Palin's Political Positions

[ThinSkin]

I'm fairly certain I'm not allowed to post a large article in its entirety, but I ask you mods for this one time exemption in the interest of clarity.

Political positions of Sarah Palin

Social and legal issues

[edit] Freedom of expression

During a debate for governor in 2006, Palin expressed misgivings about religious officials endorsing political candidates, but said she "would never support any government effort to stifle our freedom of religion or freedom of expression or freedom of speech."[1]

[edit] Religion in public life

Palin has said this about teaching intelligent design as part of the public school curriculum: "I am a proponent of teaching both", but subsequently "It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum".[2] She has also stated, "I won't have religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism."[2]

In October 2007, she signed the "Christian Heritage Week" Proclamation[3] which "reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage."[4] She also declared the week of November 18-25, 2007 as Bible Week in Alaska, stating that "the Bible has profoundly influenced art, literature, music, and codes of law."[1]

After the 2008 Republican National Convention, Palin's religious views came under increasing scrutiny in the media.[5][6][7] Palin spoke to a group of graduating ministry students at her former church, where she urged them to "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [uS soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan".[8] Within the same remarks, Palin asserted that "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built", in reference to the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline project.[7][9] In her talk at the Assembly of God Church, she stated, "God has sent me, from underneath the umbrella of this church, throughout the state."[10]

Palin stated that she would not allow her personal beliefs to dictate public policy.[11]

[edit] Gun rights

Palin is a strong proponent of gun ownership rights, and believes the Second Amendment precludes the constitutionality of any regulation of handgun possession. She applauded the Supreme Court's recent decision in District of Columbia vs. Heller that struck down the District's ban on handguns. Palin has stated that she is against a ban on semi-automatic rifles.[12] She supports gun-safety education for children,[13] and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.[14]

[edit] Abortion

Palin is opposed to abortion in almost all cases, including rape and incest, but not if the life of the mother is endangered.[15][16][17] In 2006, while running for governor, Palin was asked what she would do if her own daughter were raped and became pregnant; she responded that she would "choose life."[16] She and her husband have stated that they have "faith that every baby is created for a good purpose."[18] When asked what she would do as governor if Roe v. Wade were overturned, she responded "it would not be up [to me] to unilaterally ban anything. It would be up to the people of Alaska to discuss and decide how we would like our society to reflect our values."[19] Palin personally supported bills to outlaw late-term abortions and to require parental consent for underage abortions in Alaska,[20] but rebuffed religious conservatives who wanted to legislate restrictions on abortion even though she agreed with the bills.[21]

In her televised interview with ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson on September 12, 2008, Sarah Palin made the statement that as a politician she felt that her opinions were to be made openly to the public, but that sometimes it may differ with political legislation. When Gibson asked if she thought Roe v. Wade should be overturned, she replied, "I think it should and I think that states should be able to decide that issue."[22] Palin also said that she hoped "to reach out and work with those who are on the other side of this issue, because I know that we can all agree on the need for and the desire for fewer abortions in America and greater support for adoption, for other alternatives that women can and should be empowered to embrace, to allow that culture of life."[22] Gibson noted that Republican presidential nominee John McCain allows exceptions for rape or incest, and asked, "Do you believe in it only in the case where the life of the mother is in danger?" Palin answered, "That is my personal opinion."[22] When pressed on the matter, she said, "My personal opinion is that abortion allowed if the life of the mother is endangered. Please understand me on this. I do understand McCain's position on this. I do understand others who are very passionate about this issue who have a differing [opinion]."[22]

[edit] Stem cell research

Palin stated in 2006 that because she believes embryonic stem cell research causes the destruction of life, this research is inconsistent with her pro-life position and she does not support it.[23]

All of the various adult stem cell research approaches are supported by Palin. In an interview with Charlie Gibson, Palin differentiated between the two types of stem cell research "And thankfully, again, not only are there other options, but we're getting closer and closer to finding a tremendous amount of other options, like, as I mentioned, the adult stem cell research".[24]

