I haven’t watched too much of the RNC as it has been a busy week for me, but I did catch most of Governor Palin’s speech yesterday and then heard the commentary on NPR on my way home. I was struck by how little she revealed about her own policy positions, but she did go on the attack against Barack Obama and the Democrats questioning his qualifications, touting the benefits of drilling for more oil, and extolling the values of small town America. Her speech was well delivered, but she didn’t tell us how she plans to assist John McCain in making the country a better place to live in other than to explore more energy options. She didn’t address education, health care, or how she plans for American workers to remain competitive in the global economy. And she did not offer a realistic plan for the war in Iraq other than to talk about victory, which we haven’t been able to achieve despite throwing billions of dollars per month toward the effort for the last five years.
Palin did talk about taxes and how she perceives Barack Obama to want to raise taxes on working Americans. From what I have read, Obama does not plan to raise taxes on Americans earning under $250,000, and this information comes from the non-partisan OnTheIssues organization. Where is Palin getting her information? Most Americans earn under $250,000 per year, unless she’s referring to some fantasy America where we are all earning salaries comparable to those of the oil company executives.
Another thing that struck me was her slam against community organizers. Having worked in the non-profit environment before, I have met “community organizers,” and I will tell you that they fill a void for many of the voiceless in our society. MLK Jr., Rosa Parks, and Cesar Chavez could all be called “community organizers.” If you believe in Jesus Christ, his life as an adult fit that of a “community organizer.” Just because a community organizer doesn’t carry a high profile title like governor or mayor doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have real responsibilities. And for the small government folks, many of these organizers are funded through private monies or work for free. Maybe Palin and her supporters are really saying that they are scared of community organizers. Imagine what could be accomplished if we had better organization in the Latino community, especially in regards to education and leadership training.
You can listen to Palin’s speech here:
22 responses so far ↓
1 Hispanic Carol // Sep 4, 2008 at 6:42 pm
MY THOUGHTS ON PALIN’S SPEECH
I think she had the right to defend herself on national television, since the Democrats basically ate her alive on the liberal networks.
As for taxes, we are being fooled by Democrats. How do you really expect taxes to work for our middle class. When they raise taxes to large business and corporations, our grocery bills will rise, services will charge us more and since we don’t make as much as the so-called “rich people”, we’ll never achieve more than what we make now. Why do you think a lot of celebrities are behind Obama, because they know that they won’t be affected by any taxes.
The democrats haven’t explain either how they are going to tax people. Most of them know how to evade taxes and channel their income through “charity”. So, don’t hold your breath on it.
As for community organizers, she was defending herself after she was attacked by all the “men” in the democratic party. Obama really didn’t do much as a community organizer, perhaps giving a bad name to people like you who is really committed. Take her wife for instance, who makes a whopping $320,000.00, just because she is Obama’s wife. She keeps talking about how good it is to work as a community organizer and not do it for the money. I wonder what you call this type of salary – tips? I don’t think she give a hoot about Latino communities. They both haven’t done anything for us, what makes you think that they will in the future.
2 webmaster // Sep 4, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Obama’s wife worked as a hospital administrator (University of Chicago) after working in community organizations. Carol, why shouldn’t she be compensated for her work? Administering hospitals, health center, etc. is executive level work.
You criticize Michelle Obama’s salary, yet neglect to mention Cindy McCain’s inheritance. Do we really need more people in the White House born with silver spoons in their mouths?
3 Hispanic Carol // Sep 4, 2008 at 7:04 pm
You said it, Cindy McCain’s inheritance – is it her fault that she inherited money. Besides, she does a lot of good with that money as well. The only difference between her an others is that she is not on TV every five minutes to list all her charitable work.
I am not against people earning what they deserve, but Michelle Obama got a “raise” based on her position of being the wife of a Senator and not for her merits. When one works hard to earn a promotion and/or a raise, it hurts that things like this happen. They are not poor, by no means.
I believe the only way we can stop “rich” people to run our country, is by stop voting for them as our representatives. There should be a party called the “middle class reps”, where only real people represent us. Pailin to me is one of them. Others can do the foreign policy, but the domestic policies should be done by her. I am an independent and I believe my vote won’t stay independent if she continues to be true to her convictions.
4 MgF // Sep 4, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Lies and exaggeration, thats all it was. Pit bull Palin came out and did what she was supposed to do-and I am not impressed. I love how all of the republicans keep saying the liberal media are bashing her, when they’re just asking the questions that they should be.
