Did Sarah Palin flip-flop on "The Bridge to Nowhere?"

In here introduction as McCain's pick as his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin had this to say about the infamous Alaska "Bridge to Nowhere" decried as an example of Pork Barrel spending at its worst. She claimed, "I told 'Congress thanks, but no thanks,' on that 'Bridge to Nowhere.' If our state wanted a bridge, I said, we'd build it ourselves."

But let's look at that claim. On August 29, 2008, she says she told Congress "no thanks" on money for the bridge. But what did she actually say at the time? It took a bit of digging, her office's press release from September 21, 2007 paints a much different picture.

"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," said Governor Palin. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island," Governor Palin added. Source of Quote

"Despite the work of our congressional delegation?"But didn't she tell "ongress no thanks!"Still, this could be interpreted as "he congressional delegation wanted it, but I didn't."So let's go earlier for a quote. October 22, 2006, Palin was asked:

Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?"

Her response was solid:

Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." Source of Quote

The implication is clear. Governor Palin wanted Alaska's congressional delegation to get Federal funding for the Bridge to Nowhere. When they were unable to secure full funding, she canceled the project, willing only to spend Federal money on the bridge, not State money.

(My thanks to Stan Simpson for this report.)