Alaska Politics Blog : An "apology" from the "elite media"

Alaska Politics Blog

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

Features

SECTION

Alaska political corruption

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

An "apology" from the "elite media"

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: September 4, 2008 - 6:16 am

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

Roger Simon of Politico takes aim at how the McCain campaign has targeted the media inquiries into Gov. Sarah Palin and her experience and family -- including how she was vetted. He makes the point that perhaps Palin is trying to have it both ways when she and the McCain campaign ask that her family be off-limits -- yet talks about both of her sons in the speech that introduced her to the rest of America.

An excerpt from his column:

"Fifth, we should stop reporting on the families of the candidates. Unless the candidates want us to.

Sarah Palin wanted the media to report on her teenage son, Track, who enlisted in the Army on Sept. 11, 2007, and soon will deploy to Iraq.

Sarah Palin did not want the media to report on her teenage daughter, Bristol, who is pregnant and unmarried.

Sarah Palin thinks that one is good for her campaign and one is not, and that the media should report only on what is good for her campaign. That is our job, and that is our duty. If that is not actually in the Constitution, it should be. (And someday may be.)"

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12 September 7, 2008 - 11:27pm | alpine1

Bristol

I do think that the pregnancy of the daughter is a legitimate issue. Gov. Palin is anti-abortion, but states that her daughter made the decision to have the baby (No abortion or no adoption?) yet if abortion was the topic, she, Gov. Palin would work to assure that some other mother's daughter would be deprived of that right.

She is also an advocate of abstinence only education. Didn't work in this case, did it? What about the cut in funding for assistance to teenage mothers? (Not sure if that's true).

I am an older woman who remembers the time before Roe vs Wade and birth control pills. I have known women you had abortions performed by back alley doctors; one who aborted herself with knitting needles. So anyone naive enough to think that by overturning Roe v Wade will eliminate abortions, I have a bridge in Alaska to sell you.

I agree with Obama's answers that abortions should be rare and safe. Black or white answers to issues are rarely the remedy.

11 September 7, 2008 - 10:45pm | eldon

read it

Today, Hickel's office e-mailed this:

Statement by the Honorable Walter J. Hickel, twice governor of Alaska and former Secretary of the Interior and Co-Chair of the 2006 Palin for Governor campaign

ENDORSEMENT OF GOVERNOR PALIN

For the record, I am not a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent. I’m an Alaskan. All my life I have put Alaska first. Let’s not divide Alaska. That’s why I am endorsing Governor Sarah Palin today in her bid to become Vice President.

Senator John McCain’s decision to nominate her as his running mate put Alaska on center stage nationally, and our governor is using this opportunity to present the reality of Alaska with all its benefits to the nation. And any time she needs help, I’ll be there.

With leadership from the White House, new sources of energy combined with resources from Alaska and the Arctic, can transform America into an energy exporter.

As Governor Palin knows well, Alaska also has other roles to play in world affairs. Alaska is a model for commonly-owned regions, including our Arctic neighbors, Africa and elsewhere. In sharing our experience, Gov. Palin can help parts of the world still locked in poverty.

10 September 5, 2008 - 5:22am | targa

Rumor about Track

Does anyone know if there is any truth that Track was in trouble with the law and had to enlist?

All families have problems, but if this is true, IMHO, he has been exploited along with the other children.

September 5, 2008 - 11:26am | rfn

Is there any truth

to the rumor that Track enlisted to get away from a slightly older woman who was stalking him but "authorities" would do nothing to protect him?

September 5, 2008 - 12:38pm | targa

So, I'm taking that as a yes.

Thanks.

September 5, 2008 - 1:29pm | rfn

As always,

mistaken.

Is it true that Obama's dog got pregnant but he got it a tax-paid abortion?

September 5, 2008 - 6:50pm | targa

I'm taking this non-answer, again, as a YES.

(Is it true that Obama's dog got pregnant but he got it a tax-paid abortion?)

Do you have a legitimate response to the question of Track Palin involved in vandalism?

From what I have read about the family, the children have been sorely neglected.

September 5, 2008 - 8:30pm | rfn

Elsewhere in this blog

a young person, signing with what appears to be a real name, concedes his involvement and asserts that Mr. Palin was in no way involved.

No, I will not do your work for you and provide a link. If you care to check around for it, look up the individual and contact him, I'm sure he won't charge you with stalking. Well, reasonably sure.

Meanwhile, there's a rumor that says the Obama cats were aborted at taxpayer expense as well as the dog! Can you confirm the truth of that?

September 7, 2008 - 11:18am | akgen

Well I heard the Obama cat did not ulitize taxpayer

funds for abortment. I heard the taxpayer funds were used to send the live fetus to Mars. Maybe someone can aquire a earmark to ship some fresh milk for them. Personally, I think people should be concerned about the poor planning of taxpayer funds to NOT think of the fresh milk situation.