5 Michaelr // Sep 4, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Do you honestly believe the GOP is the political party that taxes least? That label was given to the Reagan Administration in the 1980’s, and that lie has been promoted so much and hung around so long, Rush Limbaugh actually claims it’s an actual fact. The last Presidential administration to balance the federal budget was the Clinton Administration. There hasn’t been a Republican Presidential administration in the 20th and the 21st century who has balanced the federal budget. Republican Administrations run deficit budgets which produces incredible debt that is only repaid by the American taxpayer. The GOP takes care of the top 10% of American society, and American Fortune 500 companies. And they do that by lowering the taxes of individuals who make more than 2.3 million dollars per year, and produce tax rebates for Fortune 500 companies by deregulating their crimes against workers, keeping the minimum wage below a livable standard, trashing the environment, and giving them more tax breaks to relocate those businesses out of the country. Do you want to know why wholesale prices for food, gasoline, heating oil, natural gas have doubled in the last 6 months? It isn’t because of supply and demand. It’s because profit margins have been allowed to expand because of marginal competition, and the average Fortune 500 CEO has doubled his income. The American taxpayer has been forced to finance the war in Iraq, the expansion of the American governmental bureaucracy, and the development a federal police state with a continuous shrinking net income. And all this from a Republican White House, and a partially Republican controlled Congress. Think about that when you listen to Sarah Palin and John McCain tell you how they are going to change the way Washington, D.C. does business. All their campaigns are financed by the very people who want to maintain the Status Quo.
6 EYES OF TEXAS // Sep 5, 2008 at 8:26 am
Governor Palin is Americana to the extreme. She relates better to the common people than any of the other candidates because she is having to face the same problems and issues that we all face daily. She is not a Washington insider or an elitist. Her speech was not about issues, it was a “get to know me” speech and Americans responded favorably. More people tuned in to hear her speech than did Obamas because of all the controversy that had been published about her that made her more like the neighbor next door that is real instead of someone with media stardom like Barak.
As posted by Carol, the economy will crash under Obamas tax plans. The over $250.000 people are the ones that own and operate business or services that consumers use on a daily basis. When their taxes are raised they will compensate for that increase by raising their prices and/or getting rid of some employees. The end result will be higher prices and more unemployment. Don’t just listen to Obamas words as they put you in a trance, but instead listen for any actual substance or details as to how he plans to do all the wonderful things he promises. You will soon realize he has no details or game plan, but only hallow promises of rainbows, unicorns and hope and change. He doesn’t have a clue what is good for the common people.
7 Irma // Sep 5, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I will not vote for John McCain . I also will not vote for Barak Obama. I dont agree with McCain and
Obama , in my view is just not qualified to be the
President of the United States. I rather liked
Sarah Palin’s speech , after enduring months of
lies about Hilary Clinton from the Obamaniacs-
there was some retribution albeit from an unexpected source. If Obama loses – it wont bother me one bit. I will however vote for a Democratic Congress. If Obama wins, I hope he doesnt blow it .
8 xxxicana // Sep 6, 2008 at 7:31 am
Hijole! Hispanic Carol esta MUY CONFUNDIDA! Listen, hermana, you need to go back to your history books and read up. You clearly don’t understand the differences between the two parties’ economic policies. Remember the Reagan/Bush years? Although we laud Reagan for his destruction of the “evil empire”, we have forgotten that during those years the US govt. amassed a horrific budget deficit. Uh, BTW, it was a Democrat (Bill Clinton) who got us back in line . . .only for “Shrub” to get us BACK into debt with his foolish crusade (he said it, don’t forget) against the “infidels” that just happen to live over “OUR” oil !!! URGH! Palin does represent change — but not good change. She CHOSE to carry a baby to term that she knew would have a lifetime of medical issues. That’s fine — it is her choice. But, she wants to eliminate choice for those women who would make different choices. Palin is against sex education (clearly abstinence didn’t work for her daughter); she thinks “creationism” should be taught side by side with evolution; and doesn’t have a clue what her policy in Iraq should look like even though she “valiantly” sent her son off to war. Palin is a danger to the rights of women, to our economy, and our national security.
A few words to Irma – ok — it’s time to end your pity party that Hilary didn’t get nominated. boohoo, boohoo. Examine your conscience — are motivated to speak against Obama because you are, *gasp*, prejudiced?
