Palin's transparency proposal already exists in D.C.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/18/art.palin.9.18.jpg caption="Sarah Palin says she will bring the same kind of transparency she brought to Alaska to Washington, D.C.."]
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN) - Sarah Palin likes to tell voters around the country about how she “put the government checkbook online” in Alaska. On Thursday, Palin suggested she would take that same proposal to Washington.
“We’re going to do a few new things also,” she said at a rally in Cedar Rapids. “For instance, as Alaska’s governor, I put the government’s checkbook online so that people can see where their money’s going. We’ll bring that kind of transparency, that responsibility, and accountability back. We’re going to bring that back to D.C.”
There’s just one problem with proposing to put the federal checkbook online – somebody’s already done it. His name is Barack Obama.
Watch: Palin says 'Obama hasn't lifted a finger'
In 2006 and 2007, Obama teamed up with Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to pass the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, also known as “Google for Government.” The act created a free, searchable web site – USASpending.gov - that discloses to the public all federal grants, contracts, loans and insurance payments.
In June of this year, Obama and Coburn introduced new Senate legislation to expand the information available online to include details on earmarks, competitive bidding, criminal activities, audit disputes and other government information.
Palin might also have noted that her running mate, John McCain, was an original co-sponsor of the 2006 transparency bill that became law.
UPDATE: A campaign spokesperson insisted that Palin was referring not to that specific proposal, but rather to "that kind of transparency in general."
hhmmm is it time to bring back the kids? ;oP
Obama Obama Obama, was ahead of his time. SLAM DUNK!
oh...this is just too good!!!
BUUUUUURRRRRNNNNNNN!!!
Ouch Palin. That's gotta hurt! The funny part, though, is that she'll keep on repeating the same dumb line to thunderous applause for weeks to come.
This is just WAY too funny!
DV
"It just doesn't matter. I've been a Democrat all my life, but I do not like, do not trust, and will NOT vote for Obama. McCain will get my vote this year."
Why don't you trust or like him?
What views of yours do McCain represent?
Do you trust somebody who has demonstrably lied in attacks ads and public appearances, and been caught in those lies, and continues to tell the lies even after its pointed out that they are lies? You trust somebody who lies to your face repeatedly?
How do you justify it?
Senator McCain, Gov Palin, I would donate a quarter to your cause so you can call 1-800-GET -CLUE, butt it is a toll free call. But then again someone would have to tell you what to ask.
Road to nowhere.
Bridge to no where.
Campaign to nowhere
and intelligence is nowhere to be found.
Omg this woman has no djfhfkh clue at all.
She is not ready at all.
this is a joke.... ppl are not stupid.... mcbush/pain are such copy cats. get ur own ideas.
OBAMA 08
What??? How dare Obama have the intelligence and foresight to bring an initiative to Washington 2 years before Palin used it as part of her stump speech! What a sexist!
Wow, nice try Sarah. To bad we know who the REAL agents of change are in this election. The Republican parties ideas have been tried, THEY FAILED. Time for new leadership. Quit trying to plagiarize Obama's message. If you don't have any ideas of you own to bring to the table, maybe you should step down as McCain's VP, or at least stop being a complete puppet.
CNN knows this, and now a lot of bloggers know that this was an idea that Obama had already implemented. BUT the Republican political machine long ago figured out that the truth is really pretty much irrelevant in the minds of the voters. People will believe what they want to believe.
And in all honesty, there are so many lies and distortions that are served up every day of the campaign, the it is almost impossible for the average person to sort out what is and isn't true. Once you have created a climate where no one has the guts to call a lie a bald faced lie in print, fiction can easily be substituted for fact – at least for a news cycle or two, which is all you need.
Not to be mean but this woman makes GW Bush look like Einstein!
Your'e lucky you to be governor 'Miss Moose Killa from Wasilla!'
Thank GOD for Sarah Palin. Keep it coming! We need more fresh ideas from Palin (Obama)...hahahahahaha!!
How pathetic that is!
Again, this lady is a joke.
McCain is a joke.
They can even check the record before she start to shoot her mouth>
Marilyn:
"IT" Doesn't matter? What is "IT"? You mean this country doesn't matter? THat is what you vote against if you think having this woman one step away from the presidency is somehow acceptable.
Hope you don't have kids. You are selling their future by your lack of "caring about "IT"
Marilyn September 18th, 2008 3:26 pm ET
It just doesn't matter. I've been a Democrat all my life, but I do not like, do not trust, and will NOT vote for Obama. McCain will get my vote this year.
PEOPLE LIKE THIS ARE THE REASON THIS COUNTRY IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.
No Matter WHAT the GOP does they DO NOT CARE.
Racism is a STRONG Drug!
This Republican is voting Democrat.
James Carville is right! September 15 will go down as the day McSame/Painful lost this.
Spain, Troopergate, Now this.
There seems to be no final answer to the question, "How stupid can they get."
What's next? Maybe she can invent a small mobile device from which you can send and receive e-mails. Too late, her running mate already did that.
McCain/Palin represent "a bridge to nowhere!" Obama/Biden represent the rebuilding of the Clinton "bridge to the 21st century." Now that BUSH has distracted us (and practically destroyed everything along the way), it is time to get back on track, leave McCain/Palin in our tracks, and follow true leaders: Obama/Biden.
I guess she didn't see that coming...what's a ticket these republicans!
wooot...she's gonna do something already done.
Yay for her...but Sarah...what will you do that still needs doing?
NOTHING of course...because you're a telecommuter VP that will spend her term either at home using yahoo to conduct business for the country (don't forget to cc the 'first dude"), or behind bars..best go check on all those law suits against you. You obviously have no clue about what our country needs.
She doesn't know much. what a joke.
Bet people lap up her idea like she is proposing something new.
Obama has shown judgement and wisdom consistently
good grief! this country is a mess, because of stoopid like this.
Copying another one of Baracks ideas.
McCain Palin Ready to Follow, NOT Ready to Lead.
Sarah its 46 days to go, please dear, don't speak ,just stand there and look pretty. Who am I kidding I just love the daily McCain Palin comedy hour..
this is pretty funny, I almost feel sorry for her. palin is such a joke! send her back to her mayor job to work in the drive thru city hall.