TIM DICKINSON
Rolling Stone
October 2, 2008
Sarah Palin's credentials as a "reformer" are nothing but spin. She has sided with Big Oil, lobbied to increase pork spending and abused her public power to carry out personal vendettas. Here's a guide to separating myth from fact.
THE MYTH: "She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay. And made a profit!" — John McCain, at a campaign stop in Wisconsin
THE FACTS: No one bought the jet online. It was eventually sold through an aircraft broker — at a loss to taxpayers of nearly $600,000.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCib94NBnfUbevEflEMW6XWjHdbz2Qd2GYztIvHW_M28pFEpQ8RAIQIfgAGft2z0FM3M3dsLeKyQE8ujPvf0PD_PjyX3pIaU8NSwYVCmH9xcUedTDgbcCOjxF9PEuf9MXcWaJtYHTu6hM/s320/1.jpg)
THE MYTH: "I told the Congress 'Thanks, but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: Supported the infamous pork project in her 2006 run for governor, even after Congress had killed the bridge; derided its opponents as "spinmeisters." Reversed her stance a year later — but kept the money, doling out the $223 million in federal funds to other pork projects throughout the state.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX2pfK6A_vUROuMZkslFxzsH1ZRodZupVKv_3xRYAGX5TCcTIg_Ywsko1UhbGCams4ImFiJSx9kwAvBwmjQapQIPknwwaNw4CoG0uGgeJI3hT6Gt-aQrame3Yu47l3PXOtGkiTsane68/s200/2.jpg)
THE MYTH: "We ... championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: As mayor, employed a lobbyist who also worked for Jack Abramoff to secure $27 million in pork spending for Wasilla — more than $4,000 per resident. In her two years as governor, requested $453 million in earmarks. Alaska ranks first in the nation for pork, raking in seven times the national average.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQTpTEviJ7PEdmTo5HJtBEvIfCYT6z_a0GbE2Y1dwdq5uvZTkrT6osVXynu-HJECPKMNWcXXrjULfYh8u6QZilaRrA_pZFovR5KNTAT3sokPHDbK0hl2-DbvVGyrs9TnKvN-gzLF7Sk4/s200/3.jpg)
THE MYTH: "I found ... someone who stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money." — John McCain, introducing Palin
THE FACTS: Signature accomplishment as mayor: building a $15 million hockey arena that plunged the city into debt. Broke ground on the project without finalizing the city's purchase of the land; the resulting fiasco cost Wasilla $1.3 million — roughly $200 per resident.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRF1d53cymlMcnA3DO7tQPeT4lVBTsJpC3OsizsoARxXKvkNiwqzrL05iJ6gUKvO4xS8FVWRM12hIYO9HpIcVYFKy6K6b9n_4P-9EMSIFHbWfPaAiz9y02lY8yUUlgjji-OCTWFIU8HM/s200/4.jpg)
THE MYTH: "Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we didn't know that already." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: "I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem." — Sarah Palin, July 2008
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uR_VMjuHiH0kV6we4_rig1MbTFOc5zNzKVyF6KZQ3aQ7Upc-r340jqJoMD9IqClIeixIXW0jGQXo4WovdBKh2xr-XPNSdGKOY17FK6BUoV-cr_SgfrOTxTv4U8nPmq2dTRCUGm2ae4A/s200/6.jpg)
THE MYTH: "We began a nearly $40 billion natural-gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: With federal approval years away, not a single section of the pipeline has been laid. State could end up paying the pipeline's contractor $500 million — even if it never breaks ground on the project.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1OYhLl8rDZtgrDBzJvDJ3wd5k8rs2jPV-nAUYm888hcq71-IOY9ov_CfCWCLsDQbLONZkmkxEJLn7DGbWccqKWf_OG835YdCZAMzTm2qrpCuRUEWL7o6eMRd4VspLOHpmzsrTPF2_K4/s200/5.jpg)
THE MYTH: "She's from a small town with small-town values." — Fred Thompson, convention speech
THE FACTS: Wasilla and the surrounding valley recently named the meth capital of Alaska, with 42 meth labs busted in a single year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnijRvNpgMA2D75HAP4MH4QzozTG74IpkBjB8mgGgCY4QwaF_5-0k7jK6-6coVsdYGBdoF8p_uLRpCEIPdJxn9sa5S49_hr0qCTG9AfC_CDNu1oZYnV0J3BAt2UV29YcPiE_npAIoocRI/s200/7.jpg)
