Palin had a lot to say last night, but how much of it was true, and how much was a lie?Thankfully the Associated Press keeps tabs on such a thing. Here are some bits I paraphrased from this article:
PALIN: I protected taxpayers from wasteful spending, and said no to the bridge to nowhere.
FACT: As mayor of that tiny town with less than 9,000 people in it, she was responsible for $27m in earmarks. She has requested $750m as governor; more per capita than any other state.
As for the bridge to nowhere, she only rejected the concept of the $398m bridge to a village with 50 people in it, after the idea became ridiculed on national TV. Prior to that she was for it.
PALIN: Obama has written two books, but not written any major legislation.
FACT: Not true. He has been involved in numerous major bills both at state and national level.
PALIN: Obama plans to raise taxes. (Frankly, someone needs to so we can pay off all the debt Bush has run up)
FACT: A recent study showed that Obama would raise middle class tax by about 5% by 2012, and McCain would raise similar tax by 3% in the same period.
However Obama would increase tax on people and small businesses that make more than $250,000 per year. But he also has plans to give over $80Bn in tax breaks to the poor and needy.
McCAIN: Palin is responsible for 20% of the nation's energy (Alaskan Oil). And runs the largest state in the country.
FACT: She is not really responsible for the oil at all. Just like Bush wasn't responsible for Texan oil when he was governor of Texas. And while Alaska may be physically big, by population it is the 47th largest state.
McCAIN: She's commander of the Alaskan National Guard.
FACT: Not really. There's only about 4,200 of them in Alaska and if they are ever to be deployed, they report to the Defense Department, not her.
HUCKABEE: She got more votes running for Mayor than Joe Biden got running for President of the United States.
FACT: Palin got 616 votes to become mayor. When she ran for re-election she got 909 votes.
Biden got 76,165 votes before dropping out of the race.
ROMNEY: We need change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington.
FACT: George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been in charge of Washington since 2000. Congress only changed to a slight Democratic edge in January 2007. And much of their efforts have been vetoed and blocked by Republicans and the President.
So thanks for all the lies. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. In fact, I'm sold: let's vote old man McCain and his Hockey Mom VP!
