation or even local leaders that she wouldn't approve use of the federal money for the bridge. Then she used her DOT commissioner and staff to come to Ketchikan and explain. She was repeatedly asked to come to Ketchikan and meet with local officials, and stated she'd be happy to do so. Never happened. Like so many Alaska issues, the bridge is complicated and whether you support it or not, at least as Governor you should hear all sides of the issue, and certainly not use it as a cheap soundbite on national tv.

She has made two appearances here. One, when her flight was diverted- she called a local grade school and asked if she could come and read to kids (and someone called the media to make sure there was a photo) and the second was after she accepted an invite to our annual family day picnic. Just prior to her arrival, attendees were told that she would not be available for questions- she was there to enjoy the day with her family. I'm pretty sure she wasn't invited because she's a mom from Wasilla.

17 August 30, 2008 - 6:24am | ewhite8585

Innocent until proven guilty

It is interesting how so many bloggers are quick to proclaim that Senator Stevens is innocent until proven guilty, in the face of his federal indictment. Yes, this is what the constitution holds. However, the same bloggers are not willing to give Governor Palin the same consideration with respect to mere allegations. If Senator Stevens is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, while under indictment, then Governor Palin is more than deserving.

16 August 30, 2008 - 4:42am | truthgazer

Look closely, very closely

Sarah's record does speak volumes.

Giving $10,000 severance pay to a two week employee who "resigned," under questionable circumstances after she hired him for a top cop job out of a squeaky little city. (But, he was a good "Christian" boy, except for the little matter of confirmed sexual harrassment).

Giving $0 to an employee who worked hard and stepped up to the plate to increase Alaska's public safety.
Too chicken to meet with above employee, she simply had her underling fire him with not even a thank you, and no severance pay.

Comes out with a last minute media blitz against clean water, as a citizen and not governor, of course. To hell with the fish, we need gold, toxic wastes or not.

Appoints friend to serve on Board of Fish and Game, snubs Native Alaskans who depend on fish and game for survival.

Has done absolutely nothing to improve Alaska's abysmally low high school graduation rate.

Hires Legislative Director who has a serious relationship with leading lobbyist. Conflict? Nope, not when Sarah decides. (She's the decider, just like GWB)

Thinks the Troopers should fire employees at her will.

Eats and enjoys illegally shot cow moose, then turns in the now ex-brother-in-law! How about turning in the sister who must have lied about the information on the permit that should have been turned in?

Gaffes? no. Incompetence? Yep.

Then, of course, there's Mr. McCain himself, who came back from being a prisoner of war to a wife who raised the children alone, but, had been in a bad car accident. So, being the man he says he is, he abandoned the family and ran around. Then he met the lovely and very rich Cindy while still married to Carol.
("McCain has acknowledged that he had girlfriends during this time, without going into details. Some friends blame his dissatisfaction with Carol, but others give some credence to her theory of a mid-life crisis.")

But, he did give Carol a beach house--how generous since he doesn't even know how many houses he and Cindy own today.
("McCain transferred the Florida beach house to Carol and gave her the right to live in their jointly-owned townhouse in the Washington suburb of Alexandria. ")

Ross Perot says it all:
("But Ross Perot, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel – even by the standards of modern politics."

‘McCain is the classic opportunist. He’s always reaching for attention and glory,’ he said.

‘After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.’)

We have a lovely rock here in Alaska that looks like gold, but it's iron pyrite, "fool's gold" we call it. Just like Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin. (cute she now calls herself Sarah HEATH Palin, ah, such a feminist).

Then there's Cindy McCain. She was a half-sister whom she doesn't acknowledge and refuses to share even a tiny slice of her very large pie.

(When Cindy McCain talks about growing up, she usually refers to herself as an "only child" -- a phrase that ignores the existence of her half-sisters.

"It's terribly painful," Kathleen Hensely Portalski said. "It is as if she is the 'real' daughter. I am also a real daughter."

The McCain campaign has been tight-lipped about the expanded family tree: "Mrs. McCain was raised as the only child of Jim and Marguerite Hensley, and there was no familiar relationship with any other sibling," it said.")

Yep, "Fool's Gold," is what you are looking at with those two.

15 August 30, 2008 - 1:05am | mt99501

Spiro T. Agnew

Found this here.

It has been forty years since someone as inexperienced as Sarah Palin has been put on a national ticket, and surprisingly enough there are some real similarities between Palin and her unprepared predecessor, Spiro T. Agnew, who also had been governor less than two years at the time Richard Nixon picked him to be his number two and who also had a corruption problem lingering in the background that would end up causing his running mate problems.

