Today, we are being told that McCain chose another 'maverick' - someone who would speak out about waste, pet projects and earmarks. McCain's campaign claims: "She put a stop to the 'bridge to nowhere' that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars," speaking about the Gravina Island Bridge.
Palin herself claimed as much in her speech, saying:
I told Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that bridge to nowhere.
Did she really?
Over at the New Republic's blog, Bradford Plumer points out that Sarah Palin actually supported the bridge when she ran for governor. In the Anchorage Daily News:
5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?
Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.
In the same paper, 10/05/06, she is also quoted as saying:
'I do support the infrastructure projects that are on tap here in the state of Alaska that our congressional delegations worked hard for,'
So what happened? When she ended up cancelling the project, it was not because it was a waste of federal money. Rather, Palin didn't think the federal government was paying for enough of it, and didn't want to cough up the money from state coffers:
"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," said Governor Palin. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island," Governor Palin added. "Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened."
As Plumer puts it: "she was fine with squandering federal money, but state money was a different matter." In fact, she clearly stated that the national protrayal of the issue (e.g. John McCain's) was inaccurate. She didn't think it was the waste it was cracked up to be.
Another mythical Republican maverick. This is one myth that needs to be squashed before it gains any more traction.