Political positions of Sarah Palin

right|thumb|250px|Sarah Palin at the annual blessing of the fishing fleet in Dillingham, Alaska.
Sarah Palin is the Governor of Alaska and Republican vice presidential candidate for the 2008 United States presidential election.

ocial and legal issues

Freedom of expression

According to Laura Chase, Palin's first mayoral campaign manager, while serving on the city council in 1995 Palin complained about the inclusion of the book "Daddy's Roommate" in the Wasilla library; Chase explained that the book aimed at helping children understand homosexuality and told the "New York Times" that she found it "disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it."cite news |accessdate=2008-09-14
url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?em=&pagewanted=print
title=Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes
last=Becker|first=Jo
date=September 14, 2008
work=The New York Times Regarding library books, Chase stated: "Sarah said she didn't need to read that stuff [...] It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it. I'm still proud of Sarah [...] but she scares the bejeebers out of me." Chase was Palin's campaign manager for mayor in 1996.] According to the City of Wasilla Library records, there was never a request for the library to remove the book.cite web|accessdate=
author=Keller, Diane
url=http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=516
title=Reconsideration Requests of Library Materials
format=PDF
work= [http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=136 City Documents - Recently Requested - Former Mayor Palin: Banned or Censored Book Response]
publisher=Office of the Mayor, City of Wasilla
year=2008]

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."cite web |accessdate=2008-09-11
url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Sarah_Palin_Principles_+_Values.htm
title=Sarah Palin on Principles & Values
work=On the Issues
quote=A pastor, a priest, a rabbi, certainly they have the freedom to say whatever they want to say. And you know, thank the lord that we do have that freedom of speech. Faith is very important to so many of us here in America, and I would never support any government effort to stifle our freedom of religion or freedom of expression or freedom of speech. I would just caution a pastor to be very careful if they're in front of a congregation and they decide to endorse one candidate over another. There may be some frustration with that candidacy endorsement being made manifest by fewer dollars in the offering plate. But, no, I'll tell you, freedom of speech is so precious and it's worth defending and of course freedom of religion and freedom of expression will be things that I will fight for.]

Palin has come under fire for inquiring about censoring books from the library in Wasilla shortly after she was elected mayor.cite news
accessdate=2008-09-27
url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5it8KyOqY5ZF4nQaF8rc4tX5tLvCgD9353AQ82
title=GOP campaign downplays Palin book-banning inquiry
author=Burke, Garance
date=September 12, 2008
publisher=Associated Press]

Religion in public life

Palin has said this about teaching creationism as part of the public school curriculum: "It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum [but] I am a proponent of teaching both."cite web|author=Kizzia, Tom|url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html|title='Creation science' enters the race|work=Anchorage Daily News|date=2006-10-27.] She has also stated, "I won't have religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism."

In October 2007, she signed the "Christian Heritage Week" Proclamationcite news
first=David |last=Brody |url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/435912.aspx
title=Sarah Palin Signed 'Christian Heritage Week' Proclamation
publisher=CBN
date=August 30, 2008] which "reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage."cite web |url=http://www.gov.alaska.gov/print_news-54750.html | |accessdate=2008-09-09|publisher=Office of the Governor, Sarah Palin
title=News Details: Christian Heritage Week
date=September 14, 2007] 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."cite web | url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Sarah_Palin_Principles_+_Values.htm | title=Sarah Palin on Principles & Values | | publisher="On the Issues" |accessdate=2008-09-11]

After the Republican National Convention, Palin's religious views came under increasing scrutiny in the media.cite news
author=Mostrous, Alexi
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4720440.ece
title= Sarah Palin, the pastor and the prophecy: judgment day is not far away
work=The Times|location=UK
date=September 10, 2008] cite news
url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/08/palin.pastor/index.html
title=Pastor: GOP may be downplaying Palin's religious beliefs
first=Randi |last=Kaye|publisher=CNN
date=September 12, 2008] cite news
first=Steve |last=Benen |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014624.php
title=Palin's beliefs draw closer scrutiny
work=Washington Monthly |date=September 9, 2008] 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",cite web |accessdate=
url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4LjsfWbZLA
type=video
publisher=You Tube
title=Sarah Palin & the Wasilla Assembly of God 1 of 2] and in the same remarks asserted that "God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built", in reference to the Alaskan national gas pipeline project.cite news
first=Steve |last=Benen |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014624.php
title=Palin's beliefs draw closer scrutiny
work=Washington Monthly |date=September 9, 2008] cite interview|interviewer=Charles Gibson
subject=Sarah Palin |type=Interview
url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5782924&page=1
title=Excerpt: Charlie Gibson interviews Sarah Palin — Republican VP Candidate Speaks with ABC News' Charlie Gibson in Exclusive Interview
work=World News with Charles Gibson
publisher=ABC |page=1
date=September 11, 2008] 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."cite news |accessdate=2008-09-09
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/politics/06church.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
title=In Palin's Life and Politics, Goal to Follow God's Will
first=Kirk | last=Johnson | coauthors=Severson, Kim
work=The New York Times | date=September 6, 2008]

According to Steven Waldman of BeliefNet, the Christian Heritage Week resolution Palin signed "plucked Founding Fathers quotes way out of context to misleadingly imply they were devout Christians" a technique which he says in many other cases has been used "to promote the argument that America was created to be a Christian nation, and separation of church and state is a myth." Furthermore, Palin has suggested that her work as governor would be hampered "if the people of Alaska's heart isn't right with God," which Waldman says ascribes religious explanations for policy outcomes, and "makes assessing her performance nearly impossible. If she stumbles, it's our fault."cite web
author=Waldman, Steven
url=http://blogs.wsj.com/politicalperceptions/2008/09/09/the-passion-of-palin-separating-real-concerns-from-the-hysteria/?mod=googlenews_wsj
title=The Passion of Palin: Separating Real Concerns From the Hysteria
work=Wall Street Journal
date=September 9, 2008] An Associated Press review of Palin's record as mayor and governor "reveals her use of elected office to promote religious causes, sometimes at taxpayer expense and in ways that blur the line between church and state." [ Garance Burke. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/163438 "As governor, Palin at times bonds church and state: Palin uses her elected office to promote religious causes, at times with public money"] ;Newsweek (AP), October 11, 2008]

