Sarah Palin's 'Bigger Blunder' At Tea Party Convention Was On The Wrist, Not On The Hand

[OregonBlue]

It appears that Sarah Palin may have committed an even bigger faux-pas than simply reading from "crib notes" on her hand during her appearance at the National Tea Party Convention over the weekend.

The former Alaska governor wore a black bracelet with the name of her oldest son, Track Palin, who served in Iraq in 2008. Only problem is bracelets of this nature are traditionally reserved to commemorate those who have died in military service. Track is still alive.

This brings me back to my issue with Palin. The name on her black memorial bracelet -- one, like the gold star, a demonstration of a friend or associate who was killed in action -- is that of her oldest son, Track. Track served honorably in Iraq, and both he and his parents should be thanked for his selfless service to his country. He is also alive.

Commemorating Track's service by wearing a a black memorial bracelet which is reserved for those dead or even a red bracelet for those missing in action, demonstrates a horrifying contempt for those who gave their last full measure of devotion or an almost unbelievable ignorance of the importance of symbols in American history.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/10/sarah-palins-bigger-blund_n_457474.html

[monmouth]

1. Woman is a walking faux pas...Really...n/t

[cutlassmama]

2. She's so stupid she probably doesn't have a clue. And Americans want

someone THAT stupid with her finger on the button??? Scary, scary thought.

[MindandSoul]

3. You must forgive her. . .she didn't know. . .she doesn't know anything!

[HipChick]

4. where are the military folks calling it offensive..

crickets..

[emilyg]

28. Maybe because it's not offensive.?

[Obamanaut]

35. Isn't there enough that is disagreeable about Sarah that it isn't

necessary to invent stuff?

There is a correction at the OP link now.

CORRECTION: Palin's bracelet is not black and is not meant to memorialize her son Track Palin, but rather to honor his service, according to Herobracelets

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/10/sarah-palins-bigger-blund_n_457474.html

This 28 year Navy vet is not offended, because, in this case, there is nothing offensive.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Those bracelets are sold at marches and rallies

and yes, some have the names of active duty, not dead, troops.

[OregonBlue]

9. The article says that black bracelets are for the fallen. No one is saying she shouldn't wear a

bracelet, only that she should at least know what color is worn for the fallen. Red is for missing in action. Why are you defending Palin? If she knew anything or had bothered to ask, she would have known what color was appropriate.

[HubertHeaver]

19. Or at least a bracelet with the name of a K.I.A. from Alaska,

such as Army Spc. Jacob E. Melson
Age22 Wasilla, Alaska
KIA January 7, 2006
1st Batallion
207th Aviation Regiment
Alaska Army National Guard
Tal Afar, Iraq

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Someone is selling black for the fallen and red for MIAs

and others are selling bracelets with names of active military on them. There is no law saying these bracelets have to be sold only for dead or MIAs. I have several friends who wear them. I have seen them sold at nearly every march and rally I have been to protesting AGAINST the wars.

Now if you want to interpret the FACT I am posting here as defense of Sarah Palin, knock yourself out. My point is this is a silly debate and she is not the only person wearing a bracelet with a name of a soldier who is not dead or MIA.

[Obamanaut]

34. More wasted outrage. Now there is a correction on that page linked

to in the OP

CORRECTION: Palin's bracelet is not black and is not meant to memorialize her son Track Palin, but rather to honor his service, according to Herobracelets

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/10/sarah-palins-bigger-blund_n_457474.html

[gratuitous]

6. Oh, that

IOKIYAR. It's okay if you're a Republican. It would only be a problem for a Democrat. You know, like when Al Gore was recounting the third time he visited the hurricane-stricken Texas Gulf Coast, and he named the wrong FEMA official who accompanied him. The official had been with Gore the first two trips, but it was someone else on the third one. So that proved, you see, what a liar Gore is.

But this? Small beer. Nothing to get worked up about, because Sarah Palin's a Republican. See how that works?

[Obamanaut]

37. Nothing to get worked up about, because as we can see by the

correction at the OP link, there was nothing to get worked up about.

Surely there is something factual, something of substance, to raise one's ire.

[malaise]

7. I am so sick of this

ignoramus - she knows nothing about anything but she's an expert on everything. I detest this semi-literate ignoramus of a Grifter. :puke:

[lunatica]

8. She's doing it to show respect to the troops

She quit as governor to do the same thing. Dontcha know she's doing it to show respect for those who HAVE died.

Don't you know anything?! Palin logic

[Kurt Remarque]

10. she is yet again shockingly ignorant

[emilyg]

30. Perhaps the op was.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. How else would she remember his name?

With the weird handles she's given the kids, who can blame her?

[tanyev]

22. She's got a whole other hand with lots of room on it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

29. It probably says "Eggs" "Bread" "Ammunition" "Lipstick" .....

[spanone]

12. she's a gimmick in a female suit

[Raschel]

16. She's all gimmicky!

:rofl:

[ChicagoSuz219]

13. I had the same thought. n/t

[Raschel]

14. What will be her juvenile response? Taunting cameras with a rainbow bracelet?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

39. No need for one the article is incorrect.

[Kurt Remarque]

15. she left her abstinence bracelet in the washroom

[Obamanaut]

17. These bracelets can be found on several websites in a variety of

colors, and they don't seem to have any guidelines as to color for alive, deceased, KIA, MIA, red, blue, or anything else.

