UPDATE: With Video Coverage From ABC News.
As reported today in The New York Times, the Sarah Palin censorship of library books story continues to grow. And then there is the idea of Ms. Palin promoting herself to be accepting of gay people. And I know how to disembowel a caribou!
The new mayor also tended carefully to her evangelical base. She appointed a pastor to the town planning board. And she began to eye the library. For years, social conservatives had pressed the library director to remove books they considered immoral.
“People would bring books back censored,” recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin’s predecessor. “Pages would get marked up or torn out.”
Witnesses and contemporary news accounts say Ms. Palin asked the librarian about removing books from the shelves. The McCain-Palin presidential campaign says Ms. Palin never advocated censorship.
But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book “Daddy’s Roommate” on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein. Ms. Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it.
“Sarah said she didn’t need to read that stuff,” Ms. Chase said. “It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn’t even read it.”
Technorati Tags: “Daddy’sRoommate”, , SarahPalin, Books, Censorship, JohnMcCain, Alaska
You talk about censorship here under a headline smearing Palin, but then make no mention of anything remotely supporting your claim (copied from lib talking points) that she attempted to censor anything.
Did you even read the NYT article you cite here? She made a comment about the book, but where does it say anything about any action she took even remotely related to censorship? In reality, the way you block and edit comments on your own blog could serve as a lesson on censorship.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html
Not only did I read the article, I posted that portion of the very long article that dealt with censorship, and “Daddy’s Roommate” in my post.
You say she “tried to censor [a] book”, but where does it say anything about any action she took even remotely related to censorship?
When one speaks of thinking a book “does not belong there” based on the content of a book, then that is censorship. To even express such an undemocratic notion is wrong. In addition witnesses offered their views that she tried to have books removed from shelves, as stated in the article.
I have long argued against banning books by both the left and right. (Mark Twain writings are ones that I have long fought in behalf of even though modern minds understand some of the words contained in them are outdated and vulgar.) Also conservatives have long been known to wish books that showcase gay people in a humane way be banished from book shelves. Palin is no different in this regard and got called on it.
However, I truthfully am pleased that you are concerned with the issue of censorship, and book banning week is near, and as such I plan to have some posts on this matter.
What are you, the thought police? How does any of that translate into some effort on her part to “try” to ban books? Expressing a notion does not equal censorship. Burning books or otherwise physically removing them would be examples of censorship.
After she allegedly asked this question, or “expressed a notion” to use your words, did she take action to actually have those books banned? No. Your headline claiming she “tried” to censor these books is dishonest.
Apparently honest examination of reality takes a backseat to pro-Obama propaganda here at the Wisconsin Branch of the DailyKos…aka Caffeinated Politics.
One does not reap a field of rye until you plant a seed. Think about it.
“One does not reap a field of rye until you plant a seed. Think about it.” translated = Why yes, Roland, I am the thought police.
So…I walk into a bank with a friend. While waiting in line, I point out that the old man security guard is napping on the job. I make the comment, “this place is a joke…how easy would it be to rob it?”
By your logic, I would be guilty of “trying” to rob the bank, no?
One does not reap a field of rye until you plant a seed. Think about it. Seriously? My response is that after the seed is planted, the farmer has a lot of work ahead of him before he can yield a successful crop. Do we really mean to say that the seed equals the harvest? That won’t sell down at the market just as it won’t sell here.
Ponder that my wry liberal grasshopper.