Video: Palin on the Wasilla church-burning
posted at 3:15 pm on December 16, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Another hard-hitting interview with Greta. I’m mildly surprised the church hasn’t posted a request for donations yet; I bet they could recoup the million in damages inside of a week.
Note what she says about gays being welcome at services. That’s in keeping with what she said on the trail about not judging them, but although good luck getting the media to revise the Narrative. Exit question one: The pastor says there were cars in the parking lot at the time the fire was set and people clearly inside. Is this not just arson but attempted murder? Exit question two: Which atheist group will be the first to file suit against the public school where they’re currently holding services?
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More yummy troll food!
Come git it boys!
pseudonominus on December 16, 2008 at 3:16 PM
My church used to hold services in a public school. We did a big building drive for precisely that reason. The church knew that they were just one lawsuit away from not having a place to meet.
Kafir on December 16, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Well at least this thread will really be about Gov. Palin.
Cindy Munford on December 16, 2008 at 3:19 PM
AP, there is a Supreme Court case that says if a public school allows community groups to meet on its premises after hours, it can’t pick and choose who can meet. That would be an infringement of their First Amendment rights.
The only way the school could keep a religious group out would be to prohibit all groups from using the premises after school hours.
Wethal on December 16, 2008 at 3:19 PM
I’ve attended a couple of churches that met for a time in public schools. One school even had two churches there in different areas.
INC on December 16, 2008 at 3:23 PM
FYI the arson(s) new. KTUU has the link and says there was accelerant at the entrance as well and the emergency exit.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=9521504
Attempted murder for sure! With 2 little kids in the building as well.
upinak on December 16, 2008 at 3:25 PM
It was attempted murder.
That’s why I’m saying that whoever did this hates that church, Sarah Palin, or both.
newton on December 16, 2008 at 3:26 PM
This church burning is a crime against ANY church goer of any denomination.
Gov Sarah Palin speaks intelligently and with the heart & prudence of a good public servant.
How big a difference from what we’ve been hearing all week with Gov. Blago.
Sarah Palin “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.”
Rod Blago “Fu*k ‘em.”
portlandon on December 16, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Actually, churches can meet in public buildings. Bible study groups meet in public schools after hours all the time.
It’s the line where the Bible is taught as a compulsory text in public schools that’s a no-no to cross.
starfleet_dude on December 16, 2008 at 3:27 PM
GOD I HATE SARAH PALIN GRAAAAAAHHHHH
Tabris on December 16, 2008 at 3:27 PM
The church probably doesn’t need to ask for donations, several conservative internet sites are doing it for them. I already sent a donation.
Done That on December 16, 2008 at 3:27 PM
After confirming arson, the trolls will probably say that the church “was asking for it”. “Look what YOU made me do!” Jerks!
newton on December 16, 2008 at 3:28 PM
In Alaska, buildings to build are hard to get the funding to get them built to code. Especially Churches.
Many different small congregations have their services in Schools gyms and even Movie Theaters. If they are in a very small community, the State or the Municipality will let them use the building that are not being used on Sunday to Worship. It isn’t unheard of.
upinak on December 16, 2008 at 3:30 PM
I am waiting to hear the Messiah comment on this outrage.
faraway on December 16, 2008 at 3:31 PM
My church was burned a few years ago. It sucks, but also really brings you together. I’m glad no one was hurt.
tikvah on December 16, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Swoon. Sarah Palin is such a genuinely nice person.
chunderroad on December 16, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Possibly. There is an element of intent involved for attempted murder. If anyone had been killed, it would have been felony murder, i.e. causing the death of another during the commission of another felony. It’s more along the lines of a strict liability crime. Otherwise every arson would be attempted murder as one expects firefighters to show up.
On the other hand, setting fire to a building where one sees people inside could be considered attempted murder just as is shooting a gun into a crowd.
Find the perps, charge them nine ways to Sunday and lock them up for a long time. They are dangerous.
rbj on December 16, 2008 at 3:34 PM
There are multiple SC rulings that religious groups have just as much right to use public buildings as any other group.
It’s freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
MarkTheGreat on December 16, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Apparently fires were set outside of all of the exits. This was definitely attempted murder.
MarkTheGreat on December 16, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Absolutely sickening, especially this close to Christmas.
chunderroad on December 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM
If this had been Pastor Wright’s church, it would have been national headlines for a month.
MarkTheGreat on December 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM
My God!! They were trying to murder them! This is the worst hate crime I have heard of in a long time.
During the election, here in Oregon, some George Fox College students put a cardboard cut out of Obama in a tree. The Feds came, you would have thought somebody crown the crown jewels.
