<span style='font-size: 14pt'>The Truth About Sarah Palin</span>
TIM DICKINSON
<span style='font-size: 11pt'>Sarah Palin's credentials as a "reformer" are nothing but spin. She has sided with Big Oil, lobbied to increase pork spending and abused her public power to carry out personal
vendettas. Here's a guide to separating myth from fact.
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#1
THE MYTH: "She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay. And made a profit!" "? John McCain, at a campaign stop in Wisconsin
THE FACTS: No one bought the jet online. It was eventually sold through an aircraft broker "? at a loss to taxpayers of nearly $600,000.
#2
THE MYTH: "I told the Congress 'Thanks, but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere." "? Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: Supported the infamous pork project in her 2006 run for governor, even after Congress had killed the bridge; derided its opponents as "spinmeisters." Reversed her stance a year later "? but kept the money, doling out the $223 million in federal funds to other pork projects throughout the state.
#3
THE MYTH: "We ... championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress." "? Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: As mayor, employed a lobbyist who also worked for Jack Abramoff to secure $27 million in pork spending for Wasilla "? more than $4,000 per resident. In her two years as governor, requested $453 million in earmarks. Alaska ranks first in the nation for pork, raking in seven times the national average.
#4
THE MYTH: "I found ... someone who stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money." "? John McCain, introducing Palin
THE FACTS: Signature accomplishment as mayor: building a $15 million hockey arena that plunged the city into debt. Broke ground on the project without finalizing the city's purchase of the land; the resulting fiasco cost Wasilla $1.3 million "? roughly $200 per resident.
#5
THE MYTH: "Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems "? as if we didn't know that already." "? Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: "I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem." "? Sarah Palin, July 2008
#6
THE MYTH: "We began a nearly $40 billion natural-gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." "? Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: With federal approval years away, not a single section of the pipeline has been laid. State could end up paying the pipeline's contractor $500 million "? even if it never breaks ground on the project.
#7
THE MYTH: "She's from a small town with small-town values." "? Fred Thompson, convention speech
THE FACTS: Wasilla and the surrounding valley recently named the meth capital of Alaska, with 42 meth labs busted in a single year.
#8
THE MYTH: Palin has "taken on the political establishment in the largest state of the union." "? Fred Thompson, convention speech
THE FACTS: Served until 2005 as director of fundraising group associated with indicted senator Ted Stevens.
#9
THE MYTH: "She's fought oil companies." "? John McCain, introducing Palin
THE FACTS: Collected $13,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas lobbyists, including Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron. BP was a sponsor of her inaugural ball.
#10
THE MYTH: "She's been to Kuwait. She's been over there. She has been with her troops. The National Guard that she commands, who have been over there and had the experience." "? John McCain, highlighting Palin's national-security credentials
THE FACTS: Never had a passport before 2007, when she made a brief photo-op trip to visit troops in Germany and Kuwait. Has never been to Iraq, and has not met a single foreign head of state.
#11
THE MYTH: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending." "? Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: As governor, sought travel reimbursement for 312 nights she spent in her own home.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics...ut_sarah_palin
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