Comments on: Setting The Record: Palin's Earmarks

CBS Evening News: Reality Checking The Alaska Governor's "Bridge To Nowhere" Claims

[gkilcup]

I suppose CBS is to be commended for catching
up with this story only a few days after the blogs.
BUT ... notice how they credulously relate that
"McCain ... is not on record ever landing an earmark."
The proof?! McCain said so.
Give CBS some more time and they may eventually
catch up with the blogs on this falsehood too.
To me, it is simply breathtaking how uninformed these guys are. There are so few reporters left.

[sparks224]

"I told Congress ''thanks but no thanks,'' to that bridge to nowhere,"
"I''ll just take the $233 Million insead."

When you create a false impression, isn''t that the same as lying?

Thou shalt not bear false witness.

[rights4all]

Is it another media bashing of Palin?
You cannot blame Gov Palin to divert the funds for other deserving projects. It is her job and her commitment to her state.
The reporter should know that every municipality, educational institution, etc., can apply for earmarks. Only people working in the private sector do not know about earmarks. Those working in the public sector know about earmarks. Your congressperson would not be doing his/her job if he/she does not help to bring fundings to the constituency, and earmarks is the easiest way. You should blame the govt and congress for this so-called unethical method because small towns and institutions from insignificant states would find it difficult to get funding through regular grants. This is because these pencil pushers in govt prefer to fund high profile projects and leave the crumbs to small town projects. Savvy municipal administrators and university presidents now hire lobbyists to get earmarks. At work, we are even told to come up with projects to present to the lobbyists for consideration for earmarks. Of course, some are just wasted but there are also projects that deserve these earmarks. It is a fact of life. In this dog eats dog world, it is obvious that powerful senators can bring home a lot of bacon. Without earmarks, I wonder how McCain is helping his state to get govt fundings.

[obbcbs]

Rather than let McCain and Palin get away with their lie, anchor John Roberts played a videotape of Sarah Palin in a 2006 gubernatorial debate in which she endorsed the bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island
saying, "I''m not going to stand in the way of progress that our congressional delegation and the position of strength that they have right now." In September, 2006, Palin showed up in Ketchikan on her gubernatorial campaign and said the bridge was essential for the town''s prosperity."

the media is at fault for letting Palin and McCain get away with "flat out lies."

[element51]

dburfears.....Yes, she is a liar. She lied about the bridge to nowhere money, she lied about selling the jet on Ebay, she is lying about using her office to fire a public employee for personal reasons...and what else, we don''t know yet. And the republicans will keep her away from the media unless the questions will be softball stuff like I expect to see later this week when she is set to be on national television alone. And your comment about the middle class is right on. There is a movement to destroy the middle class and she will be right up front to do her part. I have always had my doubts about the collective IQ of the American people but those doubts are starting to disolve. What about the issues? The things that really affect all of us? Does anyone really care? I''m beginning to think not.

[dburfears]

Under Palin Alaska received 12 TIMES THE EARMARKS of the rest of the U.S.

Yes- 12 TIMES THE EARMARKS.

Palin is just a LIAR.

Palin is LYING TO YOU.

A LIAR. PERIOD.

[element51]

When George Bush started his run for the White House back in the late 90''s the first time I saw him a red flag went up. The last eight years have confirmed that my feeling was justified. That feeling is even stronger about Sarah Palin. There is something about this woman that just isn''t quite right. At this point, I don''t know enough about her to see it but I can feel it. I do know that she has lied from the moment she first appeared but the media have given her a complete pass and no one has asked hard questions except for Campbell Brown and she got no answers at all. It remains to be seen how she will wash out after closer examination. Biden will have to be very careful because if he is percieved as being to tough the republicans will claim that he was being unfair to a woman and if he is not tough enough they will say that he is weak. Tough spot to be in. I believe that given the opportunity this woman will trample all over the constitution and set civil rights back 100 years. I also believe that all you ladies out there would see your rights evaporate into thin air. Her policies would be set by the Bible, her Bible, and that does not bode will for our form of government. And you gay folks out there would all be ordered into treatment to rid you of your disease. If that''s what you all want, this is America, go for it. But I truly believe you will come to rue the day you made this decision.

