Friday, September 5, 2008

Do you want some fries with those whoppers? Sarah Palin on Obama's record.

Sarah, your grasp of the facts is quite alarming. Do you think lies become truths just because you say them on TV? Apparently so, because you told some whoppers in your acceptance speech:

"We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers.
And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.
But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate."

Let's start with the most basic things first. I realize you may not have read many books in Wasilla. After all, as mayor you asked the local librarian if she would mind banning certain books. (The librarian said no and a few weeks later got a letter from Palin saying she was going to be fired). Maybe because there were so few books available in Wasilla, you don't know the difference between a memoir and a manifesto. I'm going to help you out. A manifesto is a public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions, especially of a political nature. That's how you would classify Obama's book "Audacity of Hope". Now Sarah, listen up. A memoir is a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. That would be Obama's book "Dreams From My Father".

Now for the red meat -- "Obama hasn't authored a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate." I hate to call you a liar so we'll just let the truth speak for itself:
  • Senator Obama together with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) authored and passed the Lugar-Obama nonproliferation initiative, which was signed into law in January 2007. The law helps other nations detect and stop the transfer of weapons of mass destruction. The legislation also established the next generation of cooperative threat reduction efforts to destroy conventional weapons that could fall into the wrong hands.
  • Senator Obama and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), to draft and ultimately pass the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. President Bush signed this measure into law in September of 2006.
  • As the author of the Fuel Economy Reform Act, Senator Obama has worked to gain bipartisan support for an innovative approach to raising automobile fuel efficiency standards (also known as “CAFE” standards) and break two decades of inaction and deadlock on reforming fuel economy laws.
  • Senator Obama authored legislation with Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), the Alternative Diesel Standard, to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels - - including agriculture feedstocks such as biodiesel - - as part of the 40 billion gallon national diesel pool.
  • Senator Obama sponsored the Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act. The bill would shed light on the almost 16,000 earmarks that were included in spending bills in 2005. Under the bill, all earmarks, including the name of the requestor and a justification for the earmark, would have to be disclosed 72 hours before they could be considered by the full Senate.
  • In May 2007, Senator Obama, along with Senator Harkin, authored the National Low Carbon Fuel Standard Act (S. 1324), which requires a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the national transportation fuel pool by 2020, a reduction of about 180 million metric tons of emissions in 2020 – the equivalent of taking over 30 million cars off the road.
  • In the 109th and 110th Congress, he joined with Senator Lugar to introduce the American Fuels Act to increase domestic production, distribution, and end uses of biofuels.
  • Senator Obama introduced the “Health Care for Hybrids Act” to provide health care assistance to domestic automakers in exchange for their investing 50% of the savings into technology to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles.
  • Senator Obama introduced the Oil SENSE Act to eliminate unnecessary tax breaks to the oil industry. A version of the bill was passed by House of Representatives in January 2007.
  • Senator Obama sponsored legislation, the FILL UP Act, requiring oil companies that made at least $1 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2006 to invest at least 1% of the their total reported first quarter 2006 profits into installing E-85 pumps.
  • Senator Obama introduced the Iraq War De-escalation Act in January 2007. The legislation would have begun a redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007, with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008, a date that was consistent with the expectation of the Iraq Study Group.
  • In February 2007, he introduced the Transparency and Accountability in Military and Security Contracting Act (S.674) to require accountability and enhanced congressional oversight for personnel performing private security functions under federal contracts.
  • Senator Obama wrote and passed legislation to build on the historic election in the Congo and promote stability in the country. Senator Obama revamped U.S. policy in the Congo to include a commitment to help rebuild the country, develop lasting political structures, hold accountable destabilizing foreign governments, crack down on corrupt politicians, and professionalize the military.
  • In 2005, Senator Obama passed legislation ensuring wounded warriors recuperating in military hospitals would not have to pay for food services. The Obama amendment was included in the conference report accompanying the FY2005 Supplemental Appropriations bill.
  • Senator Obama successfully passed legislation in the Senate to force the Pentagon to work towards an efficient electronic medical records system that will help ensure better care for our nation's troops.
  • Senator Obama introduced the Lead-Free Toys Act to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban any children's product containing lead. He also introduced the Lead Poisoning Reduction Act, which would help protect children from lead poisoning by requiring that all non-home-based child care facilities, including Head Start program locations and kindergarten classrooms, be lead-safe within five years.
  • Obama introduced the Healthy Communities Act to identify and address problems in communities that are at high risk from environmental contaminants.
  • Senator Obama introduced two bills: the Mercury Market Minimization Act and the Missing Mercury in Manufacturing Monitoring and Mitigation Act . These bills would significantly reduce the amount of mercury that is deposited in oceans, lakes, and rivers, which in turn would reduce the amount of mercury in fish. Senator Obama will continue to press for these needed changes in the 110th Congress.
I think I've caused you enough embarrassment so I won't go on. And I haven't even gotten to his record in the Illinois state senate yet because he sponsored more than 800 bills. You can check it out for yourself. In fact, I'm surprised you didn't bother checking out the facts on the Library of Congress site (maybe you really do have it in for libraries), anyone with an Internet connection can.


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