Over the weekend we had the rumors that Palin's latest child, Trig, actually belonged to her eldest daughter Bristol. That gained a lot of steam among the left wing blogosphere even though it was pretty thoroughly debunked.
Yesterday we had the revelation that Palin's daughter is actually pregnant (which according to some is a brilliant Karl Rove tactic to distract from the fact that Trig is actually Bristol's). The attacks here were predictable - How can Palin be Vice President when she can't even control her own daughter, look how whitetrash this family is mom and daughter pregnant at the same (some even suggesting it was by the same guy while the dad was off fishing), etc. Some do make the legitimate point that Palin is for abstinence education and her own daughter is pregnant and that tends to cast doubt on her policies. OK, like I said it is a legitimate complaint, but I don't know how accurate it is given that Palin is pro-contraception and that Alaska follows the comprehensive sex education curriculum, basically bang who you want as much as you want just use a condom. (Palin may personally oppose such education but as near as I can tell from googling that is the plan in use in Alaska.)
Now today comes an article by MSNBC questioning Palin's credentials as a fiscal conservative
Palin's small town secured big federal funds
As mayor, VP pick obtained millions in funds, a tactic McCain has criticized
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group.
There was $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, $900,000 for sewer repairs, and $15 million for a rail project -- all intended to benefit Palin's town, Wasilla, located about 45 miles north of Anchorage.
...
"She certainly wasn't shy about putting the old-boy network to use to bring home millions of dollars," said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "She's a little more savvy to the ways of Washington than she's let on."
which tends to rebut the inexperience argument
Maria Comella, Palin's campaign spokeswoman, said Palin sought the Wasilla earmarks because she was "working in the best interests of Alaska, working within the confines of the current system."
Palin became a staunch reform advocate after her 2003 appointment to the state's Oil and Gas Commission. She accused another commissioner -- Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich -- of raising campaign contributions from industries he was regulating. "She realized that the environment around her was no longer what it once was, and elected officials were abusing their power," Comella said.
...
In February, Palin's office sent Sen. Stevens a 70-page memo outlining almost $200 million worth of new funding requests for Alaska.
This charge is a little more damaging as far as I am concerned, but not especially so. The article notes that 5 years ago she decided earmarks were harmful and changed course on them. Yay, for her.
The 70 page list would cause me concern if it is actually a request for earmarks and not a request for projects that would go through the normal budget process. And let's be honest here, although the earmark process is bad and needs to be done away with not all individual earmarks are bad. If that list is solely earmarks I would be about 99.9% ready to condemn it but I would still want to see the individual projects to make up my mind on the final .1%.
For the record, I tried to find a copy of the memo or a list of the request's Palin made in February on the Taxpayers for Common Sense website, but was unable too. If any of my vast reading audience of 1.5 people should have better luck let me know and I will be happy to update this post.
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