Palin Stretches Truth about Plane on eBay

[jsteele]

No wonder Sarah Palin has refused to take a single question from the press and is reportedly preparing to return to Alaska and hide out. Just about every element of the myth that was spread about her has unraveled. The latest, reported by the Chicago Tribune, is that she mislead us during her acceptance speech when she implied that she had sold the states' luxury jet on eBay.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/gov_sarah_palins_ebay_plane_cl.html

During her address to the GOP convention, Palin said, "That luxury jet was over the top, I put it on eBay." In fact, while she did list it on eBay, it failed to sell.

Nobody met the minimum bid on eBay which was $2.5 million. Eventually, the plane was sold to an Alaskan businessman by an aircraft broker for $2.1 million.

This follows the "Bridge to Nowhere" falsehood that Palin continues to spread. She claims to have told the Federal government "No thanks" in regard to the bridge. In fact, she supported the bridge and only cancelled the project when it turned out there would not be enough federal money. She redirected the federal funds to other Alaskan projects. She never said "no thanks" to a single penny of federal funds.

She also claims to be a proponent of earmark reform. In reality, as mayor Wasilla (a population of around 5,000 at that time), she hired a lobbyist to pursue earmarks for the town. That effort brought in more than $20 in federal funds. As governor, she aggressively pursued earmarks and only reduced the number requested because of the anti-earmark climate in Congress. Even so, her requests were the highest per capita in the nation.

She brags about lowering property taxes but balancing the budget in Wasilla. Ironically, that was only possible because of the federal earmarks that added huge sums of money to the town's treasury.

She has been proclaimed as having been Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard, yet the Guard's commander confirmed that she never issued a single order. What kind of commander is that?

Now, several sources are reporting that Palin is heading back to Alaska and will not be doing unscripted appearances. She obviously is neither prepared to defend the myth that has been built about her, nor to speak on important national issues. The McCain campaign is complaining that the media is asking inappropriate questions, when, in fact, the press is unable to ask any questions at all.

Sarah Palin cannot be allowed to spend the entire campaign in Dick Cheney's undisclosed location. She is running to be the VP of a 72-year-old cancer survivor. We deserve to know the truth about her record and her vision for addressing national issues such as health care, housing costs and the mortgage crisis, education, the war in Iraq, energy, and the environment. We have seen all of Trig, Bristol, and Levi that we need to see. Its time to focus on the important stuff.

Caveat: this entire message was written from the top of my head. I welcome any corrections to details I got wrong.

[Anonymous]

Is this really a good line of argument? She said she "put" it on eBay, which means she listed it on eBay. She didn't say she sold it on eBay. You say "the plane was sold to an Alaskan businessman by an aircraft broker for $2.1 million," which means that, in the end, she did authorize the sale of the governor's jet. Does it matter that she "put it on eBay" rather than sold it on eBay? She sold it, regardless. I'm not trying to antagonize you, but I think there are much, much better ways to go after Palin than to quibble over how the jet was sold. If you can prove that the plane wasn't in fact sold, that she flies around in it all the time, this is a good line of attack. But this kind of reminds me of something like, "it depends on what the definition of is is."

As for going back to Alaska, I agree that I want to see her do unscripted appearances and face the press. But her son ships out on Sept. 11. I think it's understandable that she wants to be there when he leaves. If she wasn't, I'm sure she'd face a new barrage of criticism from the women of DCUM about what a poor mother she is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this really a good line of argument? She said she "put" it on eBay, which means she listed it on eBay. She didn't say she sold it on eBay. You say "the plane was sold to an Alaskan businessman by an aircraft broker for $2.1 million," which means that, in the end, she did authorize the sale of the governor's jet. Does it matter that she "put it on eBay" rather than sold it on eBay? She sold it, regardless. I'm not trying to antagonize you, but I think there are much, much better ways to go after Palin than to quibble over how the jet was sold. If you can prove that the plane wasn't in fact sold, that she flies around in it all the time, this is a good line of attack. But this kind of reminds me of something like, "it depends on what the definition of is is."

