Sarah Palin, VP nominee
I try to keep “who to vote for” politics pretty well off of this blog and prefer to discuss politics in general and better and worse strategies for promoting libraries in whatever political climate we happen to be in. People acutely interested in high level politics in the US who also work in libraries may be interested in this Time magazine article about Sarah Palin. I was very interested in this paragraph.
[Former Wasilla mayor] 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.” The librarian, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire her for not giving “full support” to the mayor.
Usually I’m just happy to see libraries even mentioned in national level politics, but not like this. Mary Ellen Baker resigned from her library director job in 1999.
note: there’s some buzz being generated that says that this post contains a comment that lists the books that Palin supposedly wanted banned. The list is here, but there appears to be no truth to the claim made by the commenter, and no further documentation or support for this has turned up.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:30
Yeah, I’m not so comfortable with this…
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:42
I don’t know, I kinda like seeing libraries mentioned this way too …not so much for what it meant to the Wasilla Public Library, but what it tells the rest of us about a potential future … as an HR-ish friend of mine always said — “past behaviour is usually a pretty good predictor of future behavior.” Cheers.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:41
[...] a book banner. I hadn’t seen (or to be honest looked for) any evidence of this until Jessamyn posted about it at librarian.net, with a link to a Time magazine article: Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject [...]
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:13
Thank you for posting this, I was wondering if anyone would. Librarians go out of our way to be politically neutral, even when we should express outrage or, at the very least, *concern* over such matters.
rcn
San Francisco Bay Area
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:44
[...] from http://www.librarian.net/stax/2366/sarah-palin-vp-nominee/ « Librarian fired for book on unsavory patrons | [...]
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:12
[...] mayor she talked to the town librarian about banning books she found [...]
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:38
We’ve learned that the woman McCain calls a reform-minded Washington outsider supported the construction of Alaska’s infamously wasteful “bridge to nowhere.” In 2006, Palin campaigned for it. She also sought hundreds of millions of federal dollars for other pork barrel projects.
We’ve learned that as mayor, Palin raised sales taxes for pet projects. That’s not uncommon, but it’s not something a conservative reformer does. We’ve learned she recently hired a private attorney to defend herself in an investigation over whether she abused the power of her office to fire a state police official who refused to dismiss her former brother-in-law from his job as a state trooper. We’ve learned she is linked to the Alaska Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to be able to vote on whether or not to secede from the United States. We’ve learned that this so-called family values candidate tried to hide the fact that her teenage daughter is five months pregnant, out of wedlock.
Amid all these disturbing facts, it’s easy to forget that she is totally unqualified to for the position that John McCain has given her.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:21
[...] Sarah [does not HEART] Polar Bears and Librarians. [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:36
Does anyone have any idea which books, specifically, Palin tried to ban? Not that it matters - book banning is appalling regardless - but I’m curious and thought that perhaps someone here might know or have the contacts to find out.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:37
I wonder what books were banned? I bet someone will turn up the list.
In the school district in Texas where I went to high school in the 1980s, there was an organization called the Committee of Concerned Citizens, who gave the district the list of books to ban every year.
I wonder if Palin was part of such an organization, or if she had a standard list from her church?
The specific book list would be so interesting.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:29
This is the list of books Palin tried to have banned. As many of you will notice it is a hit parade for book burners.
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Blubber by Judy Blume
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
Carrie by Stephen King
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Christine by Stephen King
Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Cujo by Stephen King
Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Decameron by Boccaccio
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Fallen Angels by Walter Myers
Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure) by John Cleland
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Forever by Judy Blume
Grendel by John Champlin Gardner
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Have to Go by Robert Munsch
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Impressions edited by Jack Booth
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
It’s Okay if You Don’t Love Me by Norma Klein
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Love is One of the Choices by Norma Klein
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
More Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
My House by Nikki Giovanni
My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara
Night Chills by Dean Koontz
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women’s Health Collective
Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz
Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Separate Peace by John Knowles
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Bastard by John Jakes
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Devil’s Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
The Figure in the Shadows by John Bellairs
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Snyder
The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks
The Living Bible by William C. Bower
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The New Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
The Seduction of Peter S. by Lawrence Sanders
The Shining by Stephen King
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Snyder
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t by Judy Blume
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff
Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:44
Andrew, can you please tell us what your source is for this list? Thanks in advance!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:11
[...] I came across a disturbing post by an American librarian on her blog librarian.net. She discusses an incident in the past poliitcal life of the Republican candidate for Vice President, Sarah Palin. I try to keep “who to vote for” politics pretty well off of this blog and prefer to discuss [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:30
I was also wondering about the source on the list. I’m really concerned about this.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:37
[...] News, August 1997, which has been making the rounds on the web (for instance, as well as this, and Jessamyn has discussed the library implications): Opal Toomey, Esther West and Ann Meyers don’t seem like politically [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:30
You folks have to get the facts first, and from an unbiased source, before you transmit pure fiction on your blogs.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:52
The book-banning claim would be disturbing as all-get-out for any candidate at any level of public office. But Stein was her political opponent — I’d love to see some more evidence and hear from the librarian herself.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:45
Like others, I would be very interested to know Andrew Aucoin’s source for that list.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:03
[...] particular tidbit of news that came to my attention this morning via Bookninja, Tame the Web, and Librarian.net. Allhave spotted something distressing about Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:34
[...] librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP nominee Not to worry, the Librarians are on it and have not substantiated it. [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:44
The source of the list appears to be this site, which I got to from this site, which I found by googling the very first titles on the list as a single search term (A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle).
This list obviously has nothing to do with Palin whatsoever.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:53
The list of banned books is inaccurate. Several of the titles listed above, most notably the Harry Potter books, had not been published yet in 1996 when Sarah Palin attempted to fire the librarian.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:05
[...] Palin, as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, wanted the librarian to ban books that she felt were offensive. Librarians across the country aren’t taking kindly to that news. Is this what they mean when they say she’s a [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:06
The New York Times has further information on this issue today, including the news that Palin FIRED the Wasilla librarian:
“Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question.
Ann Kilkenny, a Democrat who said she attended every City Council meeting in Ms. Palin’s first year in office, said Ms. Palin brought up the idea of banning some books at one meeting. “They were somehow morally or socially objectionable to her,” Ms. Kilkenny said.
The librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, pledged to “resist all efforts at censorship,” Ms. Kilkenny recalled. Ms. Palin fired Ms. Emmons shortly after taking office but changed course after residents made a strong show of support. Ms. Emmons, who left her job and Wasilla a couple of years later, declined to comment for this article.
In 1996, Ms. Palin suggested to the local paper, The Frontiersman, that the conversations about banning books were “rhetorical.”
Ms. Emmons was not the only employee to leave. During her campaign, Ms. Palin appealed to voters who felt that city employees under Mr. Stein, who was not from Wasilla and had earned a degree in public administration at the University of Oregon, had been unresponsive and rigid regarding a new comprehensive development plan. In turn, some city employees expressed support for Mr. Stein in a campaign advertisement.
Once in office, Ms. Palin asked many of Mr. Stein’s backers to resign — something virtually unheard of in Wasilla in past elections. The public works director, city planner, museum director and others were forced out. The police chief, Irl Stambaugh, was later fired outright.”