THE MYTH: Palin has "taken on the political establishment in the largest state of the union." — Fred Thompson, convention speech
THE FACTS: Served until 2005 as director of fundraising group associated with indicted senator Ted Stevens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AFXyvzRgk7Vf9bStYepN_BMKq2Wx8zGIywxnVV22U0CdwFkGXza0bnt6m3cW9is0mEuicLKkFNquEGGRd-qvIvyhh0k6HU_eA6MgLG6RAP3N_0C7jjrMhg5usdlbFKXDfVQNiKSpBsU/s200/8.jpg)
THE MYTH: "She's fought oil companies." — John McCain, introducing Palin
THE FACTS: Collected $13,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas lobbyists, including Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron. BP was a sponsor of her inaugural ball.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzSoObCfxQtsJWNaoN0mMMAoIY187OUS8WhOv73BP1VP6xh3fbHNfTbf-90G67FgrF4LyTfjwNRnYHAGOlszyfMnEOeeZojEJiieW9r0Lsadk2YjkxfQPnKeuc7pHTEcpqDqyCHVBsrU/s200/9.jpg)
THE MYTH: "She's been to Kuwait. She's been over there. She has been with her troops. The National Guard that she commands, who have been over there and had the experience." — John McCain, highlighting Palin's national-security credentials
THE FACTS: Never had a passport before 2007, when she made a brief photo-op trip to visit troops in Germany and Kuwait. Has never been to Iraq, and has not met a single foreign head of state.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Hj8LqewdMitJ3XYx3wrFnUUUlwI8ROJMHXYaFuFm0tqXm_sUBld2L-_RlBXLUggohNRme4WhZeDYwGRqX82hktTAiM65LfFfgKomL16GjZjLoz8IKeBgNuCLhQXk74ykoF2LjlRJWA/s200/10.jpg)
THE MYTH: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: As governor, sought travel reimbursement for 312 nights she spent in her own home.
Rolling Stone
October 2, 2008
Sarah Palin's credentials as a "reformer" are nothing but spin. She has sided with Big Oil, lobbied to increase pork spending and abused her public power to carry out personal vendettas. Here's a guide to separating myth from fact.
THE MYTH: "She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay. And made a profit!" — John McCain, at a campaign stop in Wisconsin
THE FACTS: No one bought the jet online. It was eventually sold through an aircraft broker — at a loss to taxpayers of nearly $600,000.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCib94NBnfUbevEflEMW6XWjHdbz2Qd2GYztIvHW_M28pFEpQ8RAIQIfgAGft2z0FM3M3dsLeKyQE8ujPvf0PD_PjyX3pIaU8NSwYVCmH9xcUedTDgbcCOjxF9PEuf9MXcWaJtYHTu6hM/s320/1.jpg)
THE MYTH: "I told the Congress 'Thanks, but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: Supported the infamous pork project in her 2006 run for governor, even after Congress had killed the bridge; derided its opponents as "spinmeisters." Reversed her stance a year later — but kept the money, doling out the $223 million in federal funds to other pork projects throughout the state.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX2pfK6A_vUROuMZkslFxzsH1ZRodZupVKv_3xRYAGX5TCcTIg_Ywsko1UhbGCams4ImFiJSx9kwAvBwmjQapQIPknwwaNw4CoG0uGgeJI3hT6Gt-aQrame3Yu47l3PXOtGkiTsane68/s200/2.jpg)
THE MYTH: "We ... championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: As mayor, employed a lobbyist who also worked for Jack Abramoff to secure $27 million in pork spending for Wasilla — more than $4,000 per resident. In her two years as governor, requested $453 million in earmarks. Alaska ranks first in the nation for pork, raking in seven times the national average.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQTpTEviJ7PEdmTo5HJtBEvIfCYT6z_a0GbE2Y1dwdq5uvZTkrT6osVXynu-HJECPKMNWcXXrjULfYh8u6QZilaRrA_pZFovR5KNTAT3sokPHDbK0hl2-DbvVGyrs9TnKvN-gzLF7Sk4/s200/3.jpg)
