We will always remember the gift of his music and the light it brought to to millions around the world.

From the Anchorage Daily News

1. – July 28, 2008 – Alaska lawmakers launched an investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan over his refusal to let go a state trooper involved in a contentious divorce with Palin’s sister. Stephen Branchflower, a special counsel leading the investigation, concluded Oct. 10 that Palin violated a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. The firing itself was deemed lawful since Monegan was an at-will employee.

2. – Aug. 6, 2008 – Complaint filed by outspoken Palin critic Andree McLeod of Anchorage contended Palin and some staff members used their influence to get a Palin supporter a job in state government. Complaint alleged Palin staffers helped Tom Lamal, who once co-hosted a Palin fundraiser, to get a job as a surveyor. Dismissed by state personnel board, although the board’s investigator recommended ethics training for one staffer who made questionable comments in e-mails.

3. – Aug. 20, 2008 – Complaint accused Palin of breaking election law by taking a public position on a mining ballot initiative days before the vote. Filed by Brian Kraft, founder of the Bristol Bay Alliance, a group that opposed the Pebble Mine prospect. Rejected May 8 by the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
- Aug. 29, 2008 – Palin named as John McCain’s running mate.

4. – Sept. 2, 2008 – Palin filed a “self disclosure” with the state personnel board over the Troopergate affair, saying a state legislative probe had become too political. On Nov. 3 – the day before the election – Timothy Petumenos, a lawyer hired by the board, said that Palin violated no ethics laws when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. (This is the one that is costing Palin the most money. The one she filed against herself.)

5. – Sept. 3, 2008 – Complaint by the Public Safety Employees Association alleged Palin or her staff had unauthorized access to and improperly disclosed information from personnel records of Trooper Mike Wooten, Palin’s ex-brother-in-law. Complaint was later amended to include an allegation of harassment. The PSEA’s allegations were investigated alongside Palin’s filing and also dismissed.

6. – Oct. 13, 2008 – Monegan asked the board for a hearing to clear his name. Petumenos, in his Nov. 3 Troopergate report to the panel, said there was no legal basis or jurisdiction for such a hearing.

7. – Oct. 23, 2008 – Complaint with the Federal Election Commission by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleged the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her vice presidential quest violated Federal Election Campaign Act. The Washington watchdog group argued that candidates aren’t supposed to use donor money for personal expenses. The FEC ruled May 19 that party money is not covered by the ban.

8. – Oct. 24, 2008 – Complaint contended Palin abused her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her. The personnel board found no wrongdoing, but in a Feb. 23 settlement Palin agreed to reimburse the state about $10,000 for costs associated with 10 trips found to be of questionable state interest among 72 travel authorizations studied. The money is due to the state on Tuesday.

9. – Nov. 14, 2008 – Accused Palin of partisan “post-election damage control” for talking to reporters about the campaign in her state office. Filed by Zane Henning, a North Slope worker from Wasilla, Palin’s hometown. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.

10. – Dec. 2, 2008 – Alleged Palin violated ethics law by campaigning for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Filed by Anthony Martin of Talkeetna. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.

11. – Dec. 18, 2008 – Complaint contended Palin misused funds of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, a quasi-government entity, to promote her political ambitions with advertisements featuring her, violating ethics law. The ads promoting Alaska seafood ran in the National Fisherman last year through November. Dismissed Jan. 12 after a personnel board investigation determined Palin’s only involvement was to give permission to use her image long before she was named McCain’s running mate.

12. – Jan. 12 – Complaint alleging interference in a job hiring was filed under the name of Edna Birch, a busybody character on the British soap opera Emmerdale. Palin’s attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said no one by that name could be found living in Alaska and the filer refused to use a real name, so the complaint was dismissed Feb. 20. (THIS one might have been frivolous.)

