Did Palin Try to Ban Books?

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Librarian Can't Recall

The librarian at the center of a 1996 controversy with then-Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin says she can't recall any effort by Palin to ban specific books from the town library.

In her first public statement since Palin was named the GOP vice-presidential candidate, Mary Ellen Baker said today, "I simply do not recall a conversation with specific titles," Baker told ABCNews.com.

...

The local newspaper reporter who covered the controversy, Paul Stuart, claims he was later told by the librarian that Palin wanted three specific books removed from the library.

In her statement to ABC News, the librarian said, "I am unable to dispute or substantiate the information Paul Stuart provided to you."

...

She would not address her reasons for leaving Wasilla, but friends say she felt badly treated by Mayor Palin.

"I don't care to revisit that time in my life," Baker told ABC News.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5766173&page=1

[Ian David]

1. Sounds like the librarian is scared shitless. n/t

[Hugin]

2. Geeze, talk about losing the story in the details...

PALIN TRIED TO BAN BOOKS!

It doesn't matter which specific books. :eyes:

Although, I can guess which books they were based on which books were in the fundy news at the time.

Hey, we're talking about people who wanted to ban Sponge Bob here! Come on!



Edit to add: So, ABC is complicit in the white-wash, eh? Boy, I can hardly wait for Gibson's tongue bath interview. :ick:

[DangerDave921]

9. What is the definition of "try"?

She had a discussion with the librarian about hypothetically removing objectionable books. It does not look like she ever followed through with actually trying to ban any books.

What books? Who knows. I think this story is important, but don't think it will go much further because there isn't much to it. It's a hypothetical discussion that never went any further. It could have been a test of loyalty. She could have been talking about kids books (which is not banning) or could have been talking about obscene material being in the library.

[Hugin]

11. Only as far as firing the Librarian and a protest to have her reinstated...

Pretty far if you ask me.

One can hide a lot of vindictiveness behind a curtain of 'hypothetical'.

[CBHagman]

21. I don't ask mayors or anyone else what I may read.

The question you should ask yourself is why Palin had the discussion in the first place. Why is a self-described small town American discussing the removal of books? Why should a mayor show up at a library and discuss removing titles from the shelves? Are community residents not wise enough to decide what titles they should check out?

The whole reason the story is even relevant is what it might or might not reveal about Palin's approach, mind-set, political stances, and temperament. If I hear that someone considered removing titles from the library, I want to know why.

And the very fact that someone would administer a "test of loyalty" reveals a great deal to me. For crying out loud, this isn't Lord Voldemort's coterie of disciples. It's local government. Who needs a test? Why not have the guts and the honesty to be forthright?

[DangerDave921]

22. I agree with you

I'm just saying it's never going to go further because there are no more facts to come out. There will not be any list of books, and it's clear she did not try to actually ban any books. So there's not much further this story can go. I mean, you can try to make a TV ad out of it, but what would it say that would be both damning and accurate?

I agree that the initial discussion is troubling.

[realitythink]

3. Why is she so scared?

This lady sounds like she was threatened. I feel like we are watching an episode of the Sopranos.

[Supersedeas]

10. odd, ain't it

[IndianaGreen]

13. Because we are living in a police state and there are consequences

That's why she is so guarded!

[Claire Beth]

4. link.....

http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp

[Hugin]

5. But, Palin tried to get books banned...

That's what the article says.

[sabra]

6. correct - but it appears that there was (at least) 3 books she wanted to ban

[Claire Beth]

7. Yes, BUT there is no way to make it stick

without some documentation or proof. She would skirt around answering this if she was asked in an interview.

[fascisthunter]

8. Well... What Position does her Church Have Regarding the Banning of Books?

I think it will stick because of her background.

[noonwitch]

17. Maybe they had one of those Harry Potter book burnings, when some churches were doing that

that could make it interesting.

[yardwork]

15. That particular list is not connected to Palin - but she still tried to get the librarian fired.

Palin did attempt to censor books at the library, and she did attempt to fire the librarian who refused.

[melm00se]

12. another link/source

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html

[Hugin]

14. Uh, we tend to protect Democratic Candidates from Sliming here on DU.

Not vice versa.

[melm00se]

16. nah...

never let an unbiased source get in the way of any good diatribe.

there are plenty of things to hammer republicans on to have to resort to making stuff up.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Can't slime scum, and the Peyton Place Palins are scum!

:think:

[Zhade]

25. That site is a REPUBLICAN FRONT.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=637275&mesg_id=637298

[kurth_]

19. Palin's goons sat her down

[Ranting_Wacko]

20. Yes. She tried to ban books...

... but was not successful.

The city website lists all of the official challenges which were made through the proper channels.

http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=516

Palin apparently tried to subver this process by telling the librarian there were books she wanted banned and then tried to remove the librarian when she refused to ban books just on the mayor's say-so. That should be enough to worry any librarian or any American who claims to be concerned about Free Speech. Wanting to know whether it was <b>Huck Finn</b> or <b>Clockwork Orange</b> is irrelevant.

[kath]

23. Read the ABC article - she, and others, tried to get a specific book removed from local bookstore.

[Snellius]

24. Check the Newsweek article

It's true that Palin did raise the issue with Mary Ellen Emmons, Wasilla's librarian, on at least two occasions, three in some versions. Emmons flatly stated her opposition each time. But, as the /Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/ (Wasilla's local paper) reported at the time, Palin
asked general questions about what Emmons would say if Palin requested that a book be banned. According to Emmons, Palin "was asking me how I would deal with her saying a book can't be in the library." Emmons reported that Palin pressed the issue, asking whether Emmons' position would change if residents were picketing the library. Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny,
who was at the meeting, corroborates Emmons' story, telling the Chicago Tribune that "Sarah said to Mary Ellen, 'What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?' "

Palin characterized the exchange differently, initially volunteering the episode as an example of discussions with city employees about following her administration's agenda. Palin described her questions to Emmons as "rhetorical," noting that her questions "were asked in the context of
professionalism regarding the library policy that is in place in our city." Actually, true rhetorical questions have implied answers (e.g., "Who do you think you are?"), so Palin probably meant to describe her questions as hypothetical or theoretical. We can't read minds, so it is impossible for us to know whether or not Palin may actually have wanted to ban books from the library or whether she simply wanted to know how her new employees would respond to an instruction from their boss. It is worth noting that, in an update, the Frontiersman points out that no
book was ever banned from the library's shelves.

Palin initially requested Emmons' resignation, along with those of Wasilla's other department heads, in October 1996. Palin described the requests as a loyalty test and allowed all of them (except one, whose department she was eliminating) to retain their positions. But in January 1997, Palin fired Emmons, along with the police chief. According to the Chicago Tribune, Palin did not list censorship as a reason for Emmons' firing, but said she didn't feel she had Emmons' support. The decision caused "a stir" in the small town, according to a newspaper account at the time. According to a widely circulated e-mail from Kilkenny, "city residents rallied to the
defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157986/page/2