[edit] Sex education

Palin answered a 2006 gubernatorial questionnaire by choosing support for funding of abstinence-before-marriage programs over support for "explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics and the distribution of contraceptives in schools".[25] In a subsequent radio interview with KTOO (FM) in Juneau, Alaska, she clarified her position by saying she was against explicit sex education, but was in favor of contraceptive education.[25] She characterized in-school discussion of condoms as "relatively benign"[25] and not something that would define an "explicit" program. Palin said of contraception that "kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues."[25][26] Rebecca Traister of Salon.com analyzed Palin's political record as one that demonstrated her lack of enthusiasm about the Bush era promotion of abstinence-before-marriage education, and one that showed she did not work against existing sex education laws in Alaska.[27]

[edit] Women's issues

[edit] Feminism

Palin has been a member of Feminists for Life since 2006.[28] In August 2006, she told the Anchorage Daily News that "no woman should have to choose between her career, education and her child."[29] In an interview with Katie Couric on September 30, 2008, Palin said, "I'm a feminist who believes in equal rights and I believe that women certainly today have every opportunity that a man has to succeed, and to try to do it all, anyway. And I'm very, very thankful that I've been brought up in a family where gender hasn't been an issue."[30]

In subsequent interviews with Brian Williams on October 29, 2008, Palin was quoted as saying, "I am not going to label myself anything, Brian, and I think that's what annoys a lot of Americans, especially in a political campaign is start trying to label different parts of America, different backgrounds. I'm not going to label myself, but I do believe in women's rights; I believe in equal rights, and I am so thankful I was brought up in where really gender has never been an issue."[31]

[edit] Same-sex unions

While campaigning for election as Governor of Alaska in 2006, Palin declared that she supported the 1998 Alaska constitutional amendment that proposed adding "...a marriage may exist only between one man and one woman" to the Alaskan constitution.

Palin opposed state covered health and retiree benefits to same-sex partners of state employees, but complied with an Alaska Supreme Court directive to do so,[32][33] and subsequently vetoed a bill that would have denied the benefits.[34] In an interview with Newsweek in 2007, she affirmed her support for an amendment to the state constitution denying benefits to same-sex couples.[33] She later signed a bill ordering a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny the benefits.[35] Although the referendum passed in April 2007 with 53% of voters supporting a constitutional amendment, a bill to place such an amendment on the ballot in November 2008 stalled in the state legislature.[36]

Palin has stated that she supports a Federal Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage.[37] This position differed with that of her running mate, John McCain.[38][39]

[edit] Legal system

[edit] Judicial appointments

While interviewing candidates to fill judge vacancies in Alaska state courts, Palin asked prospective appointees questions about work history, background and basic judicial philosophy. She did not ask such individuals about their positions on abortion or any other specific cases.[40]

[edit] Jury rights

On August 31, 2007, Palin signed a Jury Rights Day Proclamation,[41] commemorating September 5, 2007 as the 337th anniversary of the acquittal, in defiance of the legal direction of the bench, of William Penn and William Mead for preaching a Quaker sermon.

[edit] Birth Status of Barack Obama

In a December 3, 2009, interview with Rusty Humphries, Palin was asked about Obama's Birth Certificate. She stated, "I think the public rightfully is still making it an issue. I don't have a problem with that. I don't know if I would have to bother to make it an issue, because I think that members of the electorate still want answers." When asked if people had a legitimate reason to question the certificate, she stated, "I think it's a fair question, just like I think past association and past voting records – all of that is fair game." She also stated that the questions were 'fair play' because, "the weird conspiracy theory freaky thing that people talk about that Trig isn't my real son – 'You need to produce his birth certificate, you need to prove that he's your kid,' which we have done. Maybe we can reverse that."[42]

Palin later clarified her position in a Facebook posting by stating: "Voters have every right to ask candidates for information if they so choose. I’ve pointed out that it was seemingly fair game during the 2008 election for many on the left to badger my doctor and lawyer for proof that Trig is in fact my child. Conspiracy-minded reporters and voters had a right to ask... which they have repeatedly. But at no point – not during the campaign, and not during recent interviews – have I asked the president to produce his birth certificate or suggested that he was not born in the United States."[43]

[edit] Crime and violence

[edit] Capital punishment

Palin has declared herself in favor of capital punishment. She has stated: "If the legislature passed a death penalty law, I would sign it. We have a right to know that someone who rapes and murders a child or kills an innocent person in a drive-by shooting will never be able to do that again."[44]

[edit] Drugs

Palin is opposed to efforts to decriminalize or legalize marijuana, which she says sends the wrong message to children. Palin does not support full legalization of medical cannabis but said, “I’m not going to get in the way of a doctor prescribing something that he or she believes will help a cancer patient.”[45] Palin has admitting to using marijuana, though at a time when doing so was legal under state law. Palin has also said she is more concerned about methamphetamine than marijuana, which she sees as a greater social threat.[46]

