ABC Smears Palin UPDATE: Food for Thought
20/20 is running a special on Palin tonight and they just spent about six minutes smearing Palin, offering no opposition to the claims they made. I’ll have a video later and a more detailed response.
UPDATE: Here’s the video. The smear segment starts at 2:12
I have no problem with a journalist digging up dirt on a candidate, however they must offer an opportunity for the accused to defend themselves, otherwise it’s not solid reporting. Clearly Palin was given no chance to refute these accusations, therefore it was a smear job by ABC.
So, since ABC didn’t give Palin the chance to defend herself, I’ll do the defending.
For starters the whole thing about repeating her RNC speech is ridiculous. It has no relevance to the segment and served no purpose other than to make her look bad.
As Mayor of Wasilla fought for earmarks
Yes, as mayor of Wasilla Palin hired a law firm to lobby congress for money. However, many cities lobby congress and we also have to remember that the act of lobby is not wrong, it’s the abuse of lobbying that is wrong. Lobbying is a way to get our money back and see it go towards good uses, I don’t blame Palin for trying to get money from Washington, I blame the people who earmarked that money for being suckered into it.
You have to remember Palin didn’t earmark that money, some representative or senator did. So we can question if the money went to good use, but then we have to blame the person who earmarked it.
For the Bridge to Nowhere before against it
A communications director for Palin proves my point on this issue…
She changed her mind, he said, when “she saw that Alaska was being perceived as taking from the country and not giving, and that impression bothered her and she wants to change it. … I think that Sarah Palin is someone who has the courage to reevaluate situations as they developed.”
I’m fine with a change of mind so long as you a.) admit that you changed your mind and b.) explain why you changed your mind. Palin admits she changed her mind, the reason she switched positions was for the image of Alaska.
Palin bill per Diem
I’ve already been over this. I think it’s rather shameful for ABC to report something so obviously false. She didn’t charge for lodging while in her own home, she charged for travel and used her home for lodging. Check out the travel records the Post obtained, there’s no amount listed in the lodging column.
Sold the plane but charged the state $43,490 in travel expenses
Uhhh, I’m sure that plane cost more than $43,490. And it sold for millions. Is ABC really arguing that it would have been more monetarily beneficial to keep the plane. That’s absurd. Not to mention the Palin family always flies coach. Or are they arguing the state shouldn’t pay for the first family to be flown around the state? The fact is the first family is the face of Alaska, and there are events that the entire family must attend, and in those instances the state should foot the bill.
Troopergate
Gosh we’ve been over this thousands of times. The trooper in question threatened Palin’s father’s life. I think that’s reason enough to have him fired. And the commissioner has said publicly that neither Palin nor her husband told him to fire the trooper.
Friends won’t endorse
Talk about digging up meaningless dirt. I actually find it rather patriotic that her friend won’t endorse her. For instance, I’ve got several liberal friends, if anyone of them ran for office I probably wouldn’t vote for them, because I don’t agree with their policies. They’re still my friends, but I have certain political beliefs. Digging up friends that haven’t made up their mind and then broadcasting it as if Palin is some extremist is low. Not to mention we’re not even certain how good of friends Palin as this woman are. ABC conveniently left out how long they’ve known each other.
UPDATE: A couple links for you guys to ponder
Key points were edited out of the ABC interview. Here’s a transcript comparison
Charlie Gibson lobbed softballs at Obama, here’s a question comparison.
–jb