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:20
[...] is an aside titled ‘Palin Wanted J.K. Rowling Banned From Library’ dated 9/3/08 Among other titles, Sarah Palin wanted the Harry Potter series banned from the Wasilla library. It’s a pretty lengthy list including Twelfth Night, Silas Marner, To Kill A Mockingbird, A [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:55
It should be reiterated that Andrew Aucoin’s list is fake. Many of those books (like the Harry Potter titles) had not even been released when Palin became mayor.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:08
I find the approach she took more interesting than the actual subject here. As librarians we are acutely aware of the negatives to censorship but that might not hold true for the average American. Personally, I see it as a good thing that Palin questioned the Librarian on the subject rather than attempting to make a blanket decision. As we’ve seen from articles in Time and Newsweek, she does not appear to be the type of person who asks questions first and acts later, and this seems to be a rather positive change from her previous actions. Asking us about censorship only provides us the avenue to express why it is wrong and to have our voice heard. Simply having information does not educate us. We must instead have a conversation about it. As for the Librarian in question, we do not know all of the facts and until we have heard both sides of the story it would be impossible to form an understanding of the truth.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:49
The list cited by “Andrew AuCoin” is not from Sarah Palin. It actually comes from http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html. It’s a compendium of all books banned anywhere in the United States.
Folks, we need to keep our eye on the prize here. Every time we pass on false or inaccurate allegations, we’re helping Sarah Palin (and John McCain) look better, not worse. Please fact check before you share a rumor.
Kudos to those commenters who raised questions about the list. And shame on “Andrew AuCoin” for perpetrating a falsehood.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:01
[...] baby and not because he is good husband material. What’s relevant for me is a penchant for banning books, a suspected history of using political position for personal/familial gain (see also here), and [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:24
Does Sarah Palin have a college degree?
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:41
[...] I don’t tend to get into politics too much on this site. However, there has been much written in the last few days about a Time magazine article in which Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:47
I don’t think Time or the NYT are credible sources to begin with.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:54
:The list cited by “Andrew AuCoin” is not from Sarah Palin. It actually comes from http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html. It’s a compendium of all books banned anywhere in the United States.”
Pretty obvious when one notes that Solzhenitzin was in the list, not exactly a conservative target. Anyone who DIDN’T realize this was BS should be ashamed of themselves.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:04
YDD: Palin has a journalism degree from the University of Idaho with a minor in poli-sci.
Can anyone track down these “news reports from the time (that) show” all this?
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:38
It makes sense to try to have a politics-neutral blog until the politicians start to take shots at libraries. Then all bets are off.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:14
—I don’t think Time or the NYT are credible sources to begin with.—
Oh my…classic.
I think Fox News said it too…
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:27
[...] [h/t to librarian.net] [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:44
The intellectually alert will be able to discriminate between banning the use of taxpayer money to buy certain books for the public library, and totalitarian government banning books from being read or sold in a country. The former is reasonable public policy, the latter is an infringement of liberties.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:52
I would disagree, Matthew, with the concept that a government official should impose his or her individual religious beliefs on the availability of book titles at a government institution funded by taxpayers of multiple religious beliefs should be considered “reasonable public policy.”
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:06
I thought the problem was wanting to after-the-fact remove books from the library that had gone through a formal selection process by a trained professional (the librarian) because of some people’s personal beliefs about the subject matter. I’m in agreement with Mike generally — the reason you have trained professionals working in libraries is so that they can make these selections with the interests of the entire community in mind and also have a grievance process if anyone is not happy with the process.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:09
Let us observe:
1) Palin never banned any books.
2) The article states the motive for her inquiry as “some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them”
3) Despite the above two facts, TIME leads by stating that: Mrs. Palin inserted her religious beliefs into policy in this case.
The tactic used in the above paragraph is something called Poisoning the Well. A logical fallacy. A false one as well. I would expect a bunch of librarians would be able to see that before a computer programmer came along, since librarians are more versed in literature and rhetoric, IIRC, than most programmers.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:29
Jessamyn, you might consider deleting the listed posted by “Andrew Aucoin,” as it has now taken on a life of its own and is being circulated around the net, providing your blog as the source.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:36
I’ve said elsewhere that I think the comment doesn’t have any merit and I don’t have contact information for the person who posted it, but I feel that deleting it doesn’t really help anything at all.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:47
I think everyone is also overlooking something very telling about this article: Pailin said that the conversation regarding banning books was “rhetorical.”
Am I alone in thinking she meant “hypothetical” and quite possibly misspoke or doesn’t know the difference?
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:48
[...] “rhetorical” means, well, mission accomplished.There has been some buzz about this, and even at librarian.net someone has posted what is apparently a bogus list of books Palin wanted to [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:50
Oh and SMith and the others citing the Times as not being a “credible source” should look at the article again, as it plainly names Wasilla’s local paper, “The Frontiersmen” as one of it’s sources.
Is THAT credible enough?
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:07
“You folks have to get the facts first, and from an unbiased source, before you transmit pure fiction on your blogs.”
What? Why would they bother with that? I would remind you that first Mrs. Palin was an avid Buchanan supporter (this turned out to be a lie), then she was a member of the Alaskan Indpendence Party and wanted to secede from the union (this turned out to be a lie), then she was trying to foist the teaching of Creationism on the public schools (this turned out to be a lie), then there was the wild speculation that her mentally handicaped son was the issue of an incestuous relationship between her daughter and her husband (my personal favorite–if you’re going to slander, at least be creative!).
I don’t see why anyone should let facts get in the way at this point. Her throat was going to be slit, and so it has been…you might be a bit cautious lending a hand, though. You may feel dirty later.
Oh, and you might be interested in this article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13084.html
This allegation stems from a report done by her 2006 opponent in Alaska’s gubanatorial race, and says this:
“Palin Asked City Librarian About Censoring Books, Insisted It Was ‘Rhetorical.’ In 1996, according to the Frontiersman, Wasilla’s library director Mary Ellen Emmons said Palin asked her outright if she could live with censorship of library books. Emmons said, “This is different than a normal book-selection procedure or a book-challenge policy. … She was asking me how I would deal with her saying a book can’t be in the library.” Palin said in response, “Many issues were discussed, both rhetorical and realistic in nature.” [Frontiersman, 12/18/96]”
Even assuming Palin’s “rhetorical” claim was an excuse, a discussion with a librarian about censoring books is a very far cry from attempting to censor books and then firing the librarian. I would speculate that, had she canned a public employee like that, it would have been brought up by her opponent .
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:09
[...] story turns into an unsubstantiated rumor. Today, a blogger by the name of Jessamyn West wrote about Palin’s efforts to ban books and linked to the Time story. I want to emphasize that Ms. [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:30
Your publishing facts before you check them out and willingness to condem without the facts shows your true colors.
Yes Sarah Palin is an unknown
But oh how quickly the rumors have grown.
About banning books and state succession.
Without sustenance or fact is the confession
Joe Biden says she has good looks
How sexist but she’s banning books
How short her time in politics has been
Accomplishing more than old Joe Biden
So you better keep your library job
Instead of telling you opinions on you blog
If your prejudice makes you fib
It exposes you as a lib
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:37
Whether or not books were banned, the fact that Mrs. Palin wanted to know how one might go about it is enough for me to know that I don’t agree with her on this particular issue.
