Yawn: The AP smears Palin over prayer for troops in Iraq
posted at 10:11 pm on September 4, 2008 by Allahpundit
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I mentioned this in Tuesday’s convention thread but now that the smear’s broken big it deserves fuller attention. It’s come to this, kids: The Huffington Post, Arianna’s playpen, is actually fairer to Palin than the Associated Press. Watch the clip at the link; the money part runs from about 5:30 to 6:15. HuffPo quotes her, accurately:
“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”
Here’s what the AP turns it into:
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a “task that is from God.”…
“Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God,” she said. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God’s plan.”
What’s missing from the AP’s version? Right — the beginning of what she said, the part that makes clear she’s not asserting that we’re doing God’s will but simply praying that we are. It’s the difference between me saying “McCain will win” and “I pray McCain will win.” The first is an assertion of fact/secret knowledge, the second is an expression of desire/hope. The AP actually stoops to picking up the quote mid-sentence to make it better fit the stereotype of the holy-roller yokel claiming divine inspiration for Bush’s Crusade. And the punchline? Just two days before HuffPo’s post, the meme du jour circulating among the nutroots was that Palin is some sort of Iraq war skeptic who thinks we’re fighting to some extent over oil we don’t need given that we’re stocked to the gills with domestic energy in Alaska. “Nonsensical” she called it — and then 48 hours we’re to believe she thinks it’s providentially ordained. Square that circle if you can.
Update: Would you believe the YouTube version of the clip is bowdlerized in precisely the same place? It’s so unlike the left to resort to those tactics.
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redrock on September 4, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Did she or her paster say “God Dmmm America?”
Otherwise – go away.
stenwin77 on September 4, 2008 at 10:16 PM
This stuff is red meat for liberals though, it works so well on them it’s almost hard to blame them for the tactics they employ. Mention God, you better be an effing Democrat who doesnt mean it… or else.
Dash on September 4, 2008 at 10:18 PM
ha. true.
Spirit of 1776 on September 4, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Oh MY GOD – Watch out!
She’s gonna PRAY!
Mo2Do on September 4, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Geez, if our Founding Fathers found out that our modern-day elected leaders actually pray they’d
roll over in their gravesdo backflips of joy.innominatus on September 4, 2008 at 10:19 PM
AP = A-hole Pinkos
NoDonkey on September 4, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Typical communist/totalitarian tactics.
jukin on September 4, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Did Associalist Press run out of melting iceberg stories?
whitetop on September 4, 2008 at 10:25 PM
There actually are a couple of conservative-leaning posters over there. They don’t get many chances.
MadisonConservative on September 4, 2008 at 10:27 PM
She prays? Oh… that tears it.
OBAMBI OBAMBI OBAMBI
Republican Vice Prez candidates should know that one only pray’s at the alter of Duh 1…..
Hog Wild on September 4, 2008 at 10:27 PM
The AP is a propaganda machine.
Jaibones on September 4, 2008 at 10:30 PM
The AP has been generating smears on Palin at an incredible rate in the last 24 hours. Why gosh, it’s almost as if they want Obama to win.
Django on September 4, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Californians for Population Stabilization
Stop even more illegal alien freebies in California!
While California’s middle class families struggle during these tough economic times, the state legislature has voted to give financial aid to foreign students who are in the country illegally. The Assembly passed SB 1301…
DfDeportation on September 4, 2008 at 10:33 PM
You meant talking about God like Obama does ?
William Amos on September 4, 2008 at 10:34 PM
This persecution complex has gotten waaay out of hand. This is a smear? So she just hopes they’re doing the right thing but doesn’t know?
Typhonsentra on September 4, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Worshipping Obama is perfectly acceptable though, to the diligent DNC lickspittles at the AP.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Liberal men hate Sarah Palin because she’s more of a man then they are.
Liberal women hate Sarah Palin because she’s more feminine than they are.
theguardianii on September 4, 2008 at 10:39 PM
lmao, nuff said…
Ozprey on September 4, 2008 at 10:41 PM
How to make the MSM happy with prayer:
add sexual gestures ala TUCC
Add the F bomb-God loves that
bang whitey
mock Clinton
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I predict she will keep her cool and the “gaffe machine” will gaffe at least a few times during the first vp debate. Thereafter, every time she clears a hurdle the left and msm while erect another to say she can’t. And every time she does, they will stare with hysterical awe.
Ozprey on September 4, 2008 at 10:48 PM
If George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life) were running for president, they’d dig up the clip of George on the bridge praying to God to help him find his way, and they’d call him a loony evangelical. Lord knows what they’d do to disparage Clarence Odbody.