[edit] Illegal Immigration

On October 31, 2008, Palin told reporter Greta Van Susteren that closing the borders should be the first priority in dealing with illegal immigration. She rejects amnesty for illegal immigrants who have violated federal law.[47] Palin did, however, state that she supported a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.[48]

On July 31, 2009, Palin announced in a tweet that she supported a bill by Alaska State Representative Bob Lynn which would forbid issuance of a State identification card or driver's licence "to a person who has not presented to the department valid documentary evidence that the person is a citizen of the United States, a national of the United States, a legal permanent resident of the United States, or a conditional resident alien of the United States."[49]

In a December 3, 2009, radio interview with Rusty Humphries, Palin was asked her position on illegal aliens and closing the Mexico – United States border, to which she replied, "We must close the border. They're called 'illegal aliens' for a reason, and if they're not going to follow the rules, they should not be in our country."[50]

[edit] Economic issues

Palin describes herself as a fiscal conservative. At the Republican National Convention, Palin stated "I came to office promising to control spending – by request if possible and by veto if necessary... I suspended the state fuel tax, and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress."[51]

Shortly after becoming governor, Palin canceled a contract for the construction of an 11-mile (18 km) gravel road outside Juneau to a mine[52] and sold the state's Westwind II jet, which had been purchased by the Murkowski administration against the wishes of the Legislature.[53] While governor, she slashed the state budget by $231 million for FY2008. The vetoes – which covered 36 spreadsheet pages – drew praise from those who believed the budget originally reflected too much spending, but anger from those who thought Palin went too far.[54] The $231 million in cuts represented over 300 local projects including an expansion of the Port of Anchorage and the Fire Island wind energy project.[55]

[edit] Bailout

In September 2008, responding to Katie Couric's question asking if America can enter another Great Depression without the $700-billion bailout, Palin said, "Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as it's been proposed, has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But, there has got to be action – bipartisan effort – Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed."[56]

[edit] Earmarks

While Palin was Mayor of Wasilla, the town paid a lobbying firm $24,000 to $36,000 per year to help secure federal earmarks for the town. Palin herself went to Washington to ask for more earmarks from the state's congressional delegation. According to a review by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan group, Wasilla (a town of 6,700 residents) benefited from $26.9 million in earmarks in Palin's final four years in office.[57][58]

In the 2005 budget year, Alaska governor Frank Murkowski had requested $550 million in earmarks.[59] In 2008 budget year, Palin sought $256 million in earmarks, and for the 2009 budget Palin gave a list of 31 proposed earmarks, totaling $197 million, to Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens.[60][61][62]

[edit] Housing issues

On September 6, 2008 Palin stated that the mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers. The McCain-Palin administration will make them smaller and smarter and more effective for homeowners who need help."[63]

[edit] Health care

Palin supports free-market competition in health care, and laws allowing patients better access to medical pricing information. In 2008, Palin said she was considering incentives for employers to provide health insurance. She added that changes must also include citizens "choosing to take more personal responsibility" to be healthier.[64] In a Wall Street Journal editorial, Palin argued in favor of a free market approach to health care including deregulation, tort reform and "providing Medicare recipients with vouchers that allow them to purchase their own coverage."[65] Palin's Healthcare Decisions Day proclamation in April 2008 stated that it was "designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for healthcare decisions, related to end of life care and medical decision-making whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important healthcare decisions."[66]

[edit] Death panels

Articles that Palin wrote and posted to her Facebook page include Statement on the Current Health Care Debate[67] (August 7, 2009) and Concerning the "Death Panels"[68] (August 12, 2009). She also mentioned death panels in a statement she made to the New York state Senate Aging Committee"[69] and in a Wall Street Journal editorial,[65] both dated September 8, 2009. Palin expressed her opinion of Obama’s plans for health care reform, stating in part in the first article:

The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist

Thomas Sowell

has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with

Down Syndrome

will have to stand in front of Obama’s "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil

.