Has it occurred to anyone that the Republican party plan may have been to choose a VP that would be so easy to bash that they couldn’t help but to look victimized?
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:41
[...] as to the politics behind such a move that she actually asked a librarian how to do it. (link via librarian.net) Apparently, she’s missed the fact that National Banned Book Week is sponsored by the [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:49
How much “oil” money does her husband make per year? I will bet three to four times my yearly wage. She is a Bush plant to keep “oil” in the white house
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:51
[...] aboutbooks: Sarah Palin and the Case of the Banned Books — which links to librarian.net where a Commenter has left a very long list of the books Sarah Palin wanted banned. Go there for the full list. I just want to highlight a [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:04
[...] Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:07
[...] Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:18
“I’ve said elsewhere that I think the comment doesn’t have any merit and I don’t have contact information for the person who posted it, but I feel that deleting it doesn’t really help anything at all.”
It would help, and it would be responsible, to delete a lie that other sites are posting as fact now, and citing this site as a source.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:23
I just stumbled upon this blog about palin and not in amazement. I am glad to have read this because it truly supports my own thought on palin.
Today while watching cnn’s broadcast of the republican convention I had the pourtunity to see and hear palin speak with a congregation of Christians in her state. She was in support of the troops which has been one of her own personal ventures which I personally feel is a great politcal move for any politician today. However within her speech, I mean ganter, she proclaimed that the war in Iraq is a war given to us by god. By this statement alone she makes this war sound like a holly war. Do we need a left winged critical biased thinker to have power? Very thing we have fought for will be lost to those who will gain from these thoughts. We will be set back 30 to 40 years. She is not a woman for all but for the left wing white mens group that will rule over her position as VP.
I have also read editorials that did comparisons on other presidents. In my own predictions pallin will become very much like a man we do not hear about, does qual sound familiar. She will not do much accept what she would be told. She a mad woman with guns. Shooting up the town with a blind fold on.
How can this country ever decide to elect someone who basically wants to burn books, change thw laws against abortion gay rights and tell us who god is. There have been other leaders such as Hitler that thought like this.
Our country is suppose be comprised of free thinkers and people of great understanding of the world. We would be a laughing stock if this woman and mc can are elected. Heck if you believe in her go and burn your intire library of books and then listen to what you are told to do by backward thinkers like palin.
I just hear Nazism in this platform. Let her stay in her state. They need her to teach what she has taught her own family. Tell me if the teaching of sex before marriage really works or was it the books that your daughter read that taught her to become pregnan?
Palin is all over the place on issues. The worse thing is that she is using religion to support her opions and personal views. If a Muslim use Allah as a excuse why can she use a Christian god? These ideals are not what this country needs.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:29
[...] NPR. In the meantime, here are some posts I’ve found interesting (and/or entertaining): (1) What a librarian has to say about Mrs. Palin, (2) a post from This Recording which I should not even try to describe, (3) a piece from an Alaska [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:45
It would help, and it would be responsible, to delete a lie that other sites are posting as fact now, and citing this site as a source.
I’ve gone to the other sites that I’ve seen citing this and saying that it’s not reputable, I think that’s responsible.
If the comment were to be deleted then people don’t know what it said, what it looked like, and what the big deal was. It would also leave all the other comments referring to it hanging. If the comment remains, people can look at it, look at the surrounding comments and make their own estimation of how likely it looks to be true (i.e not very, as many commenters here have said).
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:47
I agree with Jessamyn, and this is an outstanding blog.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:49
[...] Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 | Fun Tech Time Magazine says that when Sarah Palin took office as mayor, she approached the town librarian and asked how to go about banning books from the town library: [Former Wasilla mayor] 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.” The librarian, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire her for not giving “full support” to the mayor. Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:51
[...] So what books did she ban? Thanks to the leftist bloggers who have done so very much to advance research and journalism in the last several days, now we know. Click here. It seems that one Andrew Aucoin (google doesn’t exactly confirm that Andrew is a member of the Columbus, Ohio, Gay Men’s Chorus, but it doesn’t deny it either), on librarian.net, has come up with the definitive list of the books that Governor Palin tried to get banned. [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:56
“Has it occurred to anyone that the Republican party plan may have been to choose a VP that would be so easy to bash that they couldn’t help but to look victimized?”
Ah, I see. So the feckless calumny of the left is really the clever disengenuousness of the right? I do wish the Left would make up its mind: first the Right is dumber than a sock full of rocks, next they’re evil geniuses.
“It would help, and it would be responsible, to delete a lie that other sites are posting as fact now, and citing this site as a source.”
Censorship? I disagree. The lie was posted, but it was also dissected and dismantled…the very thing a comment section is for…and many of the blogs posting this won’t care anyway. Don’t be naive about politics. That the lie was floated, expanded and given life was always the goal, not the truth.
“Today while watching cnn’s broadcast of the republican convention I had the pourtunity to see and hear palin speak with a congregation of Christians…within her speech, I mean ganter, she proclaimed that the war in Iraq is a war given to us by god. By this statement alone she makes this war sound like a holly war.”
That sounds awfully specious to me…but f*** it. I’m always up for a good holly war.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:10
Jessamyn,
Maybe Include a correction in the original post with the new information, so people don’t have to scroll through all the comments to see the info?
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:16
yeah I added a note, good idea Peter.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:19
I’d still like to know what the books were that were thought to be offensive.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:20
[...] Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:43
Rick says:
“Ah, I see. So the feckless calumny of the left is really the clever disengenuousness of the right? I do wish the Left would make up its mind: first the Right is dumber than a sock full of rocks, next they’re evil geniuses.”
I think we should stick with the sock full of rocks…
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:01
[...] (Idiotic rants aside, the Time article really is excellent. Link via Librarian.net) [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:01
You Die hard liberals need to face the fact. This country was not founded to be a socialist country. If that’s what you want move to China!!! Get off your lazy butts, get a job, and go out and get the American dream. Don’t think Obama will hand you the American dream. He is a liar and if you can’t see that I pity you. Besides America was an experiment in personal responsibility and individual freedoms. In this country anyone can achieve, that wants to work for it. I happen to love this country. Anyone can go to college. Fill out the Federal Student Aid forms and go to school if that’s what you seek. If you are too lazy to fill out the forms there is no help for you. Then work like myself and ever other hard working 29 year old and pay back your debt so others can go to school. Don’t expect me to pay for it. I am paying for mine. So go get it and stop spreading stupid lies, about the greatest female politician ever to grace this great country. This is not high school and our future depends on it. There are people dumb enough to believe your uneducated bull, and we would lose the greatest potential leader of this century. If you liked Hillary then you are a fool not to love this bull dog in Palin. Do your research people. If you really followed what was going on in this world you would have know who Palin was two years ago.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:02
[...] she tried to ban books?! Posted by lifewithgatsby Filed in Uncategorized ·Tags: 2008 election, 2008 RNC, [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:22
Sarah Palin needs to go back to alaska and govern the moose like she really good at that. Do we really want her to be our next President. You know damn well that Mc Cain is to damn old and we will end up with her dumb ass. I just love how she is miss goody two shoes on stage when she is under investigation for using her govern position to have her ex brother in law fired from is job just because he divorced her sister.
