Finally... Someone calls it what it is "resume padding" and "a pattern of embellishment"

[krkaufman]

The AP describes "resume padding", "insecurity", "a pattern of embellishment" and "overcompensating."

Sarah's Flight of Fancy
By RON FOURNIER
Sep. 11, 2008
Associated Press Writer

Why wasn't the truth good enough for Sarah Palin?

That's a question worth considering as the governor and former mayor tries to contain damage to her credibility after getting caught exaggerating the her record on "The Bridge to Nowhere" and earmarks opposition. Two others: Is there a pattern of embellishment? And is she held to a higher standard than her rival, Barack Obama?

The answers: Yes, she's held to a higher standard and, yes, she does exaggerate her credentials. Perhaps she's driven by insecurity; Palin must think her resume needs padding to reflect "many years of experience" and the promise to be "ready on Day One."

Otherwise, the truth would have sufficed.

... (cut) ...

And so the best explanation for her Bridge embellishment may be this simple, and this human: She's overcompensating.

That would explain why it wasn't good enough to say she used the tools available to her to help fund her state and the rapid growth of her hometown of Wasilla, but agrees with her running mate now. No, Palin claims "I have championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress."

She didn't just liquidate an unnecessary government asset, an airplane. No, "she put it on eBay", or, as her running mate claims, "She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on e-Bay. And made a profit!"

Polls show that voters wonder about Palin's honesty and authenticity. The Bridge story plays to that character issue. As former Vice President Al Gore could tell her, once the media and voters start doubting a candidate's integrity, every episode that fits that narrative gets blown out of proportion.

Well, at least that's how the story would read if the AP's Ron Fournier were an objective journalist. Instead, we're left to construct the above from Fournier's analysis of another candidate, from March of 2008. (where changes from the original are noted by an alternate font color)

I consider Hillary's few exaggerations of Bosnia sniper fire (after months on the campaign trail), and then the growing list of lies and exaggerations associated with Gov. Palin... and am left in awe at the difference in media coverage.

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My recommendation is simple. The Obama campaign needs Hillary to take the lead, making the direct link between the media's coverage of her "Bosnia sniper fire" exaggerations and their lack of coverage of the audacious pattern of lies the McCain campaign is putting forth to construct an image of Palin as experienced and a reformer.