Christopher Hayes, an editor at The Nation and adoring fan of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, claims that Sarah Palin was a Buchananite based on an AP report that Palin wore a Buchanan button to a Buchanan campaign event in 1999. This news led to Democratic congressman Robert Wexler's frothing-at-the-mouth attack on Palin's alleged anti-Israel beliefs evident in her alleged endorsement of Buchanan.
But, as Ben Smith reports, and both Wexler and Hayes fail to note, Palin "promptly responded to the story in a letter to the editor, saying that 'the article may have left your readers with the perception that I am endorsing this candidate, as opposed to welcoming his visit to Wasilla. As mayor, I will welcome all the candidates in Wasilla.'" In fact, Palin was involved in the campaign of Republican Steve Forbes in 2000.
Last night, Buchanan claimed that Palin was a "brigader" for him in 1996 and attended a fundraiser, but there's no evidence that she contributed to the campaign or was involved in it. And if Palin did attend a fundraiser of the former host of CNN's Crossfire, does that prove that she shared his views on Israel?
