Chris Wallace Fact-Checks Sarah Palin’s Bogus ‘Bridge To Nowhere’ Claims

[cal04]

Since accepting Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) offer to be his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) has lied about her supposed opposition to the Bridge to Nowhere in nearly every single campaign appearance:

Palin claimed she “championed reform of earmark spending by Congress, and I told the Congress thanks but no thanks on that ‘Bridge to Nowhere,’” she said, ommiting mention that she’d campaigned for governor supporting the bridge. (Albuquerque, NM, 9/6/08)

PALIN: And I’ve championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that “Bridge to Nowhere.” (Dayton, OH, 8/29/08)

PALIN: I told the Congress “thanks, but no thanks,” for that Bridge to Nowhere. (St. Paul, MN, 9/3/08)

This is demonstrably false. Campaigning for governor, Palin visited the town of Ketchikan to promise action on the bridge. She “said the bridge was essential for the town’s prosperity,” and that “she could feel the town’s pain at being derided as a ‘nowhere’ by prominent politicians.” She said the time to secure the funding was now, “while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.”

Today on Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace tried to pin down a straight answer on Palin’s bridge position from McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. When Davis refused to acknowledge Palin’s misleading statements, Wallace detailed her support for millions of dollars in earmarks, including the bridge:

WALLACE: During her 1.5, 2 years as Governor, Alaska continued to get more federal money for pork-barrel projects per capita than any state in the country and…she supported the Bridge to Nowhere. And it was only after the federal government dropped it out, killed it, the Congress killed it that she then opposed it. And in fact she still got the money for the approach, the ramp to the Bridge to Nowhere.

Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/07/palin-bridge-fact-check/

[MNBrewer]

1. Does Chris Wallace have a shred of decency?

Taking on Republican lies may indicate that he does.

[iamjoy]

5. It's Personal

The media may be annoyed with McSame.

I think they're annoyed because none of them expected him to pick Palin, so now they look dumb talking about how it would be Romney or Pawlenty, etc.

I think they're annoyed because he is restricting access to Palin.

I think in the end, they will come around. They like McCain. They adore Palin and absence makes the heart grow fonder. Right now they're just trying to show he can't take them for granted, but they'll come around - they won't level any serious hits, just enough to give credence to the "liberal media" claim.

[unblock]

11. they liked him mostly because he was so chatty and chummy with them

now that they're trying to control mcgaffe, and falin for that matter, they don't have that kind of access and they're pissed at having their toys taken away.

[Snotcicles]

6. Maybe they are starting to realize that if McCain / Palin win, America will no longer be. nt

[treestar]

12. I wonder if those "reporters" ever stop to think

That as people who blab on the public airwaves, they will be very vulnerable to accusations of failures of deference. They want to think they are powerful opinion shapers. So should they help in the regime that will just treat them as lackeys and propaganda-mongers? And find ways to punish them for failing to do that?

I wonder if any of them have the brains to see that.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Wow, that's BIG. They must even be afraid of her religious extremism....

They don't mind that Bush and McCain are pandering to the evangelical extremists, but her being ONE OF THEM must give pause to even the right-wing media.

[williesgirl]

3. Obama needs to put this clip in an ad - rec'd

[rurallib]

4. Is Wallace's contract nearly up at FUX?

He's been acting like a real reporter lately. Must be burnishing those creds for a chance to dump out of FUX.

[lonestarnot]

7. Coming undone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck4J-jcqkMo

[The Straight Story]

8. She is like another nancy pelosi 'I support impeachment until I am elected'

If there is one thing I've learned - politicians lying is no longer news :rofl:

[Swede]

9. Well good for him.

What's coming down the pike,I wonder?

[vanlassie]

10. Hmmm...very interesting point. What is Faux news trying to position themselves

for? Do they have knowledge of her that will soon make them want to be disassociated?

[lonestarnot]

13. Teee heeee implossion fast track!

[Fuzz]

14. Palin's church is praying for the demons to be cast out of Wallace

right now.

[lonestarnot]

15. Seance tonight! calling bigdickoilcheney. Night of the living dead.