9 Michaelr // Sep 6, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Actually…you’re giving way too much credit to Ronald Reagan. The Evil Empire (formerly know as the Soviet Union) did not collapse during the Reagan Administration. The former Soviet Union collapsed during the tail end of the Bush One Administration in 1991. What Reagan simply did was outspend the Soviet Union in DoD expenditures. And he said a lot of stupid and irresponsible comments relating to the former Soviet Union’s place in the world at the time. That’s the limit of all his efforts in destroying the former Soviet Union. CNN’s coverage of the Gulf War was more of a deciding factor in the collapse of the former Soviet Union’s fiscal hemorrhage. Operation Desert Shield provided a visual display of American military technological might. During the Gulf war, the former Soviet Union dropped from 2nd place to 5th place amongst nations providing military armament to the rest of the world, a loss of half a trillion dollars in revenues at the time. Rush Limbaugh and so many of these neocons have promoted this image of Ronald Reagan as this brilliant warrior strategist, deep thinking, an Abraham Lincoln type politician. He was nothing of the sort. And I am confident in saying George W. Bush is a deeper thinker, than Ronald Reagan inhaling 20 cups of strong coffee. Reagan’s ability to read cue cards, and tell jokes on camera was his magical trait. Reagan represents what is so ugly about White America and its attitudes towards the rest of the world.
10 Pocos pero locos // Sep 8, 2008 at 12:06 am
“High-spanic” Carol, though MichaelR and xxxicana has already given you a fair response,
I wanted to chime in with my 2 bits on your comments and you will have to excuse me…I am not as gracious as they were in their commentary.
For starters lets address the old and very tired ( but always effective) charge that Dems are going to tax the heck of the private sector and hardworking american citizens and choke off growth and discourage company from investing in America, i.e creating job growth and wage increases….
Nothing of the sort, if you do some homework you’ll find out Sen. Obama’s plan will provide a tax break for folks earning between $33K-$66K in hosehold income. This will represent over 3 times thet tax break that McSame is proposing for the same group of income earners.
Also Sen. McCain’s plan includes making private sector health care that is provided through an employer, taxable income…i.e. a tax hike.
Also Sen. Obama is also providing tax breaks for large, mid and small corporations that create and keep jobs here in the US. This will reward business and entrepenaurship…here not in China or South Asia.
Sen. McCain only promises to provide additional tax break to large multinational corporations ( the same ones that peddle lead contaminated toys made in Red China to your tots)
No strings attached…just that ol’ adam smith promise of invisible hand will guide them to ” create jobs in the USA”…right.
Over 70 years ago in America we learned that the GOP’s hand off theories, manipulate monetary policy only and no progressive tax program….did not work!
The GOP stuck their head in the sand and prayed for a upturn from the trough of the business cycle….the Dems got to work and steered out our country back on course…that’s the reason our country went through one of the biggest economic expansion the WORLD has ever seen!
it is that time again, that is why Americans everywhere have been hearing the Obama message of change…. it has resonated…that is why this relatively little known Senator from the state of Illinois is now the Dem’s nominee…for Prez…
This is why Sen McCain and VP candidate Gov Palin are providing a knock off of the change message. …a pathetic “me too!” campaign.
Gov Palin is a fresh and photogenic person. She did a great job delivering a partisan speech…I would expect nothing less from someone who majored in journalism and worked as a TV broadcast personality.
If you feel that you can relate to her…that is exactly why the GOP picked Gov Palin…for her ” Aw, shucks….I am just a small town girl ! ” folksiness.
I don’t think us Americans can fooled again by another folky outsider from the west claiming to change Washington. We will see how long the glitter last…
Also, lay off Michelle Obama, if she is making $ 320K…great!
I am a manager in the private sector working for Fortune 100 company. For a hospital administrator managing a multimillion dollar budget with a staff that probably numbers on the hundreds, this compensation is comparable to other private executives with similar responsibilities and qualifications.
I also have a few word for “Eyes of Texas”…after reading through your trite commentary you provided there is not too much that is original here for me to really jump on…
Unlike Carol…I think you are a GOP zealot you will continue to spew angry come backs for every point I attempt to make with you…
we would get caught up in a sad game of gotcha like some of the “conservative radio shows” i listen to on occasion.
I feel sorry for you…being constantly bamboozled by the GOP is not a pleasant experience and their dynamic bait and switch tactics have to be very frustrating…maybe one day you will quit blaming someone else ( the libs, the tree huggers, the gays, NAACP, ACLU, etc…) and finally take charge of your own destiny..
