NBC, Fox didn't challenge McCain's false claim that Obama was community organizer when Palin was in office
SUMMARY: During separate interviews on NBC's Nightly News and Fox News Sunday, Sen. John McCain falsely claimed that Sen. Barack Obama was a community organizer when Gov. Sarah Palin was in elected office. Neither NBC's Brian Williams nor Fox's Chris Wallace noted that McCain's claim is false. In fact, Palin was an undergraduate at the University of Idaho when Obama was a community organizer.
During an interview on the August 31 edition of NBC's Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams did not challenge Sen. John McCain's false claim that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin "was in elected office when Senator [Barack] Obama was still a, quote, 'community organizer.' " Similarly, during the August 31 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace did not challenge McCain's false claim that "when she [Palin] was in government, he [Obama] was a community organizer." Neither Williams nor Wallace noted that McCain's claim that Palin was in government while Obama was a community organizer is false, as the website Politifact.com has noted.
In fact, when Obama was a community organizer, from 1985-1988, Palin was an undergraduate at the University of Idaho (until 1987) and then -- according to National Journal's Almanac of American Politics -- was a television sports reporter. Palin joined the Wasilla city council -- her first elected office -- in 1992, the year Obama served as director of Chicago's Project Vote! -- the local chapter of a national voter registration organization -- and began teaching at the University of Chicago Law School.
From the August 31 edition of NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams:
WILLIAMS: You've heard the commentators, I know, and by repeating it, I mean no disrespect: A 72-year-old cancer survivor picks a not-yet one full term governor of Alaska. Is she the best person to be, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency, Senator?
McCAIN: Well, let me just point out, facts are funny things. She's been in elected office longer than Senator Obama. She's been the chief executive of the state that supplies 20 percent of America's energy. She has balanced budgets. She's had executive experience as governor, as mayor, as a city council member, and PTA. So, she was in elected office when Senator Obama was still a, quote, "community organizer." He's never had one day of executive experience. I think it's almost ludicrous to compare her experience in elected office, and as a leader of one of the most important states in America -- certainly the largest -- and compare her experience with his. It's no contest.
WILLIAMS: But you know the question, Senator. Given the field, given all that we know, is she the best person to be a heartbeat away from the president?
McCAIN: Oh sure, in every way. In every way that I know of.
From the August 31 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday:
WALLACE: But, Senator, you talk about her years of experience. Ten of those years were as a city councilwoman and mayor of a town of 9,800 people. And in terms of foreign policy, in March of 2007, after -- two months after the surge had started, she was asked about it, and she said: "I've been focused on state government. I haven't focused on the war in Iraq" -- understandable for a governor; not understandable for a vice president.
McCAIN: Well, by the way, also she was a member of the PTA. I think it's wonderful. But the point is she's been to Kuwait. She's been over there. She's been with her troops, the National Guard that she commands, who had been over there and had the experience. I'm proud of her knowledge of these challenges and issues.
And of course as governor, she has had enormous responsibilities, none of which Senator Obama had. He -- when she was in government, he was a community organizer. When she was taking tough positions against her own party, Senator Obama was voting "present" 130 times in the state legislature, on every tough issue -- whatever it was -- while she was taking them on. That's the kind of judgment that I'm confident that we need in Washington.
WALLACE: For people who aren't persuaded, at least, initially, in the first 24 hours, about her experience, especially on foreign policy, doesn't this raise even more concerns about your age?
McCAIN: I don't know. Look, it was an issue in the primary, as you know. I've got to show them the vigor. I've got to show them the energy. I've got to show them the judgment. I've got to show them that my experience and knowledge qualifies me to lead.
A beauty pageant winner or community organizer?
A PTA hockey mom or a State Senator?
A US Governor or a US Senator?
Decisions decisions decisions...
I want the POTUS to hire the best advisors; not just suck-ups to tell him what he wants to hear. Obama has started to do that by hiring Biden to be his V.P. Biden will speak his mind and let Obama know all the options.