[67]

In August 2009, Palin's spokesperson said that Palin's death panel statements referred to H.R. 3200 Advance Care Planning Consultation page 425.[70][71] According to PolitiFact, "Palin seems to acknowledge that the counseling isn't explicitly mandatory, but that in practice it would be." PolitiFact concluded that "the end-of-life counseling sessions in the House bill are voluntary."[72]

Palin told the media through her spokesperson[73] and three posts to her facebook page[67][68][69] that statements about Ezekiel Emanuel were reasons for her death panel comments. These statements were first made by Betsy McCaughey,[74][75][76] and were described by TIME as lacking context,[77] and by PolitiFact and FactCheck as false euthanasia claims.[78][79]

In early November 2009, Palin said that despite other's prior denials that it contained 'death panels', the health care legislation voted on by the House had a "provision mandating bureaucratic panels that will be calling the shots regarding who will receive government health care".[80] In an interview with Barbara Walters, Palin acknowledged that none of the health care bills included the actual word pair; "No, death panel isn't there."[81] In November 2009, when asked about how she came up with the term "death panels," Palin said, "To me, while reading that section of the bill, it became so evident that there would be a panel of bureaucrats who would decide on levels of health care, decide on those who are worthy or not worthy of receiving some government-controlled coverage. Since health care would have to be rationed if it were promised to everyone, it would therefore lead to harm for many individuals not able to receive the government care. That leads, of course, to death." Palin also clarified that, "The term I used to describe the panel making these decisions should not be taken literally."[45] Palin later said that revisions of medical guidelines for cervical and breast cancer brought to mind "rationed care", and she questioned "what Washington has in mind with a government-controlled takeover of a health care system".[82][83]

[edit] Taxes

In a September 18, 2008 speech at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Palin said, "Our opponents, they have some strange ideas about raising taxes. To them, raising taxes – and Joe Biden said it again today – raising taxes is about patriotism. To the rest of America, that's not patriotism. Raising taxes is about killing jobs and hurting small businesses and making things worse. This isn't about anyone's patriotism – it's about Barack Obama's poor judgement."[84]

As mayor, using income generated by a two percent sales tax that was enacted prior to her election, Palin cut property taxes by 75 percent and eliminated personal property and business inventory taxes.[85] Palin also supported a voter-approved city sales tax increase of 0.5 percent to pay for a new sports complex.[86] As governor, Palin helped pass a tax increase on oil company profits, although she opposed the Windfall Profits Tax proposed by Senator Barack Obama.[87][88]

[edit] Energy and environment

[edit] Natural gas pipeline

In June 2008, Palin stated that she would work to create jobs by building a pipeline to bring North Slope natural gas to North American markets.[89] In her acceptance speech at the GOP in September 2008, Palin stated: "I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history," "And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." TransCanada projects the pipeline to be operational by late 2018, barring unforeseen obstacles.[90]

[edit] Nuclear energy

As part of her written comments in July 2009 regarding President Obama's cap-and-trade energy plan, Palin included that "... every state can consider the possibility of nuclear energy".[91] This includes new model nuclear reactors, such as those developed by Hyperion Power Generation, such as the deployment of a 225MW reactor for Alaska.[92] Furthermore, she supports the overhaul of nuclear regulatory regime to allow the ready deployment of these new, smaller, nuclear reactors.

[edit] Oil and gas development

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Map: 1002 Area, the proposed drilling area

As Governor, Palin has strongly promoted oil and natural gas resource development in Alaska, and advocates exposing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling,[93] controverting McCain's position.[94]

In an interview with Time in 2008, Palin argued that energy independence through ANWR drilling was essential to reducing American dependence on hostile foreign regimes.[95] "We need to drill, drill, drill," she told the Wall Street Journal; she argues that "ANWR is only the size of the Los Angeles airport, and drilling there isn't environmentally destructive."[96] In order to assuage a fear that oil and gas development would be hampered by the listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Palin tried to sue the US government.[96]

[edit] Global warming

After saying that global warming would affect Alaska more than any other state, Palin added: "I'm not one...who would attribute it to being man-made."[97] But she has not completely ruled it out: "Show me where I have ever said that there's absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had any effect or no effect on climate change. I have not said that."[98][99]

On September 14, 2007, Sarah Palin signed an administrative order creating a Climate Change Sub-Cabinet charged with preparing a climate change strategy for Alaska.[100] Palin ignored requests to establish an Alaska Office on Climate Change, an Alaska Climate Response Fund, and emissions reduction targets.[101] Within her executive order, Palin described warming as a "global challenge" and sought "opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Alaska sources, including the expanded use of alternative fuels, energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, land use management, and transportation planning."[102] In December 2009 she wrote, "any potential benefits of proposed emissions reduction policies are far outweighed by their economic costs."[103]

