Editors: Yahoo and AP Fact Check Palin Convention Speech
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Yahoo and AP Fact Check Palin Convention Speech

Somebody better fact check the fact checkers

Editors published 9/4/2008 10:03:00 AM
The article, Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention , by AP writer Jim Kuhnhenn, purports to be a fact check of the September 3, 2008 Palin Convention speech. But, most of it sounds like something emailed to him from the Obama campaign.
PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. 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."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate [how did this get in here?], Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation [I thought we were talking about authoring legislation] that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles [so did 99 other Senators]. The legislation became law last year. To demean [demean?] that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases [so, two anti-police laws?]. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation [details?].
Nothing in here about authoring legislation. Where is the Obama (Something Great) Act? I don't recall any divisive legislation where Obama took a stand.

This one is unbelievable.
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
The lead paragraph says: "Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth."

What does the above have to do with Wednesday night's speakers?

I can take a guess here that most of the National Guard is under Palin's control right now. How many National Guard troops are under the control of Obama or Biden?

And the next one is ridiculous.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.
Again, what does this have to do with Wednesday night's speakers?

If Palin is not in charge of Alaska's oil, then who is? Is Alaska our largest state, or not?

I saved the best for last
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
I hope they keep bringing this up. A whopper? 76,125 votes?

The real truth is Joe Biden received 0.03% of the vote in 1984, 0.05% of the vote in 1988, and 0.22% of the vote in 2008 (81,641 votes). Dennis Kucinich, a man that announced that he believes in UFOs, received 27% more votes than Biden.

Is this AP guy a real journalist?
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11 Comments Posted  (Comments close on 1/4/2009 6:00:00 AM)

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#1  Tami NANTZ  9/4/2008 11:31:21 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
I am SO sick of this. We have got to stand up and fight!
See www.moms4sarahpalin.blogspot.com

#2  GZ  9/4/2008 5:38:21 PM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
Your attempt to discredit an honest media report is shamful. What a trashy website. Last time I'll look for truth on Palin or McCain here - clearly your just preaching to the chior.

#3  GC  9/4/2008 7:00:21 PM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
1. Who cares how many, or what percentage, of votes went to any candidate? And more importantly, what relevance does it have to the problems facing our country?
2. Where are your citations for the claim that Obama hasn't authored, or had a substantive role in authoring, a single piece of legislation during his time in the U.S. Senate and the state senate of Illinois? You "don't recall?" Well, I "don't recall" a single piece of cost-effective, socially beneficial, bipartisan legislature to come out of Congress between 2002 and 2006, but that doesn't make it so.
3. Anti-discrimination and ovrersight in death penalty cases are not the same as anti-police.
4. The oil companies with government permits and contracts are in charge of Alaska's oil.
5. Being the Governor of America's most sparsely populated state is not an adequate prerequisite for the Vice-Presidency. If John McCain were to pass away. This woman would be President. Have you considered that?
6. Being a mother of five children is also not an adequate prerequisite for the Vice-Presidency.
7. Being the mother of a special needs child is commendable, but doesn't qualify you as a hero.
8. Being captured and tortured doesn't make you a hero. It does leave you with permanent and debilitating mental, emotional, and psychological scars.

#4  blacquejacque  9/5/2008 12:11:35 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
"I don't recall..."????
ROFL

#5  pleasemakethemgoaway  9/5/2008 1:26:29 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
The ignorant author of this crap site says "Kucinich, a man that announced that he believes in UFOs, received 27% more votes than Biden." Yeah, Kucinich stayed in the race longer you right wing knuckledragging dumbass.

#6  bd  9/5/2008 4:10:08 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
"If John McCain were to pass away. This woman would be President. Have you considered that?"
yes and that's WHY I am voting for Palin!
Palin2010 (or 11 or 13)
Seriously, I'm pretty sure McCain can last the next 4 years (or more) by then Palin will have had adequate time as VP to become President. Even if something happens to McCain before that, I would still rather see her as President now than Obiteme ever.

#7  american jesus  9/6/2008 3:20:26 PM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
i agree she is the perfect wedge to drive us in the the next great depression and take the Republican party down with her.
she is the perfect conservitive republican too.
drives up deciets, lies about everything she does. does the opsite of what she claims. is willing to go beyond the law to sever her own party's intrests. anti abortion, pro gun and death pentaly. takes bribes from the oil companies. goes well with talking points. care more about self intrests than for america, but still can puts on a happy face and say i love america more than you. hockey mom. pretends to be like the average redneck.
i think 4 more years of republican lies, deception, and economic destruction is just what america needs.
i can't wait until McCain kicks the bucket and she is in charge.
i love her, i love her, i love her.

#8  pcnav  9/7/2008 5:25:43 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
re: 5 pleasemakethemgoaway
So....Your saying Biden is a quitter? Will he quit on Obama?
I hope so.

#9  pcnav  9/7/2008 5:42:00 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
re: 3 GC
Where are your citations for the claim that Obama hasn't authored, or had a substantive role in authoring, a single piece of legislation during his time in the U.S. Senate and the state senate of Illinois? You "don't recall?" Well, I "don't recall" a single piece of cost-effective, socially beneficial, bipartisan legislature to come out of Congress between 2002 and 2006, but that doesn't make it so. If John McCain were to pass away. This woman would be President. Have you considered that? Being captured and tortured doesn't make you a hero. It does leave you with permanent and debilitating mental, emotional, and psychological scars.

Never mind the citations, can you produce any news articles when Obama took a stand on anything controversial? His claim to have "crossed the isle" was for issues that were common sense to most, IE not opposed by democrat or republican. As for the 02 to 06 period I recall the democrats stalling tactics during that period but guess what? That congress had a higher approval rating than that lead by Pelosi and Reid. As for Palin being president if McCain passes away, I worry more if McCain doesn't win this election. We could have a president that is a) a closet racist due to links to Jeremiah Wright. b) a criminal due to links with Tony Rezko or c) a radical due to links with William Ayers and Khalid Al Mansour. As for the captured and tortured comment unless you have been there you will never know. However just because hollywood tries to play off Obama as this countries savior doesn't make that so either. Obama is the most unqualified candidate for president in recent history

#10  pcnav  9/7/2008 5:44:36 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
re: 7 american jesus
i agree she is the perfect wedge to drive us in the the next great depression and take the Republican party down with her.she is the perfect conservitive republican too.drives up deciets, lies about everything she does. does the opsite of what she claims. is willing to go beyond the law to sever her own party's intrests. anti abortion, pro gun and death pentaly. takes bribes from the oil companies. goes well with talking points. care more about self intrests than for america, but still can puts on a happy face and say i love america more than you. hockey mom. pretends to be like the average redneck.i think 4 more years of republican lies, deception, and economic destruction is just what america needs.i can't wait until McCain kicks the bucket and she is in charge.i love her, i love her, i love her.

And that is why the democrats are commonly known as the party of retreat and beat feet to defeat. Run away! Run away!

#11  pcnav  9/7/2008 5:46:02 AM  [ comment reply quote ]    report    top
re: 4 blacquejacque
"I don't recall..."????ROFL

So your name is Ralph? I think you misspelled it though....

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