We'd Like to Hear Palin's Take on Chicago History...

Sadly, it does not look like Sarah Palin’s One Nation bus tour will be swinging through Chicago. No doubt you’ve seen the video from the Boston stop and her…interesting…take on the legacy of Paul Revere. Thank goodness he was there to ring those bells and warn the British about our guns! It’s a bummer that we won’t get to see how she would mangle a retelling of our fair city’s unique history. Still, it is fun to imagine the potential Bizarre-o versions that could have been…

“I think it is so cool that Ronald Regan lived here as a child, so they erected a giant jelly bean statue in his honor.”
“Jean Baptiste Point du Sable was Chicago’s first Black Mayor. Was he before or after Al Capone ran this town?”
“I think it says a lot about America, the way the media goes after us Mama Grizzlies and blame us for so many things unfairly. I mean…look at Mrs. O’Leary gettin’ accused of setting that fire so many years ago.”
“It is amazing what this City has done with its river. A century ago it was reversed, but I am more impressed that you have kept it green to show respect for the contribution that the Irish have made here.”
“Of course Obama taught at University of Chicago---that’s where they had the first nuclear disaster.”
"Wait, this town has been home to Common, Rahm Emanuel, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and Obama. What's wrong with you people?"

Surely you can do better Chicagoistas… What parts of this town’s checkered past would you have liked to hear her weigh in on? Show us whatcha got.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@chicagoist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By JoshMogerman in News on June 4, 2011 2:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Tom

A history professor was interviewed about this on NPR.MELISSA BLOCK, host: So you think basically, on the whole, Sarah Palin got her history right.
Prof. ALLISON: Well, yeah, she did. And remember, she is a politician. She's not an historian. And God help us when historians start acting like politicians, and I suppose when politicians start writing history.

Jay111

She was right after all, he did warn the British. *cricket chirp*

ChicagoD

Ha ha ha. Watch the clip. She has absolutely no idea what Paul Revere did. She thought it was a protest against the British. You can spin and spin and spin, but she looks like a fifth grader trying to bullshit an answer. That was awesome.

tahonta

Ah yes, start at page 4......
http://www.masshist.org/databa...

ChicagoD

No doubt that Palin was taking that nuanced approach and had read these source documents. That's awesome. I hope hope hope she and Trump form a ticket in 2012. That would be sweeeeeet.

jmogs

...and where do you see something about him ringing bells?

Timothy Brian Foley

Okay the reason why she hates chicago and quit her job as governor In alaska because she hates work and hates to work not one nice thing she said about us let alone stop by here on her tour hate the TEA party let alone bums and losers and slobs like sarah palin republicans can find someone better fit for the job her and newt gingrich are despised by all even other republicans so they need to vote for someone who gets It she don't and she wwouldn't caryy Illinois or otehr midwest states even If she tried to run she won't run trust me.

BlueFairlane

Commas are your friends.

snoopoz

Come on, Chicagoist. I like to ridicule Sarah Palin as much as the next guy, but this has nothing to do with Chicago, and all it's going to do is stir up a shitstorm.

Roark

Howard Dean, the former Democratic National Committee chairman who
helped Democrats capture the White House in 2008, warns that Sarah Palin
could defeat President Obama in 2012.

ChicagoD

Howard Dean is the Justin Bieber of Democratic politics. Lots of noise, lots of screaming kids, but essentially irrelevant.

jmogs

Nobody said you have to be a genius to be President. But you should have to have a concept of American history. If we are going to force naturalized citizens to take a test on the subject, maybe we should consider the same thing for those seeking office?

Prescott Carlson

Well, to be fair, Palin is not yet officially "seeking office." But yeah, that sounded pretty bad.

Roark

President Obama wolfs down TWO chili dogs and fries... the day after his wife unveils new dietary guide

jmogs

At least he didn't claim they were health food or praise them as cornerstones of the nutrition pyramid. That's a bit more akin to the Palin-Paul Revere thing...

erik75

I think she's so popular because she's stupid like 98% of the population. It makes people feel comforted.

John Robinson

"Chicago is home to the largest Polish population outside Poland - which is a region in Russia - which I can see from my front porch back in Alaska, don'tchaknow."