BuckeyeSam on September 4, 2008 at 10:50 PM
You know, I finally hit saturation point. The lamestream media is irrelevant. I just can’t be arsed to pay any attention any more. They’ve dropped all pretense of objectivity and don’t care who knows it.
The ’60’s generation has got a lot to answer for. The destruction of the press, the destruction of the universities, race war, class war, a corrupt, venal political system … It’s almost like it was planned by Moscow in the 1960’s. Wait a minute, actually it was.
mr.blacksheep on September 4, 2008 at 10:54 PM
So you’ve started praying now? That’s wonderful news! ;)
Benaiah on September 4, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Under new leadership with the intention of “explaining” what the people in their pieces are “actually saying” and not what they actually said, the AP is dead to me. And that’s all I gotta say about that…..
Ozprey on September 4, 2008 at 10:57 PM
thanks Venona
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 10:58 PM
AP has been a tool of the Democrats and Commies for years now. I have to listen to them every morning during my air shift at the radio station and I end up screaming at the monitor more days than not. They succeeded in running UPI out of business and now they spend the 3 minutes of news that they provide now, acting as shills for the Dems. They make me sick!
flytier on September 4, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Sexism of the most vile kind? Check.
Religious bigotry toward Christians while backing a new age political cult? Check.
Playing the race card to shield their new messiah? Check.
What else?
econavenger on September 4, 2008 at 11:05 PM
What the media wants is for the “Will of Obama to be done” in Iraq, America and throughout the planet.
econavenger on September 4, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Funny how these same people didn’t raise such incredibly “important questions” when they heard that Barack Obama has spent the last 20 years listening to a preacher who’s affilitated with the Nation of Islam.
But those Pentecostals. Yeah, that’s a freaky little cult, there. We better keep an eye on them!
logis on September 4, 2008 at 11:10 PM
What else?
econavenger on September 4, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Bill Ayers???
DfDeportation on September 4, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Where was Michelle Obama today? She was out here in California meeting with the LGBT homos trying to raise money? Is she a closet homo?
DfDeportation on September 4, 2008 at 11:16 PM
well they won’t let us in on the secret….
see I saw it on Oprah….don’t be nervous about Barry’s religion because well girls Barry IS THE RELIGION….
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Speaking of smear jobs. In the headlines there is a Politico post about a woman named Anne Kilkenny. She purports herself to be objective and asks everyone reading her e-mail (subject of the post) to google her name. Did it, she’s a liberal activist in Alaska.
Try harder next time, guys.
srhoades on September 4, 2008 at 11:18 PM
I mean, just because they take out the part that changes the entire meaning of the quote.
Joe Comment on September 4, 2008 at 11:18 PM
I’m SHOCKED!
A republican woman… talks about GOD! In her CHURCH!
CALL THE MEDIA! WTF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE SAYING PRAYERS AND BEING RELIGIOUS! Escandalo!
I swear. The Democrats act like women do not exist in the Republican party. And this is why Palin throws them for a loop.
lansing quaker on September 4, 2008 at 11:23 PM
The press is completely out of touch.
This will HELP Sarah Palin and John McCain.
Thanks for the Gumball, MSM.
Elizabetty on September 4, 2008 at 11:27 PM
One of the many reasons to oppose Obama for President… it would be a violation of the separation of church and state.
Doctor Zero on September 4, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Who give a shit, we’ve won the war in Iraq. Way to go, God!
rockmom on September 4, 2008 at 11:32 PM
She’s not participating in a church service. She’s just talking to a group of young people, in the course of her private life.
RBMN on September 4, 2008 at 11:32 PM
It’s almost as if some organization like the Democratic Underground is work hand in glove with the Associated Press to knowingly report false information on a US Vice Presidential candidate.
Except, of course, that false report can easily be proven to be false. Except that the YouTube video and the AP report may go viral before the proof of falsification gets reported somewhere in the back pages of someplace, for a few seconds.
Or, am I over-reacting?
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:33 PM
eh, IMO the bridge to nowhere is getting the most people riled up. SHE LIED! is the response I’ve seen.
aikidoka on September 4, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Seems to me like her prayers were answered.
Tony737 on September 4, 2008 at 11:35 PM
The one I saw was about 10 or 15 minutes long. That one put her religious comments in context.
RBMN on September 4, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Mentoring young kids is only allowed if they are being recruited to do the Will of Obama.
econavenger on September 4, 2008 at 11:36 PM
The WAPO reported it yesterday, linked to a Puffington Host video: Palin Asks for Prayers That War Be “Task That Is From God”
The PuffHo link (I don’t go there): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:38 PM
You know, I watched that clip a couple days ago, and noticed that a few seconds clipped out of the video.
