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==Social issues==
==Social issues==
===Abortion===
===Abortion===
Palin is [[pro-life]] and a prominent member of [[Feminists for Life]].<ref>Ruth Rosen. "[http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/29/sarah_pahlin_and_feminists_for/ Sarah Palin and Feminists for Life]", ''TPMCafe'', August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref>
Palin is [[pro-life]] and a prominent member of [[Feminists for Life]].<ref>Ruth Rosen. "[http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/29/sarah_pahlin_and_feminists_for/ Sarah Palin and Feminists for Life]", ''TPMCafe'', August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref>


In 2002, while running for [[List of Lieutenant Governors of Alaska|lieutenant governor]], Palin called herself as "pro-life as any candidate can be."<ref name="Hopkins">{{cite news|url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/governor06/story/8049298p-7942233c.html|title=Same-sex unions, drugs get little play|last=Hopkins|first=Kyle|date=2006-08-06|publisher=[[Anchorage Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> In 2006, while running for governor, Palin was asked what she would do if her own daughter were [[rape]]d and became pregnant; she responded that she would "choose life"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/2006/governor/story/8372383p-8266781c.html|title=All three candidates support gas line lawsuit|date=2008-11-03|publisher=[[Anchorage Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>. She and her husband stated that they had "faith that every baby is created for a good purpose."<ref name="Simon">{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122005503104485161.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=Anti-Abortion Activists Cheer McCain's V.P. Pick|last=Simon|first=Stephanie|date=2008-08-29|publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> However, while running for Governor, Palin's campaign said she was not running to govern on the abortion issue, and would propose no new anti-abortion laws.<ref name="Forgey">{{cite news|url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101906/sta_20061019031.shtml|title=Abortion draws clear divide in state races|last=Forgey|first=Pat|publisher=[[Juneau Empire]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>
In 2002, while running for [[List of Lieutenant Governors of Alaska|lieutenant governor]], Palin called herself as "pro-life as any candidate can be."<ref name="Hopkins">{{cite news|url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/governor06/story/8049298p-7942233c.html|title=Same-sex unions, drugs get little play|last=Hopkins|first=Kyle|date=2006-08-06|publisher=[[Anchorage Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> In 2006, while running for governor, Palin was asked what she would do if her own daughter were [[rape]]d and became pregnant; she responded that she would "choose life"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/2006/governor/story/8372383p-8266781c.html|title=All three candidates support gas line lawsuit|date=2008-11-03|publisher=[[Anchorage Daily News]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>. She and her husband stated that they had "faith that every baby is created for a good purpose."<ref name="Simon">{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122005503104485161.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=Anti-Abortion Activists Cheer McCain's V.P. Pick|last=Simon|first=Stephanie|date=2008-08-29|publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> However, while running for Governor, Palin's campaign said she was not running to govern on the abortion issue, and would propose no new anti-abortion laws.<ref name="Forgey">{{cite news|url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101906/sta_20061019031.shtml|title=Abortion draws clear divide in state races|last=Forgey|first=Pat|publisher=[[Juneau Empire]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>
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As governor, Palin supported full funding for [[K–12 (education)| K–12]] education, as well as "early funding of education", a program that would give school districts more predictability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Sarah_Palin_Education.htm|title=State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007|last=Palin|first=Sarah|date=2007-01-17|publisher=Quoted in [[On the Issues]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>
As governor, Palin supported full funding for [[K–12 (education)| K–12]] education, as well as "early funding of education", a program that would give school districts more predictability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Sarah_Palin_Education.htm|title=State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007|last=Palin|first=Sarah|date=2007-01-17|publisher=Quoted in [[On the Issues]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>


While running for [[Governor of Alaska]] and asked about the teaching of [[creationism]] in public school science classes, Palin answered: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both"; she stated the next day that she meant that open debate between the two ideas should not be prohibited if it came up in discussion, but that creationism did not need to be part of the curriculum.<ref name="Kizzia">{{cite news|first = Tom|last = Kizzia|url = http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html|title = 'Creation science' enters the race|work = [[Anchorage Daily News]]|date = October 27, 2006|accessdate = 2008-08-29}}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', "She has supported the teaching of [[intelligent design]] in public schools, alongside evolution."<ref name="Yardley">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?th&emc=th|title=An Outsider Who Charms|last=Yardley|first=William|coauthors=''et al''.|date=2008-08-30|publisher=[[New York Times]]|pages=A1, A10|accessdate=2008-08-31}}</ref>
While running for [[Governor of Alaska]] and asked about the teaching of [[creationism]] in public school science classes, Palin answered: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both"; she stated the next day that she meant that open debate between the two ideas should not be prohibited if it came up in discussion, but that creationism did not need to be part of the curriculum.<ref name="Kizzia">{{cite news|first = Tom|last = Kizzia|url = http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html|title = 'Creation science' enters the race|work = [[Anchorage Daily News]]|date = October 27, 2006|accessdate = 2008-08-29}}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', "She has supported the teaching of [[intelligent design]] in public schools, alongside evolution."<ref name="Yardley">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?th&emc=th|title=An Outsider Who Charms|last=Yardley|first=William|coauthors=''et al''.|date=2008-08-30|publisher=[[New York Times]]|pages=A1, A10|accessdate=2008-08-31}}</ref>Given that her religious beliefs hold that the earth is only 5000 years old, and her personal one that global warming, if it exists, is not man caused, certainly question her efficacy as an advocate for 21st century education.


