(Some of) Sarah Palin's Exact Words

It's been over a week since Sarah Palin was outed as a radical right-wing dangerously religious warmonger.

Sort of.

The actual context of her remarks at a Pentecostal church has been common knowledge for some time. Maybe ABC's Charlie Gibson didn't get the memo.

Last night, ABC aired Charles Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin. He asked her if she believes that the U.S. military effort in Iraq is "a task that is from God."

Here's how the dialog went:

• Gibson: "You said recently in your old church, 'Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.' Are we fighting a Holy War?"
• Palin: "You know, I don't know if that was my exact quote."

You didn't hear Palin say that in the interview. ABC edited that part out.

Gibson asserted that 'a task that is from God' are the exact words that Palin used at the church.

He's right: and she uttered them in that order.

But he left out what she said before and after that phrase. In my opinion, Mr. Gibson should have taken the relatively moderate and balanced approach of the Huffington Post, and put Palin's quote in context.

I suppose we shouldn't fault Mr. Gibson, though: the "a task that is from God" phrase has been in headlines around the world. He's a busy man, and may not have time to read past the headline and lead sentence of each article.

Sarah Palin: Iraq War "a Task That is From God" - in the News

• "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'"
  China Daily (September 4, 2008)
  • "ANCHORAGE - 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.'...
  • [Photo placed between first and second paragraphs of the China Daily article:]
    
    (From China Daily, used without permission)
  • "...'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.'..."
• "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God' "
  Yahoo! News (September 3, 2008)
  • "ANCHORAGE, Alaska - 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.'...
• "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'"
  Associated Press (September 3, 2008)
  • "ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — 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.'..."
  • [Pretty much the same thing: news services tend to copy from each other.]
• "Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview"
  Huffington Post (September 2, 2008)
  • "Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God.
  • "Her speech in June provides as much insight into her policy leanings as anything uncovered since she was asked to be John McCain's running mate.
  • "Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.
  • " '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.'..."

Sarah Palin: Iraq War "a Task That is From God" - in Fact

Here are the exact words, spoken by Sarah Palin, in that church.

"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 them out on a task that is from God. 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."

I struck through the parts that ABC's Charles Gibson left out.

With that kind of editing, I can expose Martin Luther King as a violent revolutionary. He wasn't, of course.

But look how easy it is to quote him calling for blacks to carry out "whirlwinds of revolt" against their white oppressors:

"...It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges."
("I Have a Dream - Address at March on Washington, (August 28, 1963) MLKOnline)

The position of Martin Luther King in American culture being what it is, a clarification:

1. I am not comparing Sarah Palin to Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. I do not believe that Martin Luther King, Jr., was a violent revolutionary
3. The use (or abuse) of his "I Have a Dream" speech is to demonstrate how editing can alter meaning

More, in the news:

• "ABC Misrepresents Palin Quote in ‘Holy War’ Question"
  FOXNews (September 12, 2008)
• "Pastor: GOP may be downplaying Palin's religious beliefs
  CNN (September 9, 2008)

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And, my usual disclaimer: This blog isn't political, but politics is how America chooses its leaders. And leadership is going to be very important in the War on Terror. Although I've got very definite views about who would be the best president, these posts are not "for" or "against" any candidate. I do, however, want people to focus on what candidates actually said and did.

I've discussed the weird rumors and accusations leveled against Obama: "Barack Obama: That's Not a Temple, That's History " (August 28, 2008); The New Yorker 'Satire' Obama Cover Backfires (July 14, 2008); "Obama Supporters Take "Hussein" Name (June 29, 2008); "Michelle Obama's "Whitey" Video, Common Sense, and Michelle Malkin " (June 3, 2008); ""OBAMA OSAMA / HUMM / ARE THEY BROTHERS" Church Sign: Daft or Devious?" (April 21, 2008); "Hamas, Iran, and the Natives of Pennsylvania: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad " (April 16, 2008); "America is Picking a Wartime President: Please be Careful! " (April 14, 2008).

Finally, having seen (and heard) the context of Sarah Palin's remarks, I don't find them disturbing. But then, I'm a Christian (Catholic, to be specific), and the importance of conforming my will to the will of God is a quite familiar idea. But that's a topic for another blog.