When did we win the war in Iraq? My Son is now doing his 5th tour there and he tells me that it is getting worse day by day. We had no Business going there in the first place. According to Mc Cain and President Baby Bullshit Sadam had weapons of mass destruction and that is was a haven for Aqada. Oh I almost forgot to mention that they also said that we won in Afganistan. REALLY then why is the Talliban and Aqada taking foot hold again. The only reason we went to Iraq was to finish what DADDY BULLSHIT did not finish. I don’t know about you but I sure don’t want another 4 years of baby bullshits crap to be continued by step brother bullshit (Mc Cain).
She is not any one I would ever trust I am sick of All the Fucking Republicans who say that we need 4 years of the same. Really, you would only say something like that if you want to see this country in a new great depression. We are in debt 5 Trillion dollars and we are borrowing money from China and Russia. How sad is that. The Damn Iraq’s need to pay their own way. Why should this country pay for the stupidity by blowing everything up, and why should the have a savings account in this country of over 5 billion dollars and collecting interest that we have to pay. Let them kill each other and we can collect the money that they owe us.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:25
The list of books is clearly fictitious as it includes titles first published well after the alleged incident (such as “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” published in 2000).
It seems well documented that she asked about whether books could be banned, so the accusation does not appear to be “calumny” as one poster suggests. But we do not know whether any specific titles were ever mentioned, and it was wildly irresponsible for someone to repost that fictitious list here without doing some fact checking.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:32
Wow! I want some of whatever mix of meth & psychedelics Todd’s on! That’s gotta be some good stuff to make you hallucinate like that! Take it easy, bud, you’re starting to froth a little, there. I’m sorry, anybody dumb enough to advocate banning books, or trying to gloss over the position of a candidate who would be a party to that will get none of my time. It shows such a basic lack of understanding of American rights & freedoms that I wish adults could be sentenced to mandatory civics classes. Her list is a good chunk of my bookshelf. Guess I’m lucky she’s not that well read.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:32
Sorry to say Todd that I think that if you were so hard working for 29 short year that you need to look up the word Depression. Because of the Dam Republicans this country is in debt. I am a harding working 47 year old single mother of four.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:01
Thanks for posting this Jessamyn!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:03
[...] out whether she was in to not letting otherscheck out books (the banning books story appears to be true) - something a sexy librarian, or really any librarian for that matter, would. not. do. But [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:32
If she tried to censor books, that’s enough reason for anyone who loves the First Amendment to fear her. We don’t need to know which books she wanted to censor. It’s like hearing someone wants to burn babies—you don’t have to ask, “Which ones?”
September 4th, 2008 at 12:14
it is interesting that one is quick to say Ms. Palin censored books when it appears that she inquired if some books could be banned… and then to draw the analogy to burning babies. She is pro life.. the oppositon pro choice.. and when a baby dies from an abortion you don’t have to ask “which ones”
September 4th, 2008 at 2:46
You people aren’t very bright are you? That list of books is a list of books banned over the last 100 years in the USA, NOT any list of books Palin ever wanted banned. If you check this site out: http://www.lib.fit.edu/pubs/librarydisplays/bannedbooks/website.htm …you’ll notice that the list of books banned “at one time or another in the US” is the same list this liar you had on here came up with. Do some research for a change people!
September 4th, 2008 at 4:21
[...] info By theseditionist Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Veep Sarah Link. Burn this, Madame Vice [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 5:55
[...] med censur af det lokale bibliotek, for eksempel: As mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 6:51
[...] http://www.librarian.net/stax/2366/sarah-palin-vp-nominee/ Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)auto-replyShhhh [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 7:08
Really the only disturbing thing against her and pretty well unsubstantiated, For the poster about her being a “Plant for Bush” I’m looking for someone to keep oil in my house too. You all drive cars and heat your homes Alaska does hold 20% of our resources. Here’s my argument I had used when Hillary was still running. I for 8 years watched my wife direct a library, heard all the trials and tribulations and goings on, negotiations with fuculty and administration etc. Does watching that qualify me to run a Library? No Unequivocably No. As for Obama what experience does he bring? 100 plus votes of “Present” thats decicive leadership? How about the Millions of dollars lost through his indicted business partner Tony Rezcoe Or How much of his “Spiritual Mentors” sermons does he really believe? 20 years where they cheer to “God Damn America?” Or William Ayers a proud unrepentant domestic terrorist?
By now readers may be wondering who I am.
I’m 42 white, married I have Aids for 24 years I recently battled and won a fight against Hodgkins Lymphoma, I’m a highschool dropout (due to medical reasons) I drive a tow truck for a living I make 14 dollars an hour, my wife has no income, (real estate agent) I’m a home owner in NY State, I pay for my health insurance and as a patient I’m an active, if not voracious consumer of the American health care system. (heres some logic I’m writing this therefore it works!) just like for Ted Kennedy, who also didn’t go abroad for treatment. I am an atheist. I’ve become a conservative. My life runs on oil. It heats my home it warms my bathwater, it runs my company truck, The American System works for me only because I get up everyday and make it work. I took my dropout butt up to the point where I qualify for a job with health insurance, ……
I digress this is about Sarah Palin, I do not agree ever with banning books except possibly putting Portnoy’s Complaint in an Elementary school library(thats simply innappropriate) (iread it in the 3rd grade to the horror of my teachers) I treasure my rare copy of The Anarchist’s Cookbook, I’ve read everything Hunter S. Thopson every published. I am appalled at how close to Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, the American Left operates. This attack on Sarah Palin is a play directly from that demonize the enemy might be totally unsubstantiated but once its out there its no longer the truth to the allegation its the seriousness of the charge. I am at least very impressed that on this blog many people at least question the validity of this allegation. Librarians are smart people, I married one.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:17
[...] it seems to getting harder and harder to do so. This time, it’s actually book-related though. Librarian.net points the way to an interesting piece of political reporting: [Former Wasilla mayor] Stein says that as mayor, [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 7:29
OK so she is a woman, big deal! Less not forget her connection to OIL, (which though you wont believe is why we are at WAR! OIL) She is nothing more than a Bush plant, keeping her search for the almighty OIL well but Iraqi OIL not our own. Anyway DRILLING in ANWR will only send our “new” oil to the highest bidder not America. Since most if not all OIL companies are not American companies, BP (British) But just how much MONEY does this middle class family make? Where are the tax statements showing just how much $$$ her family makes from BP?
