Governer Palin cut funding for unwed mother assistance.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-02 10:58pm

ST. PAUL -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.

After the legislature passed a spending bill in April, Palin went through the measure reducing and eliminating funds for programs she opposed. Inking her initials on the legislation -- "SP" -- Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

According to Passage House's web site, its purpose is to provide "young mothers a place to live with their babies for up to eighteen months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives" and help teen moms "become productive, successful, independent adults who create and provide a stable environment for themselves and their families."

Palin's own daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant and has plans to wed.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," Palin said in a statement released by the McCain campaign. "We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy, as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Earlier today the Associated Press reported that Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, opposed funding to prevent teen pregnancies, a position that Palin also took as governor. "The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she wrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorial candidates.

Reporters asked McCain in November 2007 whether he supported grants for sex education in the United States, whether such programs should include directions for using contraceptives and whether he supports President Bush's policy of promoting abstinence.

"Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.

I'm still wondering what an 'explicit' sex ed class or program is.

Themightytom · Post by **Themightytom** » 2008-09-02 11:20pm

technically she cut funding for Covenant house, not Passage house, therefore she didn't directly reduce funding for teen pregnancy, the parent organization probably made that decision, as one of their houses is beyond capacity, and serves a broader base of need.

page 3 of this shows that teen pregnancy is on the decline in Alaska, an that they have among the lowest rates (Not as low as NH though heh heh ). Oddly enough Covenant House itself reports a spike in capacity, this COULD mean that statewide teen pregnancy is on the rise, but it could also mean that they ahve developed a more effective referral system and are addressing a higher percentage of the population.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf

So it wasn't a compeltely rediculous decision.

Covenant house is not a particularly long term transitional housing program, maybe they are just effective and can take the hit. judging by the name I would expect some faith based participation
aaaand I would find I am right as soon as I visit their website. That means they can use other funding sources besides strictly federal, or for all we know there could be a valid reason for a funding cut (If I don't do my HMIS reports right we would lose funding for MY program.)

Where died she PUT the money? Did it end up in public housing?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-02 11:24pm

The WaPo image where she literally scribbles in her line item veto and alteration of funding doesn't say where the cash would eventually go.

Pulp Hero · Post by **Pulp Hero** » 2008-09-02 11:54pm

SirNitram wrote: "Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.

I am really truly frightened that he has a chance to represent us in the world.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2008-09-03 12:46am

I think maybe we need a sticky for Palin scandals. There have been a lot, and I'm losing track. I remember:

She's really inexperienced with only a mayorship of some small bumfuck town and a half term as governor under her belt.
Her youngest daughter may have been her oldest daughter's who would have gotten pregnant at 16 and she's lying to avoid a scandal, but that's impossible because the youngest was born 4 months ago and it was revealed her oldest daughter, now 17, is 5 months pregnant.
She's forcing the oldest daughter to marry the father of the baby in a shotgun wedding.
She's a member of some fundy christian sect that wants to use nukes to bring about Armageddon and the second coming.
She may be a member of a political party that wants Alaska to secede from the United States and form it's own country.
She opposes comprehensive sex ed that may have taught her daughter to use protection so she wouldn't have gotten pregnant.
She supported the bridge to nowhere, then canceled it and redirected the funds to an equally porkbarrel project but which didn't have as much national attention on it, then claimed she never supported it in the first place.
And now it turns out that she cut funding for teen mothers, like her daughter.

Did I miss anything?

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2008-09-03 12:51am

Just realized one more:

She supports abstinence-only sex ed while her oldest daughter is a case study in why that doesn't work

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-03 12:53am

Part of a faux-Feminist Anti-Choice group called 'Feminists for life'.

And I think the mayor reference could do with the population(6,700), the botched eminent domain, and the resulting collosal debt she gave her hamlet.

Ties to Ted Stevens, who is presently indicted on multiple felony charges for various corruption and favors.

And of course, Troopergate(Unless some third party has demonstrated the 'Tasered his son' bit, I don't consider that credible. For no other reason than, uh, bitter custody battle.)

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2008-09-03 02:20am

Okay, so with those 4 things, and after re-reading all the threads about Palin, I have:

She's really inexperienced with only a mayorship of some small bumfuck town and a half term as governor under her belt, and she left the bumfuck town with a huge debt and generally ran it into the ground.
If the youngest daughter actually is her's, that means after (quoting broomy here) "having her water break and, instead of going to a doctor/hospital like a normal women, she really did give a speech then board an airplane for a 6 hour flight back to Alaska followed by a 45 minute drive to give birth to a high-risk baby a month prematurely in a suburban clinic"
She was only chosen to try to draw in Hillary supporters.
She is part of a "feminist" group that supports outlawing abortion.
She wants creationism taught in public schools.
Her youngest daughter may have been her oldest daughter's who would have gotten pregnant at 16 and she's lying to avoid a scandal, but that's impossible because the youngest was born 4 months ago and it was revealed her oldest daughter, now 17, is 5 months pregnant.
She's forcing the oldest daughter to marry the father of the baby in a shotgun wedding.
She's a member of some fundy christian sect that wants to use nukes to bring about Armageddon and the second coming.
She may be a member of a political party that wants Alaska to secede from the United States and form it's own country.
She opposes comprehensive sex ed that may have taught her daughter to use protection so she wouldn't have gotten pregnant.
She supported the bridge to nowhere, then canceled it and redirected the funds to an equally porkbarrel project but which didn't have as much national attention on it, then claimed she never supported it in the first place.
She cut funding for teen mothers, like her daughter.
She supports abstinence-only sex ed while her oldest daughter is a case study in why that doesn't work.

That everything?

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2008-09-03 02:20am

Don't forget, too, her inquiries into banning certain books from the town library upon entry into the Mayorship, and firing of the librarian who was going to resist it until public pressure forced her to rehire the librarian.

Or the fired police chief from the other party, who then turned around and sued her - and then lost because a judge ruled that her firing powers were absolute, even if it was for political reasons.

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2008-09-03 02:57am

Dominus Atheos wrote:

She's really inexperienced with only a mayorship of some small bumfuck town and a half term as governor under her belt, and she left the bumfuck town with a huge debt and generally ran it into the ground.

If the youngest daughter actually is her's, that means after (quoting broomy here) "having her water break and, instead of going to a doctor/hospital like a normal women, she really did give a speech then board an airplane for a 6 hour flight back to Alaska followed by a 45 minute drive to give birth to a high-risk baby a month prematurely in a suburban clinic"

She was only chosen to try to draw in Hillary supporters.

She is part of a "feminist" group that supports outlawing abortion.

She wants creationism taught in public schools.

Her youngest daughter may have been her oldest daughter's who would have gotten pregnant at 16 and she's lying to avoid a scandal, but that's impossible because the youngest was born 4 months ago and it was revealed her oldest daughter, now 17, is 5 months pregnant.

She's forcing the oldest daughter to marry the father of the baby in a shotgun wedding.

She's a member of some fundy christian sect that wants to use nukes to bring about Armageddon and the second coming.

She may be a member of a political party that wants Alaska to secede from the United States and form it's own country.

She opposes comprehensive sex ed that may have taught her daughter to use protection so she wouldn't have gotten pregnant.

She supported the bridge to nowhere, then canceled it and redirected the funds to an equally porkbarrel project but which didn't have as much national attention on it, then claimed she never supported it in the first place.

She cut funding for teen mothers, like her daughter.

She supports abstinence-only sex ed while her oldest daughter is a case study in why that doesn't work.
That everything?

Please note that the bolded items are considered HUGE positives among many conservatives, indeed a "friend" here in Phoenix was gushing about how close to Christ she is.

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2008-09-03 02:57am

And Fuck it.... the
"list" thing screwed up the lines I bolded...not even sure a mod could fix that

Justforfun000 · Post by **Justforfun000** » 2008-09-03 03:04am

Oh why worry about the fundie hag anyway? Does anyone here really fear that McCain will get in? Obama just seems to be riding the rails straight to White house. Granted America has a habit of erecting people to the top just to see how quickly they can tear them down...but surely here must be far too many democrats in that country alone, let alone disgruntled Republicans who would be scared to DEATH of another Republican win.

I honestly can't imagine McCain having a hope in hell against Obama provided they don't come up with some horribly discrediting bombshell before election day.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2008-09-03 06:38am

Justforfun000 wrote:Oh why worry about the fundie hag anyway? Does anyone here really fear that McCain will get in? Obama just seems to be riding the rails straight to White house.

Never underestimate the stupidity of the off-the-mill voter. We also thought 4 years ago that Bush was done for, and what happened...?

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2008-09-03 07:03am

Dominus Atheos wrote:Her youngest daughter may have been her oldest daughter's who would have gotten pregnant at 16 and she's lying to avoid a scandal, but that's impossible because the youngest was born 4 months ago and it was revealed her oldest daughter, now 17, is 5 months pregnant.

Why even mention this rumor any more? It's been dispelled.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2008-09-03 08:46am

It almost seems like the McCain election team did this on purpous for tactical reasons. This woman distracts everybody completely from McCains own flaws. It might also make a whole bunch of voters turn away from the Republicans. But she gets fired shortely before the election, people will flock back and perhaps bring some undecided ones with them.