Palin's former pastor believes that her sincerely-held religious beliefs will naturally influence her political positions, while Palin has stated that she would not allow her personal beliefs to dictate public policy.cite news
author=Kaye, Randi
url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/08/palin.pastor/index.html |accessdate=2008-09-12
title=Pastor: GOP may be downplaying Palin's religious beliefs
publisher=CNN
date=September 9, 2008] Nancy Hardesty, a professor of religion at Clemson University in South Carolina, asserts that Palin has been exposed to a religious world view that could shape her environmental and foreign policies.cite news
url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-palin-religion_06sep06,0,3371419.story |title=How religion guides Palin
first=Manya A. |last=Brachear |date=September 6, 2008
work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=2009-09-13] "Der Spiegel" describes the relevance of her Pentacostal views to what she says in public, and asserts that the McCain campaign wants to play it down.cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,577440,00.html |title=Sarah Palin's Religion: God and the Vice-Presidential Candidate
first=Alexander |last=Schwabe
work=Spiegel Online
format=English site
date=September 10, 2008
publisher= Der Spiegel|accessdate=2009-09-13] According to CNN, the campaign has stated that the governor does not consider herself a Pentecostal.cite web|author=Kaye, Randi|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/08/palin.pastor/index.html|title=Pastor: GOP may be downplaying Palin's religious beliefs|publisher=CNN|date=2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-10-05]

Health

tem cell research

Governor Palin stated in 2006 that because she believes embryonic stem cell research causes the destruction of life, it is inconsistent with her "pro-life" position and she does not support this research.cite video
people = Sarah Palin, Andrew Halcro, Tony Knowles
title = 2006 Alaska Governor's Debate among Sarah Palin, Andrew Halcro and Tony Knowles
medium = Televised debate
publisher = KTOO Television
location = Anchorage, Alaska
airdate = 2006-11-07]

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".cite news |accessdate=
url=http://lifenews.com/nat4305.html
title=Sarah Palin Tells Charlie Gibson She is Pro-Life on Abortion, Stem Cell Research
author=Ertelt, Steven |date=September 14, 2008
publisher=LifeNews.com]

Abortion

Palin is opposed to abortion in almost all cases, including rape and incest, but not if the life of the mother is endangered. [cite news
accessdate=2008-08-29 |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101906/sta_20061019031.shtml
work=Juneau Empire
title=Abortion Draws Clear Divide in State Races; Palin, Knowles stand on opposite sides of debate
first=Pat |last=Forgey
date=October 19, 2006] cite news |accessdate=2008-08-29
work=Anchorage Daily News |last=Volz |first=Matt
title=All three candidates support gas line lawsuit; Governor's Race: Top contenders meet one last time to debate
date=November 3, 2006] cite news | url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/156258/output/print | title=McCain's 'Hail Sarah' Pass
first=Jonathan | last=Alter | work=Newsweek | date=August 29, 2008 | accessdate=2008-09-04] 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."cite news | url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/2006/governor/story/8372383p-8266781c.html | title=All three candidates support gas line lawsuit|author=Volz, Matt|date=November 3, 2006| work=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-08-30] She and her husband have stated that they have "faith that every baby is created for a good purpose."cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122005503104485161.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
title=Anti-Abortion Activists Cheer McCain's V.P. Pick
last=Simon|first=Stephanie|date=August 29, 2008|work=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-08-30] 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."cite web|url=http://community.adn.com/adn/node/130090
title=Candidate Survey October 2006 — Palin on issues
publisher=ADN.com] Palin personally supported bills to outlaw late-term abortions and to require parental consent for underage abortions in Alaska,cite web
url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/issues/vice-presidents/index.html
title=Running Mates on the Issues |work=Election Guide 2008
publisher="New York Times"|accessdate=2008-09-09] but rebuffed religious conservatives who wanted to legislate restrictions on abortion even though she agreed with the bills.cite news |first=Ken |last=Dalinian
title=Palin 'governed from the center,' went after big oil
url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-11-palin-cover_N.htm
work=USA Today |date=September 12, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-13]

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."cite news |title=Sarah Palin Makes History as First Female Vice Presidential Nominee of Republican Party |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5789483&page=2 |work=ABCnews.com |publisher=ABCNews Internet Ventures |page=2 |date=September 12, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-18] 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."cite news |title=Sarah Palin Makes History as First Female Vice Presidential Nominee of Republican Party |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5789483&page=2 |work=ABCnews.com |publisher=ABCNews Internet Ventures |page=2 |date=September 12, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-18] Gibson noted that 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."cite news |title=Sarah Palin Makes History as First Female Vice Presidential Nominee of Republican Party |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5789483&page=2 |work=ABCnews.com |publisher=ABCNews Internet Ventures |page=2 |date=September 12, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-18] 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] ."cite news |title=Sarah Palin Makes History as First Female Vice Presidential Nominee of Republican Party |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5789483&page=2 |work=ABCnews.com |publisher=ABCNews Internet Ventures |page=2 |date=September 12, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-18]

ex education

Palin is opposed to "explicit sex-ed programs", including "school-based clinics and the distribution of contraceptives in schools", though is in favor of teaching children about contraception, having said "kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues". She has expressed strong support for abstinence-only sex education as an alternative.cite news
url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-sexed6-2008sep06,0,3119305.story
date=September 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-06
first=Seema |last=Mehta
title=Palin appears to disagree with McCain on sex education
work=Los Angeles Times] cite news
url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/governor06/story/8049298p-7942233c.html
title=Same-sex unions, drugs get little play
last=Hopkins|first=Kyle
date=August 6, 2006| work=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-08-30] [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5711359&page=1 Palin Daughter's Pregnancy Spurs Sex Ed Debate] by Dan Childs, ABC News - Medical Unit, September 3, 2008 (retrieved on October 9, 2008).]

Women's issues

Feminism

Palin has been a member of Feminists for Life since 2006.cite news
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html
title=Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms
date=August 29, 2008 | first=William | last=Yardley
work=New York Times | accessdate=2008-09-03] In August 2006, she told the "Anchorage Daily News" that "no woman should have to choose between her career, education and her child."cite news
url=http://www.lifenews.com/nat4237.html
first=Steven |last= Ertelt
date=August 29, 2008
title=Sarah Palin's Feminists for Life Membership Points to Pro-Woman, Pro-Life View
publisher=LifeNews.com]

Equal pay

According to the McCain campaign, Palin favors the concept of equal pay for women. However, she opposes the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would allow more time for victims of employment discrimination to bring suit under the Equal Pay Act of 1963. [Citation
last = Babington
first = Charles
title = Obama deals gently with Palin on equal pay issue
newspaper = The Boston Globe
year = 2008
date = August 31, 2008
url = http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/31/obama_deals_gently_with_palin_on_equal_pay_issue/] The bill would overturn the United States Supreme Court's decision in "Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co." There the Court held that the time period of 180 days within which to bring suit was to be calculated from the first affected paycheck, even if the plaintiff had not yet discovered the discrimination. The bill would begin this statute of limitations period from the receipt of the most recent affected paycheck.