September 4th, 2008 at 7:56
[...] did an article about when Sarah Palin attempted to BAN BOOKS in the PUBLIC LIBRARY. Thank you library blogger. The head librarian of the library [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 8:09
[...] Palin, VP nominee… and would-be book-banner (H/T Boing [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 8:42
[...] self-appointed ones. So, while she was never in danger of getting my vote, the recent news that Sarah Palin falls into that ignoble category is one more reason to dislike her and, in my book, one more reason she fails in the basic [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 9:10
I think this is what exzactly what this country needs,she is like a breath of fresh air!!!!I think that she proves that women can do both,raise a family and work,not just staying at home watching Jerry Springer and having the goverment take care of you.I think she has a very strong voice and not affraid to speak unlike Obama.Go McCain&Palin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:29
Something tells me a lot of these posters aren’t the usual librarian blog crowd . . . next week, the Dewey Decimal Scandal!!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:46
[...] I found the list of books she wanted to ban- although its not confirmed but it was from this link librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP nominee And the link to the list is here librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 9:56
Too many liars own computers!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:05
Palin’s inquiry of Wasilla’s town librarian regarding how to go about banning books considered “objectionable” gives us a very revealing and disturbing insight into some of her “not so hidden” agenda. From this alone I would say that McCain has found the perfect running mate to take us back in time, at least to 1984.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:28
[...] - your new VP nominee is a book-banning right-wing-Christian-evangelical-bitch! YAY! Hey, at least the pro-lifer’s now have another [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 10:32
[...] librarian.net » Blog Archive » Sarah Palin, VP nominee "[Former Wasilla mayor] 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.” The librarian, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire her for not giving “full support” to the mayor." (tags: america politics sarahpalin libraries liberty) [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 10:47
Too bad she isn’t trying to shut down silly blogs.
The truth is out there, try finding it before you post.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:48
[...] Oh I found the list of books she wanted to ban- although its not confirmed but it was from this link librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP nominee And the link to the list is here librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 11:04
I found this informative site by way of a Google search for - Palin librarian.
I linked to this page on my latest Journal Entry.
http://new-york-loner.livejournal.com/19137.html
Putting aside the Jerry Springer-like Palin Family Saga, I reject the McCain/Palin ticket because it represents a further slide into theocratic governance.
The “Islamic extremists” often accuse the US and Israel of being “Zionist-Crusaders”. They may be right.
Sadly, both major US political parties are pandering to the faith-based voter.
Sarah Palin is an unabashed Judeo-Christian theocrat. Do we dare slip deeper into creeping theocracy?
Will Sarah Palin play a Pentecostal variation on the Joan of Arc role?
Holy Wars Suck.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:10
The Harry Potter books were published in 1998 in the United States, that’s 2 years after Palin became Mayor of Wasilla, so the argument that the list is incorrect because of the HP books is not valid. However, I would like to see some cited sources. I do not believe that spreading lies about either candidate is a way to influence voters.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:13
What’s lousy about the list being inaccurate is that the conversation now becomes about that, instead of the real point that she did ask the library about banning some books. This sort of sloppiness just hands the opposition swords. The Republicans will now moan about the fake list (with some justification) while dodging the real issue.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:15
People should source and check their facts, the list is an obvious one, it’s everywhere and to be honest, I get a little weary of it. It gets trotted out by bookstorees and libraries every year on banned book day. We all now what’s on it now.
Suffice to say, I don’t really care which book she wanted to ban. That she wanted to ban any book is enough for me to know I don’t want her in any public office.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:17
I mean, has she even read One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich? Can she read?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:21
I don’t agree in banning all books that people make objections about, but we should voluntarily keep certain books out of our libraries out of respect for our constituents. They, after all, are the ones who pay our salaries. Keeping them in our collections as a matter of pride in the fact that we CAN keep them is a snobbish attitude. Not all librarians are as liberal as those making comments here. Our country will continue to become better under the McCain / Palin administration.
(Can’t wait to read the replies on this one!)
September 4th, 2008 at 11:25
When’s the last time any of you non-librarians went to the library? In its ideal form, it’s an endangered species! See the (substantiated & yet verging on the bigoted) tangle over Ann Miketa’s Library Diaries. That’s a poorly written but well-intended lambast of airhead library administrators, who inadvertently aid perves, pedophiles & the more dangerous brand of homeless person, to find a haven in your local library. Hey, perhaps libraries themselves should be banned, neatly resolving the brouhaha above.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:36
I think it’s nice to see Palin supporters support rigorous scholarship in blogging. What a pity they don’t hold the same standard to the Federal government or to speakers at political conventions (…do you really need to have the Bush Administration’s anti-science policy reviewed? Huckabee’s outright lie about the number of votes Biden got? McCain’s rather silly claim that Palin had been fully vetter?)
As many have discussed above, no list of banned books should be circulated under Palin’s name (…or anyone’s name…) without solid documentation. It is unlikely that documentation exists so the matter must rest where it lies.
It is a very interesting problem what to do about links to the regrettably misleading posts in this blogs. As discussed above, it’s wrong to delete them, yet there’s a problem retaining them. Ideally, some sort of tagging via the semantic web would enable this blog’s host to identify content the host deems unreliable, but that may have to await Web 3.0
September 4th, 2008 at 11:39
Oh, come on! Sara Palin is the best of the 4 candidates out there! “That she wanted to ban any book is enough for me to know I don’t want her in any public office.” Oh, now that’s real mature.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:40
Dearest Beauceron, I have never felt that Republicans are dumb. I didn’t say it either. There’s no need for me to make up my mind. Maybe you’re talking to someone else who did say that. I’m quite certain that the leaders of the party are in fact quite brilliant manipulators who do and say what ever is necessary to get or keep power.
Todd, did something lead you to believe that liberals are not hard working people? I run my own business. I work hard. I don’t make much money and I’m good with that. Its a valid choice I’ve made to work less and spend time with my family more. I’m not wealthy, I’ll give you that, but I receive no government handouts. No one supports me except myself. I pay my taxes to support my community with pride. Then I go out of my way to donate more to worthy charities. Please don’t confuse compassion for laziness.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:44
The MSM has barely mentioned Todd’s 7-year membership in the AIP, the Alaska Independence Party, or Sarah-Cuda’s speeches before the AIP conventioneers.
The AIP is a fringe group that advocates for a plebiscite on the question of Alaska seceding from the union of American states.
The GOP has played all this down, but it’s been a long time since a secessionist sympathizer ran for such a high office.
Hopefully, Sarah-Cuda will be quizzed on this AIP connection during the debates.
If Senator Obama had addressed a secessionist party’s convention, the GOP would certainly make a big fuss about it.
The US federal government purchased Alaska, on the cheap, from Russia, in 1867. I’m sure that today’s Russia would quickly recognize any American breakaway state, especially one on its eastern border and one with “Russian roots”.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:44
[...] “Mayor Palin: A Rough Record” in Time Magazine, via Librarian.net : [Former Wasilla, Alaska Mayor John] Stein says “[Palin] asked the library how she could go [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 11:59
[...] Sarah Palin, VP nominee: [Former Wasilla mayor] 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.” The librarian, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire her for not giving “full support” to the mayor. [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 11:59
Perhaps Palin, after her “rhetorical” conversations about banning books, found a better way: why bother banning books when you can fire the librarian? And this silence-by-firing seems to be a key tactic in Palin’s career. I wonder if Palin ever checked “The prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli out of the Wasilla Public Library? Because her methods seem quite Machiavellian! (”The Prince” is currently on the shelf at Wasilla PL. The audiobook is checked out currently. Hmmm.)
September 4th, 2008 at 12:00
SJMeyer, My home and car run on oil also. Don’t you ever wish they didn’t? Don’t you ever wonder why the most technologically successful nation still uses 100 year-old technology to get anywhere? Boy, I do.
I come from a town about the size of Wasilla. Elected officials here have enough sophistication to answer questions about library censorship without even taking it as far as the librarian. Public policy here supports the independence of our libraries.