Palin’s church is firebombed from entrance & exit, attempting to kill worshipers & it gets a mention on the nightly news between a charity drive & a story about a dog dressed up like Santa that barks silent night.
portlandon on December 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM
With the intention to trap those inside, had the flames dispersed throughout the building.
Definitely attempted murder. The criminal(s) should be caught.
newton on December 16, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Uggghhh… That meat lover’s pizza isn’t loving me back…
Skywise on December 16, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Palin Rocks!
Firebird on December 16, 2008 at 3:37 PM
The lawsuits will come anyway.
Even if they rebuild, the church will be targeted and destroyed. Again.
Now, heaven forbid, if this happened to a urban church in Chicago with a flamboyant, controversial preacher, the SH*T would hit the fan. Cries of bigotry would cascade down from the masses.
But like a lot of us, Palin happens to live on the wrong side of the political railroad tracks. There will never be love from Man; only from God.
pt on December 16, 2008 at 3:38 PM
It is great to listen to Sarah Palin, with her relentlessly positive outlook, as she talks about this attack on her church. Where others might have taken the opportunity to play the victim or demonize their opponents, Palin reflected her Pastor’s statement that we should look at this as an opportunity for good, and actively reached out to those who have opposed her. Truly she is heaping coals upon their heads, as they say.
It just makes me sad to think of what might have been and regret all the more the losses in November. Oh, well! 2012 is just around the corner!
gridlock2 on December 16, 2008 at 3:40 PM
People need to understand that burning a church is the ultimate form of Mormon bashing, Catholic bashing, Jew bashing, etceteras. It doesn’t matter that, in this particular case, it was a non-denominational Evangelical church. All faiths/all of our freedoms are threatened by this kind of crime. If we don’t stand together against the people that do these things, we will ALL loose our freedom of worship.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on December 16, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Welcome to how the rest of us feel about Hussein, Democrats, or liberals….but not hate, ..just dis-like.
I LOVE Gov Sarah Palin.
Voting for her in 2012..: o )
christene on December 16, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Notice how she mentioned that the church services were being held at the local middle school and then she immediately went on to say that no one there would think anything was wrong about a public school loaning out space temporarily to the church. It was as if she was afraid the ACLU or some atheist group would start screaming about this and so she wanted to nip the controversy in the bud.
I can’t imagine anyone would be so heartless as to complain about this church borrowing space from the middle school. But then I couldn’t imagine someone being so heartless as to set fire to a church in the first place.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 3:41 PM
^ this
pseudonominus on December 16, 2008 at 3:45 PM
From my childhood I can recall church burnings. Then came the freedom riders, the FBI, demonstrations with Democrat sheriffs loosing dogs on their enemies, anti-discrimination laws and affirmative action. Yes, I’ll be looking to Obama for leadership and moral guidance here.
snaggletoothie on December 16, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Where were you last Friday night?
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 3:48 PM
I’m beginning to wonder if this was the work of an estranged husband…
…you know, the whole “If I can’t have you and the kids then no one can”?
Stuff like this has, sadly, happened before.
Religious_Zealot on December 16, 2008 at 3:48 PM
I don’t have a problem with their using the school but I do think they should have to pay any utilities beyond what the school typically burns up during the time of their meetings. I don’t think it would be fair to assume that all taxpayers in the district want to pay for their use of the building.
grdred944 on December 16, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Our churches paid rent to the school. They may be doing the same.
INC on December 16, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Not sure what the big deal is about using the Middle School as a temporary worship place. Stuff like this happens all the time in small towns. On the flip side, growing up in rural South Dakota, I often saw churches used as polling places for elections, or as a place for the township local government to meet.
By the way, what is it with the Anchorage Daily News? Not only is every story there relentlessly anti-Palin, but the comments are infested with pages upon pages of the worst Sarah-hating trollery imaginable. Was it always like that, or is that a recent phenomenon?
Jim62sch on December 16, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Mass Murder Attempt
faraway on December 16, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Alaska doesn’t seem like the place where you want to start a blood feud. Whomever is responsible for this had better never be caught…’Alaska-style’ justice would probably result in them simply disappearing into the wilderness.
LimeyGeek on December 16, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Anchorage Daily News on Arson.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/623876.html
And ATF report.
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/135622
upinak on December 16, 2008 at 4:03 PM
gosh whenever you hear her you just want to smile. She always has a bright outlook. Gosh I hope she is a future leader in our party and nationally.
ousoonerfan15 on December 16, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Agreed, it will probably be more about the actual folks inside then politics. Awful regardless.
