[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."
Grasping at straws.
McCain needs to get new advisors to his campaign...this is bad.
LOL.
Hang on a second.
LOL.
Poor Palin! She's so naive.................................i almost sorry for her!
The more she talks, the more she'll hang herself, it's really a shame that McCain pick her..........very insulting.
LOL! This lady is so clueless. I watched a part of her and McCain's "town hall" q&a last night. She danced around the question of "readiness." If we elect her and McCain, America will look super stupid!
Palin said "that kind of" not specifically a on-line checkbook. This is a reidiculous story that takes something someone said and tries to imply it means something else. Obama supporters will go to town on this, but lets be smart and actually read what she said. People need to grow up and stop jumping to conclusions..the few post on here show that most have not even read or viewed the segement that the article itself distorts. No wonder people are confused.
Remember on the old Star Trek, when Ensign Chekhov kept claiming that the Russians invented *everything*? That's how I'm starting to feel about McCain/Palin... a couple of braggards that keep spinning their tall tales:
Yes, in Alaska, we have wonderful system for government transparency!
We oppose wasteful bridge to nowhere!
Thanks but no thanks for the millions in earmarks we accepted!
I "helped create" the "miracle" of the BlackBerry!
Straight Talk, indeed. More like DOUBLE TALK!
Panama Jack and the Drilla From Wasilla are rapidly descending into self-parody.
Wow...why haven't the Dems jumped on this...its HUGE!!!! shows her lack of experience and highlights Obamas
Ooops... I guess Bush's top advisers didn't know that distortion would be able to be backed up with fact. In fact legislation that Barack Obama initiated. What has Sarah Palin initiated for the American people and not just the "Great State of Alaska"? That's right nothing.
She stole his 'Change' lines – now she's stealing his ideas! Wasn't the GOP the party of big ideas – seems like they're big stolen ideas!
Nice try, ding dong. Go back to Alaska and shoot something, we're sick to the back teeth of you.
Copycat.
Or the silly ditz knows as much as McCain does about the Commerce Committee he sat on.
She knows enough to try to stop the special investigator looking into her abuses of power in Alaska and to try to stop her impeachment.
Every time she opens her mouth, she says something stupid and she's almost as inarticulate as Bush. No wonder the McCain campaign is keeping her away from the press and unscripted appearances.
The refusal to testify or honor subpoenas in a Congressional Investigation is not Transparency. It is just more of the same. How stupid do you think we are?
This is just plain funny.....
What a joke.
When McCain picked Rush Limbaugh's favorite for VP, he got exactly what he deserved: Now his campaign is complaining about Obama ads linking him with Limbaugh. Sorry, no sympathy here.
When you lie down with snakes, you'll come up poisoned every time.
Proof she has no idea what is going on in DC...
the mccain/palin campaign, are going to release a music video called"yes we can" starring celebrity endorsers like Donald Trump and Chuck Norris
Wow. The only thing transparent here is her head.
WHAT A PATHETIC PHONY! = Barack Obama
Given that the woman didn't know what the VP's office did a few weeks ago, or what the Bush Doctrine is, or remember that she originally said YES to the bridge to nowhere and KEPT the money even after she flip flopped...
Does it really need to be in the news that she's clueless about things? I think Obama had more constituents as a State Senator than she did as governor.
No wonder they don't have her taking questions on the stump – she's just eye candy (*HA*) to draw people to McCain rallies! Oh this is hilarious, welcome President Obama 🙂
What's the difference between a pitbull and Sarah Palin? The pitbull can generally be trained to do smart things. 🙂
Hillary she ain't!!! lol lol lol
Vote OBAMA, the SANE choice!
"Have I got an original idea for you that will really reform America.
Let's put the checkbook on-line"
*Liberman whispers in ear*
what's that. Who? He did?
Ooops, ah
hmmmm.
Did I mention I can smell the Borsch from my backyard?