ame-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,cite news|first = Lisa|last = Demer|url = http://www.adn.com/front/story/8508726p-8401181c.html|title = Palin to comply on same-sex ruling|work = Anchorage Daily News|date = December 21, 2006|accessdate = 2008-09-02] cite news |last=Breslau |first=Karen |title=An Apparent Flip-Flop On Gay Rights |work=Newsweek |date=October 13, 2008 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/162324 ] subsequently vetoing a bill that would have denied the benefits.cite news|first = Kyle|last = Hopkins | url = http://dwb.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/8525563p-8419318c.html|title = Same-sex benefits ban gets Palin veto|work = Anchorage Daily News|date = December 29, 2006|accessdate = 2008-09-02 "'signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office' due to the state Supreme Court ruling"] In an interview with "Newsweek" in 2007, she affirmed her support for an amendment to the state constitution denying benefits to same-sex couples. She later signed a bill ordering a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny the benefits.cite news | first = Bill|last = McAllister | url = http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5843150 | title = Gay partners of state employees win benefits | work = KTUU News | publisher = KTUU-TV | date = December 20, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-12-27] 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.cite news|first = Anne|last = Sutton|url = http://dwb.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/8865109p-8765744c.html|title = Same-sex benefits bill stalls|work = Anchorage Daily News|date = May 8, 2007|accessdate = 2008-09-02]

Legal system

Judicial appointments

While interviewing candidates to fill judge vacancies in Alaska state courts, Palin has asked prospective appointees questions about work history, background and basic judicial philosophy. She has not asked about positions on abortion or any other specific cases. [cite news |first=Joe |last=Palazzolo |coauthors=Mauro, Tony |title=Biden, Palin May Loom Large in Judge Picks |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202424466959&pos=ataglance |work=Legal Times |date=2008-09-12 |accessdate=2008-09-14]

Jury rights

On August 31, 2007, Palin signed a Jury Rights Day Proclamation, [cite web | url=http://gov.state.ak.us/print_news-17852.html | title=Jury Rights Day Proclamation of 2007 | quote= [This case] established forever the English and American legal doctrine that it is the right and responsibility of the trial jury to decide on matters of law and fact", and "Whereas, the Sixth and Seventh Amendments are included in the Bill of Rights to preserve the right to trial by jury, which in turn conveys upon the jury the responsibility to defend, with its verdict, all other individual rights enumerated or implied by the U.S. Constitution, including its Amendments.] 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.

Crime and violence

Gun rights

Palin is a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, which she believes precludes the possibility 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. A longtime hunter who hunts as frequently as possible, she supports gun-safety education for children,cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/156276|title=On the Hunt
last=Braiker|first=Brian|date=August 29, 2008
work=Newsweek|accessdate=2008-08-30] and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.cite news| url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/29/conservative-activists-praise-palin-as-mccains-vp-pick/?mod=googlenews_wsj | title=Conservative Activists Praise Palin as McCain's VP Pick | last=Davis | first=Susan|date=2008-08-29|work=Wall Street Journal | accessdate=2008-08-30 Sandra Froman, a member of the NRA Board of Directors, described McCain's selection of Palin as "outstanding."]

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." [cite web| url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Sarah_Palin_Crime.htm | title=Issues| last=Palin| first=Sarah | date=2006-11-07| publisher="Palin for Governor" (inactive web site) quoted in On the Issues | accessdate=2008-08-30]

Drugs

Palin is opposed to efforts to decriminalize marijuana, which she says sends the wrong message to children. Palin has said she is more concerned about methamphetamine than marijuana, which she sees as a greater social threat.cite web |accessdate=2008-09-17
url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/governor06/story/8049298p-7942233c.htmll
title=Same-sex unions, drugs get little play; Governor's Race: Gas line leaves no room to talk on other hot issues
author=Hopkins, Kyle
work=Anchorage Daily News
date=August 6, 2006]

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." [cite news |title=Sarah Palin Makes History as First Female Vice Presidential Nominee of Republican Party |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Conventions/Story?id=5720910&page=2 |work=ABCnews.com |publisher=ABCNews Internet Ventures |page=2 |date=September 3, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-16]

Shortly after becoming governor, Palin canceled a contract for the construction of an convert|11|mi|km|adj=on gravel road outside Juneau to a mine [cite web |accessdate=2008-08-29
url=http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=5818166&ClientType=Printable
title=Palin cancels contracts for pioneer road to Juneau
author=McAllister, Bill
date=December 14, 2006
publisher=ktuu.com] and sold the state's Westwind II jet, which had been purchased by the Murkowski administration against the wishes of the Legislature. [cite news |title=No bidders on eBay; sold it offline |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/691/ |publisher=PolitiFact.com |accessdate=2008-09-05] 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.cite news
title=Palin cuts $231 million from capital budget
author=Quinn, Steve
date=June 29, 2007 |work=Anchorage Daily News
url-http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9090623p-9006670c.html] 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. [cite news|url=http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml|accessdate=2008-09-01|title=Lawmakers cringe over governor's deep budget cuts|last=Bradner |first=Tim|date=July 8, 2007|work=Alaska Journal of Commerce]

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 gonna find ourselves in another Great Depression. But there has to be action taken, bipartisan effort—Congress not pointing fingers at this point at...one another, but finding the solution to this, taking action and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed."cite news
url=http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/9/24/sarah-palin-bailout-or-great-depression-choose.html
accessdate=2008-09-26
author= Rainey, James
title=Palin talks to Couric – and if she's lucky, few are listening
work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 26, 2008.]

Later during the same interview when Couric asked Palin whether it would be better to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families instead of helping big financial institutions, Palin responded, " ... But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy– Helping the — Oh, it's got to be about job creation too. Shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive scary thing. But 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."cite web|accessdate=2008-09-27
url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/161204
first=Fareed |last=Zakaria
title=Palin Is Ready? Please.
work=Newsweek
date=October 6, 2008 (print edition)]

Earmarks

Alaska's Federal congressional representatives cut back on pork-barrel project requests during Palin's time as governor. Alaska is still the largest per-capita recipient of federal earmarks, requesting nearly $750 million in special federal spending and obtaining $295 per citizen from the federal government.cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26611103/
title=McCain, Palin criticize Obama on earmarks; Palin's home state remains largest per-capita consumer of federal funds
author=Associated Press
date=September 8, 2008
publisher=MSNBC] cite web
url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ici5RhMkh6-9V07yckpLBEEjzf6QD932MU100
title=Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere
date=September 8, 2008
author=Associated Press
author=Woodward, Calvin]