Cindy Munford on December 16, 2008 at 4:07 PM
I just love Sarah Palin! She talks in real terms and has the right ideas about service. Best of all she isn’t ashamed of her faith and I was very glad that she, unlike the president and family, wasn’t ashamed to say Merry Christmas! I will continue to pray for her and her family. If anyone starts a fund for the rebuilding of the church I will happily contribute!
CCRWM on December 16, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Where is the howling about this being a hate crime? Doesn’t that tack on additional mandatory prison time?
Conspiracy to commit murder.
Arson.
Destruction of private property.
Hate crime.
Sounds like a few PDS sufferers will be getting gang raped someday.
Geministorm on December 16, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Yep, she’s a fine lady alright….but I’ll bet my bottom dollar that she’s also a napalm-guzzling, ball-busting, ass-stomping tornado when she wants to be.
I dig her. Mightily.
LimeyGeek on December 16, 2008 at 4:12 PM
When was the last time you ever heard a politician say,”We’re not in this business get to rich…” Perhaps, never!
technopeasant on December 16, 2008 at 4:13 PM
See Huff Post comments here
Typical one:
faraway on December 16, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Our new president-elect said something like that when denounced politicians who are not complete crooks themselves who behave “within the lines of legality, but still don’t fulfill the spirit of service” because they seek “narrow political calculations” instead.
But I didn’t place much stock in what he said because he benefited from such “narrow political calculations” his entire career.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 4:21 PM
the Founding Fathers had church service in the Supreme Court building, any atheist group that files suit are idiots.
probably a group of Satanist that did it, thats on the rise again.
jp on December 16, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Gee, I wonder if the arson was politically motivated…
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Good tunes though…
LimeyGeek on December 16, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Those Huff Post comments are outrageous! Seriously, if it turns out that the arsonist is some deranged nutcase, these Huff Post comments are just the sort to lead a loon into believing that he’s doing something good by destroying this church.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 4:27 PM
If you go to http://wasillabible.org, you can give to the church and rebuilding efforts.
hockey2k5 on December 16, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Here’s another HuffPoster
faraway on December 16, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I remember back when Carl “Wonder Woman Costume” Cameron was pushing his anonymous gossip about Sarah, one of the things he said was that Palin sometimes made the McCain campaign staffers cry. Given the veracity of stuff that he has “reported”, I doubt it’s true, but I want that part to be true.
If there’s anything that makes me smile, it’s the thought of sobbing, snot-dripping McCain campaign staffers.
Jim62sch on December 16, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Huffington Post may be the most vile site I have ever seen. It may worse than any KKK site. These people are dangerous and need to be locked up.
faraway on December 16, 2008 at 4:31 PM
The article at the Anchorage Daily News about the arson/attempted murder at the church has pages of anti-religious comments, too. People are bringing up the Inquisition and the Crusades.
Jim62sch on December 16, 2008 at 4:33 PM
The Daily Kos is way worse. If this is what they’re writing on the Huff Post, I hate to see what’s being said on the Daily Kos or DU.
They hate Palin more than anyone on the right hates Obama.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Anyone? Even the ones who think he’s the Antichrist?
CherokeeJack on December 16, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Classic case of projection. A church is maliciously burned with people inside, so let’s talk about how evil religion is.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 4:36 PM
10 quotes that explain Palin Derangement Syndrome:
2)”You can’t make an omelette without cracking eggs.” All the King’s Men 1949 (gathering information and research on political oppononets)
4)”Every sin is a result of collaboration.” Stephen Crane
6)”Ridicule is the language of the devil.” Thomas Carlyle
8)”It’s our fault. Our generation (post-WWII) has produced too many people with neuroses…that have not been treated…: Outrage (a movie) 1950
10)”Sinners not only act out of their depraved natures; they are what their dispositions make them.” William Booth Salvation Army handbook
technopeasant on December 16, 2008 at 4:40 PM
When they hack into his email account, burn down his church, print stories about his daughter being someone else’s child, then perhaps it will be the same.
There are many nutjobs on the right who would say outrageous things. But the difference is that more people on the right would condemn what they are saying. The left seems pretty unanimous in their absolute hatred of Palin.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I remember when the lefties were saying that Reagan was the Antichrist because he had six letters in each of his names. Ronald Reagan was an awesome Antichrist.
Jim62sch on December 16, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Point.. Let’s calm down for a moment. We don’t know that it happened because of Palin. It could be about the people inside (perhaps trying to kill an estranged wife)??
Illinidiva on December 16, 2008 at 4:48 PM
As long as any group that uses the school after hours pays rent then I have no problem with that.
Rambler on December 16, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Sorry…meant to say utilities, not rent.