Palin supports the replacement of sex-ed programs with abstinence-only education.<ref>http://eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html</ref>
Palin supports the replacement of sex-ed programs with abstinence-only education.<ref>http://eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html</ref> These programs have been proven to be ineffective and have resulted in an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.


===Gay marriage, domestic partnership===
===Gay marriage, domestic partnership===

Revision as of 14:17, 1 September 2008

Sarah Palin

Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin is the presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee for the 2008 United States presidential election. Palin has been described as more conservative than presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.[1] The following are her known positions on political issues.

Social issues

Abortion

Palin is pro-life and a prominent member of Feminists for Life.[2]


In 2002, while running for lieutenant governor, Palin called herself as "pro-life as any candidate can be."[3] In 2006, while running for governor, Palin was asked what she would do if her own daughter were raped and became pregnant; she responded that she would "choose life"[4]. She and her husband stated that they had "faith that every baby is created for a good purpose."[5] However, while running for Governor, Palin's campaign said she was not running to govern on the abortion issue, and would propose no new anti-abortion laws.[6]

Education

As governor, Palin supported full funding for K–12 education, as well as "early funding of education", a program that would give school districts more predictability.[7]

While running for Governor of Alaska and asked about the teaching of creationism in public school science classes, Palin answered: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both"; she stated the next day that she meant that open debate between the two ideas should not be prohibited if it came up in discussion, but that creationism did not need to be part of the curriculum.[8] According to The New York Times, "She has supported the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, alongside evolution."[9]Given that her religious beliefs hold that the earth is only 5000 years old, and her personal one that global warming, if it exists, is not man caused, certainly question her efficacy as an advocate for 21st century education.

Palin supports the replacement of sex-ed programs with abstinence-only education.[10] These programs have been proven to be ineffective and have resulted in an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

Gay marriage, domestic partnership

Palin has said she has good friends who are gay and does not wish to judge gay people,[3] though she believes in the traditional definition of marriage between a man and woman.[11] She supported a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny health and retiree benefits to gay couples.[12] Alaska was one of the first U.S. states to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage, in 1998, along with Hawaii.[13] Palin has stated that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment.[3]

Palin's first veto was used to kill a bill that would have barred the state from granting health and retiree benefits to the partners of gay state employees stating that "signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office." In effect, her veto granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples, as was required by law.[14]

Palin has stated that "preserving the definition of marriage" is her top 2nd priority as governor.[15]

Hate Crimes

Palin has stated that she does not believe in expanding [hate crime]] laws, and believes that they are in fact superfluous as 'all heinous crime is based on hate.'[16]

Crime

Though Alaska has no current death penalty statute, Palin has declared herself in favor of capital punishment. She has stated that: "If the legislature passed a death penalty law, I would sign it. We have a right to know that someone who rapes and murders a child or kills an innocent person in a drive by shooting will never be able to do that again."[17]

Gun rights

Palin is a life-time member of the National Rifle Association, and is popular among gun rights activists. Sandra Froman, a member of the NRA Board of Directors, described McCain's selection of Palin as "outstanding".[18] An avid hunter herself, she is a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, while supporting gun-safety education for kids.[19]

Drugs

Though she admits to having smoked marijuana when it was legal under Alaskan law (though still illegal under Federal law), Palin opposes the return of legalized marijuana to Alaska. She regards methamphetamines as a greater social threat than cannabis.[3]

Energy and environment

As Governor, Palin has strongly promoted oil and natural gas resource development in Alaska, including opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.[20] She has also helped pass a tax increase on oil company profits.[21][22] Palin has announced plans to create a new sub-cabinet group of advisors to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Alaska.[23]

In 2007, Palin agreed with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to allow Alaska state biologists to hunt wolves from helicopters as part of a predator control program which was allowed under a provision in a 35 year-old federal ban on the practice granting 700 permits to the state of Alaska.[24] The program was criticized by Defenders of Wildlife and predator control opponents,[24] and prompted California State Representative George Miller to introduce a federal bill seeking to make the practice illegal.[24]