...But the comparisons between Palin and Agnew do not end there. Just as a corruption scandal from Agnew's time as Maryland Governor plagued him throughout his Vice Presidential tenure-- in the end forcing him to resign-- so too does Palin have a corruption problem brewing in the background. What's more, her corruption and abuse of power problem is one easily understood by voters: She allegedly attempted to have fired a state trooper in a custody battle with her sister.

...Do we really need to put another wildly inexperienced, purely political choice into the White House, only to see issues from that candidate's past potentially stain the Vice Presidency?

14 August 30, 2008 - 12:02am | Emperor

Motivation

"...She is however, a social conservative, which is most likely why McCain chose her. She will appeal to the radical far right Christian fundamentalists..."

Sarah Palin: The Real Dope (pun intended)

13 August 29, 2008 - 11:21pm | BlueHillLobsterman

Astonishing Reportage

Another amazing probe by ShawnKileAirica. Spoon-fed hicks. God, this whole thing is gonna be so humiliating for poor ole anti-intellectual, afeared a' Back East, VocEd Alaska.

12 August 29, 2008 - 9:40pm | jagjrscusa

Palin is just what America needs...

She looks to be a fine choice for VP... I was considering not voting until I heard her. She appears to be a strong woman to whom family and an honest America are very important. As a mother she probably yearns for town where her children can be safe and have an equal opportunity. America needs a strong woman to administer some "Tough Love", we have become soft and it has come from expecting the government to do everything.
American families are tired of the corruption and moral decay which since the beginning of the welfare state has progressivly gotten worse. It has caused hard working industrious people to give up, because it is robbing the very ones providing the means for the handouts...
I believe they will WIN BIG!

Mark my words... If McCain Palin do win BIG they will take it as a mandate to clean up government.

J.A.G.Jr.

August 30, 2008 - 12:33am | abc1234

you have too much faith

She’s not going to change anything because McCain and Obama are both owned, they will do what they are told to do. And your right about the welfare state, but it's because of our monetary system of debt and inflation that has caused this. Until we elect somebody who will go after the Federal Reserve and take our money back we'll see no change.

McCain and Obama are for a bigger government, and the more power they take the more corruption there will be. We have the biggest gov we've ever had and the most corruption, the two go hand in hand. And a big government benefits the big media companies so they only give big government candidates any coverage.

August 30, 2008 - 12:12am | Emperor

We really need this?

"...However there are cracks in the facade Palin presented to Alaskan voters . She is currently under investigation by the legislature for abuse of power involving the firing of her appointed Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. She’s backing away from her pledge of open and transparent government by saying that the public isn’t entitled to see emails concerning public business. She’s facing an ethics complaint from a former State employee. She has shown poor judgment by selecting a new Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety that had been reprimanded for sexual harassment in his previous position. He was forced to resign after two weeks in the position, but received $10,000.00 in severance pay. She is also well known for her favoritism and cronyism. During her campaign for Governor, Palin said to Alaskans “hold me accountable“, and yet no matter what happens in her administration she is never responsible, it’s always someone or something to blame, but never her...."

Sarah Palin: The Real Dope (pun intended)

August 30, 2008 - 12:11am | BlueHillLobsterman

Please

Let me suggest you go back to your so wise position of not voting. I'd be very happy to see idiots like you self-eliminated from the electoral process.

October 10, 2008 - 12:22am | megal_1

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11 August 29, 2008 - 9:24pm | br0wnsuga2001

Mccain wow

Its no surprise that he did this and she fell for it MONEY TALKS and she should be ashamed for letting herself be used for what he thinks he can get away with Im for OBAMA all the way Screw Palin and Mccain. It wont happen why the hell do we want another "BUSH" in office and that fact of his age so what if he was held prisonier for 5 years get over it that doesn mean your should be president and the fact that your damn near 8- years old come one people lets get a clue vote for OBAMA hes the best choice

10 August 29, 2008 - 7:16pm | AK_Lady

Ask yourself...

would she have gotten picked if she were a man?

August 29, 2008 - 11:09pm | akadvocate59

Well said

That is precisely right

August 29, 2008 - 9:56pm | jacekones

Ask Karl Rove

he even admitted it was intended to pander to women

August 29, 2008 - 10:24pm | TheSdog

There is little doubt

that the McCain people wanted to put a woman in the VP spot.

The problemis when you start making any decision based on gender or race or just about anything other than qualifications you can run into trouble.

It is laughable that the Rs are selling The Palin as a fiscal conservative. The question for many true conservatives when the they find out the truth about Palin's record on taxes and spending will be what to do.

At some point, the conservatives left in the R party will need to take the party back after suffering with Dubya and the spend happy Rs in Congress. Many are likely reaching the conclusion that it may be best to let The Obama Nation happen so the Phoenix can rise again from the ashes.

