PALIN QUOTES

Sara Palin, on the role of a responsible politician:

“Politics isn't just a game of competing interests and clashing parties. The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons. And the right reason is to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good.” (2008)

”Well, it's always, though, safer in politics to avoid risk, to just kind of go along with the status quo. But I didn't get into government to do the safe and easy things.” (2008)

“In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.” (2008)

“No one expects us to agree on everything. But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart.” (2008)

“I got involved in the PTA and then was elected to the city council and then elected mayor of my hometown, where my agenda was to stop wasteful spending and cut property taxes and put the people first.” (2008)

“I was just your average hockey mom and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids' public education better.” (2008)

“Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests.” (2008)

“I'm not going to Washington to seek their (news reporters) good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country.” (2008)

“I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country.” (2008)

“So for my part, the mission is clear. The next 67 days I'm going to take our campaign to every part of our country and our message of reform to every voter of every background, in every political party, or no party at all.” (2008)

“I know that when Senator McCain gave me this opportunity, he had a short list of highly qualified men and women, and to have made that list at all - it was a privilege. And to have been chosen brings a great challenge. I know that it will demand the best that I have to give, and I promise nothing less.” (2008)

“When I ran for City Council, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too.” (2008)

“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities.” (2008)

Sara Palin, on abortion and family values:

“I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.” (2007)

“Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with special needs inspire a special love.” (2008)

“If my daughter Bristol can use her story as a kind of teaching tool for others, then so be it. Let us do that.” (2008)

“I was just your average ‘hockey mom' in Alaska. We were busy raising our kids. I was serving as the team mom and coaching some basketball on the side.”

“My mom and dad both worked at the local elementary school. And my husband and I, we both grew up working with our hands.” (2008)

Sara Palin, on healthcare reform:

“Health care is everyone's job, not just in treating illness but in promoting healthy living. We must take personal responsibility, engaging our minds and hands in meaningful work - all essential components of healthy, secure lifestyles and communities. We've got to change the patterns that too many Alaskans fall into.” (2007)

“Public access to good health care in a state as huge as Alaska poses great challenges. We must work together to stop epidemics like obesity, diabetes, suicide and substance abuse.” (2007)

Sara Palin, on economic development:

“I understand that economic change is difficult. This is especially true in our rural communities, where the lack of roads and other infrastructure present such challenges to economic development. We must learn from our mistakes and build on our successes to create sustainable economies so that our rural communities and villages can thrive.” (2007)

“One source of economic development is further developing our mining industry. While this is a lightening rod for any discussion, we must allow any project a fair opportunity for complete study and evaluation in order to weigh the costs and benefits.” (2007)

“A strong economy is the sign of a vibrant free enterprise system. Now, we can't talk of economics without touching on oil and gas taxes.” (2008)

“Creating new job opportunities for our young Alaskans and preparing our kids for those opportunities is a top priority of my administration.” (2007)

Sara Palin, on the Alaskan Pipeline project:

“We can't talk about what we've accomplished in the last 10 months, without including our work to pass AGIA - our legislation that will allow us to build a natural gas pipeline. A gas pipeline is a key part of our state's future. It will provide affordable energy and good jobs for Alaskans. We will also take care to ensure that a natural gas pipeline would cause minimal impact on sensitive Arctic environments.” (2007)

“A gasline will benefit the Alaska economy by lowering energy costs and creating thousands of jobs. It will strengthen national security by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign energy. And we will build a gasline with minimal impact on the environment while supplying Alaska and the rest of the U.S. with clean-burning energy.” (2007)

“Developing the North Slope basin will allow access to Alaska's tremendous gas reserves and make it available to the rest of the United States.” (2008)

Sara Palin, on wildlife and natural resource management:

“We are also committed to protecting wildlife resources that are an important part of not just our heritage, but of many families that subsist on wild fish and game.” (2007)

“In combination with active predator control programs, we are working hard to increase game populations so that Alaskans can have the greatest opportunity to hunt and harvest to feed their families. We will manage fish and game resources for abundance.” (2007)

“Alaska has stringent development laws and regulations. We will ensure protection of our fish and our environment so they will not be compromised or endangered by any development. However, we will also ensure that all landowners have an opportunity to develop their land in a reasonable fashion, within the requirements of our environmental laws.” (2007)

“We all see Alaska's climate is changing. We are all feeling the effects - coastal erosion, thawing permafrost, retreating sea ice and record forest fires are affecting our communities and our infrastructure.” (2007)

“More and more we're being challenged to balance the need for development with the need to protect our natural resources.” (2007)

Sara Palin, on women’s rights:

“It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.” (2008)

“I think as well today of two other women who came before me in national elections. I can't begin this great effort without honoring the achievements of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, and, of course, Senator Hillary Clinton, who showed such determination and grace in her presidential campaign.” (2008)

Sara Palin, on education:

“I recognize that the cost of educating our children varies significantly across the state. The way we allocate state education dollars needs to reflect the high costs in rural Alaska.” (2007)

“While I agree that our education system must have the resources to be successful, we also must be innovative about how we spend our education dollars.” (2007)

“Improving education remains a high priority of my administration. Our districts are burdened with skyrocketing retirement and other costs that compete for funding and divert those precious dollars away from where they are really needed - inside the classroom.” (2007)

“All too often, when we hear discussion about our education system and our kids' ability to succeed in the workplace, we hear two common messages: (1) that we need to do more and (2) that the government needs to spend more.” (2008)