Focus Americans, there was no fresh milk on Mars !

September 5, 2008 - 6:50pm | targa

I'm taking this non-answer, again, as a YES.

(Is it true that Obama's dog got pregnant but he got it a tax-paid abortion?)

Do you have a legitimate response to the question of Track Palin involved in vandalism?

From what I have read about the family, the children have been sorely neglected.

September 6, 2008 - 8:04pm | rfn

In at least two places in this blog

a young person, signing with what appears to be a real name, concedes his involvement and asserts that Mr. Palin was in no way involved.

The information he provides suggests that he really IS posting under his own name.

Of course anyone who fails to believe him might use his name and a phone directory (on-line or an actual book if you can imagine such a thing!) and call to enquire.

Now, about the Obama cats?

Did taxpayers really pay for the abortion?

I take the failure to reply earlier as confirmation!

September 7, 2008 - 7:53am | TheSdog

That same blogger also misspelled Track as Trek. Grammatical errors should be forgiven but when you supposedly are someone's friend that is very suspicious. It raises at least some question to validity. t is kind of like all the Republicans out there praising The Palin who cannot even pronounce her name more than a week later.

Track's behavior as a kid should no be an issue. However, your hero's need to cite his military service and marry it up with 9/11 at every possible opportunity does open the door a little.

Your continued use of silly things like the cats just ensures your nickname should stick.

September 7, 2008 - 9:15pm | rfn

Edit?

Hardly.

How I wish French would quit toying with that "investigation" and get moving on his critical legislation to link renewal of medical licenses to acceptance of Medicare patients!

September 6, 2008 - 7:03pm | palmerbuyer

NO, what is sad

is that people are starting to repeat this rumor KNOWING it isn't true.

September 5, 2008 - 8:27pm | rfn

Really, was twice necessary?

Really?

9 September 5, 2008 - 1:31am | jenniie27

families

There is nothing wrong with reporting on a candidates family in general. But, it is wrong to "report" that a 17 year old girl is pregnant just because she is the daughter of a (any) public figure. She is dealing with the biggest thing in her life. She is not running for anything....leave her be. To smear her all over the newspaper and TV is just plain sleazy! And the people that speculated that Sarah's baby actually belonged to Bristol...that is unforgivable!!

September 5, 2008 - 5:31am | targa

Sarah Palin chose to put her daughter in the spotlight

Did she actually think that this wouldn't create a media frenzy? She could have declined McCain's offer. She is young enough that she could be considered for VP or Pres for quite a few years.

At 18, I found myself pregnant and unmarried. If my Mother or Father would have thrust me into the spotlight, I don't think I could have forgiven them.

Ambition over family is not a "family value", whether you are male or female.

September 5, 2008 - 11:21pm | jenniie27

I can see absolutely no reason why anyone should put their career 'on hold' because their teenage daughter is pregnant. It is not an issue. The daughter is pregnant, she will have the baby, she will care for the baby. Period. Sarah is the grandma. This happens everyday in all walks of life. No one except maybe the mother of the baby need put a career on hold because of it. Did your Mother and Father put their careers on hold because you were pregnant? I'm sure she knew the media would blow it all out of proportion just like they do everything else...people always want to hear the dirt on people. That does not make it right for them to go after this girl and her boyfriend. Leave them alone. Family value has nothing to do with Sarahs occupation...her kids look healthy and happy to me.

September 6, 2008 - 6:16pm | targa

Oh, really?

No reason? How about the mental health of your daughter? Is that a good enough reason?

Or, should your dreams of climbing the ladder, no matter how high, trump the damage your daughter could realize, for the rest of her life?

For you bible-thumping believers, like I understand SP is, does Jesus want you to love your family, or love your career?

8 September 4, 2008 - 1:34pm | lecjb

I am very curious,

so maybe someone in the media could ask or do some research - who did Palin support in the Republican primary caucus? Was it McCain? He did pretty poorly in Alaska. If she did not support McCain, but is now running on the ticket with him and supports him, what made her change her mind? Just the fact that he asked her to be his partner? or an issue?

September 4, 2008 - 2:52pm | TheSdog

I am not sure

she endorsed anyone but I believe she was initially a Huckabee supporter.

7 September 4, 2008 - 11:11am | ak_iceman2003

The elite media is out... in with the tabloids

The elite media is out... in with the tabloids!!!

People: the #1 Celebrity Site on the Web
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20223201,00.html

6 September 4, 2008 - 10:39am | stumpy01

May I remind the elite media of something?

First, you guys are not elite. The kind of stuff you are reporting about a 17 year old kid is what we used to only find in the tabloids..