13. and 14. – Jan. 26 – Two complaints filed by McLeod alleged two of Palin’s top aides misused their official positions for Palin’s personal and political gain. The complaints said then-press secretary Bill McAllister and Kris Perry – director of the governor’s Anchorage office – worked on state time to benefit Palin’s interests during and after her vice presidential quest. Pending.

15. – March 18 – Contended Palin improperly used state staff, property, time and equipment for partisan political purposes. One of the grievances cited was Palin’s posting of her veep candidacy on the official state governor’s Web site – http://gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1439&type=1 Complaint filed by McLeod. Dismissed May 27 as lacking merit by personnel board May 27.

16. – March 24 – Contended conflict of interest by Palin because she wore Arctic Cat logo gear during the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race. Palin’s husband, Todd, is sponsored by Arctic Cat in the race. Filed by Linda Kellen Biegel, a Democratic blogger. Dismissed June 2.

17. – April 22 – Alleged that work with Palin’s political action committee violated two provisions of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by misusing her official position and accepting outside employment. Filed by Anchorage resident Sondra Tompkins. Dismissed as lacking merit by state personnel board May 8.

18. – April 27 – Contends Palin is misusing the governor’s office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust. The fund was recently established by supporters to help Palin pay off more than $500,000 in legal debts stemming from other ethics complaints, including troopergate. Complaint filed by Eagle River resident, Kim Chatman. Pending.

Boy, Illinois really has some competition in Alaska don’t they?

05/26/09
Alaskans Honor Dead As Palin Pulls Diva Card

In January, I spoke with a member of the Alaska Joint Armed Services Committee. He was really excited about the Memorial Day commemoration being planned; The Decoration of Honor Ceremony. Alaska is only the second state to have such a service, and I was honored to be invited.

From the Program: The Alaska Decoration of Honor was created to recognize the Alaskan service members who have been killed in action or in support of combat. The medal is awarded on behalf of the people of the State of Alaska to show our gratitude to the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in serving our state and nation.

Despite several months of notice, the governor didn’t commit to be at the ceremony until the morning of the event-hence her conspicuous absence in the program. Before the program went to the printers, the governor had been given a deadline. Silence. Perhaps she was waiting for Greta’s call.

Governor Palin insisted she be sat on stage and demanded time for a speech. She spoke before the invocation and flag presentation as to not be “off program.” It was certainly appropriate for the governor to speak at such a high level ceremony, but her high level maintenance made it difficult for those that planned it.

I talked to a Republican lawmaker earlier today and told her how honored I felt to be there. She commented on the governor’s attire. The most somber occasion I have attended, and the governor wore a mini skirt. Neat. Way to comfort the families of fallen soldiers; give them tickets to the “bare legs show.” One side of the auditorium was waiting for “Basic Instinct” shot, Alaska style.

Even Sarah Palin, in full diva regalia, couldn’t ruin the day. She just looked cheap.

05/30/09
I’ll Take Palin Fibs and Fables for $200, Alex.

“The feds.” It’s a slang term that most of us are used to seeing after the words “seized by” or before the words “raided the house.” It’s never said with respect or fondness. Rarely do you hear someone say “the feds are trying to give me money,” or “the feds want to weatherize my house.”

And never have I heard a governor of one of the 50 states, that is actually part of the country, call the federal government “the feds.” I would no more expect that than I would expect to hear them talk about “the fuzz” or “the coppers.”

But Sarah Palin never disappoints. I’ve heard her say “the feds” before, but now here it is in black and white, in a compass piece in the Anchorage Daily News, talking about why she continues to stand by her rejection of almost $30 million in federal money for weatherization and energy projects in the very cold and very deserving state of Alaska.

06/02/09
ANCHORAGE, Alaska –

Alaska Sen. Mark Begich says the Obama administration is frustrated with the lack of progress on a pipeline that could deliver North Slope natural gas to Lower 48 markets.

Begich says he wants President Obama to elevate the line to the national energy agenda instead of treating it as a state project.