McCain has hired somebody to make him his breakfast. But, it looks like they may need to build a nursery for the WH too. wow!
Decisions, decisions. What story do we lead with today?
Do we go with the father of Bristol Palin's baby?
Bristol Palin's Baby Daddy Revealed
Johnston's MySpace Page: Calls Himself A "Redneck," Says He's In A "Relationship," But Doesn't Want Kids
Read: republican right wing base...
Or should we run with the speculation market betting Palin will withdraw?
Her story is ever evolving, which is getting funnier by the minute.
Pregnant teenage daughter? Check.
Ethics scandal? Check.
Peronal lawyer to try and get out of ethics jam in homestate? Check.
Former member of a secessionist group? Check.
Fires people because they disagree with her? Check.
Fires people because they offended her sister? Check.
Former beauty queen? Check.
Former sportscaster (that's good experience right there)? Check.
It makes me dizzy watching republicans try and spin this woman as acceptable, or something other than what she is, which would be, well, wrong for the position. I like it though, because it shows a lack of critical thinking on behalf of McCain and his staff. If somebody on McCain's staff doesn't get fired for this, it would be a miracle.
"It makes me dizzy watching republicans try and spin this woman as acceptable, or something other than what she is, which would be, well, wrong for the position."
The funny thing is, republicans don't need to spin her at all. It's not like any votes are going to change because of her. The only vote gain/loss will be on the liberal side of things, either women will vote for O'bama or not.
Everyone knows what they are getting with O'bama and that list has been long and active for years; attended muslim school check, attended racist church check, befreinds racist groups check, befreinds dangerous bombers check, uses illegal methods to buy homes check, supports killing live born babies check
Hmmm, I don't see anything in that list where he actually RAN anything. At least Palin RAN a city, then RAN a state. O'bama hasn't ANY experience running anything. He even compared his election financial committee to her financial experience as city mayor. Know what he said...'my people tell me'. In other words, he has ZERO experience making the decisions himself!! His only experience is having others tell him what needs to be done and he gets it done. I think the American people deserve better than a liberal puppet!
The only vote gain/loss will be on the liberal side of things, either women will vote for O'bama or not.
Wrong again, wingie. No liberal will vote for the plastic queen on the GOP ticket.
And they won't vote for Palin, either.
Do you even realize that you have just put forth an argument which would disqualify John McCain as being experienced? by your logic Palin is more experienced to be President than McCain. It's hilarious to see you guys on the right stumble over yourself tryng to defend her. Here is a priceless example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxMCp1vydEI&feature=related
a former journalist with a preggie daughter or a man who suffered a great tragedy and moved forward strongly?
OT, but this was too funny to pass up! C&L gets the credit:
fiver Says :
Williams and Wallace, both complete F'wits. You guys really need someone who still has his testicles and fuctioning frontal lobes to ask questions of your politicians. If you think i'm wrong just go to youtube and type in the names Paxman and Bolton. THAT is how you hold politicians feet to the fire and ask them tough questions
Tim lobbed softballs to just about anybody.
Almost true. The softballs were handed to anyone with an (R) after their name. The tougher questions were reserved for the (D)'s
You guys really need someone who still has his testicles and fuctioning frontal lobes to ask questions of your politicians.
UK, I've watched Paxman's interviews on BBC America and sadly we don't have a Paxman in MSM in America. If we did, the the lies and scandals and corruption from the current administration would have lead to REAL impeachment a long, long, time ago.
I see Bush is really monitoring this hurricane situation, BTW. I checked his live feed, and sure enough, he's on the job!
I took a coffee break while I'm waiting for my flight to board, and still had time so I checked back. Still on the job!
Bathroom break, a donut, delay in flight, rechecking status, took another look:
If I board soon, one of y'all will have to check his live feed. I can't believe he's been this attentive!
I see Bush is really monitoring this hurricane situation, BTW. I checked his live feed, and sure enough, he's on the job!