She apparently did not ban books, and without proof I would never claim that she had. But we are not talking anymore about the standards to which we hold small-town mayors. We are talking about a person who could end up being our president. For her to go even as far as to mention book-banning several times, to several people, and at official meetings makes me wonder about her fitness. She is no criminal, no Hitler, or any other of the ridiculous things that people tend to shout at times like these, but does she really understand constitutional freedoms? Does she get it? Good thing to discuss!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:15
[...] energy, climate, environmental, food, and health needs. Palin’s alleged mayoral threat to fire a librarian who would not ban some books also suggests how little she appreciates the need for teaching [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 12:47
Get the full story here: http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515512.html
September 4th, 2008 at 12:57
Todd,
I am a liberal Democrat. I usually do not go around bragging about how I love this country, but your e-mail seemed to imply that liberals do not. I truly believe I am very fortunate to have been born and raised in the USA. In some respects I must be a conservative for what I want is the government to get out of telling doctors what procedures are proper concerning abortion and for the government to get out of the religion business. I fear Gov. Palin does not want the government to get out of religion. (How can people who trust government the least want the government to say “Let us pray.”) I have no problem paying my taxes, and I do pay my share, to help the disadvantaged simply survive. And yes I do not want to spend money on a lazy SOB who will not work. But those truly are very very few.
I too do not like the deficit spending by either party. The worse mistake George Bush made, beside the “war”, was to never ask us to pay for the “war.” Six years of Republican majority in house and senate only increased the deficit. So, Todd, argue the issues with me. Tell me what you would do for the disabled in this country. What would you do about public education? How long should we continue to throw money at Iraq? What role should the government take concerning religion? But do not shout at me because I am a liberal. Try to out think me, not out shout me. And for my fellow liberals who have called you names - shame on them!! They should have more class. This is not about who can make the most outrageous statement, but who can actually propose a solution. We will probably agree on what the issue is, but just disagree on what the solution is. That is where the debate belongs. Unfortunately we all know that is not where the debate will be.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:00
See http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3671/the-reform-candidate scroll down the main article to Anne Kilkenny’s response to the article.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:10
As interesting as a list of the books Palin actually wished censored would undoubtedly be, there’s this somewhat more practical question:
Why did she attempt to dismiss this librarian in the first place? In fact, I should contend the matter perhaps more pertinent to Ms. Palin’s mindset, political tactics, and general governmental policy and cultural views than the list, not to mention whatever reasons the librarian eventually left the job, and the town, for.
Why did Ms. Palin want her out? Perhaps it was justified. Perhaps it wasn’t at all actually justified, and not whatsoever.
Why did she want her out to an extent where a citizen’s group needed to organize, even to a small degree, in order to prevent the dismissal?
Is Palin one to arbitrarily bully “intellectual types” simply as a general loyalty test/ strategy/ what-have-you? Or is this merely another smear job about a simple misunderstanding in a tiny U.S. hamlet by, for instance, Time magazine, as some of her supporters who take exception to the curiosity about her actual political and governing record have been so busily contending? She’s got a clear opportunity to obtain the United States Vice Presidential post, now.
It’s somewhat doubtful, given the town’s open rallying to the librarian’s defense, that Ms. Palin’s reasons for wishing the librarian fired were entirely justified. It is poetic, noble, and psychologically informative to contemplate what Mayor Palin may have wanted banned, of course, but those of us who see Palin’s acceptance speech as a clarion call to seriously resume and escalate the “culture wars” in the national political arena really ought to take some serious note of this matter of why the librarian was (temporarily) handed her hat by Ms. Palin– even if the librarian wishes now to be silent, and even if we’re just discussing, for the present, small-town Alaska.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:12
[...] chief for refusing to treat her campaign contributors as “above the law”, tried to fire the city librarian for refusing to ban library books that conflicted with her personal religiou…, etc., etc…) and questioning the patriotism of her Democrat opponents (when she’s [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 1:39
The new mayor (Palin) asked the librarian if she (the librarian) would object to having questionable books removed from the library. Four days prior to this question, Sarah sent letters to the staff of the previous mayor asking for their resignation which is customary in a new administration. The librarian resigned in 1999. Happens a thousand times a year in towns and cities all over America.
Liberals just won’t quit.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:46
I do not like hearing this; however, info given by another “former mayor”, possibly an opponent. With all I’ve been hearing about candidates’ supposed histories (both Obama & Palin) I’m very concerned about its accuracy. (The web stated Obama was Muslim, I mean please!)
September 4th, 2008 at 2:30
Has it occurred to anyone that the person making most of these specious and spurious claims about the book banning is the man who was defeated by Palin for the post of Mayor of Wasilla? Wake up people and pay attention to the sources and their reasons for making the accusations.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:39
[...] to discuss politics in general and better and worse strategies for promoting libraries in … http://www.librarian.net/stax/2366/sarah-palin-vp-nominee/Read “Re: McCain/Palin??” at The Grill 2007 Forum…twist. "We want to see Ivana," said [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 2:44
Why did Mayor Palin wish to have the librarian dismissed, once Palin had made her “rhetorical” inquiry? This isn’t a “liberal” question, it’s a natural one. Perhaps this is part of the town’s charter, then, hm?
September 4th, 2008 at 2:48
It does not happen thousands of times where all executives in a city are asked to resign when a new person is elected mayor. At least in my area of South Carolina it does not happen. I think she has an ego and simply wants to control things. If I am correct during the debates she will be confrontational with whoever is asking the questions.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:58
Ms. Emmons,
You have a moral obligation to your fellow citizens to comment for the record to at least one reputable National News Source on the veracity of this allegation.
Reputable National News Sources,
Get off your asses. How many Mary Ellen Emmons former librarians can there be in Alaska?
Everyone else,
How many reputable National News Sources do you think there actually are?
September 4th, 2008 at 2:59
Excuse me Kimberly?
The Republican machine has built entire careers and presidencies on questioning (and outright smearing) of “liberal” candidates. How about the shameless swift-boating of John Kerry, and even W’s 2000 primary campaign stating McCain had “illegitimate” children? (But somehow Palin’s pregnant daughter should be off the table?)
And as long as we’re on the subject: McCain left his first wife while she was fighting cancer and our potential next first lady was mistress. If Obama had done that how huge would it be in the news right now?
Don’t complain about sleazy tactics when your party has thrived on them for decades.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:01
I was looking for factual information. Remember, a fact is a statement that can be proven to be true or false with the use of valid evidence. Most of what many of us write is simply opinion. For example, Todd claims Palin is “the greatest female politician.” This is a claim that simply cannot be proven. How do you define “greatest?” The word is an abtraction. How do you know Obama or anyone else is a “liar?” Are you a mind reader? Only God knows the human heart. When seeking for truth, point of view must be considered. Your perception of truth is your truth.
Let’s try to decide this election on the issues and not on name calling. Even the words liberal and conservative must be defined. They are also abstractions. I suggest that we all go to the public library and read American History and American Literature. I think you will find little has changed. Classism and racism are still alive and well. That is my opinion, but I know I could prove my case with facts. May God be merciful to us all.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:31
Listen,
I know we all have strong opinions about the people running for office at the moment. That’s one of the things that makes America beautiful. I would please ask all of the readers, bloggers and voters to think about this; just because something is in print does not make it true. You must have a primary source. I studied History and Political Science — especially the news media’s effect on politics; I am ashamed at the way our major networks and major newspapers are behaving during this election season — what happened to point-counterpoint? Where is the balance? Where is the unbiased fair time on the networks? I suppose the pendulum must swing, are we back to the muckraking days of journalism? And yet, this is still America, a country of free speech, and what an exciting election this has become! Discover the TRUTH before deciding an opinion is fact.