As for going back to Alaska, I agree that I want to see her do unscripted appearances and face the press. But her son ships out on Sept. 11. I think it's understandable that she wants to be there when he leaves. If she wasn't, I'm sure she'd face a new barrage of criticism from the women of DCUM about what a poor mother she is!

I'm no fan of Palin's (to say the least), but I happen to agree with this. There are far more egregious examples of her stretching the truth. Let's not distract from them.

[Anonymous]

The jet on ebay strikes me as not worth discussion. It was a good joke line, and since she said she "put" it on ebay, not that she "sold" it on ebay, she was technically correct. And the fact that it actually sold by another means makes it trivial, IMO. Would a fact-checker have criticized Ann Richardson on grounds that Daddy Bush's foot was actually neither silver nor in his mouth at birth?

The other stuff, however, should definitely be investigated and publicized. And after the firings in the Justice Dept, the Wooten case is of particular interest.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm no fan of Palin's (to say the least), but I happen to agree with this. There are far more egregious examples of her stretching the truth. Let's not distract from them.

Did you all not read beyond the subject line? I listed several examples of truth stretching -- if not outright falsehoods.

Here is why I think the eBay story is important. What is the significant aspect of the transaction, that the plane was sold or that the plane was listed on eBay? As far as any benefits to the State of Alaska are concerned, all that matters is that the plane was sold. Therefore, Palin could rightfully say, "I thought the plane was unneeded and I sold it."

But, instead she says, "I put it on eBay". The vast majority of people believe that the plane was sold on eBay and I have even seen that "fact" touted here. Palin's version of the story is not that she simply sold the plane, but that she used a hip and innovative means of doing it. She is trying to suggest more than the simple fact that she sold the plane.

Rightfully, Palin should say, "I attempted to sell the plane on eBay but failed. I then sold it via traditional means for less money." I think her failure to be accurate is important because it shows that even when facts are in her favor, she will stretch the truth and dissimulate. If she is not truthful about the little things, how trustworthy do you believe she will be regarding the big things?

Finally, Palin can do media appearances from Alaska. But, there are only two months until the election. We deserve the right to evaluate her just as we would any other candidate. In all likelihood, the McCain campaign is spreading disinformation and they actually plan to have her appear. They are spreading word now that she won't so that people like me freak out. Then, the will announce a very limited set of appearances and everyone will be satisfied. They are just setting expectations at this point.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:The jet on ebay strikes me as not worth discussion. It was a good joke line, and since she said she "put" it on ebay, not that she "sold" it on ebay, she was technically correct. And the fact that it actually sold by another means makes it trivial, IMO. Would a fact-checker have criticized Ann Richardson on grounds that Daddy Bush's foot was actually neither silver nor in his mouth at birth?

The eBay story was not a joke. Its part of the general myth about Palin.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The jet on ebay strikes me as not worth discussion. It was a good joke line, and since she said she "put" it on ebay, not that she "sold" it on ebay, she was technically correct. And the fact that it actually sold by another means makes it trivial, IMO. Would a fact-checker have criticized Ann Richardson on grounds that Daddy Bush's foot was actually neither silver nor in his mouth at birth?

The eBay story was not a joke. Its part of the general myth about Palin.

Since I called it a triviality, I probably contradict myself by arguing about it, but I'm sure the female majority here will forgive us bull-headed men for a bit of stubbornness. As far as it tells something about Palin, listing is the important thing. That it did not sell says something about the market on ebay.

Rich

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm no fan of Palin's (to say the least), but I happen to agree with this. There are far more egregious examples of her stretching the truth. Let's not distract from them.

Did you all not read beyond the subject line? I listed several examples of truth stretching -- if not outright falsehoods.

Here is why I think the eBay story is important. What is the significant aspect of the transaction, that the plane was sold or that the plane was listed on eBay? As far as any benefits to the State of Alaska are concerned, all that matters is that the plane was sold. Therefore, Palin could rightfully say, "I thought the plane was unneeded and I sold it."