THAT'S NOT Bush, that's a cardboard cutout! Notice he's not blinking. :-)
I was glad that he's finally attentive to something, however I was less optimistic when I saw the opposite camera angle:
Well, I did a final check to see what his live feed had going.
It's 8 AM central, I think someone forgot to tell him the hurricane is over.
So George is one of the Vigilance People?
♫♫Macho, Macho Mannnnn♫♫
OMG ... We have completely lost control of our govt and media when a guy does not get challenged on these things. Particularly when they state that living close to Russia or being a member of the PTA qualifies you for VP of the U.S.!!
Good lord ... they just say anything and let the echo chamber take effect. I was in the Boy Scouts, FYI. So does that mean I can now be Secretary of State?????
I'd like Jeter to be the First Fella.
You've got my vote JJ.
I'd like Jeter to be the First Fella.
Thanks, WK. And since Jeter is my baby Daddy, it would only be fitting that he was first fella. At least my first fella :-0)
I'd like Jeter to be the First Fella.
Why thank you King. I'd like you to be my personal secretary. First duty, help me pick out my dress for the Inaugural Ball. And do you think I should wear pearls?
When fashion or horse sense is needed, I always defer to the Colonel.
I could be a candidate to be your Secretary of Bad Taste as per my most recent postings.
Sorry, W-King , you may have to be Undersecretary of Bad Taste. In the past few days, I've inadvertently offended people with disabilities, and those who care about them (a majority of Americans), women (half of Americans), and home sausage makers (apparently the vast majority of Americans).
From now on, if I post at all, it will only be very earnest, straightforward comments on MMFA items. Like this;
Good work, MMFA. I agree that (what MM has just clearly documented). This is clearly misinformation that forwards the conservative agenda. MMFA is correct here.
Then I'll hang arounf for several hours , trying to have a civilized argument with people who don't understand what MM has clearly posted.
Then I'll tell the most ridiculous Dittoheads that they've made great points, and that their complete BS is just an equal and opposite counterpart to reality.
That should be fun, and should help me avoid hurting any feelings.
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood...The Colonel
Colonel , most of the regs here get your subtle or sarcastic humor 100% of the time.
And I for one was damn proud to be included as part of your dysfunctional family tree.
Colonel, I hope you don't have to revert to using the dreaded winky face to alert folks that you are kidding! I mean come on people [you know who you are] Get A Clue!
I'm here to tell you from personal experience, the winky face is a pain in the ass.
Now you're probably thinking, wait, Jeter 's posts are crammed with winky faces. I bet you thought I included them cause they are cute, well there are sorta, see---> ;-)
But as cute as the little fellas are, I pretty much felt the need to start using them because too much of my subtle, sarcastic humor was being misinterpreted here by grumps. And probably also because I was a Conservative. But that's a whole other issue. ;-)
So I started including ;-) and everything seem to get better.
Then one day I posted something meant to humorous in a very subtle way...but I forgot to add my winky face. Then I left for an hour or two. Colonel can you imagine what happen next??
If you guessed that when I got back there were at least a half a dozen or more posts demanding to know why I'd write such a thing.
So now I had to sit down & explain my humor. Nothing ruins clever writing more than being forced to explain it.
And Colonel, one of the posters wrote to me, & I'll paraphrase here...
But Jeter you didn't leave a ;-) so we weren't sure you were kidding.
You live by the winky face, you die by the winky face.
Colonel, I think I speak for 99% of the posters here when I write [cue some Billy Joel music here]:
We love you just the way you are
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood...The Colonel
Hey, that's my favorite lone wolf song (Read "Party of One" the loner's manifesto). I luvs the really long version.
And btw Jeter, that was a very nice post to the colonel. He's numero uno!
Hey, dude, if you're crankin' us, you need some smiley faces! ;-) I, for one, won't hear of your a proposal since every person (and age) is at their own level of sarcasm/irony development. Some here are probably young (ish) and haven't developed the feeler for such things. And some here are older and not so brilliant, cough, cough AA, as to be able to discern such things (and may never develop the fine mind that it takes to appreciate the more abstract qualities you possess).
