Palin's Porky Bridge Money: McCain was AGAINST IT BEFORE HE WAS FOR IT

[blogslut]

Flashback from McCain in Ankeny: Palin’s pork project connected to Minneapolis bridge disaster
By Chase Martyn 9/10/08 11:44 AM

Our colleagues at the Minnesota Independent have found a statement from Sen. John McCain criticizing Alaska’s infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark project and connecting it to the I-35 bridge disaster in the Twin Cities. At the time, McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, still supported the earmark for her state:

Once governor, Palin killed the effort only after it became apparent that the federal government wasn’t going to put any more money into the bloated project beyond the $233 million in earmarks that Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, had already secured. Under pressure to cut wasteful spending, Congress then stripped the stipulation that the money be spent on a bridge but allowed the state of Alaska to keep the $233 million for other transportation projects. Palin then directed her transportation commissioner, Leo von Scheben, to review transportation projects statewide to prepare a list of possible uses for the funds.

Days after the 35W bridge collapse John McCain connected that $233 million with the tragedy that claimed 13 lives in Minneapolis.

“Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges around the country,” McCain said at a campaign stop in Ankeny, Iowa on Aug. 4, 2007. “Maybe the 200,000 people who cross that bridge every day would have been safer than spending $233 million of your tax dollars on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it.”

link: http://iowaindependent.com/5313/flashback-from-mccain-in-ankeny-palins-pork-project-connected-to-minneapolis-bridge-disaster

EDIT: Headline rework

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. How quickly they forget. nt

[AtomicKitten]

2. McBush must be dizzy from all the spin.

[Forkboy]

3. Nice gift. The campaign needs to use this. It hits them on multiple angles.

It shows how stupid the bridge was, makes Palin look like a flip flopper, connects it to decaying roads and bridges country wide (something people in all states can relate to), and makes Mac Daddy look like a forgetful fool, a liar, or a hypocrite.

Win win baby! :)

[blogslut]

4. kick

I have no idea why DU is in Defcon mode. Anyone else know?

[blogslut]

5. Let me bold the man's words

“Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges around the country,” McCain said at a campaign stop in Ankeny, Iowa on Aug. 4, 2007. “Maybe the 200,000 people who cross that bridge every day would have been safer than spending $233 million of your tax dollars on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it.”

[blogslut]

6. And now there's video!

Thanks to toddGA, DailyKos and the Minnesota Independent: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7016862

[blogslut]

7. shameless kick

For a pandering man with no shame.