[edit] Water

This article may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (March 2009) While governor, Palin opposed The Alaska Clean Water Act stating that "very stringent regulations and policies [were] already in place."[104] The Clean Water Initiative was voted on as Ballot Measure 4 on August 26, 2008[105] and lost by a vote of about 57 percent against and 43 percent for the measure.[106] The measure was designed to impose higher water quality standards on a large scale mining operation, known as the Pebble Mine, near the Bristol Bay, which were designed to prevent pollution from entering some of the world's most productive Sockeye salmon runs.[107][108][109] The Pebble Mine is primarily a large open pit mine which will extract copper and gold ore, resulting in runoff from the mine finding its way into salmon streams and drinking water, copper dust in particular being poisonous, even in low quantities, to fish.[110]

Palin voiced her opposition to Measure 4, which, according to the Alaska constitution, could be construed as being unconstitutional, since a governor is not by law allowed to advocate either for or against any ballot measure.[111][112] "Let me take my governor's hat off for just a minute here and tell you, personally, Prop 4- I vote no on that", she said. "I have all the confidence in the world that (the Department of Environmental Conservation) and our (Department of Natural Resources) have great, very stringent regulations and policies in place. We're going to make sure that mines only operate safely, soundly."[113][114]

The Pebble Mine is a finite resource which will employ 5,500 people and bring $200 million in tax revenue a year to the state. Salmon fishing, a naturally renewable resource each year, employs 12,000 people in the Bristol Bay region alone and contributes $250 million each year to the economy.[115] Many fisherman, environmentalists, naturalists, native Alaskans, residents and nature lovers, among many others, both in Alaska and worldwide, fear that pollution from the mine will destroy the salmon runs as well as the sometimes rare and very diverse wildlife that thrives there.[111][116][117]

[edit] Predator control

In 2007, Palin supported the Alaska Department of Fish and Game policy allowing Alaska the hunting of wolves from helicopters as part of a predator control program intended to increase moose and caribou populations,[118] a practice which has been banned since 1972.[119] The Program has come under criticism and legal actions from wildlife activists stating the purpose of the program is to increase the numbers of prey species to unsustainable levels for sport hunters, residents and non residents of Alaska.

In May 2007 Palin introduced Bill 256 to streamline the Predator Program[120] and make it more difficult for conservation groups to sue the State. Critics of the Bill claimed it removed scientific standards and claimed the programs are expensive and not effective.[121]

[edit] Endangered species

[edit] Polar bears

In December 2007, Palin wrote an opinion column in which she described her opposition to the listing of polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.[122] In it she also stated that the polar bear population is more numerous now than 40 years ago and "there is insufficient evidence of polar bears becoming extinct in the foreseeable future".[123] After Dirk Kempthorne, the Republican Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior listed the bear as threatened on May 14, 2008, Palin (representing the state of Alaska) sued the federal government, claiming that the listing would adversely affect energy development in the bears' habitat off Alaska's northern and northwestern coasts, while again questioning the scientific basis for the listing.[124][125]

Palin claimed that scientists found no ill effects of global warming on the polar bear, a claim disputed by Alaskan state scientists[126] and environmental groups.[124]

[edit] Beluga whales

Cook Inlet stretches 180 miles (290 km) from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska.[127]

Palin opposed strengthening protections for beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet.[128] She cited state scientists who claimed that hunting was the only factor causing the whales' decline and that the hunting had been effectively controlled through cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations.[129] Recent research states that hunting controls have halted the decline of beluga whales in Cook's Inlet but that the population remains severely depleted and at high risk of extinction.[130][131] The Palin administration allowed Chevron to triple the amount of toxic waste it pours into the waters of Cook Inlet.[132] Federal scientists do not attribute the decline in the Cook Inlet beluga population to human pollution.[130] The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale was declared an endangered species by the Bush Administration on October 17, 2008.[133][134]

[edit] Defense

On her first trip overseas, Palin visited Alaskan troops deployed to Iraq; told how much they missed hunting and fishing, she signed a law in June 2008 that grants free hunting, trapping and fishing licenses to members of the Alaska National Guard and reserve.[135]

