New FactCheck Article: Sliming Palin

From: subscriberservices-OTpw/[email protected](FactCheck.org)

Sliming Palin
September 8, 2008

False Internet claims and rumors fly about McCain's running mate. 

Summary

We've been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious
Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain's
running mate, Gov. Palin. We find that many are completely false, or
misleading.  

Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62
percent. She didn't cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil
funding over just three years.

She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some
of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the
time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the
librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term. 

She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that
wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United
States. 

She's been registered as a Republican since May 1982.  

Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once
wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesty" when he visited Wasilla, but
shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve
Forbes in the state.  

Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She
has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the
evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be
part of the curriculum."

A few of these claims were included in a chain e-mail by a woman named
Anne Kilkenny. We'll be looking into other charges in that e-mail for a
future story. 

For more explanation of the bullet points above, please read the
Analysis.  

Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and
citations may be viewed on our Web site: 

POINTER
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html