Sarah Palin is a middle class, average American?

[TornadoTN]

I think out of all of the lines that she threw out last - with the exception of the expansion of the role of the Vice Presidency - the lines that were the most nonsensical and logic-defying are the repeated attempts to classify herself as "Middle Class", "Average", and "Hard-Working".

Now, don't get me wrong - she's no CEO of Exxon Mobil or a spouse of a beer heiress, but isn't it stretching the truth just a *wee* bit to call yourself "middle class" when your net worth is well over a cool million? Around my part of the country, granted the cost of living is relatively lower, but anyone making under $100,000 are considered middle class - and even some that make more than that are struggling with the current economy.

I acknowledge that her entire debate was a ready written script of talking points on 3x5 notecards - but when she came of those cards, its pretty obvious that the woman just threw shit out for the sake of throwing shit and seeing which ones would stick.

[maseman]

1. I read yesterday that she and Todd are worth

over $1,000,000. That's middle class?

[Vinca]

2. They also own a plane. Apparently that's a requirement

to be on the Republican ticket.

[TornadoTN]

6. I don't know any middle-class Americans that own a plane

Maybe a radio controlled airplane, but that's it.

It's insulting to the people who are actually in the middle class to have Palin throw herself amongst them and pretend she's "one of them".

[maseman]

8. Actually I own a plane

It's a Cessna 172. Basically a chain saw with wings. I've seen geese getting more airspeed than me before.

[Ninga]

3. She is a classless political hack, and simple. No depth. No original thought. No nothing.

[spinbaby]

4. It depends on how you define middle class

What many people miss is that class is about more than just money. Financially, they probably fit into the upper middle class--they're certainly not seriously wealthy--and they seem to have achieved it very recently. In matters of taste and education, they fall more into the very bottom of the middle class or even lower. This is a family that probably doesn't read but does enjoy a good monster truck rally.

[electron_blue]

10. Okay, maybe not seriously wealthy, but wealthy. New rich.

I'll give them that they may have middle class roots, I don't know what their family history is.

[Clovis Sangrail]

5. I don't know what the Palin family income is

but coming from Ca slightly over $1 million in assets doesn't mean much.
I'm used to seeing fixer-upper 3 bedroom houses cost $650k or more.

[TornadoTN]

7. You have a point - but where McCain needs votes, there is no way she could be considered Middle

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and others - the median family income is right around the national average. I know here in Tennessee anyone with her assets and income would be handily considered to be in the Upper class with no debate whatsoever.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. even in many parts of Texas. In fact most of Texas outside of certain neighborhoods

in Ft Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston; probably also El Paso and Corpus Christi.

Fort Worth has a surprisingly large # of multi- millionaires and billionaires for a city of its size, for example.

But most of us folks down here are at the middle of middle class and struggling to stay there. Two income working families with a mortgage and at least one car note and a couple pay cycles away from disaster if the health insurance is lost due to job change, or one of the incomes is lost.

We also have a growing below middle population, due to many things. Job loss, medical disasters, mortgage mess, inability to replace the old job with one that at least pays the same as the old one, price of gas and the impact of that on every aspect of our lives.

[TornadoTN]

11. Thank you - I think its very insulting of her to classify herself as such

She doesn't have a clue what any of these circumstances are like. Maybe she did years ago, but since she took over the Mayorship that she likes to flaunt so often - she and her husband have been raking in the cash. I'm quite sure that having a net worth well over a million dollars is well above middle class standards in Alaska.

[Clovis Sangrail]

15. the governor of Alaska gets a salary of $125k

she got paid another $60k in per diem and travel expense reimbursements.

$125k fabulously wealthy but it's NOT middle class.
$185k is nowhere *near middle class

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/01/america/NA-POL-US-Palins-Finances.php

[Bread and Circus]

12. She said that her family is planning for college -

for who? Her son in Iraq or her daughter who is getting married and having a baby? Has anyone even graduated or is the home schooling running behind due to the busy schedule?

[TornadoTN]

13. Probably planning on sending Sarah back to college

What would that make, seven colleges for a bachelors degree?

[Jennicut]

14. Biden's total assets are still less then her's are. I found all of her middle class talk amusing.