August 29, 2008 - 11:52pm | BlueHillLobsterman

Sdog Cur Panderer

Note his use of the latest Swiftboaters' tag.

I agree that Sarah is a laugh-out-loud candidate.

But beware that Sdog has tied himself to the Swiftboating liar--the scum author of The Obama Nation.

Get used to it, Pyedog. Obama will run this nation. Prepare to hide in your smelly box for the next sixteen years of progressive leadership.

August 30, 2008 - 12:03am | TheSdog

Hate to break it to you

but The Obama Nation was being used by me on here a long time before it was a book.

Nice try at being relevant though.

August 30, 2008 - 12:22am | BlueHillLobsterman

Sdog in Heat

Smelly with lies.

August 29, 2008 - 10:39pm | jacekones

Take a look at NRO

The conservatives, who've now heard of SP for all of 2 seconds, believe she is bringing the conservative party back. They are thrilled.

However, in a few moments, the giddiness will subside. The NYT oped page is already mentioning "Mat Maid" in the current edition online.

George Will said a few weeks ago that he thinks it will take an Obama presidency to bring conservatism back. I tend to agree.

August 30, 2008 - 1:17am | BlueHillLobsterman

Oh Yes Lordy Lordy

Let us all pray that we can hide in our smelly boxes until it is safe to teach "intelligent design" in our schools.

Ahh, the Last Frontier, where all our kids can look forward to censored curriculums and higher education in Voc-Ed. I so want my daughter to become a diesel mechanic in a dying fossil-fuels ecomony.

August 29, 2008 - 10:40pm | jacekones

August 29, 2008 - 8:37pm | jacekones

Ask yourself, ask your neighbor, read the newspaper

and the answer is the same: Of course not. This is absolute pandering on McCain's behalf. However, that is the nature of politics.

August 29, 2008 - 8:08pm | anlg1

NEVER

McCain has insulted women everywhere in chosing her in hopes of taking votes who belonged to Hillary. Just because Sarah is a woman does not mean all women will automatically vote for her. I know NO ONE who will be voting for this ticket-neither before or after he decided on her.

August 29, 2008 - 8:40pm | jacekones

this is an insulting pick

But, I've been insulted by SP for a very long time. She does not represent thinking, accomplished women. She doesn't learn issues, doesn't do details, doesn't do her homework - but gets by on the smile.

However, I have plenty of conservative christian friends that are thrilled by this vp pick .... and each one lives outside and knows NOTHING about her.

The uninformed public likes her. ALOT.

August 29, 2008 - 11:13pm | akadvocate59

Give us some credit

Not all conservatives are thrilled. This will be the first time in my 25-year voting history that I will be casting my ballot for the Democratic ticket. Some of us thinking, accomplished and successful women recognize she leaves much to be desired as a public servant and certainly as a strategic leader.

August 30, 2008 - 10:55am | Cartman3_15

Or maybe

you're just bitter, too.

August 30, 2008 - 2:38pm | Emperor

Why do you do that?

Why is it when anyone is critical of Palin in any way they must be bitter or a hater? How is that adding to the discussion, how is that offering reasons why the poster is wrong, or things that perhaps the poster didn't consider.

I think you are hurting your position and Palin with such simple and shallow responses to legitimate criticism. I see it more and more every day here, not just from you but others as well. Is it because you have no other defense of Palin or your opinion?

August 30, 2008 - 10:51am | abc1234

I vote for none of the above

I'm a conservitive and don't care for either ticket. They are all for bigger government junkies which means more power for them along with more corruption and lies for us to stomach. Plus they all want privacy when it's something they don't want us to know about, yet they're all willing to take our privacy away every chance they get.

August 30, 2008 - 2:40pm | Emperor

That about somes it up.

The system is so broken that there is no chance of significant change regardless of who is elected even with their good intentions.

August 30, 2008 - 2:51pm | rfn

Now, now....

While it's plain that no good is going to come of this election and we really do need a long and deep depression to set things aright, there's still some black humor if one has a proper attitude.

Kick back and watch! It's almost as much fun as watching the 1974 "Young Frankenstein". Don't waste any time on the musical; neither McCain, Palin nor Obama can sing worth a damn. Biden tries though it's the effort, rather than the lyrics, that are most amusing.

August 29, 2008 - 8:28pm | MeganLarson

Gosh

You must not know very many people, then.

August 29, 2008 - 7:27pm | MeganLarson

That is

insulting.

October 29, 2008 - 1:32am | megal_i

ni Y?

i don't like palin.
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August 29, 2008 - 8:06pm | AK_Lady

Ha!

