Posted on 03/08/2010 9:42:11 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Edited on 03/08/2010 1:01:32 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Original title: Palin: I snuck across Canadanian border for healthcare By Eric Zimmermann - 03/08/10 11:33 AM ET
Sarah Palin's family used to "hustle" across the Canadian border to get healthcare, the former Alaska Governor said this weekend.
In a speech in Calgary, Palin called it "ironic" that while growing up in a small Alaskan town near the Canadian border, her family used to sneak across to take advantage of the Canadian healthcare system.
"We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada," she said, according to Medicine Hat News (via Dave Weigel.) "And I think now, isn't that ironic."
It's ironic, of course, because Palin and other Republicans have argued that Democratic healthcare reform will put the U.S. on the path towards Canada's "socialized" healthcare system.
That’s the article — the one you’re replying to... :-)
Obviously lots jave read the original article by now but I’m providing the link to the Washington Post article.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/palin-says-she-used-canadian-h.html
Seems as if it was a closer commute in time of emergency to get her brother medical attention in Canada but more disturbing, is that she seems to have told a completely different version in 2007 whereby her brother is taken to Juneau for care. (That story is linked to in the Post piece). Not a good time to divert attention from Obama’s push.
They may have taken her brother to Whitehorse for the emergency and then to Juneau for checkups.
Palin spoke before a paying audience of 1,200 in Calgary, with tickets costing between $150 and $200, the Medicine Hat News of Medicine Hat, Alberta, reported.
...
Palin has also told an alternate version of the story that had her family traveling south by ferry to Juneau from Skagway for treatment of her brother's burned foot, rather than to Canada, according to a 2007 report posted by the Skagway News.
You're steering what I said. I didn't say that politicians have to "clean up" their speeches for particular audiences.
What I said, is that Sarah knows better than anyone that every word she utters in public is going to picked up by international news agencies, and for that reason, she needs to be careful with her off-the-cuff ad libs.
Few politicians have had their public statements scrutinized and analyzed (for the express purpose of causing damage) as much as Sarah Palin has. There's no sense in giving red meat to a slavering press who are just waiting for the slightest slip up, or for any statement that can be twisted to inflict damage.
In this particular instance, it would have only taken Sarah an extra moment or two to describe the unique travel conditions that were peculiar to the Scagway of her youth. That would have caused everyone listening to appreciate her father's reasoning for "hustling across the border" to Canada for health care services in that day and time.
Instead, her statement now appears to anyone not familiar with the Scagway, Alaska of the 1960's to think that she's validating and promoting the nationalized health care system of present day Canada over our (mostly) free market health care system.
Am I clear now?
SUN, 07/03/2010 - 3:18AM
CALGARY - Sarah Palin drew a straight line from Alaska to Alberta as she told a sold-out, largely adoring crowd in Calgary that the province gets her message of less government, lower taxes and development of natural resources.
In what was billed as her first Canadian appearance since stepping down as governor of Alaska last summer, Palin's trademark folksy charm was on full display Saturday night.
She joked that her distinctive accent means she's often mistaken for Canadian and that she has two great-grandfathers from Canada, including one from Moose Jaw, Sask.
"That must be where my love of moose came from," she said to laughter and applause.
Palin, who shot to national prominence after being chosen as running mate for U.S. Republican Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign, also mentioned the Olympics, suggesting that the bobsled is all in a day's commute in Alaska.
She paid tribute to Canada's men's hockey win, noting that the U.S. men's silver is nothing to sneeze at.
"Second place isn't that bad. I've been there."
Palin grew serious when the talk turned to politics, thanking Calgary-based company TransCanada Corp. for its bid to build a pipeline to connect Alaska to Alberta.
She noted the areas have several things in common: good hunting, good fishing and a commitment to developing energy resources.
"We understand how important it is to do responsibly."
She touched on climate change, saying that her skepticism has been proven by several recent controversies and that money shouldn't be spent on "pie-in-the-sky, snake-oil ideas."
The vocal opponent of health care reform in the U.S. steered largely clear of the topic except to reveal a tidbit about her life growing up not far from Whitehorse.
"We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada," she said. "And I think now, isn't that ironic."
Many in attendance said seeing Palin was like catching a glimpse of a celebrity.
Stephanie Hansen, 18, who wore a pin with Palin's face, could barely contain her excitement. She gushed that she felt out of place among the much older audience.
"I love it, I'm really glad that I came. It was really enlightening."
She admitted she didn't know a lot about Palin's politics, but said she loves her nonetheless.
"I admire how she can have a family and still be able to work as much as she does and everything she does."
A number of Alberta politicians were also in attendance.
Danielle Smith, leader of the right-of-centre Wildrose Alliance Party, faced comparisons with Palin as she ran for the party's leadership last year. Smith said she was greeted by a steady stream of supporters after Palin's speech.