11 Irma // Sep 8, 2008 at 10:14 am
Wow, I didnt vote for Bill Richardson either, so now this Mexican is prejudiced against another
Mexican? Grow up. I wont vote for Obama
because he is not qualified. I would have considered voting for Conde Rice, Colin Powell
- they have the credentials.
Dont play the race card with me.
12 Irma // Sep 8, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I have suggested to the Obama campaign that they officially try to put a lid on the bullying of the
Hilary supporters by Obamites. Most Hilary supporters who claim that they are going to vote for Obama, privately confess that they are hoping that somehow they can get out of it.
For some, Sarah Palin did just that. In my
case, this had no effect.
Seems to me, if the mockery and meaness toward HRC and her supporters would stop, this might warm up a few more Democrats
in battleground states toward Obama.
Obama already has your vote, he needs our vote to win.
13 Pocos pero locos // Sep 8, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Irma,
Let’s face it, you are too hung up trying to prove you are right than help the very democratic party (HRC’s party) win this election.
When this campaign started most of my family were staunch HRC supporters and only myself and my brother-in law were had made different choices. I also accepted if Hillary was the candidate I would vote for her. I recognized that though there are differences between the Dem candidates,
14 Michaelr // Sep 8, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Irma…you need to start drinking a lot of alcohol. And maybe several alternative mixes of some concoction can steer you back to earth. The day to day activities of the chief executive are not so emergency ridden there is constant pressure to make intellectual and awe inspiring decisions. There is always an abundance of career support leadership and numerous opinions from a multitude of very expensive inner circle consultants to guide the President through a crisis. Ronald Reagan worked a five hour weekday, and the current President is nowhere close to being described as a workaholic. CondaLiar Rice, based on her seven years of conflicting public policy missteps doesn’t strike me as a human being of much integrity, strategic intelligence, or leadership abilities. Experience is based on what you do with that experience. And I’ve said it, and I’m sticking by those remarks.
15 webmaster // Sep 8, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Irma,
I don’t know how you would consider voting for Condi Rice but not Barack Obama. Condi Rice has basically walked in lock step with GWB, while Barack Obama hasn’t.
Why don’t you want to help further Hillary Clinton’s agenda by getting Barack Obama in the White House? How is a McCain presidency going to help the issues that Hillary cares most about? Like Hillary said in her speech to the DNC, were you in this for her or for the issues? Talk about the cult of personality w/ Hillary Clinton and her followers.
I am confident that Obama has surrounded himself with a good set of advisors. He has many of Clinton’s former advisors on his team, including economic adviser Jason Furman. Do you think that Obama would have come this far without seeking the help of the best and the brightest?
16 Irma // Sep 9, 2008 at 7:58 am
My suggestion to the Obama campaign that they should muzzle their HRC hating fanatics is my way of helping the Obama campaign without giving him MY vote. The Obamaniacs are mean. They race bait and they are unbelievably sexist. The worse are the women like those of Slate magazine that suggest that feminists hate men. This kind of stuff is all over the place (Salon, Drudge, Time, Newweek, and my favorite rag the New York Times.) Hello, HRC
supporters read this stuff and I sense mutiny.
Spread the word – tell the masses to shut up already. There is plenty of time to be smug later
if Obama wins. Right now, its looking rather shaky.
HRC ‘s candidacy grew on me. I was an Edwards supporter but when he dropped out,
I began to listen . It was her campaign in Texas that sold me on her. Obama’s storming of the
caucuses in Texas (according to my family who live there) helped cement me into the HRC camp. Things got pretty ugly in Dallas – I was told. So, no I will not vote for him.
The best I can do is offer some advice as to how to try to sell Obama with a diehard Clinton
supporter. Lay off the insults and say NOTHING about Bill unless it is good.
It is common knowledge that HRC supporters
admire Bill Clinton.
17 jammer // Sep 9, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Palin’s speech was written by a McCain speech writer who is an ultimate Washington insider. He wrote this speech for Palin detailing how she is not a Washington insider because he ,the speech writer, knows what its like to be an insider, She delivered the lines exactly as they were written for her. Not one thought from her. Why has she not been allowed to meet the press shince the convention. I don’t want to hear that the sexist media are out to get her. The fourth estate wants to get her because she is exquisetly unqualified to be a Vice -president of our country.
