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Rogue Fact: In memoir, Palin still distorting NY Times article to defend "palling around with terrorists" claim

November 14, 2009 4:17 pm ET — 6 Comments

In her memoir, Sarah Palin claims that she stated during a speech that then-Sen. Barack Obama had been "palling around with terrorists" in response to "the breaking news about the friendship between the unrepentant domestic terrorist [Bill Ayers] and the Democrat candidate for president [Obama]." In fact, the New York Times article to which Palin referred found that "the two men do not appear to have been close."

Palin claimed "palling around" comment followed report on "friendship" between Obama and Ayers

From Pages 306-307 of Palin's memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life:

In relation to the breaking news about the friendship between the unrepentant domestic terrorist [Ayers] and the Democrat candidate for president of the United States, headquarters issued an approved sound bite about Obama "palling around with terrorists," and I was happy to be the one to deliver it. As more information was made public concerning Obama's associations and the fact that he had kicked off his political career in Ayers's living room, the sound bite was written into a rally speech. The left went nuts, accusing me of lowdown rhetoric unworthy of presidential politics. And although it was headquarters that had issued the sound bite, the folks there did little more than duck.

NY Times article Palin cited: Obama and Ayers "do not appear to have been close"

In October 2008 speech, Palin cited that day's Times in claiming Obama is "palling around with terrorists." From the pool report's transcript of Palin's October 4, 2008, speech in Colorado, posted by the Times:

There is a lot of interest, I guess, in what I read and what I've read lately. Well, I was reading my copy of today's New York Times and I was interested to read about Barack's friends from Chicago.

I get to bring this up not to pick a fight, but it was there in the New York Times, so we are gonna talk about it. Turns out one of Barack's earliest supporters is a man who, according to the New York Times, and they are hardly ever wrong, was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that quote launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and US Capitol. Wow. These are the same guys who think patriotism is paying higher taxes.

This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America. We see America as the greatest force for good in this world. If we can be that beacon of light and hope for others who seek freedom and democracy and can live in a country that would allow intolerance in the equal rights that again our military men and women fight for and die for for all of us. Our opponent though, is someone who sees America it seems as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country?

The Times reported that "the two men do not appear to have been close." "A review of records of the schools project and interviews with a dozen people who know both men, suggest that Mr. Obama, 47, has played down his contacts with Mr. Ayers, 63. But the two men do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called 'somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.' " [The New York Times, 10/3/08]

CNN Fact Check: Palin statement "false." In an October 5, 2008, fact check, CNN's Political Ticker blog found Palin's statement "false," writing: "There is no indication that Ayers and Obama are now 'palling around,' or that they have had an ongoing relationship in the past three years. Also, there is nothing to suggest that Ayers is now involved in terrorist activity or that other Obama associates are."

— M.G.
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    • Author by mk3872 (November 14, 2009 4:42 pm ET)
      4  
      But, then again, MMFA and the AP are just part of the liberal media cabal so why would Palin and her fans care about those facts anyway?
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    • Author by rsh724896 (November 15, 2009 1:48 am ET)
      2  
      So another Palin lie, one MMFA didn't catch. In the book she says the soundbite, "palling around with terrorists" came from the McCain camp. She wrote: "...headquarters issued an approved sound bite about Obama 'palling around with terrorists," and I 'was happy to be the one to deliver it...the sound bite was written into a rally speech."

      In her speech, she says the idea came from her: "Well, I was reading my copy of today's New York Times and I was interested to read about Barack's friends from Chicago."

      Also, I chuckled at the comment, "There is a lot of interest, I guess, in what I read and what I've read lately," which shows she was obviously still smarting over not being able to answer Katie Couric's question about what she reads. She really and truly doesn't understand why people were so appalled at her inability to answer that question. And she can't let anything go.



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    • Author by TadekKorn (November 15, 2009 3:29 am ET)
      4  
      Like most Republicans, Palin is rarely, if ever, deterred by truth.
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    • Author by epkklk851 (November 15, 2009 11:38 am ET)
      4  
      "The left went nuts, accusing me of lowdown rhetoric unworthy of presidential politics." The fact that she would write a book to settle political scores shows the she is too immature for national politics. She is a small town girl from a huge, but still backwoods state, she is too thin skinned to play on the big stage. The problem is, her ego won't let her see what the rest of us see. She should go home and work for the local audience and leave the big leagues to those who are ready. There is no shame in this. You can be a really good local politician and a lousy national one. And you could be a great national politician and totally out of touch with a local audience. Bernie Sanders would not play well in Alaska or Alabama (nor would he want to) but he does really well being the most liberal member of the Senate.
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      • Author by cugagcmu805031 (November 15, 2009 2:39 pm ET)
        2  
        Many on the far right-wing of the Republican Party do not believe anything the media does that shows how much of a liar Palin is. The pre-programmed response is, "She's the genuine article," or The "liberal media" tells lies about her because she is a threat to the left," or the usual bias-driven, unrealistic drivel.
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      • Author by political_left-religious_right (1 minute ago)
           
        Bernie Sanders would not play well in Alaska or Alabama (nor would he want to) but he does really well being the most liberal member of the Senate.

        I realize this is off-topic, but I just wanted to point out how amazingly flexible the right-wing pundits are. Sanders is definitely the most liberal member of the Senate, as you point out. [What's more, we can say this, knowing that it's not an insult or anything to be ashamed of.] However, in 2004 it was Kerry (hee-hee), and in 2008 it was Obama (ha-ha!); except that if Hillary had won the nomination, it would have been Hillary (HAAA!). Does anyone notice that, at least among the r-w pundits, there is no "most liberal member of the Senate" in 2009?
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