« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »
A Letter to the Editor of My Local Paper -- Looking for critique
I want to send a letter to the editorial page of my local newspaper about McCain's attempt to use Palin to help him reclaim his "reformer" image. Is anyone willing to read and offer a critique? My information source was an article from the Seattle Times.
By the way, if any of you want to copy stuff from this letter to send to your local paper, I would be honored.
----------------------
Editors:
Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin want voters to think they’re penny-pinching, reformist mavericks who will “take on” their own party and enforce fiscal responsibility in Washington, DC. To support this image, Palin has repeatedly bragged about how she refused federal earmarks for the notorious “Bridge to Nowhere.” But the truth is Palin hasn’t been shy about pursuing federal earmarks. In fact, she seems to have unabashedly loved earmarks throughout her political career.
As mayor, Palin hired a lobbyist to chase down earmarks for her town. She was pretty successful at it, too -- she got $27,000,000 for Wasilla, AK, population < 10,000. Ms. Palin has continued her love affair with federal earmarks and has become a generous and very popular governor. It’s no surprise Alaskans love her -- in 2007, while enjoying being free of state income and sales taxes, each and every Alaskan was served up $2,000 from the oil-wealth savings account Alaska calls its “Permanent Fund,” as well as $1,200 from the state's budget surplus. And while Alaskans enjoyed all this government-doled largesse, Palin requested -- just this year -- that Sen. Ted Stevens, R-AK, secure 31 earmarks totaling $197 million (for a state having a population of well under one million)! And Gov. Palin bragged that her 2008 requests for earmarks had been “slashed” from $550 million in 2007. Wow! How fortunate for us!
How do folks in the other 49 states feel about each and every Alaskan being "on the dole" to the tune of $3,200, while paying no state income or sales tax, and benefitting from huge federal earmarks – that taxpaying chumps living outside of Alaska help to pay?
Will the average American voter even learn the truth about Palin’s record with earmarks? Will the mainstream media and press make as much noise about this as they did with the contrived “Obama is presumptuous” story?
I’m just getting acquainted with Palin. Why are she and McCain attempting to give us the impression she’s an earmark hater? Her actions tell me something quite different. I don’t like when politicians try to deceive voters!
Sincerely,
Laura Jordan
Comments (7)
Laura,
As a resident of Alaska, what do you mean by 'each and every Alaskan being "on the dole" to the tune of $3,200'.
This could be a misstatement.
Thanks.
Sam
September 8, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aunt Sam,
I know my statements might seem inflammatory to you, a resident of Alaska. If so, I'm sorry if I've offended you! I mean to offend -- but the McCain campaign is my target, not you!
I got the information from the news article I linked to. Is it inaccurate??
Quoted from the Seattle Times article of Sep 2, 2008, titled "Palin's earmark requests: more per person than any other state"
I haven't sent the letter yet, so if I need to edit my statements, I'll really appreciate the correction!
September 8, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's there but you have to apply for it. Check the state website, maybe you've been missing out on some cash Aunt Sam!
September 8, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Permanent Fund Dividend has been around over twenty five years. This year at $2069 is the highest. (Palin has nothing to do with this.)
I have issues with the $1200 and am writing a post about it.
The tone about Alaskans being on the dole will be taken in a negative manner by residents. We must be a team and not alienate others, especially since Obama has more support here than is being represented. And he is coming here.
I would like to see you modify your points so as not to create any hostility among the populace (except for Palin of course).
Stevens and Young need to be kicked out and so does Palin.
Alaskans are part of the Obama team and we need to recruit more, not less!
As always, your post is well written and the premise re: Palin is perfect.
September 8, 2008 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand your sensitivity and your advice.
My letter will be sent to my newspaper here in Austin. Will I run too much risk of Alaskans seeing it? Will that matter? Seriously -- I don't know.
Also--let me explain that I chose to use words and phrases that right-wingers tend to use when they speak condescendingly about Democrats and "libruls." If the Governor of Alaska were a Democrat and the running mate of Barack Obama, I wonder how many right-wingers would view the oil resource dividend and the rebate as being "on the dole." Republicans love to provoke taxpayers to feeling resentment toward the recipients of "free money" -- especially if they can say it's at the expense of the rest of Americans. Remember "welfare queens"?
I was pissed that Palin obviously enjoys the popularity that getting earmarks brought to her career in Alaska -- and I think it's the utmost in hypocrisy for her to try to now pose as a tough, self-reliant, bootstrap-pullin', conservative maverick who's so noble and self-reliant and fiscally responsible, she turned down federal earmarks even though the government was trying to give money to her. "Thanks but no thanks," she says she told them.
That chaps my ass.
September 9, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not just about Alaskans. I don't think it's ever good to lump a group together. Not all Alaskans like her and are voting McCain. I'm trying to hold on to the unite, not alienate.
Being on the dole really doesn't fit the scenario. I've been here ten years and get the PFD which helps with the higher cost of living. Everything here is much more expensive.
Obama wants us to come together and as it is, because of the primary and now the general, it will be even more difficult for us to unite. I don't want to put any more wedges between all of us.
Alaska has always been Repub, but for the first time we have an excellent chance of replacing both our US Senator (Stevens) and Rep. Young with Democrats!
Alienating even more right wingers and others won't help Obama or our country.
Trust me, Palin is goin' down, in and outside of Alaska. I don't know one person here (with a brain and under the age of 70) who will vote for her again.
September 9, 2008 1:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, Aunt Sam, you've convinced me! Because of you, I'm better informed and back on the high road. You're my "better angel" tonight. :-)
I won't send this snarky letter to my local paper.
The hypocrisy of this cheap Republican Party--Mccain campaign ploy still chaps my ass, though. I'm so sick of their deceit and dirty tricks. Grrrr!!!
September 9, 2008 1:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Post a Comment