In a September 23, 2009 speech in Hong Kong, Palin said that "we need to maintain a strong defense" even in our current economic difficulties.[136] She expressed her opposition to ending production of the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft and C-17 cargo aircraft.[137]

[edit] Foreign policy

[edit] Afghanistan

Palin believes that "We can win in Afghanistan" and "we must do what it takes to prevail. The stakes are very high." She urged President Obama to "devote the resources necessary in Afghanistan" and pledged to support him if he made the "right" decision.[136]

[edit] Iraq

Palin supported the Bush Administration's policies in Iraq, but was concerned that "dependence on foreign energy" may be obstructing efforts to "have an exit plan in place".[138][139][140][141]

[edit] Iran, Syria

In the September 2008 CBS interview,[142] Palin criticized Barack Obama for saying he would meet with leaders of Syria and Iran without preconditions. Reminded by the interviewer that Henry Kissinger, whom Palin had recently met, supports direct diplomacy with both countries, Palin responded: "I've never heard Henry Kissinger say, 'Yeah, I'll meet with these leaders without preconditions being met.' "[142][143] Five days earlier Kissinger had made a televised statement of his position regarding Iran: "I am in favor of negotiating with Iran...[and] I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations."[144] However, Kissinger does not advocate negotiations at the presidential level.[145]

During the 2008 vice-presidential debate on October 2, 2008, Palin stated that "A leader like [iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, who is not sane or stable when he says things like that, is not one whom we can allow to acquire nuclear energy, nuclear weapons." She also further criticized Obama's proposal in 2007 to meet with Ahmadinejad without preconditions, stating that such an action "is downright dangerous because leaders like [Ahmadinejad], who would seek to acquire nuclear weapons and wipe off the face of the Earth an ally like we have in Israel, should not be met with without preconditions and diplomatic efforts being undertaken first."[146]

[edit] Israel

In a meeting on September 2, 2008, with leaders of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobby, Palin stated that she would "work to expand and deepen the strategic partnership between U.S. and Israel."[147] Following the meeting, an AIPAC spokesman stated that Palin had "expressed her deep, personal, and lifelong commitment to the safety and well-being of Israel."[148] Palin also stated, in reference to a possible nuclear threat from Iran, that: "Let there be no doubt: I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally Israel.",[149][150]

In an interview with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson, Palin stated that she would not "second-guess" Israeli military action against Iran.[151][152]

During the 2008 vice-presidential debate, Palin expressed support for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, pledged to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and reiterated her support for Israel's survival. Specifically, Palin stated that "Israel is our strongest and best ally in the Middle East. We have got to assure them that we will never allow a second Holocaust, despite, again, warnings from Iran and any other country that would seek to destroy Israel, that that is what they would like to see. We will support Israel. A two-state solution, building our embassy, also, in Jerusalem, those things that we look forward to being able to accomplish, with this peace-seeking nation, and they have a track record of being able to forge these peace agreements." Regarding Joe Biden's support for Israel, Palin stated that "I'm so encouraged to know that we both love Israel, and I think that is a good thing to get to agree on, Senator Biden. I respect your position on that."[146][153]

In November 2009, Palin expressed her support for the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories,[154] a position contrary to that of every U.S. Presidential administration in the past 40 years.[155] In an interview with Barbara Walters, Palin stated, "I believe that the Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon, because that population of Israel is going to grow. More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead. And I don't think that the Obama administration has any right to tell Israel that the Jewish settlements cannot expand."[154][155]

[edit] NATO, Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine

Palin has said that the former Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine should be admitted into NATO, and that if Russia invaded a NATO signatory country, the United States should be prepared to go to war in that country's defense.[152][156] Going to war in defense of NATO allies who are invaded is current US policy.[157]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Sarah_Palin

[AsburySkinsFan]

Palin is a talking sox, albeit a cute sock, but a sock none-the-less. I hope she does run for the 2012 just so we can see how all the other GOP faces really feel about her as they campaign against her.

BTW, I think one of the positions you forgot was;

Resign:

When in a difficult position in political life...quit.

[Vicious]

Yeah, she's going to get torn up by some legitimate candidate.

[fullnelson9999]

Palin stated that she would not allow her personal beliefs to dictate public policy

Oh, are pigs flying now too?

[SteveFromYellowstone]

Creationism in schools? Wow.

