GOP Trying To Downplay Palin's Library Censorship Attempt (Now, With No Bogus Book Info or MSG!)

The AP is reporting McCain campaign is defending Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's much-criticized inquiry into banning books at her hometown library, saying her questions were only hypothetical.

My previous post on her attempt at censorship.

Transcript of an ABC News video segment that examines the Sarah Palin library censorship issue.

• Assembly of God ministers are well-known in Wasilla for taking strong positions on moral issues, including this recent sermon by the current pastor: "Everybody in the world has a guilty conscience. That's why homosexuals wants laws of the land to justify their sin because they have a guilty conscience."
• Around the time Palin became mayor, the church and other conservative Christians began to focus on certain books available in local stores and in the town library, including one called 'Go Ask Alice,' and another written by a local pastor, Howard Bess, called 'Pastor, I Am Gay'

From a book review of Pastor, I Am Gay that fellow Quaker and Hoosier, Hope Farber wrote for spiritrestoration.org 1995.

Pastor, I Am Gay is full of facts about homosexuality and society’s treatment of them, notably the Christian church’s refection of them. Bess believes that Christian churches will gain from their accepting gays and lesbians into fellowship and he dedicates his book to "every gay and lesbian person who has allowed me the privilege of being part of their lives."

Though published some years ago, this book is still timely and should be in the hands of every pastor and in the libraries of all congregations.

Excerpt from a Politifact review of the Sarah Palin library censorship controversy.

The author of a book Sarah Palin reportedly tried to have removed from her hometown library blasted back Saturday evening, saying the Alaska Governor had a "small-town mind," was an enemy of intellectual freedom and a "disastrous choice" for vice president.

The story that first ran in the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Dec. 18, 1996. It has been typeset and reposted to accommodate numerous requests for the story from media worldwide and curious individuals.

Now for some kerfuffle

Bonfire of Liberties: Mayor Sarah Palin Tried To Ban 'Questionable' Books From Wasilla

Just in time for ALA's Banned Books Week later this month, Daily Kos just gave us a tip about the TIME magazine article on Presidential VP nominee Sarah Palin and how she tried to fire librarian Mary Ellen Baker for not banning questionable books.

Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. "She asked the library how she could go about banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast." That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor.

While most of her positions are far outside the mainstream, and her hypocrisy of talking small government and detesting federalism while expanding government and raking in pork may grate on people who look at her record, all most see is that she's a pretty, charming, upbeat and down-to-earth person. Perhaps it's her strong WE movie of the week biography; people see Palin as a compassionate person, and therefore they probably see her as a compassionate politician.

poll by twiigs.com

In the mean time enjoy some Palin satire:

The run-up to Palin's Republican National Convention debut provided a predictable feeding frenzy for the 24-hour cable channels and the pundits who populate them. What may not have been as foreseeable is the volume of simply brilliant satire that has surfaced online in the last few days. The best examples all follow a simple, similar motif: Sarah Palin blogs! The fake Palins are proliferating at a feverish pace. They've got accounts on YouTube, Twitter and Typepad. And they are using those outlets to take her fake message directly to the masses.

In the hours running up to her speech, Fake Sarah Palin tweeted: "I don't understand what your problem is with this vetting stuff. I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY PETS! Ungh it is so pointless." She also blogged that she was thinking about writing her speech as a rap to appeal to the "urban" voter but was having trouble finding rhymes for "appropriations," "sectarian factions" and, uh, "dope." Oh, and she posted a video in which she marveled at life in the lower 48 to her campaign manager-cousin-personal stylist. "It seems there's a lot of different occupations. I'm used to, you know, cannery worker, fisherman, fish sales person, fish cultivator, Wal-Mart greeter. [And] everyone comes in Inuit or normal person."

Links, block quote and book lists via: Mediabistro.com, Newsweek & TIME