Community | September 03, 2008 | 27 comments

Sarah Palin and the Wasilla Library

source: http://www.libraryjournal.com/blog/1010000101/post/1460032546.html?nid=3570

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unclepete
John McCain's surprise choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate on the Republican ticket has led journalists and bloggers to the clip and web files, and a library connection--suggesting but hardly proving dubious behavior by Palin as mayor of Wasilla--has emerged.

Some commentators, like Atlantic blogger Andrew Sullivan, have made a big deal of Palin's 1997 move to fire Wasilla Public Library director Mary Ellen Emmons, who supported Palin's rival during the mayoral campaign. (We don't know exactly what "support" means--a small contribution, or active campaigning?) As the Anchorage Daily News reported 2/1/97, Palin gave letters of dismissal to both Emmons and the police chief, but relented when Emmons assured her she supported efforts to merge library and museum operations. (They apparently did not merge, as the city web site shows them as separate institutions.)

Is it legitimate for a mayor to fire a library director who supported her opponent? Well, libraries, in the ideal world, should not be partisan institutions and library directors should be judged on the way they run the library. Also, librarians do not take a vow of political neutrality as individuals. But we do know that small-town politics can get ugly. I'd steer clear from passing judgment until we know more about what exactly happened.

Then there's another report, from the local Frontiersman, as cited on Politico and then by Sullivan: "According to the Frontiersman newspaper, Wasilla’s library director Mary Ellen Emmons said that 'Palin asked her outright if she could live with censorship of library books.' Palin later dismissed the conversation as a 'rhetorical' exercise."

That drew a response from American Library Association critic Dan Kleinman, who asserted on his SafeLibraries blog that "it didn't take long for Mary Ellen Emmons, Past President of the Alaska Library Association, and Wasilla Public Library director to strike the first blow."

However, that quote from Emmons is several years old, she's no longer the director, and she hasn't been quoted since. It's not illegitimate for the press to dig up old quotes, but we'd be much better served if Emmons and others in Alaska elaborate on situations that, from my perspective, remain murky.
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27 comments // Sarah Palin and the Wasilla Library

  • annmnhtn
    • 0
      annmnhtn  

    • I think that it's important to know about Sarah Palin's past record as mayor and governor. The report that she may have approached the Wasilla librarian about censoring books is disturbing indeed and is only one of my concerns about the Republican selection for VP.

    • 3 years ago
  • Brockie
    • 0
      Brockie  

    • Not only is she a liar, (the bridge to nowhere affair) but now she shows her true colors. When the government wants to start banning books, then the loss of other freedoms is close behind. A prime example of those republican family values at work. If she gets in office, what will she do next? Should we expect book burnings on the front lawn of the whitehouse? Padlocks on the front doors of the library of congress?

    • 3 years ago
  • clayjj05
    • 0
      clayjj05 [removed]  

    • I guess Obama giving 14 million dollars to Tony rezco to build slums in chicago make him qualified to be commander and chief. Or association with the weather underground and jeremy wright are excellent examples of his political assosiations.

      GODDAMN AMERICA BECAUSE OUR CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROAST!!!!!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • clayjj05
  • NeoDotCom
  • Bwittany
  • damnneargenius
  • unclepete
  • tweets972
  • Kateharvi
  • clayjj05
    • 0
      clayjj05 [removed]  

    • MAn i wish the drive-by media would do this good of a job for Obama and Edwards. It take the Enquirer to do a half ass job uncovering anything behind the adulterer and the community organizer.

    • 3 years ago
  • keeshii768
  • clayjj05
    • 0
      clayjj05 [removed]  
    • clayjj05:

      shortly they will
      which brings us to the bigger question brendan why the fuck would anyone associate themselves to religious institutions??? I mean common

      Love god from the couch, dont let some crazed dumb-ass fill your head full of nonsense.

    • 3 years ago
  • hyperspace
    • 0
      hyperspace  

    • I feel that she is pandering to women, pumas, and the ultra religous pro life people. Mc Cains pick was a calculated one, most likely the brain child of Carl Rove. They are using Pailins daughther being pregnant as a political strategy. In no way is Palin politically qualified for the position of VP. No way at all. She can't even manage her own family, let alone the corruption surrounding her. People we must do our part to uncover her lies so that the country can know what kind of B.S is being fed to them. I am so glad people are blogging about this. I have actually read at major news sites that it's the blooging about Palin thats forced news sites and reporters to further investigate. these claims. This is all very important to consider because if she is full of lies cover up and decepit it speaks dirrectly of her character. This is the problem with the current Persident and vice, and look at the mess it has created!
      Let the invistigation continue, And while we are at it how about how Mc Cain cheated on his wife while she was dealing with MS... moral values right?

    • 3 years ago
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  

    • "I'd steer clear from passing judgment until we know more about what exactly happened. "

      He said that you idiots! Stop bitching until we get further evidence.

    • 3 years ago
  • jjeziorski
    • 0
      jjeziorski  
    • Nettle:

      The guy who wrote the article said that...

      I highly doubt Uncle Pete wants us to NOT use the forums, to which he posted it, to discuss. Got a problem with someone's comments? Then flag them.

      Don't want to read our opinions? Get the fuck off the internet.

      Calling someone an idiot for voicing themselves on Current.com is like calling a farmer an idiot for approaching a cow for milk.

    • 3 years ago
  • NeoDotCom
    • 0
      NeoDotCom  
    • Nettle:

      Hey you idiots
      Stop bitching

      WTF LOL LMAO ( Are you doing all caps next time)

      C'mon man. You can do better than that.
      This is in line with a list of evidence agaiinst Sarah Palin

      Stop proving the sterotypes about conservatives.

    • 3 years ago
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  
    • Nettle:

      It's sadly hilarious that you think I'm conservative. Far, far from it.

      I'm just pointing out that he even said that we shouldn't take this story as damning proof. We don't know the whole story, yet. We shouldn't jump up and down every time something with little proof or a partial story comes up.

      Yes, the little things should be posted (why I love Current), but some minor thing about Palin on the homepage? Really?

    • 3 years ago
  • NeoDotCom
    • 0
      NeoDotCom  
    • Nettle:

      Well you act like a conservative with the childish name calling.

      Since you are on current and probably a news junkie then you know that this fits into the mold of information that has been coming about.

      I was more commenting on the immaturity

    • 3 years ago
  • Nettle
  • unclepete
  • jjeziorski
    • 0
      jjeziorski  

    • See? McCain's not such a bad guy - he's systematically ham-stringing his own campaign in solidarity for Obama's ensured victory. ;-)

    • 3 years ago
  • justright
  • geneonlbk
    • 0
      geneonlbk  

    • If you want a neo-con ultra right wing religious fundamentalist who seems to believe she is above the moral and ethical codes of her own society, then Palin is your poster child.

      I believe she will have to withdraw when MyCane is no longer visible amidst all the Palin flack. Even now the little beauty queen is obscuring his campaign.

    • 3 years ago
  • EriePAGuy
  • RainbowMan
  • Bwittany
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