Begich spoke Monday in Anchorage.

Begich says Obama has indicated that a natural gas pipeline is one of the top five projects he wants to move forward.

Gov. Sarah Palin and legislative leaders awarded a Canadian company, Calgary-based TransCanada Corp., a state license to build a pipeline and with it up to $500 million in incentives.

A company formed by ConocoPhillips and BP PLC is proposing its own pipeline without the incentives.

Yes the same pipeline that Sarah touted as already built and up and running in her remarks at the Republican National Convention. Remember, the same pipeline that made her an expert in energy. Yes, that pipeline. Too bad half a billion dollars is gone to a foreign country and no progress on the pipeline. Now what Sarah?

06/03/09
Cat Gate and The Twitter Chronicles

You want to know the latest news about the governor, and the status of ethics complaints filed against her? Are you checking out the State of Alaska website? Silly you. For the hot cutting-edge news, you’ve got to be hooked up to the Twitter.
She even beat the Anchorage Daily News with this one.

Too bad the board that investigates ethics in Alaska was all appointed by her and can be found in Sarah’s High School yearbook from Wasilla.

06/04/09
“Screw Political Correctness” Sarah Palin in Her Own Words

I want to welcome tonight our good Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell who I can’t see, but I know he’s here. (applause) My brother Chuck Heath is here, and my husband Alaska’s First Dude Todd Palin is here somewhere. (applause)

So I have the honor of getting to speak with you for a bit here before I get to introduce to you Michael Reagan, and what I want to do in introducing Michael is to continue to encourage him to continue to be bold and to call it like he sees it, and to screw political correctness that some would expect him to have to adhere to.

We want him to be bold. We need him to be bold.

Mr. Reagan, we need your voice to be loud and strong, and we appreciate him. He doesn’t shy away from the tough issues and that is so good. He never lets anyone tell him to sit down and shut up, and I would hope Alaska our voice too will be heard across this nation. I look forward to hearing from Michael Reagan tonight because America must learn from him, from his remarkable father, and that remarkable presidency.

Just a portion of The Governor’s remarks when introducing Michael Reagan adopted son of former President Ronald Reagan. Let’s just say Ronnie must be rolling over in his grave.

06/05/09
Sarah Palin – You’ve Got Mail AND a Wakeup Call!

Governor Palin got a letter yesterday from House Democrats. Seems they intend to vote to override her veto of $28.6 million in federal funds offered to the state of Alaska for energy relief.

“This issue has been researched thoroughly by legislative staff and we couldn’t find one string attached to those funds,” said Anchorage Republican Rep. Charisse Millett.

Another Alaska Republican, Anchorage Rep. Mike Hawker, said Palin is wrong about the building codes: “We’ve researched this thoroughly, and the governor’s folks now have received a letter from the (U.S. Department of Energy) basically saying that you don’t have to come up with all these building codes.”

And from yet another Alaska Republican, Anchorage Senator Lesil McGuire: “When we researched the facts on it, the strings that were discussed were not there.”

So, does that mean the Republicans will vote with the Dems?

“I would be surprised if we didn’t override her,” North Pole Republican Rep. John Coghill said Thursday.

06/05/09
Boots on the Ground in Auburn, NY

Then off to New York she goes to as Sarah would say, progress Alaska. So quickly that she didn’t even shake hads with or speak to Michael Reagan after his into. She jetted off the stage on her way to real America. Seems Sarah went to NY to celebrate the statehood of Alaska. Sarah’s team has long promoted and is still promoting this as a ‘Sarah’ event.
They neglected to tell anyone that Meg Stapleton’s (SarahPAC spokesperson when she isn’t the Governor’s spokesperson – yeah figure that one out) father works at and arranged for Sarah to be invited to this event as a guest. But her team is really pushing this as an event that she was invited to due to her popularity. This is a event that takes place every year, with food and shop vendors, carnivals and parades, yet Meg and Team Sarah would have us believe they were all there for Sarah.

