LEBANON, Ohio (CNN) – Sarah Palin refuses to yield on her claim that she opposed the infamous Bridge to Nowhere earmark, despite charges by the Obama campaign that her assertion is a "lie."
"I told Congress thanks but no thanks for that Bridge to Nowhere," Palin said Tuesday in Lebanon, Ohio.
Earlier: Obama camp calls bridge claim a 'lie'
Though Palin recently came out against the completion of the Gravina Island Bridge, she initially supported the project as governor before it became a national symbol of wasteful pork barrel spending. In 2007, Palin’s office cancelled work on the bridge, but Alaska still kept the federal funds that were allocated for state transportation projects.
In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in earmarks, and in a Fairbanks newspaper column earlier this year, she wrote that federal monies, including earmarks, are “incredibly important” to the state. Palin also helped secure millions of dollars in federal money for her hometown of Wasilla while she was mayor.
Nevertheless, Palin told the outdoor audience in Ohio - many of whom came out in spite of the rain – that she was a champion of earmark reform in Alaska.
She then accused Barack Obama of using his role in the Senate to exploit the federal system.
“So as we reformed the abuses of earmarks in our state, our opponent was requesting nearly a billion dollars in earmarks as a senatorial privilege, as I was vetoing half a billion as an executive responsibility,” she said.
Palin said she and McCain “are ready to work together to end these corrupt practices once and for all in our Congress.”
From CNN Politics
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Tell me again how she is qualified to run for the number spot besides her age. She is corrupt and a liar. Oh thats right she is a republican. I like how they wont bring her out from McCains shadow. The republican are afraid she will start speaking on her own and tell us that Iraq is a holy war. What a joke.
So let me get this striaght: hiring lobbyists to get more earmarks, vocally approving of earmarks and supporting the worst earmarks, then changing your mind but keeping the money means you're a 'champion of earmark reform'?
That's not change we can believe in!
She is definitely a George W fan...when caught in lies...just continue to lie. How in the hell can someone who requested $750 million in earmarks now be a reformist. I guess she got that epiphany when she got the surprise phone call to be VP. GIVE ME A BREAK!!! This woman and her counterpart are one big joke!!!!!!
LIAR LIAR SKIRT ON FIRE.
You cant just make stuff up to look vice presidential.
We are tired of these lousy Republican creatures that think they can get away with lies. Bridge to Nowhere, Iraqi intelligence.
The Republicans have destroyed our economy and McCains would be more disastrous to the economy. just look at the details of what he is proposing.
Vote for Peace and properity. Vote Democrat.
I love the smell of fear in the morning...
Obama is cooked folks, he's beginning to look older than McCain.
Hey Michelle.. are you still proud?
liar....liar......liar......liar.......liar........pants on fire
Palin is McCains hand puppet..........he controls her lies
I do not agree with Palin's social issues but I'm more intrigued by her than I am with Biden. I was a Hilary supporter & after the primaries I was considering staying home for election but the more I learn about McCain & Palin, the more I see myself voting Republican for the first time. McCAin deserves the American people's vote, Obama to me is like a BIG commercial.
would you go to a doctor with several malpractice suits, who has lost more patients then any other doctor, who lied saying they graduated from Harvard but really got their diploma from an on line course? if the answer to that question is NO then why would you vote for McCain/Palin...who have over 59 lobbyist running their campaign, have been caught in numerous LIES, have voted against women, against Vets, against education, against clean energy, and want to make permanent the failed Bush tax plan that has put us at a 5 trillion dollar deficit, 6.1 unemployment, millions of lost homes, hundreds of thousands of lost jobs? but there are a few things that McCain/Palin are for...the war in Iraq (4,100 American lives, hundreds of thousands of Iraq civilians and Billions of dollars) and the bridge to no where ( and she kept the money)..a vote for McCain/Palin is like going to a Doctor of death...
Is this the only sound bite she has? That, and 'lipstick'?
Tell us your stand on the issues. Tell us why you charged your own state per diem while staying at home. Tell us why your husband and daughters charged the state for traveling from Wasilla to Juneau.
Tell us why we need to believe a liar.
When the finance cost's kept bloating, Palin bailed on the bridge. If you get an good faith estimate on building or repairs, you expect to pay something in the general amount as your quote. The bridge cost's sky-rocketed, so thank God, Sarah told them forget it.
I have been to the state of Alaska since Palin has been in office, and can honestly say thank you to Sara and the people who live there, she has done a remarkable job in office, and the state has never looked so beautiful, clean, and the economy is doing wonderful.
I know Sarah Palin can do wonders for America!
Why would anyone vote for this elitist, hyper-conservative bimbo??? Everything she does as an ulterior motive and she blatantly lies about everything...what a terrible person to have as our VP...and possibly president.
Continuing to lie in blatant defiance of the facts....it's just insane what this country has come to entertain as acceptable behavior...and I'm a Republican. I really don't think that I can support this ticket given their recent behavior.
These folks are shameless.
Was she speaking in tongues when she gave her speech of lies?
The earmark on the Bridge to Nowhere was taken off by Congress at least 13 months before Palin even took office. She was in no position to make any executive decision on that issue. It doesn't matter what she says now.
Omgosh why???? Why won't the sexist Repulicans allow this woman to speak her mind?????
...and to be fair, McCain never requested pork barrel funds. Obama did, yes.
However the issue is that Palin is LYING about it.
Just like she LIED about selling the jet on eBay for profit. It was removed from eBay and sold privately...for a loss.
She is such a liar, why oh why is she popular!
America, get it together, we need to vote Obama/ Biden!
The media are scared of Palin they wiil not go after her like they did Clinton about sniper fire.
Of course she stayed with it. They can't change the script now.
And keep on making the comparison to Obama's earmarks. His state has over 12 million people, yours has 750K, yet the earmark figures for him in 3 years are lower than Alasksa's for the 2 that you were governor.
No wonder Alaskans love her, she's making them a profit on their tax payments with the $ of pork/citizens.
When are these adoring fans going to see her for the liar that she is? You know, it's really funny. Republicans railed against Obama's "inexperience" - now they have someone on their ticket that is REALLY inexperienced, definitely as far as foreign policy is concerned. They railed against Obama's "celebrity" - now they have someone who brings out the crowds to hear the same tired speech she gives over and over again. She really is an empty suit. She is everything they accused Obama of being, and more!
THANK YOU CNN!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW PLEASE CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK, AND DIG DEEPER SO THAT YOU CAN "START REPORTING" THE NEWS!
there are differences between earmarks for necessary works and pork barrel earmarks, that benefit only certain interest. if the Obama campaign and the news media, are so concerned with the earmarks she received, why don't they investigate who profited by them. this woman has done a tremendous job for her state and for the news media and the Obama campaign to go to such lengths (and they have to to find someone who dislikes her) to discredit her only shows the shallowness they possess.
McCain and Palin will be good for this country; I do not want Opra or Stevie Crappin Wonder hanging around the white house;...
Lies, Lies, and more Lies. When will the republicans finally be held accountable for their gross distortion of the truth? Palin is shown supporting the infamous bridge project in a video of a debate of Alaskan gubernatorial candidates and yet she claims otherwise? If this is the sort of candidate she is, what sort of president would she make, if she had to take over from McCain, a terrible one that's what.