ABC World News with Charles Gibson - Originally Broadcast 09/11/08

ABC 20/20 Special Edition with Charles Gibson - Originally Broadcast 09/12/08

A New Kind of Crazy
The Continual Denial of Reality
In an attempt to deflect any residual blame for her shortcomings as a politician on the national stage, Governor Sarah Palin sat down with John Ziegler recently -- who was good enough to leak a portion of the interview on YouTube. While the media fawned over the footage for a day, this stunt allowed him to garner a day’s worth of undeserved exposure for his forthcoming political hit piece. For those of you looking for a little background on John Ziegler, i’ll refer you to this great post by Nathan Silver over at 538.com (An Interview with John Ziegler on the Zogby "Push Poll").

Then, below John Ziegler wanted to assure everyone knew he wasn’t grateful for his undeserved exposure, by attempting

Party: Republican
Current Office: Governor
Office Seeking: Vice President
First Elected: 11/07/2006
Last Elected: 11/07/2006
Next Election: 2010

Education:
BA, Communications/Journalism, University of Idaho, 1987.

Education:
JD, Yale University, 1973
BA, Wellesley College, 1969.

Professional Experience:
Media
Utilities.

Professional Experience:
Attorney, Rose Law Firm, 1976-1992
Faculty, University of Arkansas Law School, 1975
Author
Former Staff Attorney, Children's Defense Fund.

Political Experience:
Governor, Alaska, 2006-present
Former President, Alaska Conference of Mayors
Former Mayor/Manager, Wasilla City
Former Council Member, Wasilla City Council.

Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 2000-present
First Lady, President Bill Clinton, 1992-2000
First Lady, State of Arkansas, 1978-1980, 1982-1992.

Organizations:
Member, Alaska Miners Association
Member, Alaska Outdoor Council
Member, Alaska Resource Development Council
Member, Chambers of Commerce (Various)
Member, Iditarod Parent-Teacher Association
Member, National Rifle Association
Member, Valley Hospital Association Board
Coach/Hockey Team Manager, Valley Youth Sports
Member, Youth Court Steering Committee
Former Member, American Management Association
Former Member, Salvation Army Board.

Organizations:
Co-Founder, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Board Member, Arkansas Children's Hospital
Board Member, Children's Defense Fund
Board Member, La Farge
Board Member, The Country's Best Yogurt Company
Board Member, Wal-Mart.

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees:
Chairman, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 03-04
Former Member, Alaska Municipal League Board
Chair, Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission
Vice Chair, National Governors Assoc Natural Resources Cmt.

On the issues: (It’s important to note that Governor Palin’s stances on various issues are difficult to determine, most all of these appeared on her website palinforgovernor.com)

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees:
American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession
Chair, Arkansas Educational Standards Committee
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Co-Chair, Congressional E-911 Caucus
Democratic Policy Committee
Democratic Technology and Communications Committee
Board Member, Legal Services Corporation
Senate National Guard Caucus
Senate Rural Health Caucus
Senate Steel Caucus
Chair, Steering and Coordination Committee
Chair, Task Force of National Health Care Reform.

IDEOLOGY:
 “I am a conservative Republican, a firm believer in free market capitalism.”

IDEOLOGY:
 I prefer the word progressive, which has a real American meaning, going back to the progressive era in the beginning of the 20th century".

GUNS:
 “I am a lifetime member of the NRA, I support our Constitutional right to bear arms.”

GUNS:
 “We need to stand firm on behalf of sensible gun control legislation. We have to enact laws that will keep guns out of the hand of children and criminals and mentally unbalanced persons. I realize the NRA is a formidable political group; but I believe the American people are ready to come together as a nation and do whatever it takes to keep guns away from people who shouldn't have them.”

CHURCH AND STATE:
 In response to a question about religious leaders endorsing political candidates, Palin said, "Faith is very important to so many of us here in America, and I would never support any government effort to stifle our freedom of religion or freedom of expression or freedom of speech."
 ADDENDUM (Proclamation) – “In October of 2007, she signed the "Christian Heritage Week" Proclamation which “reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage.“
ADDENDUM (Proclamation) – “She also declared the week of November 18-25, 2007 as Bible Week in Alaska, stating: "since the earliest days of our democracy, Americans have turned to the Bible for divine guidance, comfort, and encouragement." & “the National Bible Association reminds Alaskans and people of all faiths of the Bible's unique place in American life.”

CHURCH AND STATE:
At an April 2008 candidates' forum on faith and compassion, Clinton said that "we want religion to be in the public square. If you are a person of faith, you have a right and even an obligation to speak from that wellspring of your faith." She also said that “our obligation as leaders in America is to make sure that any conversation about religion is inclusive and respectful.
  ADDENDUM (Religious Symbols) – During her 2000 U.S. Senate campaign, Clinton argued that allowing teachers to post the Ten Commandments in schools was a violation of the Constitution.
  ADDENDUM (Prayer in Schools) – "Students may participate in individual or group prayer during the school day, as long as they do so in a non-disruptive manner and when they are not engaged in school activities or instruction." & "They may also teach civic values and virtue in the moral code that binds us together as a community, so long as they remain neutral with respect to the promotion of any specific religion."