The one I had 'back in the day' with James Stockdale's name was silver. You may remember him from the 1992 presidential campaign.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Let's not confuse them with facts

:rofl:

[emilyg]

24. DU won't hear you. Thanks

for info.

[Hai2u]

18. Except, the article is incorrect...

1) The bracelet isn't black, it's bronze anodized aluminum--seen here: https://www.herobracelets.org/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=6&cat=3&page=1
2) It's a deployment bracelet, not a memorial bracelet.
3) Even Crooks and Liars retracted this story, found here: http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/sarah-palins-bracelet-i-do-not-think

Why? Because the creator of the bracelet notified the original article writer, seen below:

About Ms. Palin's HeroBracelet.

We sent her those bracelets during the last election. When we learned that her son, Track and Senator Biden's son were both being deployed overseas, we sent them both Deployed HeroBracelets with their son's names.

We've been providing Deployed HeroBracelets since 2004 for families to wear while their loved ones were serving. They can be made from sterling, copper, leather or bronze colored anodized aluminum (black is reserved for KIA).<..>

So she isn't out of line for wearing the Deployed HeroBracelet. There are ten's of thousands of families around the country wearing them right now. On the HeroBracelets web site, we've got hundreds of letters from families, many vowing to not take the bracelet off till their loved one comes home.

Chris Greta
Director HeroBracelets.org
www.herobracelets.org

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Thank you. I think we have enough to go after Palin without making shit up.

[Mythbuster]

32. Thank You for the polite explanation. n/t

[Obamanaut]

33. Now, THAT was a good, informative post. Thanks, and welcome

to DU>

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

40. Wow, a direct response. You seemed to be on top of it, and internet savvy....

Great Company. Seriously.

As a suggestion, maybe you folks should consider lightening up the bracelet a little, so to avoid confusion.

[HBravo]

23. There isn't any protocol that stipulates a specific color

for a Memorial Bracelet or Dog Tag. The color is a matter of choice, although black is usually for someone who has passed away.

The color of Vietnam War POW/MIA bracelet or dog tag however does have significance. The standard color for a MIA/POW bracelet is red and KIA is black. Some people still follow this tradition.

People order customized bracelets and dog tags in all of the colors available; however stainless steel and black are the two most popular choices for current KIA bracelets.


www.memorialbracelets.com

Not to defend SP but I thought that also so I asked my neighbor who is retired Army and then checked it out. He confirmed that it only applies to Vietnam but he did think it was in poor taste.

[SnakeEyes]

26. Correction...

Her bracelet is a deployment bracelet not a memorial bracelet.

It is bronzed aluminum not black.

[emilyg]

27. Get your facts straight next time.

[Mythbuster]

31. Please God... Newt/Palin 2012!! n/t

[Obamanaut]

36. Kick for the correction to the article. n/t

[Obamanaut]

38. Yes, it's a false non-story. Here is link to another DUer thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7692988

[mdmc]

41. $

[bridgit]

42. Classic Sarah Palin, a bowl of mayonnaise & voodoo. It won't be long before...

She has Piper burying her hamsters and gold fish in Arlington

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

43. Classic bridgit! Comment without reading first.

[bridgit]

44. Oh David please, its a very short piece easy to understand. Either way...

I am not here to offer solace to Sarah Palin for much of anything until her summary image is improved for the better. That is doubtless the purview of others. Send me a PM when she does so, my sense is that you are tracking her movements more closely than I care to - poor Sarah, but yeah...

I seen that coming so thanks for stopping by, Fire_Medic_Dave

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

46. I just bothered to read the OP before commenting, try it sometime.

[bridgit]

47. I just told you that I did. Now, what is the core of your concern and please be honest this time

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

48. I'm always honest.

[bridgit]

50. MmHm, then even with that being the case you remain combative about the post you initally...

responded to of mine being not all that divergent from the summary media-image (which is where many battles are pulled like taffy) & ideology *of* Sarah Palin - again, unless that summary changes, especially with Dems jumping down other Dem throats for squirts, giggles and meaningless reasons it *won't* be long till Sarah has Piper burying her hamsters & gold fish in Arlington but of course...that can never be, right?



edit: s/u

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

51. Combative...LOL now that's funny.You project way too much.

[bridgit]

52. Nice talking to'ya David, but I don't think you'll ever win a Heisman with a juke like that

[WeDidIt]

45. It was a BROWN bracelet, which is for military members on ACTIVE deployment

Not to support Palin or anything, but it wasn't a faux pas. Brown bracelets are to recognize loved ones on active deployment in a combat zone.

[Divine Discontent]

49. thank you for correcting the OP info. we don't need to give them anything to go on, and you posted

as soon as you could relate it... at least someone verified it.