Tuesday, Dec. 08, 2009

Sarah Palin's Coin Conspiracy

"It's a disturbing trend. Who calls a shot like that? Who makes a decision like that?"

— Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, during a closed press speech to a Wisconsin right-to-life group, implying that President Obama was responsible for attempting to move the phrase "In God We Trust" from the center to the edge of the dollar coin (Nov. 6)

Palin should know by now that shutting out the media doesn't mean they will stay away. Despite the event's being closed to the press, reporters found a way to buy tickets to it — and made sure not to let her get away with the gaffe of the evening.

The most peculiar thing about Palin's rant on the government's attempt to no longer prominently display "In God We Trust" on national currency, which echoed similar gripes circulating among conservatives, was that Obama had nothing to do with it. The new coins were commissioned by the 2005 Republican Congress and approved by President George W. Bush.