F’ing amazing. Anything to ruin a good person’s reputation.
Deplorable.
Vincenzo on September 4, 2008 at 11:39 PM
That is such F’ing BS. Even me….a Jew, gets what she was saying. She is asking them to pray that whatever they are doing is right as in God’s will, God’s plan. Asshats!
ihasurnominashun on September 4, 2008 at 11:40 PM
I’m sorry, but this makes me angry.
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:40 PM
This has been on the net for like a week and a 1/2.
The pastor’s introduction actually bothered me alot more than that quote…although Palin also makes a remark about how no policy will fix our problems until we’re “right with jesus”.
Im sorry, but being “right with jesus” is NOT a prerequisite to solving our country’s issues. This is that far right wing religious BS that keeps me from supporting the national party.
Sure George Pataki republicans in NY aren’t that bad, but this national, KISS DR. DOBSON’S RING religious stuff isn’t necessary.
ernesto on September 4, 2008 at 11:41 PM
So what god does she pray to? Mars?
KentAllard on September 4, 2008 at 11:44 PM
She’s not talking to YOU!!!! She’s talking to passionate Christians, trying to give them a boost of inspiration.
RBMN on September 4, 2008 at 11:44 PM
When the biased,in the tank,MSM do a real piece
on Rev.Wright,and Father(i got suspended)Pfleger,
then,and only then,will I give a rats #ss!!!
Oh,and Newt said earlier on Hannity’s radio
program,that the DNC is going to declare all
out war on Sarah Palin!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on September 4, 2008 at 11:46 PM
I have heard prayers seeking such guidance in many churches. Are Catholics and Episcopals also part of the Religious Right? I really don’t think you can include the Episcopals.
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Important point:
The people spinning this deception are not after Sarah directly. They know it’s a lie and it will be exposed as such domestically. I’m very confident that they’re trying to get the altered quote in the global press to reignite the war in Iraq or otherwise provoke a statement from their terrorist allies against Sarah Palin. Then they will use that to attack her more directly.
Mark my words. That’s the level of evil we’re dealing with and the GOP needs to be ready to rain political hellfire on the media if it works as planned.
econavenger on September 4, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Sorry!
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:49 PM
What’s the problem, AP? When Muslim terrorists invoke Allah you make them out to be heroes.
BacaDog on September 4, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Only because she’s not Catholic, democrat operatives couldn’t SOMEHOW get into a position to capture the audio of her last ten confessions. Otherwise we’d be able to listen to that too.
RBMN on September 4, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Glad to see it. Let it come. Show the American public that our VP prays for our troops while Bambi condemns them.
Plus, now we can go back after Rev. Wright and start showing how all of Bambi speeches are identical to Wright’ sermons (minus the cursing) that he supposedly did not attend.
Bring it on…
Damiano on September 4, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Roger Mahoney = Community Organizer.
DfDeportation on September 4, 2008 at 11:54 PM
It doesn’t matter…its how she feels…
throw that in with the starting fights over banning books…
the saying that she would have her daughter bear the child of a rape but killing the rapist (controversial fetus=sacred life…convicted life=worthless life?)…
and you have a far right wing religious ideologue. one that thinks god blesses wars (he doesn’t) and that reproductive matters are of the utmost importance (they’re not).
ernesto on September 4, 2008 at 11:54 PM
No, but she threatened to join in if they didn’t cough up some serious coin.
Patrick S on September 4, 2008 at 11:55 PM
As a worrier, I worry that every attack, if not swatted aside quickly and effectively, could lose a vote. And I don’t want to lose any votes, especially not due to a lie.
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Wo hooo!
I might start an “Atheist’s for Palin” club.
I’m the first member.
Our club goal is not to hate believers but to love them.
Obamamanians excepted.
TheSitRep on September 4, 2008 at 11:56 PM
And the difference between that and Ronald Reagan is . . .?
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Thanks. I like atheists, too.
And I know God loves you. (tee hee)
Loxodonta on September 4, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Nothing, they’re both right wing religious ideologues.
Opposing abortion but not capital punishment is hypocritical…and saying that we need to “get right with jesus” for policies to work / banning books is wacko religious extremism.
ernesto on September 5, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Oh, grow up. She was speaking in a church, was she not? It’s not like she gave this speech to the Council on Foreign relations. How terrible, talking about Jesus in a church. Hint: that’s what Christians do. A lot. That is, if they are sincere.
rockmom on September 5, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Not talking about jesus…asserting that all government work (including hers) is useless unless people get right with her savior.
ernesto on September 5, 2008 at 12:13 AM
I don’t think this about people kissing Dr. Dobson’s ring.