While Mayor of Wasilla, the town paid a lobbying firm $24,000 to $36,000 per year to help secure federal earmarks for the town. She also personally 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.cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/27791154.html?page=1&c=y
title=Palin hired lobbyists to win earmarks
date=September 2, 2008
work=Star Tribune
location=Minneapolis-St.Paul, MN] cite news
title=Palin's Alaska Town Secured Big Fed $$$; Gov. Palin Hired Lobby Firm To Secure $27 Million For Town Of 6,700
work=Washington Post
publisher=CBS News
date=September 2, 2008
url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/02/politics/washingtonpost/main4406403.shtml]

In 2008 budget year Palin sought $256 Million in Earmarks. Alaska State revenues doubled to $10 Billion in 2008, there is no sales tax or income tax, and for the 2009 budget Palin gave a list of 31 proposed earmarks, totaling $197 million, to Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens.cite news|accessdate=
work=Seattle Times
title=Palin's earmark requests: more per person than any other state
url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008154532_webpalin02m.html
author=Bernton, Hal and David Heath] cite news|accessdate=
publihser=Associated Press
author=Taylor, Andrew |date=September 3, 2008
title=Palins Pork Requests Confound Image
url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_earmarks
publisher=Associated Press] cite news |accessdate=
url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/11/1377812.aspx
title=TrooperGate back in the News
work=MSNBC First Read |date=September 11, 2008
first= Mark |last=Murray] By comparison, Alaska governor Frank Murkowski had requested $550 million in earmarks for the 2005 budget year, so Palin's request for 2008 was a substantial reduction.cite news|accessdate=
url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gtx_hOhOBrAMbgsXYxQAu3f_QvBwD935EU2G0
title=Fact Check: McCain misstates Palin earmarks record
author=Kuhnhenn, Jim
publiher=Associated Press |date=September 12, 2008]

Gravina Island Bridge

In Palin's 2006 gubernatorial campaign, she supported the building of the Gravina Island Bridge, which critics had dubbed the "Bridge to Nowhere" because it would connect Ketchikan to Gravina Island, which had only 50 people.cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?p=2448
title=Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006 |first=Ken |last=Dilanian
date=August 31, 2008 |publisher=Gannett News Service]

In 2005, the $442-million earmark to build the Gravina Island Bridge and the Knik Arm Bridge was included in an early version of an omnibus spending bill for 2006, but the earmark generated strong criticism and was stripped from the bill before final passage in November 2005; Congress instead gave the transportation money to Alaska with no strings attached.cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/alaska.bridge.ap/ | date = 2007-09-22 | publisher = CNN.com | title = 'Bridge to nowhere' abandoned|author = Associated Press|accessdate=2008-09-17] In 2006, Palin ran for governor on a "build-the-bridge" plank in her platform.cite news
url=http://www.adn.com/politics/story/511471.html | accessdate=2008-09-08
title=Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' doesn't note flip-flop
work=Anchorage Daily News | author=Kizzia, Tom| date=August 31, 2008] She argued that it was essential for local prosperity,cite news |accessdate = 2008-09-02
url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/03/palin.track.record/?iref=hpmostpop
publisher = CNN| title = Palin's maverick trail goes from city hall to gov's mansion
date = September 2, 2008] saying in August 2006: "We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge, and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative."cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?p=2448
title=Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006 |first=Ken |last=Dilanian
date=August 31, 2008 |publisher=Gannett News Service]

In October 2006, when asked, "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?", she answered: "Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."Citation | title = Where they stand (10/22/2006)| newspaper = Anchorage Daily News | year = 2008 | date = August 29, 2008| url = http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510378.html |accessdate=2008-09-01]

After Palin became governor, however, Congress did not renew the bridge earmark that had been stripped from the 2005 spending bill. In September 2007, Palin stated:

Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer. Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island. Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. [cite press release | title = Gravina Access Project Redirected | publisher = State of Alaska | date = September 21, 2007 | url = http://gov.state.ak.us/archive-28635.html] [cite web | title = Ted Earmarked Funds for Bridge that Goes Nowhere | publisher = The Alaska Democratic Party | work = RetireTed.com | url = http://www.retireted.com/category/real-estate/gravina-bridge/]

While declining to provide state funding for the bridge, Palin kept the full federal grant for the state "because the money would otherwise have to be returned to the federal government."cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/157696/page/3
title=An Apostle of Alaska
work=Newsweek
date=September 15, 2008] cite news | accessdate = 2008-08-31
url = http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/511471.html| work = Anchorage Daily News
last = Kizzia| first = Tom
title = Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' does not note flip-flop
date = August 31, 2008] Citation | title = Where they stand (10/22/2006)| newspaper = Anchorage Daily News | year = 2008 | date = August 29, 2008| url = http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510378.html |accessdate=2008-09-01] cite news| url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080901/pl_nm/usa_politics_palin1_dc_1
work=Yahoo!News|publisher=Reuters| title=Palin "bridge to nowhere" line angers many Alaskans| last=Rosen| first=Yereth| date=September 1, 2008| accessdate=2008-09-02] Mike Elerding, Palin's campaign coordinator in Ketchikan, says, "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money."cite web| last = Rosen| first = Yereth| title = Palin "bridge to nowhere" line angers many Alaskans| publisher = Reuters| date = September 1, 2008
url = http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN3125537020080901| accessdate =2008-09-05] According to Palin's communications director Bill McAlister, the bridge "isn't necessarily dead"; it may still be built with "a less costly design."cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?p=2448
title=Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006 |first=Ken |last=Dilanian
date=August 31, 2008 |publisher=Gannett News Service]

In her nomination acceptance speech, Palin said: "I told the Congress 'thanks, but no thanks,' for that Bridge to Nowhere." [cite web|accessdate=
url=http://portal.gopconvention2008.com/speech/details.aspx?id=38
title=Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin; Vice Presidential Nominee To Address the 2008 Republican National Convention
date=September 3, 2008
publisher=GOP Convention 2008] McCain/Palin television advertisements also claim Palin "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere."cite web |accessdagte=
url=http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/08/politics-of-the-bridge-to-nowhere.aspx
title= The Politics of the 'Bridge to Nowhere'
work=Newsweek |author=Romano, Andrew
date=September 8, 2008] These claims were criticized as misleading by the Obama campaign and numerous media outlets, including the Associated Presscite web
url=http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080908/ap_on_el_pr/bridge_to_nowhere_fact_check
title=Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere
author= Associated Press
date=8 September 2008
accessdate=2008-09-10] and the "New York Times".cite news |accessdate=2008-09-10
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/us/politics/01bridge.html
title=Account of a Bridge's Death Slightly Exaggerated
author=Kirkpatrick, David D. and Larry Rohter
work=New York Times |date=31 August 2008] The "Washington Post" reported that "critics, the news media and nonpartisan fact checkers have called [Palin's claim] a fabrication or, at best, a half-truth."cite news|accessdate=2008-09-10
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090903727.html
title=As Campaign Heats Up, Untruths Can Become Facts Before They're Undone
firt=Jonathan |last=Weisman |work=Washington Post |date=September 10, 2008] In an article entitled, "Some of Palin's remarks stretch the truth", the "Anchorage Daily News "confirmed: "THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation, although she has cut, by more than half, the amount the state sought from Washington this year. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515517.html
title=Some of Palin's remarks stretch the truth
work=Anchorage Daily News |date=September 4, 2008]