MILITARY:
 “I respect our military personnel and understand the importance of Alaska's National Guard. As I watched our military men and women being deployed I recognized how important it is for their families to know how much Alaska and America support them.”
  ADDENDUM (Iraq) – “In an interview with Alaska Business Monthly shortly after she took office in 2007, Palin was asked about the upcoming surge. She said she hadn't thought about it. "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq,"
  ADDENDUM (Iraq) – “In a recent BusinessWeek interview, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) admitted that she believes the Iraq war was fought because of oil: "We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources."
  ADDENDUM (Iraq/God) – “Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.
"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
  ADDENDUM (Bush Doctrine) – Palin Is Unaware Of The Bush Doctrine. During an interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson, Palin was stumped about the Bush Doctrine, thinking it was the President’s “worldview.”

MILITARY:
 “Wants to end the war in Iraq and remove the majority of troops from the region, but says the U.S.’s national security interests in the region require a minimal amount of troops to stay in Iraq. She cites Iraq’s proximity to Iran, al Qaida, oil and the relationship we’ve forged with the Kurds as reasons that troops are still needed in Iraq. However she does not want to establish a permanent presence in Iraq; she is against the installation of bases as well.”
  ADDENDUM (Bush Doctrine) – During the debate before the vote for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution: "My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world."

HEALTH CARE:
 “I support flexibility in government regulations that allow competition in health care that is needed, and is proven to be good for the consumer, which will drive down health care costs and reduce the need for government subsidies.”
  ADDENDUM (multiple): – “According to an October 2006 profile in the Anchorage Daily News, Palin opposes stem cell research, physician-assisted suicide, and state health benefits for same-sex partners.”

HEALTH CARE:
 “Everyone should have exceptionable and affordable health care regardless of their preexisting conditions. There are three parts to health care reform: lowering costs, improving quality and making sure everyone is insured. ”

SOCIAL ISSUES:
 “I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.”
ADDENDUM (Roe v. Wade) – “Gibson: Roe v. Wade, do you think it should be reversed? Palin: I think it should and I think states should be able to decide that issue.”
ADDENDUM (abortion): – “In a gubernatorial debate, Palin stated emphatically that her opposition to abortion was so great, so total, that even if her teenage daughter was impregnated by a rapist, she would "choose life" -- meaning apparently that she would not permit her daughter to have an abortion.”
  ADDENDUM (abortion): – “Just like McCain, Palin opposes a woman’s right to choose. Palin has also stated her opposition to abortion even in cases of rape or incest.”
ADDENDUM (abstinence only edu.) – “Palin backed abstinence-only education during her 2006 gubernatorial race. In an Eagle Forum Alaska questionnaire, Palin gave this response to the following question: Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

SOCIAL ISSUES:
 “Every woman should have the right to choose whether to have an abortion. Because such a choice is difficult for women, there should be a means of support for those who do choose abortions and support for those who make alternative decisions.”
  ADDENDUM (abortion) – “Clinton says that "abortion should remain legal, but it needs to be safe and rare." Abortion rights are protected by the Constitution, she has said, but the government should actively try to minimize the number of abortions through better sex education and improved access to birth control.”
  ADDENDUM (Roe v. Wade) – Clinton says that, if elected president, she will "appoint judges to our courts who understand that Roe v. Wade isn't just binding legal precedent, it is the touchstone of our reproductive freedom, the embodiment of our most fundamental rights."

ENVIRONMENT:
“I believe in protecting Alaska's environment through fair enforcement of our environmental laws. Having a clean record on environmental regulation is critical to getting ANWR open and maintaining our fisheries mining, timber, and tourism industries.”
  ADDENDUM (global warming) – In an interview released today by Newsmax, Gov. Palin was asked for her “take on global warming and how is it affecting our country.” “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location,” Palin said, adding, “I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.”
  ADDENDUM (global warming) – In an interview with a Fairbanks newspaper within the last year, Palin said: "I'm not an Al Gore, doom-and-gloom environmentalist blaming the changes in our climate on human activity." ABC cited the interview as being at odds with her statement.
  CHANGE IN POSITION (global warming) – Sarah Palin's remarks on climate change to Charles Gibson in a recent interview conflicted with her previous position. Palin told Gibson, "I believe that man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change."

ENVIRONMENT:
“The U.S. should become clean and alternative energy friendly by the year 2020. The first step in transforming the U.S. from energy-dependent to energy-independent: a strategic energy fund backed by profits from oil companies that would invest in the implementation of clean and alternative energy. Environmentally sound practices can be propelled by the creation of jobs that employ green practices. Big tax breaks for oil companies should come to an end.”
  ADDENDUM (global warming) – "Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution. I will reassert American leadership on global warming in the international arena and press for global commitments to emissions reductions that can prevent the most dire impacts from occurring. I will do so by taking full advantage of the on-going international negotiation process, augmented by focused discussions with major trading partners, including the G- 8, China and India. We will not be successful on the international front, however, unless the U.S. demonstrates our nation's commitment to combating climate change by putting domestic constraints on greenhouse gas emissions and by stepping up America's investments in a clean energy future."