At least she didn’t forget to pack her pretty pumps and short skirts for the trip.

06/06/09
Palin is Pallin’ Around With Plagiarists?

Todd Palin, that is. That’s because the plagiarist is none other than the Governor, herself.

Geoffrey Dunn over at Huffington Post read my transcript of Palin’s 17 minute introduction of Michael Reagan, and a little bell went off in his head. He had a strange feeling he’d heard all this somewhere before…..(except in English)…..

(insert harp music here, as things get all blurry)

I realized I had read some of this before. So I tracked down the original Gingrich-Shirley article, “Republicans Need to Relearn Lessons of the Reagan Revolution” which appeared in the Union Leader, November 1, 2005, and is also online.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Palin was accused by Daily Kos of plagiarizing a Hillary Clinton passage. In that instance it was, at worse, petty larceny; in this case, it’s grand theft.

Dunn goes on to compare passages of the original, and Palin’s knock-off.

06/07/09
Palin on GOP – They Turned Me into a Newt! Again.

To truly appreciate the latest incident between the Republican Party and Governor Sarah Palin, it’s helpful to take a moment to refresh our memories.

I posted a while backabout the strange and devolving relationship between Sarah Palin and the GOP when it comes to “making dates”. Here’s a quick recap.

First Palin says she can’t speak at the GOP winter retreat because she’s got homework in Alaska, and then shows up that same night at the Alfalfa Club Dinner across town in D.C. Then she commits to speak at the CPAC convention, confirms, and then cancels. Now, she’s all set to deliver the keynote address on June 8 at the Republican Senate-House dinner, it gets announced to the press, and published in all the papers and blogs, and over the airwaves, and then. Ohhhhhh! Lucy pulls the football! Again.

Then on March 31, this little gem from the Republicans about Palin’s involvement with the biggest fundraiser of the year:

“After initially confirming her attendance, Governor Palin’s team informed the Committees that her gubernatorial responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing until the end of the legislative session. We completely understand and respect Governor Palin’s focus on her official state business; however, there is obviously an enormous amount of planning that goes into this annual event. For that reason, we invited and are honored to have former Speaker Newt Gingrich join us as our speaker at the 2009 Senate-House Dinner. As one of our Party’s brightest minds and most energetic speakers, we are looking forward to having former Speaker Gingrich provide the keynote address on June 8.”

Keep in mind that the event in Auburn, NY that she attended yesterday was on her calendar long before the end of the legislative session, but for some reason she couldn’t seem to commit to the event above. So Newt was recruited.

Get ready for deja vu, all over again. Sort of.

It’s happening all over again, but this time the roles have changed. In this act, the role of Charlie Brown will now be played by Sarah Palin, and the football-pullin’ Lucy will be played by NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions.

After being invited — for a second time — to speak to the annual joint fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Palin was told abruptly Saturday night that she would not be allowed to address the thousands of Republicans there after all.

The Alaska governor may now skip the dinner altogether, and her allies are miffed at what they see as a slight from the congressional wing of the Republican Party.

The reason given for the snub, said a Palin aide, was that NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions was concerned about not wanting to upstage former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the fundraising gala’s keynote speaker.

Two sources confirm that Stephen Colbert’s trip is, so far, officially to “The Persian Gulf,” though there are hints from outside sources that it’s Iraq (also, duh, it’s definitely Iraq).

But Sarah Palin still blew his cover and again reminded us why we are so very, very lucky that President Obama and Vice President Biden are the ones in the White House. That’s the lesson for all you tweeting twits……..be careful what you tweet. Classic Sarah! It was only a matter of time.

The Mudflats had an open thread today with ideas for book titles. AKM specifically asked that only book titles be posted, nothing off topic. As of 12:21AM CST Weds. 05/14/09 there were 622 comments.