[Mickalino]

BTW, I think one of the positions you forgot was;

Resign:

When in a difficult position in political life...quit.

Why can't the Palin critics make up their mind ?

She resigned because political life was difficult.

She resigned so she could start prepping for a 2012 run.

Can't have it both ways.

[ThinSkin]

Palin is a talking sox, albeit a cute sock, but a sock none-the-less. I hope she does run for the 2012 just so we can see how all the other GOP faces really feel about her as they campaign against her.

BTW, I think one of the positions you forgot was;

Resign:

When in a difficult position in political life...quit.

Concerning her resignation, I give you this quote I ripped off from an article, but which I wholeheartedly agree with.

"Palin’s resignation was due to frustration over a system that puts power over principle and where status quo is elevated to the top priority. By resigning, but not fading into the background, Sarah Palin can become the embodiment of voter frustration with the governing elites of both parties, who are talking down to America from their thrones in Washington. Her resignation could be a matching of actions and words that is unheard of in political circles these days.

If she plays her cards right, Palin can become the face of the tea parties and the town halls. She can be the Mrs. Smith that will not only bake apple pies, but also go to Washington to drain the swamp.

Unshackled by the commitments and limits of her office, Palin can speak freely for the people. "

[SKINS@THEGOALLINE]

Does Sarah Palin know she holds these positions?

[Mickalino]

Does Sarah Palin know she holds these positions?

It's written on her hand....since she doesn't read newspapers, she writes it on her hand

[The Evil Genius]

She resigned because she could only make a boatload of dollars right now as a non-government employee.

Being governor didn't allow her to do a speech tour. Or "write" a book. Or work for FoxNews. Being governor was a nuisance to her.

[Burgold]

Palin's chief position: the hypocrital one

:rimshot:

[TheGoodBits]

Just for ****s and giggles, I actually read through most of this. Confirms my beliefs about her. You could go to any random trailer park in the deep south and find a woman with the same views and equal intelligence.

[Homercles82]

Just for ****s and giggles, I actually read through most of this. Confirms my beliefs about her. You could go to any random trailer park in the deep south and find a woman with the same views and equal intelligence.

Your views on Southern people make me believe you are narrow minded.

[TheGoodBits]

Your views on Southern people make me believe you are narrow minded.

Sorry you feel that way. Obviously it's not limited to the South, that just where this loony crap is more rampant. You can find this all over the country.

[MattFancy]

It's written on her hand....since she doesn't read newspapers, she writes it on her hand

Wait...I thought she read "all" of them?

[Heisenberg]

I'll echo the poster above.

Creationism in public schools? Yikes.

[Commander PK]

it's not her political positions that interest me.

[Rocky21]

Why is the Tailgate so intrigued by Sarah Palin? She holds no political office. She is nobody.

[ACW]

Palin's chief position: the hypocrital one

:rimshot:

[skinfan133]

thanks for cutting and pasting wikipedia. don't you think a link would have sufficed?

She's a neoconservative fascist, that's all

[Burgold]

Why is the Tailgate so intrigued by Sarah Palin? She holds no political office. She is nobody.

Say what you want about her, but she's not a nobody. She rose to the level of a Governor and was thought of well enough to be the Vice Presidential Candidate for the Republican Party and now she is a highly paid political analyst for a major member of the mainstream media.

Like her or not, she's an important political figure in our cultural make-up.

[Burgold]

showoff

[Smoot Point Really]

She has a small fan-base, but I don't see too many serious Republicans talking about her all that much. I see mostly liberals and a few others on this website who are infatuated with Palin... They are afraid to admit how addicted they are to her.

[Burgold]

She has a small fan-base, but I don't see too many serious Republicans talking about her all that much. I see mostly liberals and a few others on this website who are infatuated with Palin... They are afraid to admit how addicted they are to her.

Palin is actually quite brilliant at marketing herself and staying just controversial enough to always arrouse both defense and attacks. I don't see her as a savvy policy maker or someone I would want as a problem solver, but if I had a marketing or PR problem and needed attention would I want her on my side... you betcha.

[boobiemiles]

Say what you want about her, but she's not a nobody. She rose to the level of a Governor and was thought of well enough to be the Vice Presidential Candidate for the Republican Party and now she is a highly paid political analyst for a major member of the mainstream media.

Like her or not, she's an important political figure in our cultural make-up.

She was a hail marry for a canidate that saw his last chance at being president slip away.