I think the expression about getting right with Jesus is a common Pentecostal/conservative Evangelical way of saying that people need government because they are sinful/not inherently good by nature. This is in line with the beliefs of our country’s founders. It’s not a fringe belief. If we have a more moral people we would need less government – a conservative belief I think most conservatives share.
For Pentecostals, getting “right with Jesus” means following him, which means living morally. I don’t think this is scary…
bcm4134 on September 5, 2008 at 12:13 AM
No! There are 4 permutations of that arguement only one is illogical and hypocritical
1. Pro-death penalty & Anti-abortion
This is logical because the baby is innocent and the criminal is guilty
2. Pro-Death penalty and pro-abortion
This is logical because you just like killing everybody.
3, Anti-Death penalty and anti-abortion
This is logical because you are consist in that you don’t like killing.
4. Anti-death penalty and pro-abortion
This is the one that is hypocritical and illogical
because you will save a guy that raped and dismembered a child but you have no problem murdering an infant in the womb. This is this stuff liberal democrat pukes support.
To think this way you have to be f-king deranged
I am certainly pro-death penalty but against abortion except in the case of rape, incest and for liberals.
I don’t want people that would murder their own child to have offspring. I say just make it a law that if you want an abortion then they go ahead and tie your tubes while they’re down there.
TheSitRep on September 5, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Where do I sign up?
Damiano on September 5, 2008 at 12:42 AM
What about a theist? Can a theist join?
Loxodonta on September 5, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Even Obama’s not stupid enough to try to push this. You want to compare churches? Really?
someone on September 5, 2008 at 12:53 AM
My take-away – she’s a great off-the-cuff speaker. I can almost smell Biden’s fear from here.
krispy on September 5, 2008 at 1:05 AM
The Left’s Two Month Hate begins…
Halley on September 5, 2008 at 1:15 AM
ernesto: the other guy was right. She wasn’t talking to you.
Christians clearly understand what she’s saying. You don’t. So take it from people who know.. it doesn’t mean what you think it does. So you can drop it now.. otherwise you’re believe the worst view of it because you choose to.
VinceP1974 on September 5, 2008 at 1:20 AM
We got him conver†ed, folks!!! [raising hand] Wooooo-hooo!
apacalyps on September 5, 2008 at 1:20 AM
There was another leader praying for “Providence” to guide and bless military endeavors in the mid-to-late 1770s. The name was Washington. Ring any bells?
Oh, you may want to google “just war theory.” Not saying Iraq met the conditions, as there’s some argument there. Just noting that better minds than mine and (probably) yours have acknowledged the Sovereign of the universe can direct and/or bless military action at times.
cs89 on September 5, 2008 at 2:14 AM
Associate Press, you motherf**kers!
RightWinged on September 5, 2008 at 2:21 AM
You have 3 members now.
I don’t see what the problem is with someone praying/wishing to an abstract idea/being that what they are doing is RIGHT. If she wants to pray to “God” that what she and the US are doing is the right thing; good for her. More people should have such thought processes.
I don’t care if someone prays to a tree that what they do is right. I take it as a good thing that someone is actually considering their own morality and hoping that they are doing right.
Back more OT, this misquote is simply disgusting for the biggest media wholesaler on earth. I just am getting fed up with this crap. I sent an e-mail chiding them about this at info@ap.org
Not that it will do any good but I hope everyone here copies and pastes her REAL quote and the link to the story with the misquote to them to call them out on their non-sense. If hell freezes over and I get a response I’ll be sure to pass that along.
MannyT-vA on September 5, 2008 at 3:17 AM
Smells like desperation to me.
It’s either that or scotch. The MSMs being what they are, you’ve gotta figure at least some of them have been hitting the bottle pretty hard over the last few days, what with the
explosive emergence of Palin on to the national scene and the utter evaporation of “The (Media) Chosen One’s” 8 point lead in the polls…meer days after his big Triumph of The Wills coronation in Denver.
Check that reeking of desperation.
SuperCool on September 5, 2008 at 3:28 AM
It’s a God thing! (Pastor’s words). Praying for God to guide the hand of our leaders in Iraq and for help in developing Alaska’s natural resources to benefit America — attack of the Xtians!
She’s kind of like a cross held up to their Dracula — they recoil in horror, and plot to deliver the fatal bite. This video, and I guess the others, should send them into paroxysms of spittle-flecked rage.