The title suggestions are MUST READ! Grab a drink and enjoy!

Monday night Jesse was the guest on Larry King and had a lot to say about the former President and Vice President, waterboarding, Norm Coleman, Colin Powell, Cuba and much more.

Some highlights:

Ventura said he was waterboarded as part of his Navy SEAL training, although he felt it really served no purpose. As expected he was not shy or reserved about his views. “It’s a good thing I’m not president,” Ventura said. “I would prosecute every person involved in that torture. I would prosecute the people that did it. I would prosecute the people that ordered it. Because torture is against the law.”

He went on to say “I’ll put it to you this way: you give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I’ll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.”

Ventura also challenged Cheney for avoiding service during the Vietnam War with 6college deferments. “Clearly, he’s a coward. He wouldn’t go when it was his time to go.”

As for Cheney’s boss, Ventura called former President George W. Bush “the worst president of my lifetime. Barack Obama inherited something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

What did he have to say about Colin Powell?

And then you look at Dick Cheney who ran and hid. I have no respect for Dick Cheney. I have tremendous respect for General Powell.

What does Jesse think of Norm Coleman?

“Coleman’s always been a hypocrite,” said Ventura …
“He never does what he says,” Ventura added. “He said on Election Night [in 2008], when he won, that Franken should drop out and he should be the senator. Well, the same should hold true after the recount.”

And why is Jesse talking about Cuba? Because he’s wants the job of first ambassador to Cuba if President Obama will have him.

“I went there as a governor, I felt comfortable with the Cuban people, I met with Fidel Castro when I was there as governor,” Ventura said, adding that U.S.-Cuba relations should be normalized.

“They love the American people, they just dislike our government,” he said.

Now if we can just find out what Jesse thinks of the nutcase Michelle Bachmann. I do believe he’d tear dear Michelle to pieces, but we’ll have to wait for that I guess.

Either way I for one am happy to hear from Jesse again and hope we see much more of him in the future.

1. Health Care: The Obama White House cleared an important hurdle in the health care reform debate when it appropriated $19 billion in the stimulus package to help implement an electronic medical record system. The money is paltry compared to the hundreds of billions set aside for an overhaul of the health care system in the budget. But officials inside and out of the White House say its significance is hard to overstate.

“We need to have health IT so we have a better idea both of what works but also… so people can share information,” Zeke Emanuel, Obama’s health care adviser told the Huffington Post in mid-March. “We are on our way in a way that we have never committed ourselves before.”

2. Communications: A presidential campaign built on innovative messaging and advanced technology has, naturally, become a White House defined by similar characteristics. As such, the reach of the administration’s new media efforts – from hosting online question-and-answer sessions with the president to publishing the first White House blog – has been as expected as appreciated. It’s unfortunate, said one tech savvy Democrat, because the new policies have had tangible impacts. “The White House streams every event with the president on its website, even press events,” he said. “It’s remarkable because, this Sunday they held a swine flu press conference that ordinary people [including many who may have been personally nervous about the topic] were able to watch online… Before you had to wait for a readout or hope that CSPAN would cover it. This is one of those things that people don’t quite understand the significance of.”

3. Transportation: Since the passage of the economic stimulus package in mid-February, the Obama Department of Transportation has approved 2,500 highway projects. The movement of stimulus money out the door has been as swift as it has been effective: $9.3 billion has been spent in all 50 states. Touting its impact, DOT officials say 260,000 jobs are expected from this investment. And with competition for contracts fierce, the department is set to approve even more projects than previously envisioned. “There will be more money for additional transportation projects,” said the official.

4. Education: Maligned for its handling of the financial and banking crises, the Obama Treasury Department has nevertheless implemented policies with real qualitative and quantitative impact on debt-burdened families. Chief among those was a $2,500 tax credit to help offset the cost of tuition (among other expenses) for those seeking a college education. Nearly five million families are expected to save $9 billion, according to Treasury officials.