Scary, huh?

When you're 72 and you've had four bouts with cancer, you ought to choose a qualified VP.

August 29, 2008 - 8:24pm | MeganLarson

Ah, I see.

So she's not qualified in your opinion.

If/When Sarah Palin is sworn in as VP, she would have served in elected public office:

* Four years (two terms) as a City Council member.
* Six years (one & half terms) as a Mayor, including President of the Alaska Council of Mayors.
* Two years as a Governor.
--------------------------------------
12 years total public office, eight of which was executive experience.

While at the same time Barack Obama would have served in elected public office:

* Seven years (two terms) as a state Senator.
* Four years as a US Senator (half of which was spent campaigning to be President).
-------------------------------------
11 years total public office, none of which was executive experience.

Oh and just for comparison:

When Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976, he had served in elected public office:

* Four years (two terms) as a state Senator.
* Four years as a Governor.
--------------------------------------
8 years total public office, four of which was executive experience.

Sarah Palin actually has more executive experience in public office than Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter COMBINED!

I would much rather have the VP have less experience than the president than the president have less experience than the VP. At least we'd have to wait for something (God Forbid) to happen to McCain, wheras with Obama he's in charge on day 1.

August 30, 2008 - 12:16am | Emperor

Really?

"...First of all take a look at her impressive resume from when she was a candidate for Governor of Alaska.*(see note) What should come to your attention is that she has never held a real job (outside of government). She has always been taken care of by her parents or her husband...."

Sarah Palin: The Real Dope (pun intended)

August 30, 2008 - 10:25pm | MeganLarson

That is untrue

She was a sportscaster for KTUU. You can find the video of it through a Google search.

Plus she was a mom, which is arguably the toughest job on earth. :)

August 30, 2008 - 11:20pm | AK_Lady

As I recall

the "sportscaster" stint didn't last long at all. The receptionist position was longer.

And correction, she was a part-time mom.

August 30, 2008 - 11:28pm | MeganLarson

Correction

Part-time mom? There is no such thing. :)

August 31, 2008 - 10:24am | rfn

Among the

"barefoot and pregnant" society any woman with offspring under 21 years of age are required to stay at home 24/7 and stifle any ambitions. To do less, in what passes for their minds, constitutes child abuse. But they're OK with tasering children though it's not clear if the "pass" extends to both parents or only to males.

August 30, 2008 - 11:34pm | AK_Lady

Yes.

Part-time mom... there is a difference.

To each their own, I guess. No offense, of course.

August 30, 2008 - 11:41pm | MeganLarson

Would you even

Make the comment about being a "part-time mom" if Sarah were a man? A guy working a job for his family, whether it's a slope job that takes him away for weeks at a time, a military job that has him away months or years at a time, would not be called a "part-time dad" because he is supporting his family. Why is it different with a woman? The glass ceiling is alive and well, folks.

By the way, the posts we were working on in the People Magazine thread got deleted--the one you posted about Bristol, that is, and therefore all subsequent replies. I did not flag it, but obviously someone else thought it as tasteless as I did.

I was replying to you there that you do have to become a member for Care Pages but it's free and you can use an alias and create a new email address just for the purpose, if you had the desire to visit the site.

August 31, 2008 - 11:14am | TheSdog

Meg

It is a dangerous game to choose people for jobs on anything except qualifications. Read the piece by Dee Dee Myers I posted in the Stewart thread.

August 31, 2008 - 11:29am | rfn

Comforting to know

that Obama's total lack of executive experience might be considered by one or two.....

Or perhaps they'll go for the prudence of voting "present" (when appearing in The Senate at all) so as to appease and not ruffle feathers.

Has to be one or the other; there is nothing else.

August 31, 2008 - 11:51am | TheSdog

Was Barak nominated because of his race?

My general feeling is no. He has played the race card occasionally especially with the MLK reference in his speech and that is unfortunate.

Was Palin nominated because of her gender?

It is the onl reason she was nominated and to think otherwise is naive. She played the gender card immediately and far less subtly.

Why?

Because Obama knows there is more to this than race and gender and silly poltical games. He will play the game but in his heart he actually believes in something. I can respect that even if I agree with him on almost nothing.

Despite claims to the contrary, The Palin just goes with what is popular and even will send out $1200 bribes so you can buy a TV if she has to. She will also get all those "evil" companies because we do not really need industry in this country anyway. Fortunately for me, my wife speaks Mandarin.

It really is all The Palin can do because we all know based on past debate performances that there really is not much between her ears except a trigger to laugh whenever profanity gets used. You need to look no further than her endangering the life of her unborn child to realize that. It is all about her and that is unfortunate.

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