Instead of offering intelligent commentary on relevant issues you elite media guys and gals are shuckers of tabloid trash.

Also, there is a big difference between a minor child and a kid who is over 18. Remember that.

One is a consenting adult free to make decisions about his life. The other is still a kid in the eyes of the law and deserves to be able to make mistakes without having to read about them on the front pages of the tabloids, err, "elite" media. (What a crock).

Gee, can we also add 'narcissistic' to our description of the "elite" media?

September 4, 2008 - 10:45am | ak_iceman2003

To compare People and

To compare People and National Enquire to NBC and CNN is pushing it. However ... given that Palin did go to People to break the Trig story i guess it's all the same.

Let's see what this "elite" media has dug up:
1. Palin was for the bridge before she was against it
2. Palin loves earmarks... $26 million worth of earmarks
3. Palin as been on McCain's bad earmark list 3 times
4. Palin tried to fire a librarian b/c she wouldn't ban books
5. Palin is under investigation for firing Monegan

The media is just doing what McCain failed to do... stop regurgitating the right wingers talking points.

September 4, 2008 - 11:02am | bobbyc

Palin - let's review her record:

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002).

She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too.

She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million.

What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? Or a new library?

No.

$1m for a park.

$15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved!

The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated... more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed.

City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited.

At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told the press.

As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper.

Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law.

She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor.

She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil and gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work.

Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) had engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him.

She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork".

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick.

The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness.

Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team.

When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to).

She has pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she. However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.

CLAIM VS FACT

*"Hockey mom": true for a few years
*"PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
*"NRA supporter": absolutely true
*social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
*pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
*"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's Syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
*"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
*political maverick: not at all
*gutsy: absolutely!
*open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
*has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
*"a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
*fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
*pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
*pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
*pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.
*pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

September 4, 2008 - 11:07am | stumpy01

Demo talking points?

Please, do not copy/paste the demo talking points here.

Start your own blog.

September 4, 2008 - 11:52am | Emperor

Not Demo talking points.

I saw this posted originally at washingtonindependent.com. I've seen it posted elsewhere as well. It's written by a Wasilla resident. Here's another post from an Alaskan What is McCain Thinking?. Then there is my own contributions Rants and Observations

Not every Alaskan is so enamored with Palin that we ignore or dismiss obvious flaws, contradictions, and manipulation.

September 4, 2008 - 11:26am | bobbyc

FACTS, stump

This ain't your blog. You ain't the boss. Bug-off, Palinbot.

September 4, 2008 - 10:59am | akgen

Do you really think Palin

went to People to break the Trig story? A simple search will reveal otherwise.

Is your name Andy Halcro? Just asking cause your facts are kinda iffy.

September 4, 2008 - 10:56am | stumpy01

The "Elite" media?

When the cost of the bridge ballooned to 400 million Sarah did what reasonable people do. She asked if there was a more cost effective alternative after the price grew to such an unrealistic figure. If the bridge had only cost 60 million, it would have been built without all the fuss.

Sarah fired a commissioner who she, and he, knew she could fire at any time. He was an 'at will' employee.
If people don't like that, too bad. That's the rules.

And as far as the "elite" media digging this stuff up, iceman, sorry, no. Alaskans knew all about these things long before the "elite" media arrived in Alaska.

And guess what, we still gave Sarah an 80% approval rating, making her the most popular governor in the country.

September 4, 2008 - 11:07am | ak_iceman2003

Then she told America a

Then she told America a little white lie and said "We said thanks but no thanks to the bridge from nowhere". Did she give the money back? Nope!

5 September 4, 2008 - 10:13am | azbirds

Media coverage

The Media has been doing a great job of answering the questions that the McCain campaign has failed to do.

Sorry but Gov. Palin cannot exploit her son and then try and cover up the daughters pregnacy. I am sorry for all these children.
Thanks for the info that Levi Johnston has decided tio drop out of H.S. Right, where are the family values?

Everyone-CHECK on the Keating 5 Scandal that John McCain was involved in in the 90"s. Cost all of us Billions.

4 September 4, 2008 - 9:35am | TheSdog

The Palin

more than any other politician in the public eye right now exploits her family.

She again exploited Track last night and even tied his deployment to 9/11. She has opened the door to make her family an issue. The McCain campaign cannot cry foul when her family then becomes an issue.

The first part of Palin's speech was a tactical error. It makes all of what the media is doing justified.

September 4, 2008 - 9:50am | jacekones

although that argument is sensible

Repubs on the outside email and tell me they are outraged with the media treatment of queen P. Other outside friends think it is sexist. However, the numbers of people willing to talk with me now is dwindling, since I give them the straight talk on SP.

September 4, 2008 - 10:22am | TheSdog

Most of my friends

on the outside are Rs.