Stay strong, Sarah!
Nichevo on September 5, 2008 at 4:57 AM
the saying that she would have her daughter bear the child of a rape but killing the rapist (controversial fetus=sacred life…convicted life=worthless life?)…
ernesto on September 4, 2008
Controversial fetus??? What is that? A fetus with a radical agenda? Clearly, ernesto, you can’t wrap your mind around the concept of “life” as sacred since, to you, there is no God, so there can’t be any gifts from God. I understand you. We all understand you. What, are you still here? Don’t you have an Obama rally to attend?
SKYFOX on September 5, 2008 at 6:54 AM
After all the bias and abuse over the last week or so vis a vis Palin,
isn’t it about time to re-name the MSM
The FLM … Flat Lined Media … ?
Lockstein13 on September 5, 2008 at 6:59 AM
Bowdlerized? Fancy college boy.
Coronagold on September 5, 2008 at 7:29 AM
So what you guys speak in code or something??? That only you understand??? I did 12 years of jesuit school I know what she SAID…and its an assertion that many christians wouldnt necessarily make.
Either way the fact that you think that when someones adressing the faithful what they say need not be scrutinized by anyone else is why I hate the influence of right wing religious ideologues…
ernesto on September 5, 2008 at 8:07 AM
Not the first time an atheist on this blog has used the words “I hate” when referring to Christians. I sense a pattern.
fossten on September 5, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Screw the AP and all the rest of the atheist slugs in this world.
rplat on September 5, 2008 at 8:47 AM
She should have stuffed her remarks into the Wailing Wall. That woulda been okee dokee.
Akzed on September 5, 2008 at 8:51 AM
But collectivists who use religion to mask their intentions are fine. Don’t bother denying it.
Akzed on September 5, 2008 at 8:53 AM
If you oppose abortion because all life is sacred…why kill the convict??
ernesto on September 5, 2008 at 9:26 AM
No they aren’t…and since when was it ok to justify your view with that of “the enemy”?
At the end of the day, religion has, in my view, too large a presence in the decision making process of Sarah Palin (see: banning books)
John McCain is not a die hard culture warrior, and had he picked a lieberman or ridge we could’ve had 4 years of real issues at the forefront…instead we get book banning, jesus is the key to all our problems, save the fetus but kill the convict Sarah Palin
ernesto on September 5, 2008 at 9:32 AM
It’s amazing and shocking how angry the Left becomes over any mention of prayer for guidance from a God-believing politician. They can never figure out that believers consider themselves to be fallible sinners in need of guidance, and are ASKING God for greater wisdom than their own, NOT assuming that their own ideas are somehow God’s will.
My own father has drifted from moderate to far-left over the years, mostly from an addiction to the New York Times. He is fond of trotting out a “quote” attributed to President Bush, who (according to the Times, of course!) when asked if he takes advice from his father, former President George H.W. Bush, supposedly replied “I also seek advice from a higher power”. This gets my atheist father into paryoxysms of rage about President Bush thinking himself to be God.
I haven’t been able to find that quote anywhere, but even if it’s true, so what? Christians believe that Jesus asked them to pray to God as “our Father in Heaven”, so what’s wrong with President Bush or Sarah Palin or anyone else seeking advice from God in addition to that of his/her human father?
In the case of my own father, it may be his arrogant attempt to bully me into thinking that since I disagree with him, I must necessarily be wrong, and that President Bush is “stupid” to think he knows better than his father. Father Knows Best, from the 1950’s, when he got married.
But that’s not the point of this post. The point is that non-believers on the Left believe their own opinions to be ultimate wisdom and are convinced of their own infallibility, and become filled with rage when anyone publicly prays for guidance from God, that the existence of God is a fairy-tale for weak-willed people or “the opiate of the people” (Karl Marx), or that politicians who pray are somehow trying to prove that God is on the side of their opinions and force it down the throats of those who disagree. They also try to paint belief in God as obscurantism or lack of intelligence, and say that believers will bring back the Middle Ages and wars of religion.
Any traditional believer in God will see the full Palin quote as the honest prayer of a Christian woman who recognizes her own human limitations and seeks greater wisdom than her own from God. But the truncated quote from AP has been purposely spun to paint Palin as a fanatic who arrogates divine wisdom to herself, designed to raise the atheist Left into furious rage. Believers will “yawn”, but we do need to debunk this, because we don’t know how many votes this might cost McCain/Palin among non-believing fence-sitters if this misinformation is allowed to persist.
Steve Z on September 5, 2008 at 9:41 AM
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