[dburfears]

She''s a liar.

She''s a liar.

She''s a liar.

What else do people need to know? Or is she just so "American Idol" that the flaccid moronic American trailer trash culture will just HAVE TO vote for her?

If McPalin gets in, American middle class will get what it deserves, a hot poker up the a__. "Better smile and say you like it".

[nearl4511]

McCain at $0 in pork. Well....maybe last year.

His three famous pork projects were in 1993, 2003 and 2006.

Most infamous was a favor that he did to grant money for a "buffer zone" around an AZ base to promote Suncor. This one even got Ted Steven''s attention, who ribbed McCain with "pork, the other white meat."

[paxpi]

Nearl4511,

It''s news because Palin/McCain keep repeating it over and over again and it''s a lie. If they were honest... well... that might be news too.

[samthetvcat]

What seems to be getting lost in the coverage of who''s more ''pure'' when it comes to earmarks, which to me seems like a total farce of a debate to begin with, is the angle of power/abuse-of-power/responsibility.

Because like who''s in charge of the Federal Budget? Governors are in charge of looking out for their States. If they can secure Federal money for in-State projects given that their constituents pay Federal taxes, is there a moral obligation to NOT ask for money? Are there any Governors who don''t? What do their constituents think of that Governor if there are? I would guess that Governor''s constituents think that person is a putz.

As for Senators, I''m not exactly sure where their loyalties like - are they supposed to be representing their State in Federal matters, or are they Federal representatives, or is it both and what trumps what when those loyalties are in conflict?

And who exactly is it who ultimately decides which earmarks are granted and which are rejected? Which politicians have influence to that decision, and is there a conflict of interest there?

I don''t know - just seems like this whole discussion is more political than idealistic . . .

[stevekelson-2009]

CBS is doing the best job of any network on taking these people to task. Keep it up!

[paxpi]

Nearl4511,

It''s news because Palin/McCain keep repeating it over and over again and it''s a lie. If they were honest... well... that might be news too.

[brucedawson2]

Clinton and Obama as #1 and #2? Uh, no. Cochran and Stevens are #1 and #2, among senators, with $892.2 million and $469.4 million respectively. Given the tiny population of Alaska, and its massive oil revenue, Senator Stevens'' record is particularly abysmal.

See for yourself here:

http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/Senate_-_dollar.pdf?docID=3024

[noboundary]

To be fair, the total dollars earmarked should be normalized over the state''s population - i.e., present as dollars spent per person. To be even more fair, we need to know what the money was really spent for. Then let each one willing to read make their own judgment.

[paulstewart9]

It is about time the media came out with the facts for a change rather than parroting "he said" and "she said".

Facts are facts folks. You can''t put lipstick on a pig.

[prohb]

Sarah Palin is George Bush with lipstick!

[jonesforch]

Citizens Against Government Waste have just issued their annual "Pig" book which reports on who spent what on pork barrel projects in a given fiscal year. Here''s how things stand up for the most recent fiscal period:

11,610 pork barrel projects were inserted into current fiscal year appropriation bills by individual members of Congress (who, BTW, are the only people who can request an earmark). The #1 and #2 positions are held by Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama, respectively.

#1 requester of earmarks: Hillary Clinton (D) NY - inserted 281 individual spending projects into bills for the benefit of NY interests at the cost of taxpayers everywhere = $296.2 million dollars of tax payer funds.

#2 reqeuster of earmarks: Barrack Obama (D) IL - inserted 53 individual spending projects into bills for the benefit of IL interests at the cost of taxpayers everywhere = $97.4 million dollars of taxpayer funds.

Ron Paul (R) TX - was also mentioned with 8 earmarks at a cost of $22 million dollars to the tax payers of the US.

John McCain (R) AZ - was noted for having 0 earmarks at a cost of $0.00 to the American public.

[kesac4650]

The article seems to want to confuse "earmarks" with legitimate appropriations.

[nearl4511]

The article seems accurate, but is hardly news. We''ve been blogging back and forth on this for days.