Alaska Storybook

“Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”

“So Sambo beat the bitch!”

This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama’s win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days after Obama locked up the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

According to Lucille, the waitress serving her table at the time and who asked that her last name not be used, Gov. Palin was eating lunch with five or six people when the subject of the Democrat’s primary battle came up. The governor, seemingly not caring that people at nearby tables would likely hear her, uttered the slur and then laughed loudly as her meal mates joined in appreciatively.

“It was kind of disgusting,” Lucille, who is part Aboriginal, said in a phone interview after admitting that she is frightened of being discovered telling folks in the “lower 48” about life near the North Pole.

Then, almost with a sigh, she added, “But that’s just Alaska.”

------------ This could be true of Palin, but I need more than hearsay. Surely someone this racist has been caught on tape, a la Biden with his 7/11 store and Indian accent comment. Surely someone brave will come forward with their hand on a Bible and swear Palin is a racist.

Remember Biden's more recent comment : "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Obama and Jesse Jackson both claimed Joe B.'s remark was not offensive ... but you can bet that's not what they said in private about it.

Republicans are often open and blunt with their racism - Democrats more subtle (Osambo is clean, bright, and good-looking). No pol from either group has been caught yet doing a Dog the Bounty Hunter rant or Rush Limbigot tirade.

(I have family members who have lived in Alaska for many years. They tell me Palin has done a lot of good for the people in her short time as governor. Alaska's PFD (Permanent Fund Dividend) checks have risen to $2069 with a bonus of $1200 this year to help with fuel costs. Every eligible man, woman, child receives a PFD check. They agree with Palin's stand on environmental and drilling issues. I also believe Alaska is a strange place - having attracted a lot of social escapists from the lower 48.)

Also of note, Todd Palin is of Yu'pik Eskimo descent. Sarah Palin writes that "... her family has been ''blessed'' by learning Yup'ik traditions and stories from Helena Andree, her children's great-grandmother and a one-time Bristol Bay Native Corporation Elder of the Year. The Palins named their oldest daughter ''Bristol'' in honor of the region many of their family members still call home."

Opponents have rushed to claim Todd Palin is not Eskimo enough - is he 1/8 or 1/4? Although the same not-enoughers will label anyone with 1/8 or 1/4 Negro heritage as being black enough. By the way, some folks say the word "Eskimo" is not politically correct, it should be Inuit or Indian, but most Eskimos don't mind being called Eskimos and not all Eskimos are Inuit.

The questions are: Is Palin a mean racist? is Hillary a bitch, is Obama the first clean Negro? Are Joe Bid and John Mac lovable old crackers? Hmmm, not much changes in politics.