Knik Arm Bridge

Palin supports, with some reservations, the Knik Arm Bridge. $42 million has been spent on the planning process. Palin asked for a review of the bridge's financing plans and expressed concerns about the financial risks for the state. Some Alaskan Democrats state that the bridge is an expensive project, doesn't help commuters, doesn't help create jobs. John McCain derided the project, calling it a "monstrosity" that was "terrifying in its fiscal consequences." [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080916/ap_on_el_pr/palin_bridge_to_wasilla Palin supports $600 million 'other' bridge project] Associated Press Sept 15, 2008.]

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." [cite web | last=Hall |first=Kevin G. | title=Candidates briefed on seizure of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac | publisher= McClatchy Newspapers | date=2008-09-06 | url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/51940.html] Critics pointed to it as an example of Palin's lack of knowledge in the area, noting that the mortgage entities operated until September 7, 2008 as quasi-private companies. [citeweb| url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/palins-bailout-statement-raises-questions | date=2008-09-09|accessdate=2008-09-09 | title=Palin's Bailout Statement Raises Questions] Supporters scoffed at the claim that her statement was a gaffe, arguing that neither of the companies are completely private, and that the companies are being bailed out with hundreds of millions of tax dollars. [cite web |url=http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/09/the-palin-gaffe-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-bailouts-expensive/ |title=The Palin "gaffe": Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bailouts "expensive" |accessdate=2008-09-16 |author=Ed Morrissey |date=September 9, 2008 |work=Hot Air Network, LLC |publisher=The Blog Studio] [cite web |url=http://palinmania.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/sarah-palins-gaffe-is-a-total-bust/ |title=Sarah Palin's "gaffe" is a total bust |accessdate=2008-09-16 |date=September 9, 2008 |work=Palinmania! |publisher=WordPress.com] [cite web |url=http://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/09/palins_first_gaffe_not_a_gaffe.php |title=Palin's "First Gaffe" Not A Gaffe At All |accessdate=2008-09-16 |author=John Hawkins |date=September 8, 2008 |work=Right Wing News] [cite web |url=http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/08/huffing-huffpo-desperate-for-a-gop-gaffe/ |title=Huffing HuffPo desperate for a GOP gaffe |accessdate=2008-09-16 |author=Michelle Malkin |date=September 8, 2008 |work=Michelle Malkin LLC |publisher=WordPress.com]

Healthcare

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. [cite web|url=http://www.gov.alaska.gov/archive-50605.html|publisher=State of Alaska|date=2008-01-15|accessdate=2008-09-09|title=2008 State of the State Address|author=Sarah Palin]

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." [ [http://thepage.time.com/video-palin-in-cedar-rapids-iowa/ Video: Palin in Cedar Rapids, Iowa] , Time magazine online, September 18, 2008]

As mayor, using income generated by a 2% sales tax that was enacted prior to her election, Palin cut property taxes by 75% and eliminated personal property and business inventory taxes.Citation
last = Kizzia | first = Tom
title = 'Fresh face' launched Palin
newspaper = Anchorage Daily News
year = 2006
date = October 23, 2006
url = http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/story/8334949p-8231037c.html] Palin also supported a voter-approved city sales tax increase of 0.5% to pay for a new sports complex.cite web | last = Yardley | first = William | title = Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms | publisher = The New York Times | date = 2008-08-29 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?pagewanted=3&hp | accessdate = 2008-08-30] As governor, Palin helped pass a tax increase on oil company profits, although she opposes the Windfall Profits Tax proposed by Senator Barack Obama.cite web|last = Quinn|first = Steve|url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-10-4082128881_x.htm|date = 2007-05-10|work = Associated Press|title = Alaska governor balances newborn's needs, official duties] cite news|last = Barnes|first = Fred|title = The Most Popular Governor|work = The Weekly Standard|date = July 16, 2007|url = http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?pg=1|accessdate = 2007-12-27]

Energy and environment

Oil and gas development

As Governor, Palin has strongly promoted oil and natural gas resource development in Alaska, and advocates exposing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling,cite news|first =Sarah |last = Palin
url = http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Sarah_Palin_Environment.htm
title = State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007|work = |date = January 17, 2007|accessdate = 2008-08-29] controverting McCain's position.cite news
title=Sarah Palin on Climate Change & Drilling in ANWR
first=Charlie |last=Gibson
publisher=ABC News |date=September 12, 2008]

Crude oil drilling

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.cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1837536-2,00.html|title=Transcript: TIME's interview with Sarah Palin|last=Newton-Small|first=Jay|date=2008-08-29|publisher=Time|accessdate=2008-08-30] "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."cite news
first=Britt |last=Collins
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/17/poles.wildlife
title=Sarah Palin: The ice queen; Sarah Palin, the Republican party's vice-president nominee, governs an oil-rich area that has seen some of the most dramatic effects of climate change. So what's her record on environmental concerns?
work=The Guardian |date=September 17, 2008] "The Guardian" adds, "She tried to sue the US government to derail the listing of polar bears as a threatened species, fearing that it would get in the way of oil and gas development - this as the ice melts under their paws and they are literally drowning."cite news
first=Britt |last=Collins
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/17/poles.wildlife
title=Sarah Palin: The ice queen; Sarah Palin, the Republican party's vice-president nominee, governs an oil-rich area that has seen some of the most dramatic effects of climate change. So what's her record on environmental concerns?
work=The Guardian |date=September 17, 2008]

According to University of Alaska Professor Rick Steiner, Palin has not pushed Exxon to pay the government for the unanticipated environmental injuries from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill: "Shortly before Palin took office in 2006, the governments presented Exxon with a demand to pay $92 million for this additional environmental damage, but her administration has since not pressed the issue nor taken Exxon to court to collect the money. Meanwhile, Exxon reaps record profits from Alaska."cite news
first=Rick |last= Steiner
url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377955_palinenvir07.html
title=Sarah Palin's record on the environment is abysmal
work=Seattle Post Intelligencer
date=September 9, 2008]

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. [Johnson, Gene. "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'", "Associated Press", 3 Sept 2008. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_iraq_war Available online.] [http://www.webcitation.org/5agkukfBb Archived.] ] In her acceptance speech at the GOP in Sept, 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.cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/us/politics/11pipeline.html?ref=business
title=Palin's Pipeline Is Years From Being a Reality
author=Kovaleski, Serge F. and Mike McIntire
date=September 11, 2008 |work=New York Times] Other estimates put the price of the project at about $30 billion.cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515517.html
title=Some of Palin's remarks stretch the truth
work=Anchorage Daily News
date=September 4, 2008]

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." [Mike Coppock. [http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/sarah_palin_vp/2008/08/29/126139.html "Palin Speaks to Newsmax About McCain, Abortion"] ; Newsmax, August 29, 2008] 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." [Charlie Gibson. [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5782924&page=1 "Republican VP Candidate Speaks with ABC News' Charlie Gibson in Exclusive Interview"] ; ABC, Sept. 11, 2008] [Alex Koppelman. [http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/09/12/palin_global_warming/ "Palin flip-flops on global warming"] ; Salon, Sept. 12, 2008]

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. [http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/ Alaska Climate Change Strategy official site] ] University of Alaska Professor Rick Steiner says that this sub-cabinet "has done little", and that she has ignored requests to establish an Alaska Office on Climate Change, an Alaska Climate Response Fund, and emissions reduction targets. [Rick Steiner. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377955_palinenvir07.html "Sarah Palin's record on the environment is abysmal"] ; Seattle Post Intelligencer, Sept. 9, 2008]

Water

While governor, Palin opposed [http://www.elections.alaska.gov/petitions/07wtr3.pdf The Alaska Clean Water Act] stating that "very stringent regulations and policies [were] already in place." [Lamb, Jason. "'Governor's hat' off, Palin blasts Clean Water initiative", "KTUU News", 22 Aug 2008. [http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8885438 Available online.] ] The Clean Water Initiative was voted on as Ballot Measure 4 on August 26, 2008 [Harris, Richard: Publisher; Lund, Betsy: Managing Editor; Herman, Drew: Assistant Editor [http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=6547 "Clean Water Act lets citizens put industry on right path"] Kodiak Daily Mirror, August 15, 2008] and lost by a vote of about 57 percent against and 43 percent for the measure. [ [http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/27/ballot-measures-find-little-support-alaskans "Ballot measures find little support from Alaskans"] , newsminer.com. Fairbanks, Alaska, August 27, 2008.] 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. [The Associated Press [http://iht.com/articles/2008/08/27/america/mining.php "Alaska voters reject water regulations at mines"] International Herald Tribune, August 27, 2008 ] [Kosich, Deborah, [http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page68?oid=60612&sn=Detail "Alaskans vote on anti-Pebble copper/gold project clean water ballot measure"] mineweb, Reno, Nevada, August 25, 2oo8 ] [Richstad, Eric, editor of The Orvis News, [http://www.orvis.com/intro.asp?subject=4571&bbcp=1 "Alaska's Bristol Bay world-famous salmon rivers threatened by Pebble Mine. Help Save Them!"] Orvis,] 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. [Roosevelt, Margot [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/la-na-mine1sep01,0,6038649.story "Alaskan economy faces a fork in the river"] Los Angeles Times, September 1, 2007]

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. [Estabrook, Barry [http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/2008/09/politics-of-the-plate-salmon-scandal "Politics of the Plate: Salmongate"] The Gourmet Institute, New York City, October 17-19, 2008 ] [Lamb, Jason [http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8885438 " 'Governor's hat' off, Palin blast Clean Water Initiative"] KTUU.com, Anchorage, Alaska, August 22,2008 ] "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." [Lamb, Jason [http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8885438 " 'Governor's hat' off, Palin blasts Clean Water Initiative"] Anchorage, Alaska August 22, 2008 ] [Estabrook, Barry [http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/2008/09/politics-of-the-plate-salmon-scandal "Politics of the Plate: Salmongate"] , The Gourmet Institute, New York City, October 17-19, 2008]

The Pebble Mine is a finite resource which will employ 5,500 people a year 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. [Yardley, William [http://iht.com/articles/2008/08/24/america/alaska.php "Mining ballot splits Alaska along new lines"] International Herald Tribune, August 24, 2008] 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. [Richstad, Eric, editor of the Orvis News [http://www.orvis.com/intro.asp?subject=4571&bbcp=1 "Alaska's Bristol Bay world-famous salmon rivers threatened by Pebble Mine. Help Save Them!] , www.orvis.com ] [Estabrook, Barry [http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/2008/09/politics-of-the-plate-salmon-scandal "Politics of the Plate: Salmongate"] The Gourmet Institute, New York City, October 17-19, 2008 ] [Roosevelt, Margot [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/la-na-mine1/sep01,0,6038649.story "Alaskan economy faces a fork in the river"] Dead link|date=September 2008 Los Angeles Times September 1, 2007]

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,cite news|title=Lawmaker seeks to ban wolf hunting from planes, copters|last=Bolstad|first=Erika|date=2007-09-26|publisher=Oakland Tribune|accessdate=2008-08-30] a practice which has been banned since 1972. [ [http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008.09/09/sarah-palins-record-on-environment-is-abysmal/ "Sarah Palin's abysmal environmental record"] ; Sept. 10, 2008] 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 August, 2007, both lawmakers and Governor Palin approved appropriating $400,000 from the state treasury to explain the aerial hunting program to Alaskans.cite news|accessdate= |url=http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/9253882p-9168881c.html
last=deMarban |first=Alex
title=$400,000 approved to educate Alaskans about wolf killing
work=Anchorage Daily News
date=August 27, 2007] Since Alaskans were voting on an initiative against the practice the following year, many felt the funds were an attempt to influence the vote against the initiatve.cite news|accessdate= |url=http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/9253882p-9168881c.html
last=deMarban |first=Alex
title=$400,000 approved to educate Alaskans about wolf killing
work=Anchorage Daily News
date=August 27, 2007] [Stuart, Ben [http://homernews.com/stories/042408/news_1_002.shtml "AFD&G takes another shot at predators"] Homer, Alaska April 24, 2007] ] Alaskans had voted already against the aerial hunting of predators in 1996 and 2000; both times the state legislature overturned the results.cite news|accessdate= |url=http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/9253882p-9168881c.html
last=deMarban |first=Alex
title=$400,000 approved to educate Alaskans about wolf killing
work=Anchorage Daily News
date=August 27, 2007] The measure had been allowed to expire after two years each time; hence the controversial vote. The program also allowed the fly-and-shoot, liberalized hunting of black bears with no bag limits in the same areas, in addition to the area from Anchorage across Cook Inlet,cite news|accessdate= |url=http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/9253882p-9168881c.html
last=deMarban |first=Alex
title=$400,000 approved to educate Alaskans about wolf killing
work=Anchorage Daily News
date=August 27, 2007] where for the first time allowing the hunting of sows with cubs, not just males, with a goal of up to kill rate of 60 percent of the black bear population around Anchorage. [ [http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/defenders_magazine/fall_2007/defenders_in_action_alaskas_war_on_wildlife_persists.php "Defenders in action: Alaska's War on Wildlife"] Defenders of Wildlife, Fall, 2007]