I know, this sounds unlikely but it´s the only reason i can imagine why the election team decided that this woman could possibly be a good choice.

irishmick79 · Post by **irishmick79** » 2008-09-03 08:58am

salm wrote:It almost seems like the McCain election team did this on purpous for tactical reasons. This woman distracts everybody completely from McCains own flaws. It might also make a whole bunch of voters turn away from the Republicans. But she gets fired shortely before the election, people will flock back and perhaps bring some undecided ones with them.

I know, this sounds unlikely but it´s the only reason i can imagine why the election team decided that this woman could possibly be a good choice.

If there's anything that Americans don't like during election season, it's the appearance of indecisiveness. Dumping your VP selection right before election screams indecisiveness, and McCain would be punished severely at the polls if he did that.

The pick makes sense if you look at Palin as a sympathy figure aimed at drumming up support from the base and maybe picking off enough disgruntled hillary supporters to tip key swing states McCain's way. Also, there is a strong suggestion that Palin was at best McCain's second, third, or fourth choice on his list.

The selection of Palin is basically vote-trolling at its worst. It's a pretty big gamble on McCain's part. If he wins, the pick will be remembered as being a brilliant one - if he loses, it will go down as one of the worst (if not the worst) VP selections in US election history.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-09-03 09:10am

Yeah, ok, I'm all for jumping her for corruption as well, but how exactly does the budget going from 1.2 million per their 2006 990 form to 3.9 million count as a cut? They got less then they asked for, ok, but unless my math is wonky their budget still more then doubled. As with the "omg is trigg Bristol's kid" can we keep some level of skepticism around?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-09-03 09:21am

salm wrote:It almost seems like the McCain election team did this on purpous for tactical reasons. This woman distracts everybody completely from McCains own flaws. It might also make a whole bunch of voters turn away from the Republicans. But she gets fired shortely before the election, people will flock back and perhaps bring some undecided ones with them.

I know, this sounds unlikely but it´s the only reason i can imagine why the election team decided that this woman could possibly be a good choice.

That was pretty much it. McCain wasn't satisfied with his other picks, and wanted to shake up the field according to another thread.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-09-03 09:28am

Ender wrote:As with the "omg is trigg Bristol's kid" can we keep some level of skepticism around?

Some people seem to have selective reading problems since its been debunked several times, I think. Let's recap for those less attentive:

Palin's child with downs syndrome is 4 months old.

Bristol is currently 5 months pregnant.

Ergo, it is physically impossible for Bristol to be the mother.

Justforfun000 · Post by **Justforfun000** » 2008-09-03 11:39am

Tribun Wrote:

Never underestimate the stupidity of the off-the-mill voter. We also thought 4 years ago that Bush was done for, and what happened...?

God, you're right. I still remember being absolutely stunned that he got in. I was ready to drive south of the border and bitch slap every democrat I could find that didn't vote.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-09-03 11:46am

James Dobson has given Palin his stamp of approval. I really can't see this as anything other than a skillful attempt to pander to the Religious Right and a clumsy attempt to pander to Hillary Clinton supporters and the womens' lib movement (because we all know that nothing says "women's lib" better than a beauty queen who becomes successful when an older man selects her

)

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-09-03 11:50am

Darth Wong wrote:James Dobson has given Palin his stamp of approval. I really can't see this as anything other than a skillful attempt to pander to the Religious Right and a clumsy attempt to pander to Hillary Clinton supporters and the womens' lib movement (because we all know that nothing says "women's lib" better than a beauty queen who becomes successful when an older man selects her )

The hilarious thing is that the Republicans are spouting off that Obama is the most inexperienced candidate in history, yet at the same time touting Palin as a choice they have no issue with.

Sauce

"Democrats present a history-making nominee for president. History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee ever to run for president," Thompson said as delegates roared their agreement.

Like Lieberman, Thompson described Palin as a political maverick in the McCain mold.

Thompson delivered a particularly sharp defense of the Alaska governor. She is "from a small town, with small town values, but that's not good enough for those folks who are attacking her and her family."

They're not even trying to hide the blatant hypocrisy.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-09-03 11:52am

Who gives a fuck about how much time the person has put in, as opposed to the kind of judgment he or she has demonstrated during his time? I'd much rather take a person with one year of brilliance, over a person with 20 years of stupidity.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-03 11:53am

Ugh. She's from a small town! With Small Town Values! What the fuck does that mean? Does anyone but rednecks even sympathize with those values?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-09-03 11:55am

Darth Wong wrote:Who gives a fuck about how much time the person has put in, as opposed to the kind of judgment he or she has demonstrated during his time? I'd much rather take a person with one year of brilliance, over a person with 20 years of stupidity.

That's what you'd think, but if you repeat something enough the idiots of the population will start to believe it; it seems to be the tactic they're running with. So far they're doing all they can to drill the "lol not experienced" meme into their base's mind.

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