I say, carry on my brother. We know your heart. And it's a good one. I hope that wasn't too ernest :-0)
And do you think I should wear pearls?
I think you should let Pearl wear her own...
Well honey at least he doesn't know I keep you in my bed.
Oh no I think I just posted that my mistake!?! Oops.
Yeah, and it's getting crowded in here. How you ever fit into size 34's is beyond me, and you snore too. And Jeter, I catch you even thinking about my kibbles? Just remember the very word "kaboom" comes from the Latin word "ka" which means cow, and "boom" which means bomb!
Ha! Thanks Snoop, I needed a good laugh.
I think my sweet Julia is really po'd at me. :-(
I might be sharing your dog house for awhile.
We're cool, sweets.
Well that's a relief my sweet Julia, Snoops a great host but that Dog House of his is way too small for the 2 of us. Plus Snoop was hogging the covers ;-)
5 inch stilettos...Any whips in the picture. No wonder you are so desired
Mr. Prince I am challenging you to a duel for insulting my baby mama Miz Julia. And furthermore I've seen her in those stilettos & she is hot.
Karl Rove. Hey I might need to cheat ;-)
"When she got a phone call at 3 in the morning, it was because a moose had gotten into the garbage can" -Bill Maher
I thought it was because she was already up breastfeeding?
But a little closer to topic, how dense is the media? We can't challenge McCain because of his POW status and we can't challenge Palin because she's a woman? What in the hell does that have to do with the fact that they are lying?
POV,
Why is a community organizer weak? Dealing with those who live in poverty and see the results of some of our policies, whether, positive or negative, can't be bad experience. Personally, if it were up to me, community service experience would be a requirement for the presidency.
I love how he's painted as an elitist with that on his resume. Hiiarious.
Fried
Come one man.....you cant be serious. Of course it is not a bad thing. I told you months ago about work I did that would fall under the community organizer title. I talked to residents, got them hooked up with services, helped them make police and school contacts, the whole nine yards. It is great to do for the community. But when that is your top item.....the best thing on your resume.....it is very weak when the job you want is president.
What did he do as a community organizer? Well there were things like gaining direct knowledge of many of the grass roots issues facing people, experience in problem-solving, working with many levels of government, creating job training programs, creating college preparation programs, forming tenants' rights organizations and organizing voter registration drives.
Those things by themselves don't qualify one to be President, but most would agree that first-hand knowledge of people and their problems and the solutions to those problems is very valuable for a leader to have. Add to that experience his educational background and more than a decade in elected office and we have a very acceptable level of experience.
Bill,
I'm late to the discussion. Do you have a link for those Obama resume enhancers you listed above?
Google "Obama community organizer" (without the quotation marks) and you will find a multitude of articles that describe his years working in Chicago before Harvard. What I posted is a quickly compiled collection of references from Wikipedia, a couple of Googled articles and from my recollections from Obama's books. There are actually some accomplishments from that time that I omitted.
Obama himself has admitted that the position must often be satisfied with modest successes. Local communities are frequently attempting to apply limited leverage against powerful interests who have little concern for the desires of the community. Still, one would have to be pretty narrow-minded to dismiss the value of years of such efforts at the grass roots level.
Why do you ask? Do you have some impression of community organization that belittles it? Have you got some reason to doubt that his efforts have helped those communities make progress in those areas?
You seen Bush's resume? before and after the past 8 years?
I did not think so.
You see POV, there is a very big difference between Obama and Palin, but I understand your inability to distinguish the two. Obama was elected to the Senate in IL; where 12% of his constituency was black. So, he appeals to all people or he would've never been elected. Palin comes from an extremely homogenous state. Obama won a very difficult primary over an extremely popular Hillary Clinton. Palin was picked out after a photo-shoot and didn't win any nomination process. No comparison.
