Fact Check challenges many of the myths sold by Ruby Hamad and other extreme leftwing groups (below):

We’ve been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain’s running mate, Gov. Palin. We find that many are completely false, or misleading.

Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she increased funding and signed a bill that will triple per-pupil funding over three years for special needs students with high-cost requirements.

She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term.

She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She’s been registered as a Republican since May 1982.

Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.

Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum.

Oh Ben-Peter. How sneaky you are. Let me go through your points again:

1. I did not claim that Palin cut special needs funding. I was aware that allegation was false and did not mention it in either of my articles.

2. I did not claim she had a list of books she wanted banned from the library. However, she DID fire the librarian shortly after the incident in question. Which is exactly what I wrote. The fact that she fired the librarian is enough to raise alarms in many people’s heads. Perhaps if she were not currently under investigation for improperly firing others, then this little tidbit of information would not be so concerning.

3. I did not claim she was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, nor did I even mention the fact that her husband was as I did not think it was relevant (which is probably how the rumour got started).

4. Likewise I did not mention the name “Pat Buchanan” once in either of my articles.

5. I did not say she “pushed for teaching creationism”. I said “she favours teaching creationism alongside evolution”. In other words, she thinks that creationism has a place in a science class. I think most of the developed world has long since come to the conclusion that creationism belongs in either religious studies or perhaps a mythologies class.

I am aware there are many myths circulating about Sarah Palin and I do not condone or listen to them. I think there are plenty of legitimate reasons to dislike her political positions without resorting to making stuff up.

I also think you are extremely intellectually dishonest Ben-Peter and I expect an apology for the way you attempted to associate me with these untruths.

Thanks.

-Ruby

I agree Ruby that there are many myths about Palin. What I do know is you are correct that Palin:

believes creationism is science.
represents a political party that continues to be hostile to women's rights, including equal pay for equal work. And still is hostile - look at the vilification of Hilary.
asked a public librarian if she would have a problem banning books, then fired the woman within a week.
has made victims of rape PAY for their own rape kits.
has no experience (Paul L) outside of Wasilla as far as governing is concerned so why her when there are far more qualified candidates such as Condeleeza Rice.
supports abstinence-only education - that is sex education without the sex.
believes women and their doctors incapable of making decisions about their fertility and health.

Therefore, I highly recommend people who support the GOP that instead of slagging people who don’t see Palin through rose-coloured glasses; that they disprove any of the above. And good luck.

It is not about Palin’s gender.

It is all about her political AGENDA.

Wow this is so George W. Bush .. "you're either with me or against me" type rant.

So if anyone has a different point of view, it seems unacceptable to just leave it alone and that person to their point of view, it has to be attacked and vilified immediately, why?

What hard cases you all appear to be, lighten up - it's a democracy for goodness sake, people are entitled to their points of view even if you don't like it, even if they're "wrong". Do you think spiteful rants will change anyone's mind, you just reinforce why they think that way and about you - or is this more about self promotion?

Talk about a civil war being the worst kind of war, you're all so violent in your hatred of each other it's not a discussion any more.

re rpg's comment:
"Talk about a civil war being the worst kind of war, you're all so violent in your hatred of each other it's not a discussion any more."

I'm puzzled by your idea of violence. Would it extend to certain radio commentators? Consider the below:

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/alaska-women-reject-palin-rally-is-huge/

"The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee. It’s probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets. One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally “a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots”, and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course, received many nasty, harassing and threatening messages."

I think it's a shame that America doesn't have anti-vilification laws. Do you think they should apply here, rpg?

part 1
1. Palin was Chosen as VP to please the Super Conservatives, she is like Dick Cheney "she can look you in the eye and tell you black is white."
2. to please religious people, especial the white evangelical base, God and the Vice-Presidential Candidate
A $30 billion gas pipeline in Alaska was "God’s will," the war in Iraq was a "task that is from God." She's argued for creationism to be taught in schools, alongside evolutionary biology, and she'd rather do away with sexual education completely
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,577440,00.html
Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/97939/weird_theology_in_wasilla%3A_a_look_inside_sarah_palin%27s_pentecostal_church
She is a Cristian Taliban!
3. She support Bush's wars and believes That The Iraq War Is A Task ‘From God"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html
4. She is a sex symbol! "Sarah Palin: babies, guns, Jesus, hot damn!" http://www.alternet.org/sex/98657/sex_is_mccain%27s_political_weapon/?page=2
5. to please women and win votes from Hilary Clinton's supporters.
she never mentioned health care, women's economic issues like equal pay etc
6. Palin does not care for ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION, she denies Man-Made Global Warming, Palin Is Suing To Lift Protected Status For Polar Bears, Palin Established Illegal Fly-By Wolf Hunting Bounty, Palin’s First Statewide Campaign Was Fueled By Veco. Palin’s Inauguration Was Sponsored By BP and she Believes It Is ‘God’s Will’ To Build A Natural Gas Pipeline.
7. Palin does not care for taxpayers money, she strongly supported the Bridge to Nowhere " $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents"and campaigned on the issue while running for governor of Alaska in 2006 "We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge …," Palin said.
8. She is against abortion but she does not care teenage mothers. Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

continue
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide