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Palin's Mixed Messages on Patriotism

October 18, 2008 10:32 AM

She makes strong charges.

"Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

But then yesterday to a smaller audience of reporters she said, "I know Obama loves America. I'm sure that is why he's running for president. It's because he wants to do what he believes is in the best interest of this great nation. I believe that our ticket can do a better job for America. But I don't question at all Barack Obama's love for this great country."

Same with the patriotism implications she's made of wide swaths of Americans.

"We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation," she said this week in North Carolina. "This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans. Those who are running our factories and teaching our kids and growing our food and are fighting our wars for us. Those who are protecting us in uniform. Those who are protecting the virtues of freedom."

But, again, when asked to explain why some areas of the country are more "pro-America" than others, she backed off.

"Every area, every area across this great country where we're stopping and where also the other ticket is stopping and getting to speak at these rallies and speak with the good Americans, it's all pro-America," Palin said. "I was just reinforcing the fact that there, where I was, there's good patriotic people there in these rallies, so excited about positive change and reform of government that's coming that they are so appreciative of hearing our message, hearing our plan."

Hmmm.

- jpt

October 18, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (169)

User Comments

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Are you Reps, Crazy? What do you call the Govmnt. buying bad debt from major markets? Is this the Capitalism you guys live for? Boy you conservative people are not only dumb but you wallow in dumbness. Lord have mercy on us all. McCain/Palin, we will all need help if you fools have your way another year. How much of your retirement have you lost? I'm down about $30,000.

Posted by: chucky | Oct 18, 2008 8:49:10 PM

... "the whole of America loves her.."

famous last words.

Posted by: val | Oct 18, 2008 7:49:43 PM

In some ways, Palin is the perfect running mate. Because she has no ethical boundaries, she will do ANYTHING that the RNC strategists ask of her.

"Sarah, we need you to accuse Obama of being a foreign-born, christian-hating, terrorist sympathizer. Will do you this?" "You betcha!"

"Sarah, we need you to convince America that they should be afraid of a black man living in the White House. Can we count on you to sell this message?" "You're darn right you can!"

Well, fortunately the American people are not buying the hate-filled rhetoric that Palin is selling.

To borrow a famous line by Aaron Sorkin used in "The American President": "We've got serious problems, and we need serious people.....this is a time for serious people, (Sarah), and your fifteen minutes are up."

Posted by: labman57 | Oct 18, 2008 7:32:36 PM

The real question is does Todd Palin and the rest of the Alaskan Independence Party love America?

Posted by: Targaray | Oct 18, 2008 7:10:09 PM

In the U.S. profits are privatized and losses are socialized. Bush and McCain ruined this country with their war and their hands off attitude towards the rich bankers and oil barons.

Posted by: tim | Oct 18, 2008 5:41:57 PM

No reason to wonder, she is getting slapped back with her involvement with the Alaskan Independence Party.

Kind of hard to slam someone for being anti-American when you are married to a guy who wants Alaska to secede from the union.

Posted by: Rally | Oct 18, 2008 4:43:07 PM

Vicious, ignorant people call people who disagree with themselves "terrorists". That's the only thing we've learned during the last eight years.

Posted by: US Citizen | Oct 18, 2008 4:20:24 PM

In the world of the intolerant nutjob that Sara Palin is anyone who does not vote for the Republican is a traitor and anyone in predominantly liberal, tolerant and progressive areas are Ant-America. Also, what would it make her husband who was part of the Alaska Independance Party and she even spoke at their conference. That would make the Palin family the biggest TRAITORS in the land.

Posted by: feminist50 | Oct 18, 2008 4:03:03 PM

If she "knows" Obama loves this country, why is she saying just the opposite? That's all one has to ask. If you have any common sense, then you know her speeches are being written for her, she has no qualms about lying to the American public about her true feelings, and her ambition sprints past any thoughts of us - that's you and me.

What bothers me the most is that she is flat out lying about what she really believes just get what she wants. That tosses my trust of her completely out the window. Imagining how she'll do the same in office, as it appears she already has done as a governor, honestly makes me afraid. McCain and Palin are no different from Bush and Cheney. And we all know how Bush successfully disgraced himself so badly that he's about to replace Hoover in the hall of losers - if he hasn't already.

Posted by: Raz | Oct 18, 2008 4:01:26 PM

Vicious, ignorant people call people who disagree with themselves "terrorists". That's the only thing we've learned during the last eight years.

Posted by: US Citizen | Oct 18, 2008 3:47:53 PM

MCCAIN ,PALIN is ROVE behind these two, the people are sick of BIG MOUTHs, NO action.

Posted by: AIRPLANE | Oct 18, 2008 3:38:04 PM

It appears that Palin and McCain does not want to win on their own merit, ideas and plans.

They rather win by planting division.

Posted by: musicisourhigh | Oct 18, 2008 3:13:30 PM

I think what she was implying is that people in small towns are more isolated and therefore easier to spoon feed. That shows how out of touch she is, small, middle size, or big, all towns have internet and newspapers. I think she thinks small towns in the lower-48 are like small towns in Alaska. Again, her mind is too set in concrete to adjust to any other reality.

Posted by: jrc903 | Oct 18, 2008 2:42:50 PM

The explanation is simple, Sarah Palin will say whatever is on her Teleprompter. If no Teleprompter is available, just string together a semi-coherent sentence utilizing the word Maverick.

Posted by: Pacific moderate | Oct 18, 2008 2:21:16 PM

Sarah Palin is too Ignorant and Ill informed herself and hence when she speaks she has to keep correcting herself!
She has created an atmosphere of fear and divisiveness among those equally illinformed people/subculture who actually believe what she has to say.
The worst people can do is be loyal to a party without thinking about the consequences of platitudes and rhetoric!

Posted by: tkforchange | Oct 18, 2008 2:02:30 PM

karen...

i know you're not gonna back down from my question are you??!!

Posted by: tim | Oct 18, 2008 1:52:35 PM

karen angie? where did ya go??!!

Posted by: tim | Oct 18, 2008 1:48:33 PM

truth reigns...

ok, you got your last word... lol goodbye

Posted by: tim | Oct 18, 2008 1:45:28 PM

Palin would hate Houston. We're big. We're multicultural. But, we are a community that works together. We're a community that loves America.

Palin needs to back to her narrow little world with her narrow little views.

She is clueless about America. Electing her would be like bringing a foreign dictator to rule the US.

Posted by: Jan | Oct 18, 2008 1:44:48 PM

Ah PS Tim: talk about brainwashing: then kindly study Palins church background -------scaaaaaaaaaryyyyyyyy.

"Sarah Palin’s Churches And The Third Wave" on Huffington Postin septembre. Sorry I can't find the link anymore.

And: Palin did break an ethics LAW not a recommendation. It is not yet clear what will happen but something will have to happen. She wanted to fire the ex brother in law to strip him of his income so that her sister could get the full rights for the kids. Very nice person?

The pattern of abuse is visible already in her early career. See salon article.
Ok bye now.........

Posted by: Truth Reigns | Oct 18, 2008 1:44:14 PM

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