Dem,
I don't see how your reply answers POV's question. Nobody is saying that Obama didn't win the election or the primary. Obviously he has been campaigning for the Presidency half of his Senate career.
Biden was out so early you might say he didn't go through the nomination process either. Biden got the same percentage of Democratic Party votes as Duncan Hunter did on the GOP side. You might not agree, but I imagine Palin would have picked up at least 1% of the Iowa caucus vote.
And what exactly did Obama do as a "community organizer"?
Used his experoence as a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was the President of the LAw Review. What's Sarah Palin going to do with all her "foreign policy experience,", ask Vlad Putin for a cake for the next PTA meeting?
Easy,
Last time I looked being elected as the editor in chief of HLS review is not foreign policy experience.
I've heard that Obama is probably the only editor in chief of a law school review that never wrote an article for the review. Why is that?
I've heard that Obama is probably the only editor in chief of a law school review that never wrote an article for the review. Why is that?
I don't know why you've heard that.
The better question is, is it true? You have no idea, do you?
Actually, his Harvard education came after his time as a community organizer. He decided he could assist those communities better from the state legislature, and saw Harvard as a means to that end.
It makes conservatives look incompetent .
Sorry, but shouldn't the last 8 years, 6 years of total and complete Republican control of the government, have given you a clue of their incompetency, or did the VP pick just seal the deal?
I am deeply offended that the McCain camp did not vet this woman properly.
I'm offended that they thought this woman was even remotely qualified for the long list of VP picks, let alone the choice.
She didn't need to be vetted, because she shouldn't have been considered for the job.
But McCain has the same problem George H. W. Bush had when he picked Dan Quayle. All of the people qualified to be VP are more qualified than McCain is to be president.
Mayor of Wasilla? I think that's about one step up from being president of a HOA in one of the more populous states.
Sounds like McCain made an error by having her overshadow him.Sounds like the news media is thrilled by having Palin. Between Mrs McCain and Palin, the guy is surrounded by beauty queens.
I think that's about one step up from being president of a HOA in one of the more populous states. - fawltylogic
OK, Fawlty, as someone who does most of his business with HOAs in Southern Cali., that is funny. I'm pretty sure I deal with a few HOAs that have populations pretty close to Alaska's, and it's usually a retired guy whose wife tells him when to eat making the big decisions.Did I mention that most of these are closer to Mexico than Alaska is to Russia?
Mayor of Wasilla? I think that's about one step up from being president of a HOA in one of the more populous states.
I think she got to be Mayor because she was the seventh caller to the radio station.
Can any Palin defender please tell me why it's acceptable to associate with people who advocate breaking away from the United States?
This would seem to be a case where the term "un-American" is actually appropriate.
And in case anyone wants to say that it was just a phase, or that she was using them to vault herself into the upper echelons of Alaskan politics as the mayor of Wasilla, note this part:
"Earlier this year, Palin sent a video message to the AIP for its annual convention, where AIP vice chair George Clark told the small crowd that Palin "was an AIP member before she got the job as a mayor of a small town –- that was a non-partisan job. But you get along to go along -– she eventually joined the Republican Party, where she had all kinds of problems with their ethics, and well, I won’t go into that. She also had about an 80 percent approval rating, and is pretty well sympathetic to her former membership."
Earlier this year? After being out of the party for twelve years, she's still communicating with these people?
"Lynette Clark says that Palin is "a fine individual. She's forthright and she puts Alaska first.""
Again, anyone want to defend this?
Waiting for the Obama haters to bring up the madrassa?
RightWing nuts, this woman is being used by the Rovians and McCain is too dense to realize it. She won't last until November but will be a sympathetic figure as she returns to her igloo. Laura Shelsinger, can't spell her name, was on O'reilly ranting about how despicable the Dems are by going after someone. Now that is funny. ..Someone said she has a "voice for mime"...................................................................
Dear, Sara P., sorry in advance for the way you were used but we needed something to breath life into our dead party. Thank you for sharing your entire life with the nation and have fun. We have found another woman more qualified. My Cindy Lou.
