Well, once we get back to the issues, will the truth be told?
Fighting earmarks is a good and noble cause, one that McCain took up singlehandedly for many years. But, he dropped the ball recently, by portraying Palin as a kindrid spirit in that fight. That argument broke down when it was revealed that Palin not only took earmarks as governor - $200 million just this year; not only that she originally supported earmarks - lauding not only the Bridge to Nowhere, but Alaska's ability to land earmarks; not only that, once the Bridge to Nowhere was cancelled, she did NOT return the money, but spent it on other projects; but that she had a history of fighting for earmark money throughout her career, hiring a lobbyist to grab money while she was mayor of Wasilla.
So, if we're gonna talk issues, let's talk about this issue. McCain continues to lie about her taking earmarks, as recently as yesterday on The View. But, the tickers - yes, even on MSNBC - refuse to use the word 'lie' but said he 'mistakenly said' she never took earmarks. Surely, someone has pointed out to him that the story is false? If not, he IS out of touch. If so, let's call him what he is: a liar.
Note that it was not the Democrats that first pointed out that Palin took the earmarks - like nearly all other politicians - but that McCain and Palin cast her as an equal in the fight on earmarks. They painted a nice picture; problem was, the picture was not true.
We can't talk about issues without talking about the candidates truthfulness on issues. Davis said it was not about issues, but personality. So be it. Let's at least raise the bar high enough to require honesty and integrity as a minimum bar of acceptance to the office. |