THE MYTH: "I found ... someone who stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money." — John McCain, introducing Palin
THE FACTS: Signature accomplishment as mayor: building a $15 million hockey arena that plunged the city into debt. Broke ground on the project without finalizing the city's purchase of the land; the resulting fiasco cost Wasilla $1.3 million — roughly $200 per resident.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRF1d53cymlMcnA3DO7tQPeT4lVBTsJpC3OsizsoARxXKvkNiwqzrL05iJ6gUKvO4xS8FVWRM12hIYO9HpIcVYFKy6K6b9n_4P-9EMSIFHbWfPaAiz9y02lY8yUUlgjji-OCTWFIU8HM/s200/4.jpg)
THE MYTH: "Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we didn't know that already." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: "I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem." — Sarah Palin, July 2008
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uR_VMjuHiH0kV6we4_rig1MbTFOc5zNzKVyF6KZQ3aQ7Upc-r340jqJoMD9IqClIeixIXW0jGQXo4WovdBKh2xr-XPNSdGKOY17FK6BUoV-cr_SgfrOTxTv4U8nPmq2dTRCUGm2ae4A/s200/6.jpg)
THE MYTH: "We began a nearly $40 billion natural-gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: With federal approval years away, not a single section of the pipeline has been laid. State could end up paying the pipeline's contractor $500 million — even if it never breaks ground on the project.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1OYhLl8rDZtgrDBzJvDJ3wd5k8rs2jPV-nAUYm888hcq71-IOY9ov_CfCWCLsDQbLONZkmkxEJLn7DGbWccqKWf_OG835YdCZAMzTm2qrpCuRUEWL7o6eMRd4VspLOHpmzsrTPF2_K4/s200/5.jpg)
THE MYTH: "She's from a small town with small-town values." — Fred Thompson, convention speech
THE FACTS: Wasilla and the surrounding valley recently named the meth capital of Alaska, with 42 meth labs busted in a single year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnijRvNpgMA2D75HAP4MH4QzozTG74IpkBjB8mgGgCY4QwaF_5-0k7jK6-6coVsdYGBdoF8p_uLRpCEIPdJxn9sa5S49_hr0qCTG9AfC_CDNu1oZYnV0J3BAt2UV29YcPiE_npAIoocRI/s200/7.jpg)
THE MYTH: Palin has "taken on the political establishment in the largest state of the union." — Fred Thompson, convention speech
THE FACTS: Served until 2005 as director of fundraising group associated with indicted senator Ted Stevens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AFXyvzRgk7Vf9bStYepN_BMKq2Wx8zGIywxnVV22U0CdwFkGXza0bnt6m3cW9is0mEuicLKkFNquEGGRd-qvIvyhh0k6HU_eA6MgLG6RAP3N_0C7jjrMhg5usdlbFKXDfVQNiKSpBsU/s200/8.jpg)
THE MYTH: "She's fought oil companies." — John McCain, introducing Palin
THE FACTS: Collected $13,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas lobbyists, including Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron. BP was a sponsor of her inaugural ball.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzSoObCfxQtsJWNaoN0mMMAoIY187OUS8WhOv73BP1VP6xh3fbHNfTbf-90G67FgrF4LyTfjwNRnYHAGOlszyfMnEOeeZojEJiieW9r0Lsadk2YjkxfQPnKeuc7pHTEcpqDqyCHVBsrU/s200/9.jpg)
THE MYTH: "She's been to Kuwait. She's been over there. She has been with her troops. The National Guard that she commands, who have been over there and had the experience." — John McCain, highlighting Palin's national-security credentials
THE FACTS: Never had a passport before 2007, when she made a brief photo-op trip to visit troops in Germany and Kuwait. Has never been to Iraq, and has not met a single foreign head of state.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Hj8LqewdMitJ3XYx3wrFnUUUlwI8ROJMHXYaFuFm0tqXm_sUBld2L-_RlBXLUggohNRme4WhZeDYwGRqX82hktTAiM65LfFfgKomL16GjZjLoz8IKeBgNuCLhQXk74ykoF2LjlRJWA/s200/10.jpg)
THE MYTH: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
THE FACTS: As governor, sought travel reimbursement for 312 nights she spent in her own home.
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