They tend not to be bible thumpers and the more they learn, the less excited they get. The "flight of labor" is a big sticking point with a lot of them because they are MDs. The general feeling is how could McCain show such poor judgemnet choosing someone of such poor judgement.

September 4, 2008 - 10:39am | akgen

Most MD's I know

are not such rumor hounds.

Either you are not a MD (which by the way, you should prove that you are a MD, via producing a document and post it here - thanks in advance for posting your proof...) or you are a just a silly rumor hound.

It is all about being qualified, ain't it? Sdoggie you really need to put this rumor about being a MD to rest. Either prove it or quit talking about MD's.

September 4, 2008 - 11:14am | TheSdog

Are you

saying she did not rupture her membranes and get on a plane?

Just like nobody on her staff pressured DPS and Monegan?

Just like Todd was not going to keep working for BP?

Just like she promised to save Mat Maid when that started?

Shall we point out some more?

I was not aware one needed an MD degree to post on the blog. If you pay close attention the "rumor" I am an MD did not start with me. It started with one of the multiple sign-ons (John_Jr) being used to go after black3 all the time.

September 4, 2008 - 6:12pm | akgen

pssst sdoggie calm down

I'm not for Palin, remember?

Just because I use facts to make my decisions (and not the Andy Halcro kind of 'facts') and do not insinuate bad things about Palin, you have labeled me a Palinbot. Remember? Typical kind of thing coming from a total Sarahater.

What I'm saying is most MD's I know are not such rumor hounds. It appears you are a rumor hound and an MD. Kinda weird, a MD that sniffs for rumors.

September 4, 2008 - 8:09pm | TheSdog

Fact

is not word you understand the meaning of AKG and you would be best not to use it.

Look at my questions and understand the answers. Those answers would be facts.

And did my post say you were for Palin? Do I even use the term "Palinbot?" So now take a look at what facts are not in your own post and that will also help you.

We are pulling for you AKG.
You can do it.

September 4, 2008 - 1:40pm | lecjb

Remember when she urged

any highschool student who was thinking of dropping out to call her so she could talk them out of it? I wonder if she tried to talk Levi into not dropping out of school? Or any other student?

September 5, 2008 - 12:13am | katie_doe

HA!

Good catch!

Levi - Did you call Sarah before you dropped out?

September 5, 2008 - 11:30pm | jenniie27

come on....

You know that boy cannot go to High School as if nothing ever happened! Just because he is dropping out of public high school does not mean he is ending his education. Why is it outside the realm of possibility that he will finish his education by private tutoring, homeschooling, etc? Can you imagine the disruption at the school if he showed up now......give the kid a break.

September 6, 2008 - 9:43am | Cartman3_15

Nice try, jennile

But dragging the kids into it is all the haters have left. Pretty pathetic, eh?

3 September 4, 2008 - 8:50am | ak_iceman2003

Sarah Palin's Gender Card

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card

2 September 4, 2008 - 8:00am | MeganLarson

Media reporting

If a candidate or speaker at a political event volunteers a nice story about a family member, a reporter can report on that. For example, when Beau Biden introduced his dad, he discussed a family tragedy that helped to shape Biden, and I'm sure reporters didn't comment negatively on the son passing on family information. Oh wait, that's because they don't smear Biden with any family skeletons he may have.

This is what Sarah and many other politicians on both sides of the aisle are asking: when it comes to my family, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Look at the difference between the way they report on Obama's family and Sarah's: USWeeklyCovers

September 4, 2008 - 10:26am | TheSdog

Meg

Name one other political figure out there that pushes their family as much as Palin.

...when it comes to my family, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

You do not get to exploit your family like Palin does and then cry foul when your family is made an issue.

Obama has had his personal life attacked. I am not abig fan of either Palinb or Obama but they are more similar than different. They both try to put style over substance and avoid details.

September 4, 2008 - 10:06am | akgen

Meg,

probably a bit too much common sense and depth of thought for sdoggie and iceman.

September 4, 2008 - 8:52am | ak_iceman2003

Palin touted Track as a prop for the world

Pleeasse. Palin touted Track as a prop for the world -- yet we're not allowed to talk about Bristol? I love how the right wingers threw their criticism at Lynn Spears but for Bristol it's suddenly a "family choice".

September 5, 2008 - 11:34pm | jenniie27

Bristol is SEVENTEEN.....

its nobodys business..............actually is was Jamie Spears that was the pregnant teen.........Lynn is her mother

September 5, 2008 - 11:38pm | jenniie27

I just don't understand why

I just don't understand why things have to get so mean and dirty in politics....why can't we just focus on the issues and let digging up dirt go? SO JFK slept around, J.Edgar Hoover liked to wear dresses....did it really affect their job performance?

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