John McCain
Snoop,
Your post says a lot. :-)
Brab,
It looks to me that they were advocating a vote on the issue. Do you have any evidence they have been planting bombs in the Capital or police stations like someone else who launched Obama's political career?
Even you should know that your attempt at equivalence is sorely lacking.
Why would they want a vote on it if they didn't think splitting off from the country was a good idea? Just for kicks and giggles, or what?
I didn't suggest any equivalence, but you lose there too. The association with Ayers is tangential. There were conservatives who served on the same boards with Ayers, so it proves absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, Palin knowingly and willingly associates with a bunch of people who are unamerican.
Try again?
Brab,
I think it is a far reach to say that this group is un-American. I grew up in Michigan and some of the UPpers wanted to secede from Michigan. Some French Canadians want to secede from Canada. I think some people are claiming the Southwest as part of Mexico. Heck, Biden argued to divide Iraq into three countries. It is no big deal.
As for any conservatives on the board with Obama and Ayers, are any of them running for President? Did any of them start their political careers in Ayer's home? Did any of them belong for 20 years to a church headed by an anti-American who constantly plays the race card? Did any of their wives work at the same law firm as Ayers wife? Sorry, the many links are too strong to just dismiss as tangental. You can believe it if you want, but it just doesn't pass the smell test.
"I think it is a far reach to say that this group is un-American. I grew up in Michigan and some of the UPpers wanted to secede from Michigan. Some French Canadians want to secede from Canada. I think some people are claiming the Southwest as part of Mexico. Heck, Biden argued to divide Iraq into three countries. It is no big deal."
If you're talking about separating yourself into a different country, you're unamerican. I don't see how that's disputable. Creating a different state from Michigan is clearly not the same thing. If some French Canadians want to make their own country, they're anti-Canadian or whatever. And how an American talking about dividing up a foreign country relates to this at all is a mystery.
"As for any conservatives on the board with Obama and Ayers, are any of them running for President? Did any of them start their political careers in Ayer's home? Did any of them belong for 20 years to a church headed by an anti-American who constantly plays the race card? Did any of their wives work at the same law firm as Ayers wife? Sorry, the many links are too strong to just dismiss as tangental. You can believe it if you want, but it just doesn't pass the smell test."
So let me get this straight. Belonging to a group that says it's statehood is unconstitutional isn't anti-American, but criticizing your government is. Wow. I mean, wow. And what difference does it make if any of those conservatives are running for president? The fact that they were there shows that they're not radicals simply because they were on some board with him. The man turned himself in and became a college professor. He is part of mainstream society now, and has been since the Reagan years. As you like to say, move on.
Ayers ONCE contributed 200 dollars to Obama's first campaign, and they served on the same board (with a bunch of other people). I'm not sure how that is "launching" someone's political career as AA puts it, but oh well, he's going to keep making the Ayers assertion until the day he dies I'm sure. Obama is not friends with Ayers. They don't move in the same circles, but have come across one another. Ayers was never convicted of anything. I would say something different if Obama had some sort of long and fruitful relationship with Ayers, but he never did, and never will.
Reading this Tuesday morning, I appreciate the clarification regarding the Obama timeline. It seems to me that Obama's campaign has let the "community organizer" part of Obama's past sort of swallow up his life prior to his political career.
As a matter of fact the link above said this about Obama,
At the head of this effort was a little-known 31-year-old African-American lawyer, community organizer, and writer: Barack Obama.
That seems to contradict the MMFA claim now doesn't it? Why is MMFA implying that Obama was not a community organizer? Isn't that misleading?
I wonder why MMFA would even care. I mean what difference does it make if Obama started a part time job teaching law that year?
Obviously Obama was not an elected official in 1992. He was first elected to the State Legislature four years later. That is beyond dispute.
Julia,
I think you misunderstood. This is not match.com. :-)
barry WAS a nothing ORGAIZER when Gov. Palin was working at her First ELECTED office.
LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!