Sarah Palin walked the Freedom Trail yesterday, but apparently didn’t learn much from the experience. She provided reporters with a stumbling rendition of her own version of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Midnight Ride of Paul Revere:
He who warned, uh, the British that they weren’t going to be taking away our arms – uh - by ringing those bells and – um - makin’ sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warnin’ shots and bells that – uh - we were going to be secure and we were going to be free.
For the record, the purpose of Paul Revere’s legendary ride was to warn the rebels that “The British are coming!” – not to warn the British of anything. Palin's latest gaffe is now up on YouTube.
Sarah Palin isn’t the first Republican presidential hopeful to botch Revolutionary War history while on the campaign trail in New England. In March, Rep. Michele Bachmann dangled a tea bag in front of her audience at a fundraiser in Nashua, NH before sharing this little gem:
What I love about New Hampshire and what we have in common is our extreme love for liberty. Your the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord.
As every elementary school student in New England knows, the Battle of Concord and Lexington took place in Massachusetts.
Would be presidential candidates who want to politicize our nation’s revolutionary history should at least have the decency to get their facts straight.
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