Sincerely,
A Former Librarian
September 4th, 2008 at 3:33
[...] Thursday, September 4th, 2008 | Fun Tech Time Magazine says that when Sarah Palin took office as mayor, she approached the town librarian and asked how to go about banning books from the town library: [Former Wasilla mayor] 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.” The librarian, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire her for not giving “full support” to the mayor. Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 4:02
As expected, the rumor is false: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13084_Page2.html
From Politico:
‘In 1996, according to the Frontiersman, Wasilla’s library director Mary Ellen Emmons said Palin asked her outright if she could live with censorship of library books. Emmons said, “This is different than a normal book-selection procedure or a book-challenge policy. … She was asking me how I would deal with her saying a book can’t be in the library.” Palin said in response, “Many issues were discussed, both rhetorical and realistic in nature.” [Frontiersman, 12/18/96]‘
There was no threat, there were no banned books. Constituents complained, she asked, and she was answered.
There’s a list circulating on the Internet claiming to be the list of books Palin asked to be banned. It’s a fake; some of the books on the list had not even been published in 1996 when this incident occurred. The list is from http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html, and is a list of all books that have ever been banned anywhere in America.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:09
[...] The people at Galleycat are usually a pretty reliable source but I really question whether anyone would actually ban A Wrinkle in Time. It’s one of my favorite books. For more on this matter, check out Galleycat.com or http://www.librarian.net/stax/2366/sarah-palin-vp-nominee/ [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 4:17
Long on accusation, but short on facts. I seem to recall something from the US Supreme Court relying on the application of “contemporary community standards” in determining what might be obscene. Who sets these standards? The members of the community! If an elected official is asked or petitioned by the voters to determine if and how certain objectionable materials be removed from a public facility, should that official research and respond, or ignore the request?
I think we’d all agree that there can be some standards applied when public funding is used in the purchase and distribution of items in a library. For instance, should the public library have an adult-video DVD for loan along-side mainstream Hollywood flicks? Should they offer Hustler and Penthouse? At some point, some members of a community will draw a line and say here, but no further. Different members of the community will draw the line in different places. So, argument will inevitably result when people differ on where this line is drawn.
Note that there is nothing in the Time, NYT, or Frontier piece that indicate that anything WAS banned; that this was anything other than follow up on a voter inquiry; or that this was Sarah Palin attempting to impose her views. But that hasn’t stopped any of the many partisans here from seeing what they want to see.
To the liberals here, now that you’ve established your free-speech bona-fides, tell me now how you feel about your party’s plans with the so-called “Fairness Doctrine”.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:01
[...] librarian.net » "Sarah Palin, aspiring book banner." Time Magazine says that when Sarah Palin took office as mayor, she approached the town librarian and asked how to go about banning books from the town library. (tags: politics censorship) This was written by 5000!. Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2008, at 3:01 pm. Filed under misc. Bookmark the permalink. Follow comments here with the RSS feed. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment. [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 6:44
[...] Emma Speaks? wrote an interesting post today on Comment on Sarah Palin, VP nominee by Emma Speaks?. Here’s a quick excerpt: [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 6:57
MV, I’m afraid you simply don’t know what you’re talking about here. Librarians are educated specifically to make those choices is a way the suits their community. Then the community is always invited to challenge the library’s selections if they should find something to be inappropriate. These challenges are a welcomed part of the process of making a library that works for the whole community. This is the way it’s done all over the country and it works. If anyone has a problem with an item in the library, the correct way to deal with it is to file a challenge. That goes for voters and mayors.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:28
Or to refile it. ;)
September 4th, 2008 at 7:36
Just one more thing to keep in mind when stepping into the booth on Nov. 4…
September 4th, 2008 at 8:05
Jen, from everything I’ve read here and elsewhere regarding this issue, it seems like Palin was making inquiries on behalf of concerned citizens. Maybe she wasn’t following the appropriate process, but then she’s not a librarian so far as I know. How many members of the community actually know the process for filing a challenge to a book? Might they instead, upon hearing about a particular book, call the Mayor’s office, or a state representative? Yes, they might, and that’s probably what happened. Palin looked into it, but she never acted on it.
What bothers me especially is that REPORTERS, time and time again, have demonstrated that they are unwilling to take a little extra time to get their facts straight. Sarah Palin has also been accused of slashing funds for special needs programs; a minute or two of Googling provides the information to show that the whole story is hogwash:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/09/newest_palin_smear_she_cut_spe.asp
ZOMG it’s the Weekly Standard!! But hopefully those interested enough can set aside, for a moment, their disdain for all things conservative, and just read the article.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:10
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Bastard by John Jakes
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Living Bible by William C. Bower
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff
I HATE THIS BITCH! SPREAD THE LIST! EVERYONE COPY, PASTE AND REPOST!!!!!!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 8:28
[...] The woman who could possibly be a heartbeat away from being the leader of the free world once threatened to fire a city librarian for refusing to ban books… [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 9:45
Let’s give it time. I really think we have much bigger issues in this country than a complete blog about book banning, which at this time, there is lots of speculation if and what of it is true. Let’s be mature about all the candidates and the real issues–education, homeland security, health insurance, crime, respect of life,huge financial burdens, from foreclosures, credit card debt to paying for everyday living expenses. You get the idea, don’t you???????
September 4th, 2008 at 9:56
Gov Palin address the Wasilla AG Church in June 2008:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html
This woman is tuly frightening!
Note that there are many, many references to Alaska, the wealth it has and the additional benefits that should come to Alaska, but the only reference to the entire United States is that Alaska will serve as a refuge for hundreds of thousands from the lower 48 “in the last days.”
Unfortunately, the link to Ed Kalnin’s hundreds of recorded sermons (since 1999) no longer works. It worked earlier this week, because I visited the page, but I did not listen to any of them (too many!)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html
September 4th, 2008 at 10:34
Paul? As the young folks say, RTFA. As the young folks also say, EPIC fail.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:39
A couple of years ago in White Salmon Wa., our newly elected Mayor fired a recently hired chief of police, who subsequently sued for wrongful termination, and won a sum in excess of $1,000,000 . We can’t afford to repave our sorry streets, but our Librarian and library remain top frigging drawer, the true, and INCLUSIVE center of what is a very small town. Need to register to vote?
September 5th, 2008 at 12:11
The list posted is garbage, they lifted it from here:
http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html
September 5th, 2008 at 4:10
Actual list has leaked: Sarah Palin Banned Books List
September 5th, 2008 at 5:01
Sloan,
“Jen, from everything I’ve read here and elsewhere regarding this issue, it seems like Palin was making inquiries on behalf of concerned citizens.”
This is just guesswork on your part. If that were true, why did Palin have her fired??
.
“How many members of the community actually know the process for filing a challenge to a book?”
So you actually support the banning of books, if done through the proper channels?
.