5. Cars: The automobile industry at the White House and Congress’s behest has undergone seismic structural changes, managerial reorganization, and massive cuts in employment. But for all the tough love, the president has put in place the framework for an industry recovery. Perhaps the most significant of steps was to allocate $2 billion in stimulus cash for advanced batteries systems. One high-ranking Hill aide called battery technology “the next big frontier” in the automotive world, adding that if the U.S. could dominate this market it would reclaim its perch as the world’s premier car manufacturer.

6. Pakistan: Cognizant of a destabilizing situation in Pakistan, the administration’s diplomatic team, with a major assist from Japan, secured $5 billion in aid commitments “to bolster the country’s economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism” within the country. The money, as Pakistan observers — notably Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry – note, will prove instrumental in bringing the nation away from the brink of failure and increased Taliban control.

7. Cities: More than any prior president, Obama has put a spotlight on America’s struggling cities, even creating an office of Urban Policy in the White House. It is the Justice Department, however, that lays claim to one of the most consequential of urban affairs achievements. Through the Recovery Act, DOJ secured $2 billion for Byrne Grants, which funds anti-gang and anti-gun task forces. The money, cut during the Bush years, is expected to have massive ramifications on inner-city crime and violence.

8. Engaging the Muslim World: While certainly discussed, foreign affairs experts insist that Obama’s engagement with the Muslim world has been at once remarkable and under-appreciated. From the first interview with Al Arabiya to his Nowruz address to the Iranian people, to his proclamation that “American is not at war with Islam” during an appearance in Turkey, seasoned observers have been routinely impressed. “Through these [statements and interviews],” said one Democratic foreign policy hand, “He has been able to dramatically change America’s image in that region.”

9. Forests: Since taking office, the White House has put under federal protection more than two million acres of wilderness, thousands of miles of river and a host of national trails and parks. The conservation effort – the largest in the last 15 years – came with the stroke of a pen when Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 in late March.

10. Tone: Leaving a meeting at the White House on Tuesday a progressive member of the House of Representatives commented to the Huffington Post just how impressed she was with the president’s manner. “He is so calm,” said the member, “and has a great ability to make you feel like you’re being respected and listened to.”

It is not, necessarily, a unique observation. But among many Democrats and even casual observers, Obama’s tone is cited as one of the chief catalysts for his outstanding early poll numbers. “Despite record job loss,” said one Democratic aide, “there’s still hope in America.” Indeed, from the beginning of his presidency the percentage of people who believe the nation is headed in the right direction has risen from 19 percent to 42 percent, according to a recent ABC News-Washington Post Poll. Minus that calming influence, these numbers don’t exist and neither does the Obama agenda as we know it.

But I knew the morning after she lost the Miss USA pageant that this woman was going to take advantage of America’s need to blow up the outlandish.

Just like the instant political ‘expert’ Joe The Plumber. You remember Joe. The same Joe The Plumber who was hired by John McCain to visit an Obama event and then ask him a question that the McCain camp provided him with. You remember, Joe the then unemployed plumber was very concerned about all those folks making $250,000 or more a year. Remember, Joe was so worried that Obama was going to raise taxes on the rich and they would have to pay their fair share of taxes, You know that was just so unfair to Joe, especially since he hadn’t paid his taxes and even more unfair to Joe since he would be getting a tax cut. Yeah, that Joe. The same Joe who now says he won’t let queers anywhere near his children in case some of their ‘gayness’ might jump off and stick to his kids. Who cares that Joe’s ignorance and hate might rub off on his kids, just as long as the ‘gayness’ keeps its distance.

And now we Ms. California Carrie Prejean. She was first runner up in the Miss USA Pageant, who ‘supports opposite’ marriages, but fervently believes the bible says marriage is only between a man/woman. Yeah that Carrie. True to form, the right-wing media and wing-nuts happily wrapped themselves around her and touted her as the female, blonde and busty version of Joe The Plumber.