"It was great. I think the themes she was talking about resonate just as much with Albertans as they are with average Americans," she said.
"Free enterprise, the respect for individuals, the fact that we need limited government, these are all the things people are asking for."
Since leaving politics, Palin has spent her time rebuilding her brand in the United States with increasing visibility on the national stage.
She has become a regular paid commentator for Fox News and gave a high-profile address at the first national convention of the "tea party" coalition last month. The anti-establishment, grass-roots network is formed on a premise of anger over the growth of government and President Barack Obama's policies.
She denied any kind of leadership ambitions for the movement, saying that she's told organizers that politicians will always let them down while ideals remain true.
"It's a beautiful movement, it's a conservative movement that's sweeping our nation," she said.
Palin gained a fair amount of notoriety for that speech, being widely mocked for writing crib notes such as "Energy. Tax. Lifting American spirits" on her hand and consulting them during one question and answer session.
She was asked by Senator Pamela Wallin to show her palms after the speech and referenced a passage in the bible that says people's names are engraved on God's hands, saying "if it was good enough for God, it's good enough for me."
In addition to her political speeches, Palin is a paid commentator for Fox News, appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last week and is apparently shopping around a reality show that would showcase her home state of Alaska.
She's repeatedly refused to confirm whether she would consider a run for the presidency in 2012 and remained coy when asked the question Saturday.
"Don't know what I'm going to do in 2012," she said, adding no matter what happens she'll be supporting candidates who embrace her message of a common-sense approach to government.
Polls seem to suggest Palin doesn't pose much of a threat as a potential presidential candidate.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll suggested only 37 per cent of Americans had a favourable impression of Palin, and of those who identified themselves as conservatives, fewer than half said she was qualified to serve as president.
Tickets for the Calgary event ranged from about $150 to $200. About half of the 1,200 people in attendance gave Palin a standing ovation.
You can’t go cleaning up speeches for every little thing in the world that you think some little segment of the world’s population is going to misunderstand... it’s way too stupid to operate that way... :-)
That’s what I’m saying... and she was speaking to Canadians... that’s just the way it is...
If she should run, you will see this speech referenced in the future.
If she should run, you will see this speech referenced in the future.
That's a good opportunity to boost the tourism of Skagway and Whitehorse, then... perhaps Sarah Palin can get a stipend for increasing tourism there... :-)
You're being intentionally obtuse here. I know you understand my point. The fact is, Sarah is in the Big Leagues, and she has to be keenly aware of every word she says in public.
No politician wants to waste valuable time doing damage control on a poorly worded statement, yet many of them have to do this again and again. Do it too many times, and you begin to look weak and unintelligent, like Barack Obama does.
This isn't to say that Sarah should be "careful" of what she says. She should be as outspoken as she always has been. She speaks truth fearlessly, and that is one her best personal attributes. She shouldn't temper that a single bit.
But, she also shouldn't be careless when speaking in public. Leaving out that one small bit of info about the Scagway travel conditions of her youth has allowed this one statement to blow up into something that she never intended.
YOU don't have to watch your words, but someone in Sarah's station sure does.
I don’t think if the negative effect will be mitigated by the tiny positive that you reference.
No, I’m not being obtuse... I think it’s ridiculous to clean up your speeches in anticipation of every little nitpicking that anyone in the world can do... that’s what I’m talking about. And this is one of those cases of an absolute-nothing-nitpicking story... it’s going nowhere, because as soon as the information got out (and it got out fast as to what the “real story” was) — the other story went nowhere.
Any negative effect is only in the minds of those who are determined to be negative anyway... and thus, there’s nothing anyone would do about those people... :-)
Nobody else has to put up with this kind of stuff. It is because she is a conservative woman. And I have had it with all these little insects lying and picking apart every word she says.
Alright, ST. You’re right, and I’m wrong. Sarah ought to just shoot her mouth off any old dang way she pleases.
That better?
Well, the fact of the matter is that she will shoot it off any way she wants — no matter what you or I say here... doncha know... :-)
And I expect her to continue shooting off her mouth, too...
I'm with you 100%, but hating the insects isn't going to make them disappear. Reality is what it is, and no one knows that better than Sarah.
The good thing about Sarah, though, is that she's better at swatting the scummy little insects down than just about anyone I've ever seen.
That woman has a tough hide and a well-balanced soul. She's not just smart, I think she's wise. She's got very good perspective on all of the mud being slung her way, and understands that it's mostly grounded in fear. It's why you can't wipe that grin off her gorgeous face. She knows she's in charge.
yeah. a little lithium anybody?
I guess we can expect Palin to appear on O’Reilly, Hannity, and Greta in the next few days to clarify want she said. Ironicly, Palin was hired by Fox News to comment on news events. It seems Palin is a news event!
yeah. a little lithium anybody?
If you can get those "nattering nabobs of negativity" to take it, maybe it will help... but I doubt you can... LOL...
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