Sarah Palin's Attitude Towards Israel

In about two hours, the country will be watching Sarah Palin debate Joe Biden. How will she react about a question concerning Israel? What are her feelings about Israel?

Sarah Louise Heath, born February 11, 1964 in Sandpoint, Idaho, moved to Alaska shortly after her birth with her family; father Charles "Chuck" R. Heath, a science teacher and track coach, and mother Sarah "Sally" Sheeran, a school secretary. Sarah was baptised as a Catholic, but the family decided to attend Wasilla, Alaska's Assembly of God Church. At age 12 Sarah was re-baptised in the same church in nearby Beaver Lake with her mother. This is an Evangelical church, and its faith shapes her social views, such as abortion and support for Israel.

In her governor's office in Juneau, Sarah has a small Israeli flag. Her church considers the preservation of the state of Israel a biblical imperative. There are supporters of Israel in the Republican Party. Tucker Eskew is the counselor to Mrs. Palin in the McCain-Palin campaign, and said that she would describe herself as a strong supporter of Israel, and understands Israel's fear of an Iran with nuclear weapons. Merrill Matthews, an Evangelical Christian and a Dallas-based health-policy specialist said that her brand of Evangelical Protestantism is supportive of Israel for biblical reasons. Sarah's home church is the Church of the Rock, which is an independent congregation.

Historically, the Assemblies of God believe in "the rapture" of Christians . They have a very strong support for Israel. It's a part of their prophecy and politics. Sarah is getting good marks from Jewish Republicans.

There is a very small population of Jews in Anchorage, Alaska. I taught 2nd grade at Rabbit Creek Grade School and attended a dinner function there that the synagogue put on. I believe originally they went to Alaska for the fur business. I lasted for one year and a summer as a teacher in Alaska. Those recess supervising days in 30 degree below 0 weather really got to me. I moved back to Oregon, though the pay was far better than any in the lower 48 states.

I did some genealogy on Sarah, and prophetically, on the 1930 Federal census of April 2nd in Alameda, Bannock, Idaho, her father was listed at age 6, being born in 1923. Charles R. Heath's father was Arthur LeRoy Heath, born in Utah on June 3, 1896 in Thurber, Wayne County, Utah. He was a foreman on a railroad, and died August 1, 1938 in Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho. On the same census sheet was listed a Frank W. McCain, age 35 and born in Wisconsin with his wife Florence 36, born in Utah. Forence 13 and Frank R 6 were both born in Idaho.

Little did the Palins know that someday their decendant, Sarah Heath Palin would be running as Vice President with John McCain. Now that would be something if Frank W is connected to John.

Resource: The Washington times; http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/04/palins-evangelical-faith-drives-pro-israel
Wikipedia on Sarah Palin
Oregonian Newspaper October 2, 2008 Thursday on The running mates debate page A6

Sarah Palin and the Book Scandal

Nadene Goldfoot
Sarah Palin has been said to have wanted to ban books in her library. Today's Oregonian's article by Leonard Pitts Jr. talks about it. He says that in the past Sarah tried to pull books off the library shelves. His information came from the New York Times. At the time she was a member of the City Council of Wasilla, Alaska. She was concerned about a book there called "Daddy's Roommate." It was to be read by children of lesbian and gay parents, or read by people interested in children of these parents. Sarah's campaign manager for mayor said the book was harmless and told Sarah to read it.

Sarah didn't want to read it. Possibly she had read the promotional material about it and was concerned.

When Sarah became mayor, it is reported that she asked the town librarian to remove controversial books from the shelves. She asked three times. The librarian refused, and then was fired from her job. Public presssure caused Sarah to give the librarian back her job.

I haven't been concerned about Sarah because she has said nothing harmful about Israel. As a teacher, I'm really disappointed in anyone that would want to ban books. That's so reminiscent of Germany in the 30's. I tried to find a Palin website to see where she stands about Israel, but unlike Obama and Clinton, could find nothing. However, she doesn't sound open minded at all if she would do something like ban a book.

Sarah should know better She graduated from the U. of Idaho with a B.A. in journalism. I don't know how long she worked at this job, but she should have more respect for a person's right to write and know that banning books is simply un-American.


Oregonian Newspaper page B5, "Books and minds: both should be open"by Leonard Pitts Jr.
http://gawker.com/5044569/factsheet-sarah-palin
email about The educational background of your two options:

Sarah Palin and Israel

In 1996, I find that Sarah Palin was supporting of all people, Pat Buchanan, the most horrid anti-Israel person that I have found in American politics so far. She was actually at a fund-raiser for him when she was a mayor.

from factcheck.org:Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.

Since being selected by McCain to run for Vice President with him, she has immediately gone to an AIPAC meeting and has spoken to the members. She told our pro-Israel lobby that she would "work to expand and deepen the strategic partnership between U.S. and Israel." This was related by AIPAC's spokesman to the Wall Street Journal today.

Strangely, I believe that McCain feels that Palin will bring in Evangelicals who do back Israel whole-heartedly. McCain had had a break with this group, and then has become friendly with them again. I can only hope that Sarah doesn't agree with Buchanan's philosophy which is so detrimental towards Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017828.html
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/buchanan_own_words/buchanan_intro.asp