Sarah Palin's 18 Million Cracks –Repackaging McCain As An Agent of Change

Sarah "Barracuda" Palin attempts to steal the ball from an opponent in high school. Sarah Palin has demonstrated how closely the McCain campaign is tied to the Bush administration. Her attack speech on Wednesday night was penned by former Bush speechwriter Matthew Scully. The speech switched gears from pushing McCain's experience to appropriating Obama's message of change. Sarah Palin read the material in a mocking and sarcastic manner -- with all the acquired aplomb of an experienced TV personality. Below are a few of the cracks she made at the expense of the Obama team -- ten million more to go? PALIN: “There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform – not even in the state senate.” Known as the backhand compliment, this tactic is designed to raise your opponent above your head before you slam them to the ground. On the other hand, it is instructive to learn that the McCain campaign will lie to the American people with the same impunity that the Bush administration displays. One major bill that Barack Obama co-sponsored with Republican Senator Richard Lugar is now law. In Dec. 2006, the Senate passed the Lugar-Obama bill to restrict the global spread of conventional weapons. PALIN: “The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.” The usual refrain from Republicans, who accuse democrats of "taxing and spending" – well we know who the real spenders are, because everytime a Republican gets elected, they proceed to grow the deficit, borrow from Peter (China) to pay Paul (Iraq war) and put this country in debt, while reducing the tax burden for corporations and the wealthiest one percent of the population. PALIN: “Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems - as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.” Palin Said She Would Beg to Disagree With Candidate Who Said We Can’t Drill Our Way Out of Our Problem. Asked by Invester’s Business Daily “Some politicians and presidential candidates say we can’t drill our way out of our energy problem and that drilling in ANWR will have no effect. What’s your best guess of the impact on prices?” Palin responded, “I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can’t drill our way out of our problem or that more supply won’t ultimately affect prices. Of course it will affect prices. Energy being a global market, it’s impossible to venture a guess on (specific) prices.” [Investor’s Business Daily, 7/11/08] PALIN: “Taxes are too high … he wants to raise them.” Palin Supported Increasing Wasilla Sales Tax From 2 to 2.5 Percent to Build $14.7 Million Sports Center. “Wasilla residents have given the go ahead to building a new multiuse sports center in town and to raising the city sales tax to pay for it. With the final votes counted Friday, residents voted 306 to 286 in favor of a measure to raise the city sales tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent to pay the estimated $14.7 million cost of building the center…Mayor Sarah Palin, who supported the measure, said the tight vote will motivate city officials to keep a close eye on the budget for the center.” [Anchorage Daily News, 3/9/02] PALIN: “As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man. I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment.” McCain was for Roe v Wade before he was against it. In 2000, John McCain was for abortion in cases of rape (unlike Palin, who is against abortion in all circumstances). However, in 2007, John McCain voted to repeal Roe v Wade. McCain was for immigration reform before he distanced himself from it. McCain was against torture before he voted for waterboarding. McCain claims to be an advocate for veterans funding, yet he voted to cut veterans funding. McCain believed that the confederate flag was a "symbol of heritage" in 2000, but in 2007 he stated that "the confederate flag on top of the capital building" was wrong; in front it was ok. McCain is only an agent of change, if you count the number of times he has flip flopped on the issues. Surely, Hillary Clinton will have something to say about the attempt by the McCain campaign to appropriate her "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" remark and her electorate. HRC and Sarah Palin's stands on the issues are diametrically opposed. HRC the ball is in your court.