Sarah Palin or no, it wasn't like I was going to vote for the Republican presidential ticket anyway, but here's something to consider:

Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question.

Ann Kilkenny, a Democrat who said she attended every City Council meeting in Ms. Palin's first year in office, said Ms. Palin brought up the idea of banning some books at one meeting. "They were somehow morally or socially objectionable to her," Ms. Kilkenny said.

The librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, pledged to "resist all efforts at censorship," Ms. Kilkenny recalled. Ms. Palin fired Ms. Emmons shortly after taking office but changed course after residents made a strong show of support. Ms. Emmons, who left her job and Wasilla a couple of years later, declined to comment for this article.

In 1996, Ms. Palin suggested to the local paper, The Frontiersman, that the conversations about banning books were "rhetorical."

Comments

[J.S. Peyton]

Oh, when I first heard about this story I laughed, and I laughed. At first I thought it was a joke, and when I learned that she'd actually tried to fire a librarian I laughed even harder.

But, you know, who needs librarians anyway? We can get rid of them the same time we get rid of all those volunteers and community workers who have no responsibilities.

[Bookchronicle]

I heard about this yesterday and found it really disturbing. Somewhere in the bright sunny landscape of my mind, I thought "we don't do that anymore!" Goodness gracious, this political year is getting worse and worse.

[Stefanie]

Rhetorical my foot! This woman gives me the creeps.

[Courtney]

she makes my head and my heart hurt, as does mccain. is it too much to hope for that smart is back?

[Courtney]

she makes my head and my heart hurt, as does mccain. is it too much to hope for that smart is back?