In March 2007, Palin's office announced that to offset fuel costs, a bounty of $150 per wolf would be paid to the 180 volunteer pilots and gunners, drawing protest among wildlife activitists. [ [http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/story/8726730p-8628810c.html "State Puts Bounty on Wolves"] Anchorage Daily News March 21, 2007] In March 2007, they took the state to court, where the bounty was ruled illegal.cite web | accessdate=2008-09-09
url= http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/wolves/story/204937.html
work=Anchorage Daily News | date=March 31, 2007
first=Alex |last=deMarban
title=Judge orders state to stop wolf bounties] The program prompted California State Representative George Miller to introduce a federal bill (H.R. 3663) that would protect wolves, bears, and other wildlife from airborne hunting.cite news|title=Lawmaker seeks to ban wolf hunting from planes, copters| last=Bolstad|first=Erika |date=2007-09-26| publisher=Oakland Tribune|accessdate=2008-08-30]

In May 2007 Palin introduced Bill 256 to streamline the Predator Program [ [http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2007/5-11-07_nr.php " Alaska Department of Game and Fish" ] ADF & G Press Release May 11, 2007] 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. [ [http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/wolves/story/298522.html "Palin wants to shoot down wolf lawsuits"] Anchorage Daily News, January 30, 2008]

In March 2008 a federal judge limited the aerial gunning program against wolves by banning the practice in four areas comprising up to 15,000 of about 60,000 square miles covered by the program. The Judge said the board had extended into these areas for predator control without making any new findings on the wolves, caribou and bears in those areas. [ [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2008/2008-03-18-01.asp "Alaska Judge Upholds Aerial Wolf Killing But Limits Extent"] Environment News Service, March 18, 2008] [ [http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/in_the_courts/legal_docket/alaska_wolf.php "AlaskaWolf- Defenders of Wildlife v. Alaska Board of Game"] Defenders of Wildlife] [ [http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?fb_page_id=5720973755&S=8019775 "Judge say Aerial Wolf Control Invalid in Several Areas"] Associated Press, March 14, 2008.] On August 26, 2008, Alaskans voted against ending the state's predator control program. [cite news|title=Alaska voters shoot down predator control initiative|url=http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/26/alaska-voters-shoot-down-predator-control-initiati/|work=newsminer.com |publisher=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner |date=2008-08-27 |accessdate=2008-09-01]

Endangered species

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. [cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/238813.html |title=Alaska takes seriously its job of protecting polar bears |publisher=Adn.com |author=Gov. Sarah Palin |date=December 18, 2007 |accessdate=2008-09-08] In it she also stated that the polar bear population is more numerous now than forty years ago and "there is insufficient evidence of polar bears becoming extinct in the foreseeable future". [Palin, Sarah [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/opinion/05palin.html "Bearing Up"] The New York Times January 5, 2008] 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. [http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5689165&page=1]

Palin claimed that scientists found no ill effects of global warming on the polar bear, a claim disputed by a range of Alaskan state biologists [cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/polarbears/story/416432.html |title=E-mail reveals state dispute over polar bear listing: Polar Bear News |publisher=Adn.com |author=Tom Kizzia |date=May 25, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-08] and environmental groups.cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/polarbears/story/413710.html|title=State will sue over polar bear listing, Palin says|last=Joling|first=Dan|date=2008-05-22|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-08-30] When Alaska University professor Rick Steiner invoked a federal records request in order to obtain open information on the state scientists' findings, he was informed his request would cost $466,784 to process; when at length he received the e-mails, he discovered that contrary to what Palin had suggested, the scientists had actually been at odds with the administration's denial that Alaskan polar bears are in danger. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=2&sq=palin&st=cse&scp=4&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Once elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes] The New York Times, Sept 13, 2008.] [Kizzia, Tom, [http://www.adn.com/polarbears/story/416432.html "E-mail reveals state dispute over polar bear listing"] Anchorage Daily News May 25, 2008]

On August 28, 2008, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, the United States Chamber of Commerce, and the American Iron and Steel Institute joined Alaska's suit against the federal government, objecting to a special rule the government issued along with the bears' listing. Meant to keep the bear's status from resulting in greenhouse gas limits, the rule creates a situation known as the 'Alaska Gap', where all states except Alaska are exempt from having their projects' emissions reviewed. The condition is seen by the plaintiffs as unfair to Alaskan industry and opening a backdoor for greenhouse gas limitation elsewhere. The lawsuit was filed as 'American Petroleum et al v. Kempthorne et al'. [Lyderson, Kari [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083001538.html "Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection"] The Washington Post, August 31, 2008]

Beluga whales

. [cite web
url=http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/sid/hopkins_files/Seaice/Cook_inlet.htm
title=Cook Inlet, Alaska
publisher=
accessdate=2007-02-03] ]

Palin has opposed, on economic grounds, the designation of the Cook Inlet beluga whale as an endangered species. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837868,00.html|title=Palin on the Environment: Far Right|date=2008-09-01|accessdate=2008-09-04|publisher=Time|author=Bryan Walsh] Palin cited state scientists who claimed that hunting was the only factor causing the whales' decline and that the hunting has been effectively controlled through cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations. [cite web|url=http://gov.state.ak.us/archive-24287.html|title=Governor Palin Urges Feds to not list Belugas as Endangered|publisher=State of Alaska|date=2007-08-07|accessdate=2008-09-03] 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.cite web|url=http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/statusreviews/belugawhale_cookinlet.pdf|title=2008 Status Review and Extinction Risk Assessment of Cook Inlet Belugas|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce|month=April | year=2008|accessdate=2008-09-07|format=PDF] [Hunter, Don. "Alaska's beluga whales in decline: Federal assessment shows chance of extinction in 100 years", "Anchorage Daily News", 8 Jan 2007. [http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/marine/v-printer/story/8547228p-8440951c.html "Cook Inlet beluga whales in decline"] ] As governor, Palin allowed Chevron to increase the quantity of industrial waste it allows to flow into Cook Inlet waters. [Leonard Doyle, "Palin: the real scandal", "The Independent", 6 Sept 2008. [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/palin-the-real-scandal-920803.html Available online.] [http://www.webcitation.org/5aeQEW9mT Archived.] ] Federal scientists do not attribute the decline in the Cook Inlet beluga population to human pollution.