Palin is acting like a dictator in Wasilla. She has spread lies, tried to strongarm several people, and yet you defend her. Why is that? Why would you want a proven liar in the Whitehouse??
September 5th, 2008 at 6:13
This is undoubtedly true since someone said so and it needs no further examination.
She also faked her latest birth to protect her daughter.
She was a Nazi sympathizer.
She was on the grassy knoll.
She had a broom in her house which she used to ride on a full moon.
It said that that six million women were burned over the centuries on the basis of similar charges. They know what they were doing in the old days. Otherwise women will get uppity.
As for men? Just because a politician gets a sweetheart discount on his property from a criminal, that’s nothing. Consorting with terrorists, it can happen to anyone. Voting against a bill to outlaw infanticide? That’s the way to control global warming, keep the population down.
Both sides can play this dirty, but only one side does. It won’t help. The people didn’t buy the smears against Reagan, that he molested his son at age 8. And they won’t buy these.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:09
[...] Originally Posted by Steve R Jones Over at Librarian.net, one of the commenters listed the books Palin tried to ban from the library including such literary gems as: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Anything by Stephen King Everything by J.K. Rowling Most of William Shakespeare’s work and my personal favorite Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff Sarah Palin, Book Banner? - mediabistro.com: GalleyCat The list cited by Andrew AuCoin is not from Sarah Palin. It actually comes from Banned Books. Its a compendium of all books banned anywhere in the United States. librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP nominee [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 8:25
The real question to ask is why did Palin fire the librarian who was well liked by the town and had been in her position for seven years? Loyalty test? Is that how she will govern if she is ever president of this country? Palin calls herself a pitbull, and that metaphor is very telling when we look at her history of firing personnel without cause. Pitbulls attack viciously without provocation. Is that the kind of temperment we want in a leader? Also, maybe the press should ask Palin what she thinks about the Harry Potter books and if she allows her kids to read them. If she answers along the lines of her right-wing Christian fundamentalist beliefs, then her answer may scare us all!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:48
If you can find anyone - have them walk into the Frontiersman (the Wasilla newspaper) and ask to see the archives. There are editorials and news coverage of this - including names of the books (some). Ask one of the reporters or staffers from that era.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:13
Response to Lori:
First of all the definition of Depression is as follows: Any time when the GDP decreases by more than 10%. Recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The GDP increased 1.9 % last quarter. You may be in a personal depression, but the country is not!!!! Yeah I spent my time getting an education when I was young not partying. Choices, is what it is all about Choices!!!!
You blame the Republicans; well Democrats have been in control of congress. Nothing gets passed with out congress. While they are on vacation right now the Republicans continue to go to the house chambers and debate economic issues. They demand a vote on economic issues that the DEMS keep blocking votes on. The housing crises is in part to legislation pushing banks to make less favorable loans, so everyone can get a house!!!! If the didn’t they faced heavy penalties. Again DEMS passed this legislation. We no you can’t afford the house because you have made bad decisions in your life but we will force the lender to give you the money. Do your research!!!!
Now let’s see a single mother of four. This may not apply to you if you are a Widow and if you are I am sorry. If not well lets see you made choices not to get along with your husband!!! Or you have multiple babies’ daddies!!! Maybe he was just a jerk and cheated on you or was a bad father. I understand there are dead beat dads. Well again you should have had better judgment in choosing a mate. Again it’s YOUR CHOICES. You are not making enough get a better education!!! Make your self indispensable. A single mother of four will have it all paid for, with child care provide. Fill out the Aid forms. There are professionals on any campus that can assist you. If you have a good education, then changes professions. It was your choice to do what you do. Again it’s all about choices. I have made bad life decisions in my life we all have. I hated my career and did not make enough, so I made a Choice!!! I WANTED A BETTER LIFE. I WORKED FOR IT!!!! I have not made the bad decisions that you have. Why should I have to pay more for people that are not willing to make the same self sacrifice in there life that I have.
I am sick and tired of people making bad choices in there life and expecting us that have made self sacrifice bail them out. By the way Stein was the incumbent she exposed for corruption, and beat. That is the only source of book banning. Of coarse he is bitter. The reference was in Time a CNN (Clinton News Network) Publication. There is NO evidence to support his claims. CNN is famous for this. Make a good decision people Palin is a great American. YOU WANT CHANGE then vote all you DEM congressmen and senators OUT.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:19
I’ve been hearing now that the librarian was “forced” to retire by Palin so that she could be replaced with someone more in line with Palin’s belief system. I’m terrified of Palin. She truly strikes fear in my heart and makes my blood run cold. As both and author and a woman, I feel my entire life is in jeopardy if she is elected. I might as well just start my papers to move to Canada. I’m so depressed….
September 5th, 2008 at 9:20
[...] comes from Banned Books. Its a compendium of all books banned anywhere in the United States. librarian.net Blog Archive Sarah Palin, VP nominee oops! Mayor Palin: A Rough Record - TIME [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 9:22
I am not buying into the list of books in which Mrs. Palin supposedly wanted banned, as many of those books were published before she was born.
Perhaps she wanted those books banned from public schools and or public libraries. Besides, not even a governor can ban books without a majority of public support.
If she wanted even one book on the list banned, if it’s true… that is disturbing.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:27
Response to Todd -
You are under the impression that people are capable of making great choices all the time. You most likely are not capable of making great choices all the time (obviously you chose a bad career initially), but you have the benefit of having the ability/situation to get out of them.
Most people don’t have the same capabilities. If everyone were smart and capable, there would be no one to do the menial jobs you take for granted. People are going to make bad choices - and we need to take care of them. It’s our responsibility. Watching Cindy McCain talk about neighbors coming together and helping out, communities helping from halfway across the country, then wanting to cut social programs - apparently most Republicans would just as soon let people who make poor decisions perish. Look at the way society works from every angle. Most businesses would just as soon screw the customer and make more money. Most businesses are not capable of self regulation. Most people are not intelligent. Most are hardly capable of taking care of themselves, much less others.
Palin is an ultra-conservative-right-wing-religious “person” from a very small state, in charge of a very small government, and a very small budget (the 11Billion number people like to throw around - she doesn’t have ANY control over that). She would do away with abortions, even for rape victims. She would attempt to impress her views - even on reading material - on everyone in the US. Republicans decry the Middle East’s treatment of people but attempt to impose the same treatment on it’s own citizens? Who is at fault here Todd?
Before you go on the regular EMOTIONAL Republican rants - take some time to step back, look at the logic, theory, inner societal workings, and then decide which party you want to vote for.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:55
“MV, I’m afraid you simply don’t know what you’re talking about here. Librarians are educated specifically to make those choices is a way the suits their community. Then the community is always invited to challenge the library’s selections if they should find something to be inappropriate. These challenges are a welcomed part of the process of making a library that works for the whole community. This is the way it’s done all over the country and it works. If anyone has a problem with an item in the library, the correct way to deal with it is to file a challenge. That goes for voters and mayors.”
Jen -
Please re-read my post. I didn’t attempt to describe the process, or imply anything other than what you state as standard library policy. However, other than librarians and a few that might have gone through the exercise, I doubt many people know what you point out.
What I did state is that the community-standards test has been upheld in other cases when it comes to what is and isn’t deemed obscene. As you point out, members of the community can challenge the selections made by the li