But, instead she says, "I put it on eBay". The vast majority of people believe that the plane was sold on eBay and I have even seen that "fact" touted here. Palin's version of the story is not that she simply sold the plane, but that she used a hip and innovative means of doing it. She is trying to suggest more than the simple fact that she sold the plane.

Rightfully, Palin should say, "I attempted to sell the plane on eBay but failed. I then sold it via traditional means for less money." I think her failure to be accurate is important because it shows that even when facts are in her favor, she will stretch the truth and dissimulate. If she is not truthful about the little things, how trustworthy do you believe she will be regarding the big things?

I hear you, Jeff. And I hesitate to quibble because I see where you're coming from, and I wholeheartedly agree with the other points in your email. I just think this is about prioritizing/focusing the message. If you lead with the plane in the subject line, it's going to get the most attention. And I just don't think this one's as much of a winner as all the rest.

This is probably TMI, but for me the significant aspect of the transaction is not how the jet actually sold or for how much. It's that she took the initiative to get the thing sold, and that she tried an innovative approach like eBay. This example is an attempt to show her priorities as governor -- not her knowlege of the resale jet market or her expertise as an eBay seller. Of course if either of the the two key parts of her statement were false -- if she's claiming credit for someone else's decision to sell it or if it never actually went up on eBay -- I'd add this to her list of lies. But given what I know now, I'm not offended by this particular statement.

Now the other ones listed in your email . . . they're enough to get my blood boiling . . . .

[Anonymous]

Wasilla was debt-free when she started and when she left 6 years later, it was $22 million in debt. She spent $15 million on a sports complex which was built on land to which the city did not have a clear title. The lawyers are gleeful that this issue was in the courts for several years. Other things were more urgent, like a sewer treatment plant, a bigger library. BTW, the sports complex did not generate the revenues that she claimed.
If you're ever visiting Wasilla, they also have a nice $1 million park for a town of 5000 inhabitants (during her tenure).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this really a good line of argument? She said she "put" it on eBay, which means she listed it on eBay. She didn't say she sold it on eBay. You say "the plane was sold to an Alaskan businessman by an aircraft broker for $2.1 million," which means that, in the end, she did authorize the sale of the governor's jet. Does it matter that she "put it on eBay" rather than sold it on eBay? She sold it, regardless. I'm not trying to antagonize you, but I think there are much, much better ways to go after Palin than to quibble over how the jet was sold. If you can prove that the plane wasn't in fact sold, that she flies around in it all the time, this is a good line of attack. But this kind of reminds me of something like, "it depends on what the definition of is is."

As for going back to Alaska, I agree that I want to see her do unscripted appearances and face the press. But her son ships out on Sept. 11. I think it's understandable that she wants to be there when he leaves. If she wasn't, I'm sure she'd face a new barrage of criticism from the women of DCUM about what a poor mother she is!

I'm no fan of Palin's (to say the least), but I happen to agree with this. There are far more egregious examples of her stretching the truth. Let's not distract from them.

And don't tell me that the Dems don't stretch the truth either.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you want to go down the road of parsing the words of politicans...glass houses and black kettles and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And don't tell me that the Dems don't stretch the truth either.

You're absolutely right. Spinning is SOP and probably always has been. That's why so many of us counseled Jeff to stick to the (many) outright lies.

[Anonymous]

Is she planning to put Air Force Two on Ebay as well?

I think the whole point of this "Ebay" story is that she is all fluff and no substance. How will it take for Republicans to realize that emperor is naked?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you want to go down the road of parsing the words of politicans...glass houses and black kettles and all.

Hey, put up or shut up. Nobody wants to examine Palin's record. Having looked into it, I can understand why the Republicans are so afraid. If I were them, I ship her off to Alaska as well.

BTW, does anybody know why John McCain had a picture of Walter Reed Middle School (located in North Hollywood, California) behind him during his speech?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Is she planning to put Air Force Two on Ebay as well?

I think the whole point of this "Ebay" story is that she is all fluff and no substance. How will it take for Republicans to realize that emperor is naked?

Exactly! Thank you. You said it better and more succinctly than I could.