Seems Ms. Prejean has had quite a confusing and hypocritical upbringing. She is now touting her good Christian morals. Ms. Prejean wants us to believe she’s a good old fashioned christian girl who is so true to her morals, she had to take a stand when she answered that question. Well, I have one question for Ms. Prejean, exactly where did you learn those good Christian morals?

I’d love to hear the sermon or to read the passage in the bible that made Ms. Prejean think God wanted her to take her clothes off and pose nude for pictures when she was just a teenager. And while we’re at it I’d also like to hear the sermon or bible passage that suggests you need large, silicone breasts to represent your state or those good old Christian values and better yet, get someone else to pay for them for ya!

I don’t ever remember once being told by my Christian parents or my preacher ever suggesting that God wants us to be sexy, make money from our bodies or to live our lives concerned with fame and vanity.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Ms. Prejean is a different kind of ‘Christian’ all together. Even the state of California which Ms. Prejean wanted to represent is confused how nude photos of their Ms. representative is touting any kind of values, let alone Christian values.

An early crusader for women’s rights to vote who also for an end to slavery, Truth met presidents Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and Ulysses S. Grant in 1870, and delivered her signature “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at a women’s rights convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. She tried to vote on two occasions, but was turned away both times. She died in November 1883 at her home in Battle Creek, Mich.

Lawmakers, students and actress Cicely Tyson were among those who gathered at the visitor’s center to celebrate Truth’s legacy and watch Mrs. Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others unveil the bronze bust of Truth.

“We’re here because of barriers she challenged and fought to tear down, and paths she helped to forge and trod alone,” Clinton said to an audience made up mostly of women.

Artist Artis Lane created the bust, which was paid for with private money.

Truth’s sculpture will remain on permanent display in the underground visitor center’s main space, called Emancipation Hall in part because slaves helped build the Capitol.

The First Lady’s Remarks:

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you so much. I’m not going to talk long because everybody has said just about everything that can be said. But let me tell you something, I am proud to be here.

I want to congratulate everyone who was a part of making this day possible: the NCBW, all of the elected official, C. DeLores Tucker, her family, the family of Sojourner Truth. It is just a sheer delight to have you here witnessing this.

But let’s just think about this day and this gathering. It is so good to see this hall filled with so many strong women — a few brothers in here, a few people — (applause) — but such a diverse group of people crowding this hall. And one can only imagine what Sojourner Truth, an outspoken, tell-it-like-it-is kind of woman — and we all know a little something about that, right — (applause) — just to imagine what she would have to say about this incredible gathering, just looking down on this day, and thinking about the legacy she has left all of us — because we are all here because, as my husband says time and time again, we stand on the shoulders of giants like Sojourner Truth. (Applause.)

And just as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott would be pleased to know that we have a woman serving as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as the First Lady of the United States of America. (Applause.) So I am proud to be here. I am proud to be able to stand here on this day with this dedication.

And just as many young boys and girls have walked through this Capitol — I see them now, and they see the bust of suffragists and hear the stories of the struggles of women, what they had to endure to gain the right to vote — now many young boys and girls, like my own daughters, will come to Emancipation Hall and see the face of a woman who looks like them. (Applause.)

And all the visitors in the U.S. Capitol will hear the story of brave women who endured the greatest of humanities — indignities. They’ll hear the story of Sojourner Truth who didn’t allow those indignities to destroy her spirit, who fought for her own freedom, and then used her powers, young people — then she used her power to help others; who fought for the right to vote and for the rights of all women.

The power of this bust will not just be in the metal that delineates Sojourner Truth’s face; it will also be in the message that defines her legacy.

Forever more, in the halls of one of our country’s greatest monuments of liberty and equality, justice and freedom, Sojourner’s Truth story will be told again and again and again and again. So now let’s get on with unveiling this statue. Thank you so much. (Applause.)