Rambler on December 16, 2008 at 4:51 PM
I suppose it could have been carried out by flying monkeys dispatched by the Wicked Witch of the West, but that’s not exactly likely, is it?
Why would an estranged husband burn down a church instead of just getting his gun and shooting whoever his target was, if he wanted her dead?
Jim62sch on December 16, 2008 at 4:51 PM
That was just an example. It’s a logical leap that everyone is making, but it is just one of many possibilities.
Illinidiva on December 16, 2008 at 4:53 PM
I see where you’re coming from, but Occam’s Razor would seem to point at a political cause. The church has exactly one famous member, and the press and the nutroots have been spreading lies and hate about that church for months.
One particularly odious lie was that the church was involved in some kind of gay-curing scheme, when they weren’t. But the media has not been willing to correct themselves on that.
Jim62sch on December 16, 2008 at 4:58 PM
newton on December 16, 2008 at 5:02 PM
A ton of churches in Charlotte rent large rooms in public schools on the weekends or even Wednesday evenings for services.
malan89 on December 16, 2008 at 5:07 PM
I bet they’ll continue screaming about the church after this interview. Notice how she says that gays are welcome there, and then she says that everyone is welcome there if they need help or counseling. The left will assume that she means that gays are welcome there only if they submit to counseling. They’ll read all sorts of things into her innocent comment. They’re good at doing that.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 5:08 PM
The real issue here, Ed, which I think warrants a separate column, is the virtual media silence of the MSM with respect to an arson set at Palin’s church vs. the wall-to-wall MSM coverage to which we would be subjected if the church was a black church (think: Charles Rangel’s church, Obama’s church).
But no, it is a white church that the media finds disgusting because it is founded on, and adheres to, the bible and not moral relativism and situational ethics.
Plus, it’s only Palin’s church and it has a largely white congregation, so it is virtually not even newsworthy.
To me, the disparity of the treatment of a white church arson vs. that of a black church arson is a story in itself.
molonlabe28 on December 16, 2008 at 5:23 PM
TOLERANCE – HOPE – CHANGE
brought to you by the warm and fuzzy left
nolapol on December 16, 2008 at 5:38 PM
There are plenty of whack-job righties who would love to do that to Obama. It’s just that harassing a Republican is far more socially acceptable.
By the way, don’t take the theory that this was political as fact. It’s the obvious conclusion, but we want to avoid reacting the way the lefties are expecting us to (i.e., saying that the arsonist speaks for Obama supporters in general).
CherokeeJack on December 16, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Exactly, remember the church burnings in the south when Clinton was in office – on and on and on about it.
nolapol on December 16, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Hang around any liberals lately, Governor?
Mallard T. Drake on December 16, 2008 at 5:51 PM
You sorta contradict yourself here. You invoke Occam’s Razor — which I don’t think applies since I wouldn’t classify this event as a phenomenon. But, even if we agree that it does, you use one assumption of Palin being the divisive standout member of the church as a basis but then offhandedly mention the gay-curing rumor as not being plausible so not a possible explanation.
Someone smarter than me can list how many churches have been burned down, vandalized or otherwise assaulted as a result of gay or other sexual-based reasoning vs. how many former vice presidential candidates on the losing side have had their churches burned down.
I’m not saying that Palin wasn’t the reason but I am saying that what some here may dismiss as an absolute rumor or lie may adversely affect someone who is deranged into committing such an act (read: someone pissed at the church who believe they are anti-gay eliminating what they believe is the source of the problem).
grdred944 on December 16, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Which never happened…
right2bright on December 16, 2008 at 5:52 PM
They didn’t?
CherokeeJack on December 16, 2008 at 5:55 PM
All churches, and organizations, pay for rental, janitorial, in all high schools.
Exception is emergency services.
right2bright on December 16, 2008 at 5:57 PM
…naaaah…not attempted murder…I suppose you could tack something onto the charges already evident (some lofty-sounding endangerment life and limb statute)…face it, burning a church down around someone’s ears is a pretty iffy way of killing anyone unless you’ve first nailed one of their feet to the floor….
…the Alaska chapter of the NEA…they’re atheist enough….
Puritan1648 on December 16, 2008 at 5:57 PM
That’s exactly correct, Clinton said he saw church burnings, and none ever happened in his home town, or where he grew up. It was a false claim, kind of like his wife being under enemy fire.
right2bright on December 16, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Good thing I’m not holding my breath on that. It’s really interesting to me though that that became the narrative. I’ve read in several places (though you have to hunt for them since they don’t match the narrative) that she’s not known in Alaska for pushing her religion on others. She’s open in talking about her personal faith, but she doesn’t seem to have a record of forcing it into state government. Alaska’s a pretty libertarian state I think. Conservative, but very much live and let live.
meltenn on December 16, 2008 at 6:07 PM
She vetoed a bill that would have banned benefits for same sex couples. And she did so over the objections of social conservatives. Her reasoning was that the state Supreme Court was clear on the ban being unconstitutional.