Foreign policy

Foreign policy experience

In a CBS News interview with Katie Couric that aired in September 2008,cite interview| subject=Sarah Palin
interviewer = Katie Couric| type=Interview
url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/25/eveningnews/printable4479062.shtml
program = "CBS News"| city = New York |format=Printable version
date = September 25, 2008 | year = 2008| month = September
accessdate = 2008-09-27] Palin was asked what she meant when she cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of her foreign policy experience. She explained that "Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and, on our other side, the land-boundary that we have with Canada." Pressed to explain why that enhances her foreign-policy credentials she replied, "Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of."

Asked if she had ever been involved in any negotiations with the Russians, she said: "We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/us/politics/26watch.html?em |last=Stanley |first=Alessandra |title=A Question Reprised, but the Words Come None Too Easily for Palin |date=September 25, 2008|work=New York Times |accessdate=2008-09-25]

Iraq

Palin supports the Bush Administration's policies in Iraq, but is concerned that "dependence on foreign energy" may be obstructing efforts to "have an exit plan in place".cite news
url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-6482074_ITM
publisher=Alaska Business Monthly
title=Gov. Sarah Palin speaks out
last=Orr
first=Vanessa
date=March 1, 2007
accessdate=2008-08-31] cite news
url=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/palin-on-iraq.html
publisher=The Atlantic
title=Palin on Iraq
last=Sullivan
first=Andrew
authorlink=Andrew Sullivan
date=August 29, 2008
accessdate=2008-09-01] [Citation| last = Bartiromo| first = Maria| author-link = Maria Bartiromo| title = Bartiromo Talks with Sarah Palin| newspaper = Business Week| year = 2008| date = August 29, 2008| url = http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/aug2008/db20080829_272692_page_2.htm] [cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/09/08/080908ta_talk_gourevitch|title=Palin on Obama|last=Gourevitch|first=Philip |date=2008-09-08|publisher=The New Yorker|accessdate=2008-09-02 This article was available online the first days of September, despite its later 'printed' date.]

Iran, Syria

In the September 2008 CBS interview, 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.' "cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/us/politics/26watch.html?em |title=A Question Reprised, but the Words Come None Too Easily for Palin |format= |work= |accessdate=2009-09-25] 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."cite news|accessdate=2008-09-26
url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/20/se.01.html
title=CNN Live Event/Special transcript, "The Next President: A World of Challenges"
work=CNN |date=20 September 2008] However, Kissinger does not advocate negotiations at the presidential level.cite news|accessdate=2008-09-27
author=Jensen, Kristin and Fireman, Ken
url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aTTdEnJXywgs&refer=home
title=Obama Blames Crisis on Republicans; McCain Calls Obama Unready |publisher=Bloomberg
date=September 27, 2008
quote=Kissinger has on more than one occasion advocated direct negotiations with Iran, although not at the presidential level.]

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."

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."cite web |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/sarah_palin_tells_aipac_shes_pro_israel_20080902/+ |title=Sarah Palin tells AIPAC she's pro-Israel | Jewish Journal |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-09-04] 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." [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3591809,00.html Palin expresses support for Israel] by Yitzhak Benhorin, Ynetnews.com, September 3, 2008.] 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." [ [http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/110192.html Palin meets with AIPAC leaders] , Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), September 2, 2008.]

According to the "Washington Times", Palin's faith has made her a "favorite with the staunchly pro-Israel neoconservative elements in the Republican Party." Palin displays an Israeli flag in her governor's office in Juneau. Palin has received a strong endorsement from the Republican Jewish Coalition, [http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/04/palins-evangelical-faith-drives-pro-israel-view/ Evangelical faith drives Palin's pro-Israel view] , by Ralph Z. Hallow. Published in the "Washington Times" on 4 September 2008; accessed 8 September 2008,] and has also been described as being "totally out of step with Jewish public opinion" by the National Jewish Democratic Council.cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1016785.html |title=Democratic Rep.: Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans' - Haaretz - Israel News |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-09-09]

In an interview with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson, Palin stated that she would not "second-guess" Israeli military action against Iran.cite news |first=Jim |last=Rutenberg |date=2008-09-11 |publisher=New York Times |title=In First Big Interview, Palin Says "I'm Ready."] cite web| title = In ABC Interview, Palin Seen As Struggling With Foreign Policy| publisher = U.S. News and World Report| date = 2008-09-12| url = http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080912.htm| accessdate =2008-09-12]

In an interview with CBS Interviewer Katie Couric in late September 2008, Palin stated that "We shouldn't second-guess Israel's security efforts because we cannot ever afford to send a message that we would allow a second Holocaust. They are our closest ally in the Middle East and they need us we need them and we shouldn't second-guess them." Palin said the United States would naturally consult with Israel on such matters, but added that it was Israel's right "to fight against a regime like Iran who would seek to wipe them off the earth" and that "It is obvious to me who are the good guys and who are the bad guys." [ [http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/110568.html Palin: Israel is the 'good guy'] , Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), September 26, 2008] [ [http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/09/26/palin.israel.comments.cnn Palin: Don't question Israel] , CNN Video (4 minutes, 20 seconds), September 26, 2008.]

On September 30, 2008, Palin stated, in an interview with conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt, that she discussed the Israeli flag she keeps in her office with Israeli President Shimon Peres during a round of meetings at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. She also stated that "All of those trials and tribulations throughout history that Israel has gone through, not only does that allow me to want to support that country, but Israel is our strongest and most important ally in the Middle East, and they are a democratic country who I believe deserves our support, and I know that John McCain believes as I do that Israel is our friend, and we need to be there to support them. They are there for us, and I do love that country." [ [http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/110630.html Palin talks Israeli flag with Peres] , Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), October 2, 2008.]

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, Sen. Biden. I respect your position on that." [http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/2008100320081003bidenpalin.html Palin joins Dems in vowing to make peace process a priority] by Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), October 3, 2008] [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/debate.transcript/index.html Transcript of Palin, Biden debate] , CNN, October 2, 2008.]

NATO

Palin believes that the former Soviet Union 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. [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Palin-39prepared-for-war-with.4488838.jp Palin 'prepared for war with Russia on Georgia'] , The Scotsman, September 13, 2008] Going to war in defense of NATO allies who are invaded is current US policy. [ [http://www.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1118506&srvc=rss Palin leaves open the option of war with Russia] , BostonHerald.com, September 11, 2008]

ee also

*Governorship of Sarah Palin
*Mayoralty of Sarah Palin
*Political positions of John McCain
*Political positions of Barack Obama
*Political positions of Joe Biden

References

External links

* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm On the Issues - Sarah Palin's issue positions and quotes]
* [http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/ Sarah Palin news portal at Anchorage Daily News]
* [http://www.fightthepalinsmears.com/ Sarah Palin smears debunked]