Palin Suggests Obama Is A Socialist

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Sarah Palin

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.) Sarah Palin issued a scathing new line of attack on Barack Obama's tax plan at a rally here, citing an interview he gave as an Illinois state senator in 2001 as evidence that he favors socialist policies that fly in the face of the Constitution.

"It was just the other day that a tape of an interview from 2001 turned up, and there he was talking about the need for quote 'redistributive change,'" Palin said. "And Sen. Obama said that—he said that he regretted--he regretted that the Supreme Court hadn't been more radical and he described the court's refusal to take up the issues of redistribution of wealth as a tragedy and he said that he also regretted that the Supreme Court did not break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers there in the Constitution, that's a quote."

Palin said that voters have to ask themselves whether Obama—a former Constitutional law professor—would like to rewrite the Constitution and questioned what kinds of Supreme Court justices he would appoint.

"Our opponent's ideological commitment to spread the wealth around—taking more from you—spreading it around, it's been tried in other societies, friends," Palin said. "And the only things that ever spread were scarcity and poverty and bureaucracy and stifling the entrepreneurial spirit that made this country the greatest country on earth."

Palin next accused Obama of wanting judges to confiscate people's property.

"And let me remind Barack Obama of something else. When judges don't confiscate your property and your hard m-- all of your hard earned money and then redistribute that, he may call that a tragedy, but I call it fairness and adherence to our U.S. Constitution," she said.

Asked whether Palin was suggesting that Obama favors economic policies similar to those of Communist countries, Palin's traveling press secretary Tracey Schmitt wrote in an email message, "No she said what she said."

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by stgo-2009 October 29, 2008 4:05 AM EDT: To MDM4REAL, the Savior didn''t then put a gun to the head of the rich young man and force him to give all he had to the poor. He didn''t call down the powers of Rome to force him to do so. To compare the words of Jesus to a secular power like the US government just doesn''t wash.; Reply to this comment


by lightnin001 October 29, 2008 3:10 AM EDT: For any of you that haven''t heard Obama''s 2001 "Wealth Redistribution" taped comments for yourselves, here''s the direct You Tube link so you can. You SHOULD! It''s consistent with his recent "Joe the Plumber" comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivL4c_3pck; Reply to this comment


by dementedmonk October 29, 2008 2:39 AM EDT: dragonfly4u:

Bad troll. +1 for effort, but -1 for drunken spelling and -2 for obvious racism. Remember folks, don''t feed the trolls.; Reply to this comment


by checkthefact October 29, 2008 1:47 AM EDT: I would not buy into a single statement the right-wingers are putting out about anything unless it can be thoroughly documented. This is because they have come to be known as ''smear artists'' for their Lee Atwater and Carl Rove low-life tactics and trickery. Palin spouts and spreads smears with every speech! Everyone needs to vote No on McCain and Palin....The very idea of diva/bimbo Palin anywhere near the White House is frightening!; Reply to this comment


by lucy20081 October 29, 2008 1:40 AM EDT: Mrs. Palin is sure talking hooey. Mrs. Palin is just a cartoon character talking to her base, but she may not understand how ridiculous she sounds and looks-- Daisy Duck with a doggy grin. Weird and surreal stuff. Wacko stuff. She talks socialism like what she does in Alaska taking from the oil companies and distributing to her constituents. She''s a big generater - one of the biggest- of earmark funding for Alaska. The biggest per capita funding in the country. Mrs. Palin takes from all of the citizens of the United States and provides goodies for Alaska''s citizens like the Bridge (rather Road) to Nowhere, and other boondoggles that bring money and job to Alaska but take my money. Now that is socialism that Mrs. Palin understands. Distribution of wealth from the lower states to Alaska. My, my, there is a reason Mrs. Palin wears all that red clothing. She is a socialist, communist red herself.; Reply to this comment


by rjbunny October 29, 2008 1:34 AM EDT: Palin doesn''t know what socialism is.
Obama''s tax proposal allows Bush/McCain''s giant tax give away to the upper 2% to expire. Trickle down has to be coupled with some trickle up. If people can''t buy, no hiring is going to take place.; Reply to this comment


by wapotank October 29, 2008 1:34 AM EDT: Palin has it right. Obama is a socialist, but she forgot to add anti-white, closet Muslim amd Marxist. Obam is *** and you get what you vote for. I will be here everyday to remind everyone. Might as well take down the flag with Obama. He will sell us out.; Reply to this comment


by rjbunny October 29, 2008 1:30 AM EDT: Palin doesn''t know what socialism is.
Obama''s tax proposal allows Bush/McCain''s giant tax give away to the upper 2% to expire. Trickle down has to be coupled with some trickle up. If people can''t buy, no hiring is going to take place.; Reply to this comment


by wobbly1111 October 29, 2008 12:51 AM EDT: With our current government essentially nationalizing financial institutions, isn''t that a first step towards socialism...?; Reply to this comment


by jollyjohnson October 29, 2008 12:19 AM EDT: I bet Palin does not even know the defintion for the word socialist. McCain/Palin have run what is probably the most sleazy presidential campaign EVER! A non-stop smears and mudslinging campaign of the negative, the devisive and fearmongering. The ''whispers and rumors campaign'' being waged on the internet by the right-wing fanatics is beyond sleazy, it is the realm of hatemongering! When Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States be specifically stated he trusts Obama''s judgement. Powell also sited Palin''s lack of good judgement and the negative tone of the McCain/Scary-Palin campaign as reasons for his endorsement of Obama.; Reply to this comment