18 EYES OF TEXAS // Sep 9, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Nothing more to say aboutPalin because she is more than capable of speaking for herself. She has caught the ear of America and is being very well recieved by more women/moms, independents and undecided voters. My question is why Barak has hidden his true faith for so long and has now released it to all the world in a television interview.
ELECTION 2008
Obama slips on TV: ‘My Muslim faith’
Presidential candidate drops line in interview discussing his belief
——————————————————————————–
Posted: September 07, 2008
3:42 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
Slip of the tongue or momentary confusion? In a television interview today discussing his religion, Sen. Barack Obama stated, “My Muslim faith.”
Obama, speaking to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “This Week,” was talking about what he described as “smears” that were claiming he was a Muslim when he maintains he is a practicing Christian.
“Let’s not play games,” Obama stated. “What I was suggesting – you’re absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you’re absolutely right that that has not come.”
Stephanopoulos immediately interrupted Obama, stating, “Christian faith.”
“My Christian faith,” Obama quickly said. “Well, what I’m saying is that he (McCain) hasn’t suggested that I’m a Muslim. And I think that his campaign’s upper echelons have not, either. What I think is fair to say is that, coming out of the Republican camp, there have been efforts to suggest that perhaps I’m not who I say I am when it comes to my faith – something which I find deeply offensive, and that has been going on for a pretty long time.”
Slip of the tongue, I don’t think so. Wanting to finally say something truthful for once, probably.
19 Irma // Sep 9, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Dear Eyes of Texas,
Whether or not Barak Obama is Christian, Muslim, or Hindu is his own business and no one’s elses.
If he says he is Christian – why does anyone question that ?
I am no Obama supporter but hey his religion has NOTHING to do with his political message.
Stop with the personal attacks.
20 EYES OF TEXAS // Sep 10, 2008 at 8:50 am
When that religion affects his thought process and his beliefs on how our nation is to be run, then yes it is my business. His Muslim upbringing has some influence in his thought process and his association with the black libertarian theology church of the racist anti-American scum Rev. Wright also has shaped his beliefs. So, beware of this media created inexperienced nobody named Barak Obama. If not, you may someday be required to wear a burka.
21 DexterManley // Sep 10, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Los bobos esos en vez de los senadores Obama y Biden? En serio? No me j_d_n!
I’m Panamanian Jewish for those who don’t know me and my dad is too and believe me he’s said worse stuff about the USA to me than Jeremiah Wright ever did. I went to college and grad school in the US and I speak and write both languages just fine, but the thing that really bugs me about the US is the disrespect ALL Spanish-speaking people get. Even down to this new word “hispanic” that all the reporters use. I even know the difference between a “judio consteno” and a “judio antioqueno”. Is it so hard for them to say “Mexican-American,” or “Cuban-American,” or “Puerto Rican,” or “Guatelmalan-American”?
I like Barack Obama. I like Muslims. I like Jews. I like Catholics. I like Hindus. I like Buddhists. I like atheists. I like Jainists. Except if the individual person is a jerk and then I don’t like him or her.
Americans, however, are starting to grate on me a little.
If you didn’t love your wars so much and your tax breaks for the upper class, you could have the kind of stuff we have: a flat 10% corporatate tax, 1% capital gains tax, a personal income tax which is variable between 0% and 10%, no tax on world-wide income, no AMT, single-payer health, subsidized college tuition, a balanced budget, 5 straight years of 8-9% growth, contraceptives sold over the counter, gay unions, all sorts of tax holidays for development AND for homeowners, strict telecommunications privacy, strict bank privacy, plus strong unions.
@ Irma: If you are a Latina, I have no idea how you could possibly consider voting for Colin Powell unless your “latinismo” doesn’t extend to Panamanian people.
That coward slaughtered 10,000 civilians and made 100,000 homeless bombing a dense urban neighborhood just to bring Noriega, whom he installed over the assassinated Omar Torrijos and the deposed Spadafora, up on white collar federal charges.
Noriega was a pain in the butt to be sure, and I’m quite happy with Martin Torrijos as president but Noriega was a “liberal” compared to Obama and Biden, and a down-right NICE GUY compared to McCain and Palin.
Besides, seemed to me the only candidate who could speak a word of Spanish (including Richardson) was Dodd!
If Americans want to keep being the laughing stock of the world, VOTE McCAIN/PALIN
22 Irma // Sep 11, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Colin Powell is not a coward and yes I am a Latina.
The world laughs at the US regardless of what we do. World opinion has no effect on how most Americans vote – and frankly that is how it should be.
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