After she was announced as McCain's presumptive running mate, she stated that she does not believe that global warming is man-made,[25] and in May 2008, she had threatened to sue the federal government over their decision to list polar bears as a threatened species due to effects of climate change. She questioned the scientific basis for the listing, and warned that it would adversely affect energy development in Alaska.[26] Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity, who was the main author of the petition behind the listing, said Palin was "either grossly misinformed or intentionally misleading" on the subject.[26]

Foreign policy

Sarah Palin visits a wounded U.S. soldier in Germany in 2007

Questions around her foreign policy experience and positions have been pointed out as a potential liabilities to the campaign.[27] In an interview with Time, she argued that energy independence through ANWR drilling was essential to reducing American dependence on hostile foreign regimes.[28]

An editorial by the Anchorage Daily News described Palin as "a total beginner on national and international issues".[29] Cindy McCain and Fox News presenter Steve Doocy also stated that Alaska's proximity to Russia enhanced her knowledge.[30][31]

Iraq

In an interview with Alaska Business Monthly, Palin favored an "exit plan" for the war in Iraq:[32]

Alaska Business Monthly: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?

Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.

Palin has also tied the war to the quest for new energy supplies, saying, "We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources, which is nonsensical when you consider that domestically we have the supplies ready to go."[33]

References

  1. ^ Barnes, Fred (2008-08-30). "Palin Fought for Reform in Alaska". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  2. ^ Ruth Rosen. "Sarah Palin and Feminists for Life", TPMCafe, August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d Hopkins, Kyle (2006-08-06). "Same-sex unions, drugs get little play". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  4. ^ "All three candidates support gas line lawsuit". Anchorage Daily News. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  5. ^ Simon, Stephanie (2008-08-29). "Anti-Abortion Activists Cheer McCain's V.P. Pick". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  6. ^ Forgey, Pat. "Abortion draws clear divide in state races". Juneau Empire. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  7. ^ Palin, Sarah (2007-01-17). "State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007". Quoted in On the Issues. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  8. ^ Kizzia, Tom (October 27, 2006). "'Creation science' enters the race". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  9. ^ Yardley, William (2008-08-30). "An Outsider Who Charms". New York Times. pp. A1, A10. Retrieved 2008-08-31. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ http://eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html
  11. ^ McAllister, Bill (December 20, 2006). "Gay partners of state employees win benefits". KTUU News. KTUU-TV. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  12. ^ Demer, Lisa (December 21, 2006). "Palin to comply on same-sex ruling". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  13. ^ Vestal, Christine (March 1, 2007 (updated March 6, 2008)). "Gay marriage decisions ripe in two courts". Stateline.org. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Alaska governor won't block partner benefits". Gay.com. December 29, 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  15. ^ http://eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html
  16. ^ http://eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html
  17. ^ Palin, Sarah (2006-11-07). "Issues". "Palin for Governor" (inactive web site) quoted in On the Issues. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  18. ^ Davis, Susan (2008-08-29). "Conservative Activists Praise Palin as McCain's VP Pick". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  19. ^ Braiker, Brian (2008-08-29). "On the Hunt". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  20. ^ "State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007". January 17, 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  21. ^ Quinn, Steve (2007-05-10). "Alaska governor balances newborn's needs, official duties". Associated Press. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Barnes, Fred (July 16, 2007). "The Most Popular Governor". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  23. ^ Kizzia, Tom (April 12, 2007). "State aims to reduce emissions". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  24. ^ a b c Bolstad, Erika (2007-09-26). "Lawmaker seeks to ban wolf hunting from planes, copters". Oakland Tribune. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  25. ^ Coppock, Mike (August 29, 2008). "Palin Speaks to Newsmax About McCain, Abortion, Climate Change". Newsmax. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  26. ^ a b Joling, Dan (2008-05-22). "State will sue over polar bear listing, Palin says". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  27. ^ Lochhead, Carolyn. "Choosing Palin a big gamble for McCain". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  28. ^ Newton-Small, Jay (2008-08-29). "Transcript: TIME's interview with Sarah Palin". Time. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  29. ^ "Palin makes history: A great day for the Alaska, but for the country?" Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug 2008. Online. Also see http://community.adn.com/node/127402.
  30. ^ Associated Press (2008). Cindy McCain defends Palin pick, husband. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  31. ^ Washington Monthly (2008). Let's define 'foreign policy'.... Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  32. ^ Sullivan, Andrew (2008-08-29). "Palin On Iraq". The Atlantic Monthly. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  33. ^ Bartiromo, Maria (August 29, 2008), "Bartiromo Talks with Sarah Palin", Business Week{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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