Palin supported Pat Buchanan in 1996, but she initially denied it to McCain

[Anonymous]

I think two things can be derived from these facts. Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Wrong. Buchanan said on "Hardball" that she supported him in '96, setting off a frenzy of investigation. The sum total of the "support" was wearing a Buchanan button at a function when he appeared in her town. Bay Buchanan, Pat's sister and campaign manager, has since said that Palin was not a supporter.

Palin supported Steve Forbes in 1996.

[Anonymous]

Do you consider yourself a better source than the Washington Post?

Why was she wearing a Buchanan button at a function if she was a Forbes supporter?

I'm an Obama supporter. Not once have I worn any McCain paraphenalia.

[Anonymous]

Just go read all the many, many stories on this and get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

For the record I think I might prefer Buchanan to Palin and I am beyond anti-Buchanan.

[Anonymous]

Point me to them. So far all I've heard is what's coming out of your big mouth, with which the Post differs.

[jsteele]

According to this article:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Buchanan_Palin_was_a_brigader_for_me_in_96.html

Buchanan says Palin was a 'brigader for me' and attended a fundraiser. That sounds like more than wearing a pin.

[Anonymous]

YES. Thank you Jeff. Sorry that I had to make a point about your frequent misspellings, but it was relevant.

[Anonymous]

that was 10+ years ago...what difference does it make? Perhaps she changed political views since then? Plus, a ton of stuff has happened in the past 10+ years that can make anybody flip/flop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that was 10+ years ago...what difference does it make? Perhaps she changed political views since then? Plus, a ton of stuff has happened in the past 10+ years that can make anybody flip/flop

Yes and we've been seeing a lot of flip flopping going on on both sides recently. Not voting for McCain but don't see this as a major issue.

[Anonymous]

Pat Buchanan erroneously claimed, on Hardball, that Sarah Palin was a "brigadier" or high-level supporter for him in 1996. I later received an email from Mark Bubriski, an Obama spokesman, saying that "Palin was a supporter of Pat Buchanan, a right-winger or as many Jews call him: a Nazi sympathizer."

Bay Buchanan has confirmed that this is untrue, according to Politico:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Palin_not_on_1996_Buchanan_list.html

If you don't believe her, however, you can do your own Lexis search and confirm it. You will learn that the Associated Press reported on July 17, 1999 that Palin and other local politicans wore Buchanan buttons when he visited Wasilla. On July 26, Palin wrote a letter to the editor of the Anchorage Daily News. The letter read:

As mayor of Wasilla, I am proud to welcome all presidential candidates to our city. This is true regardless of their party, or the latest odds of their winning. When presidential candidates visit our community, I am always happy to meet them. I'll even put on their button when handed one as a polite gesture of respect.

Though no reporter interviewed me for the Associated Press article on the recent visit by a presidential candidate (Metro, July 17), the article may have left your readers with the perception that I am endorsing this candidate, as opposed to welcoming his visit to Wasilla. As mayor, I will welcome all the candidates in Wasilla.

Sarah Palin was a state co-chair for the Steve Forbes campaign, according to an AP State and Local Wire story dated August 7th, 1999.

Stick to genuine facts, okay? There are more than enough of them to make our case without resorting to lies.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:According to this article:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Buchanan_Palin_was_a_brigader_for_me_in_96.html

Buchanan says Palin was a 'brigader for me' and attended a fundraiser. That sounds like more than wearing a pin.

I think you need to update your information, Jeff. The fundraiser was not for Buchanan, but for an Alaska politician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that was 10+ years ago...what difference does it make? Perhaps she changed political views since then? Plus, a ton of stuff has happened in the past 10+ years that can make anybody flip/flop

Well, some would say that good ole Pat is a Nazi sympathizer.

If it makes no difference, why lie to McCain about it?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:According to this article:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Buchanan_Palin_was_a_brigader_for_me_in_96.html

Buchanan says Palin was a 'brigader for me' and attended a fundraiser. That sounds like more than wearing a pin.

The blog (therefore hearsay mixed with opinion) even states " She doesn't appear ever to have contributed to Buchanan, however."

Besides, it sounds like crazy Pat Buchanan is just wanting a ride on the Palin-frenzy bandwagon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:According to this article:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Buchanan_Palin_was_a_brigader_for_me_in_96.html

Buchanan says Palin was a 'brigader for me' and attended a fundraiser. That sounds like more than wearing a pin.

The blog (therefore hearsay mixed with opinion) even states " She doesn't appear ever to have contributed to Buchanan, however."

Besides, it sounds like crazy Pat Buchanan is just wanting a ride on the Palin-frenzy bandwagon.

Yes, now crazy Pat is endorsing Obama's position on Israel! He loves to insert himself. Per Ben Smith:

Buchanan hugs Obama
Pat Buchanan, whose embrace of Sarah Palin last week did her no favors, now says he's closer to Obama.

Here's his riff on MSNBC today:

Let me say about Israel here. My position on Israel is frankly awful. It is like Mika [Brzezinski]'s father's, it's a lot closer to Barack Obama's than it is John McCain. i think Barack is right, we ought to talk to the Iranians, he's right to oppose the war and frankly he's right to say the Palestinian people have got an terrible deal over there and their suffering ought to be recognized. That's Obama's position. It's my position. I don't think it is a Nazi position.
In fact, Buchanan's conflict with domestic Israel supporters puts him in a category all his own. (He's got his own ADL page.) But this isn't the endorsement Obama needed.

Obama must be rolling his eyes.