That action alone should indicate that she’s no an enemy of gays. Or at the very least it shows her respect for constitutional law and the limits of authority.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 6:18 PM
I don’t take the theory that it was politically motivated as a fact. We don’t know what the motivation was. However, if it turns out that the arsonist was a nutjob who was sent over the edge by reading the sort of hyperbolic comments about this church posted at sites like the Huff Post and the Daily Kos, then they have some soul searching to do. I would expect the same sort of soul searching if someone targeted Trinity United Church after reading crazy comments posted on right wing websites. Though I should say that I’ve never seen anyone refer to Trinity United the way these lefties have referred to Palin’s church.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 6:26 PM
It does to rational people like us. The left and the MSM, not so much. There was all that stuff too about how she wanted creationism taught in schools and wanted abstinence only education and on and on. And even cursory research demonstrated to me that that stuff wasn’t true. Alas, asking reporters to do research before they report and demonstrate basic fairness is too much to ask it seems.
meltenn on December 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM
I’m sure the arsonists/terrorists only did this because Palin is a “hate-monger” and a “bigot”.
By the way, how many times has the governor appeared on Greta’s show? It’s this close to being a regular segment.
Sign of the Dollar on December 16, 2008 at 6:34 PM
One of things that really ticked me off was the assumption that abstinence only was taught at her daughter’s high school. A simple phone call could have cleared that up. That’s all it would have taken. One phone call to figure out that contraception was also taught there.
The creationism stuff still makes me laugh because one visit to her father’s house should have made it obvious that Palin isn’t a believer in the “young earth” stuff. Her parents’ house looks like a natural history museum!
Palin’s entire governing philosophy is “consensus oriented” — or so say the people who have actually worked with her. Whenever she is asked about thorny issues, she always appeals to the will of the people. Her off handed comment about creationism (”teach both”) was another instance of her trying to find consensus. But when it comes to exercising her authority as a governor she promised that she would never interfere with a school’s curriculum. And she never would. How much more straight forward can she be than to state on the record as she did that “science [evolution] should be taught in science class.”
And yet the lies continue. It’s like all the Reagan lies. There are dozens of them that will never go away.
ramrocks on December 16, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Allah, I cannot speak for the Wasilla church, but just as info, many evangelical churches are very reticent to ask for help or money from people who may not share their faith. Please don’t misunderstand. It’s far removed from the abusive money-lusting behavior of so many of the televangelists, neither is it an attitude of “your money isn’t good enough for us” at all, it is a concern that too many times people have been exploited by all kinds of religious groups doing fundraisers beyond its own members, who should be the normal source of support. In a case such as arson, I would personally argue for an exception to be made, gratefully accepting, but not seeking help from people of good will.
etaoinshrdlu on December 16, 2008 at 6:39 PM
+1. There were/are legitimate questions to ask of her too and there are legitimate criticisms that I think can/could have been levied, but so much of the time they decided to just make stuff up instead.
*Shakes head*
meltenn on December 16, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Not to mention the ones in Alabama in ‘06 by the three college students. These Received a lot of coverage by the press. Way more than this current fire on the small 3 (nbc,cbs,abc).
And Yes, the Clinton’s are delusional and make up stuff too.
nolapol on December 16, 2008 at 6:49 PM
This was nothing less than a hate crime, yet know one will say that. If it was Rev. Wright’s Church, where that One used to go….my god, you’d see protests, riots and Al not-so-sharp Sharpton on every news channel.
mindhacker on December 16, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Where in the world is Trooper Mike Wooten? He had the motive (hate for his ex-wife’s family Chuck, Sarah, Todd, etc) and means since as an Alaskan Trooper he would know the arsonists to do the job. I bet his police buds are thinking of him right now and paying a little visit….
gracie on December 16, 2008 at 7:24 PM
We pay school taxes already. Why would “anyone” have to pay for fair use of a public facility. Make the NEA pay for their union meetings there.
hawkdriver on December 16, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Please tell me you’re being sarcastic.
hawkdriver on December 16, 2008 at 8:42 PM
What’s really funny is to watch an opposing comment disappear in
“moderation”censorship over at HuffPo and then disappear. There is never an opposing view point posted. Very democratic those libs.hawkdriver on December 16, 2008 at 8:48 PM
My wife justed asked me this same question. Where was he??
TugboatPhil on December 16, 2008 at 9:03 PM
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