Palin pre-empts state report, clears self in ethics probe
Originally published Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.
Updated Friday, October 10, 2008 at 8:20 a.m.
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Trying to head off a potentially embarrassing state ethics report on GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, campaign officials released their own report Thursday that clears her of any wrongdoing.
Sen. John McCain's running mate is the subject of a legislative investigation into whether she abused her power as governor by firing her public safety commissioner. The commissioner, Walter Monegan, says he was dismissed in July for resisting pressure from Palin's husband, Todd Palin, and numerous top aides to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's former brother-in-law.
Lawmakers are expected to release their own findings Friday. Campaign officials have yet to see that report - the result of an investigation that began before she was tapped as McCain's running mate - but said the investigation has falsely portrayed a legitimate policy dispute between a governor and her commissioner as something inappropriate.
"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administration," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue."
Monegan said Thursday that he doesn't know what to expect from the legislative panel's own report.
"I just hope that the truth is figured out," Monegan told The Associated Press on Thursday. "That the governor did want me to fire him, and I chose to not. You just can't walk up to someone and say, 'I fire you.' He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."
Palin's critics say that shows she used her office to settle family affairs.
"When you're the governor, you leave your household hat at home and you become governor," said state Senate President Lyda Green, a Republican who has frequently clashed with Palin.
McCain spokesman Taylor Griffin, who distributed the campaign's report, said it was written by the McCain-Palin campaign staff and based on public filings and Todd Palin's affidavit.
The report blames former campaign opponent, Andrew Halcro, who has a blog, of conspiring with Wooten to pin Monegan's dismissal on the family's dispute with Wooten. Three days after Monegan was fired, they say, Wooten told his ex-wife, Palin's sister, that: "You guys are going down. Get ready for the show."
Two days after that confrontation, they say, Halcro and Wooten met at a hotel bar in Anchorage for more than three hours - and that evening, Halcro posted the first accusations on his blog that Monegan had been fired because of a vendetta against Wooten by the Palin family.
"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger after drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically driven investigation," the 21-page report concludes.
Although the report describes Wooten as a separate issue, the McCain campaign goes into great detail about the "rogue" trooper and his "long history of unstable and erratic behavior." The campaign describes allegations of violence, including threatening Palin's family and shooting his stepson with a stun gun.
The report also includes allegations that Wooten cheated the workers' compensation system. Todd Palin has said he had numerous conversations with government officials about why Wooten was allowed to stay on the job.
"The Palins make no apologies for wanting to protect their family and wanting to bring attention to the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge and abusing the workers' compensation system."
But Todd Palin said he never pressured anyone, including his wife.
The McCain campaign says the investigation has become "muddied with innuendo, rumor and partisan politics."
Community Discussion
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Oh, I think it's been muddied by a bunch of dust and smoke kicked up by Palin, McCain, and associates trying to distract attention from the real story! The funny thing is, if she had continued to welcome the investigation, even if the results had not been great, she could have been in a better place to defend herself. Or, she could have even apologized and done better in my eyes.
Is it 1984 yet? seems like the McCain campaign is painting the world as they want to see it.
Sarah Palin: "I'm innocent!"
Well, I guess that settles it then!
Why would an insubordinate subordinate be offered another senior leadership position within her administration?
You stay classy, Republicans...
Let's see...Sarah says man and the dinosaurs co-existed only 6,000 years ago. Sarah's reads all sorts of newspapers but can't name a single one. And she has now proclaimed herself innocent of all charges in the Troopergate probe.
And McCain wants her as v.p.? If that isn't the best evidence of advvancing dementia in the man I surely don't know what else could be!
Why the $#@% is everyon in an uproar about troopergate? If Monegan did his job, wouldn't have been such a problem, he would still have his job. And that thing about offering a different position in her administration, as a multiple business owner, I have fired people from one position, then rehired them later in a different position. Some people can be a bad mix in one aspect of working, but put them somewhere else and things sometimes work out great. I usually lean toward demovrats but if Barack Hussien Osoma, I mean Oboma, gets in office, all of us Alaskans will lose our rights to bear arms under obomas communistic reform idations. Ban on handguns,a lot of hunting rifles, ban on most ammunition. Socialist medicine like the failing medical system in russia, united kindom, canada and everywhere else thagt practices communism. So give Sarah a freaking break about this petty stuff, let her run our state, she has been the best thing for our state in about since the pipeline, and she will be a great vice president, then president in 2012 when she runs for office herself.
If you love freedom, love your country, love our consitutional rights, all of you petty minded crybabys will shut up and offer her our prayors and support.
If she apoligized at the beginning, it would have been like she was admitting that she was guilty.
Villageboy you covered it very well. Most of these little whiners give me a good laugh when I read their uninformed and ignorant rants. If any of them really cared about what is going on with our state they would be pushing for a review of Wootens investigation and trying to hang everyone that was involved in that farce.
Sarah, Sarah,
You're so going *down* on Nov. 4. I can't wait until the good citizens of our state rake you over the coals and call for your resignation as soon as you limp back to Alaska with your reject VP tail between your legs, begging for our forgiveness, and asking us, once again, to consider you as our good governor.
Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. We invested our hope and trust in you when we elected you for governor. Your premature run for the VP slot has shown us, the people of Alaska, just how willing you are to throw away and squander that most sacred of trust.
You've shown your true colors, Palin. Not only will you ruin any chance the republicans have to getting into office in 2008, but, read the writing on the wall . . . you'll be nothing but a pitiable laughing stock once you return to Alaska after your embarrassing, and failed bid, for VP. Sweetpea, everything you've got coming to you, you more than amply deserve.
And you'll need a hell of a lot more lipstick to make yourself look pretty to your electorate at this point.
Later, Palin. Not so nice knowing you, after all.
ShadyNYC, how did she fool us? Did you vote for Palin for Governor? If you did that's fine, thanks. If you didn't, don't use the word "we" when you talk about the people who elected Governor Palin.
Thank you sweetie, I appreciate it.
For those who enjoy Palinalia, here's a real gem for you: Todd Palin's affidavit about Troopergate. In it, you can see for yourself the obsession Todd has for his former brother-in-law, and the twisted explanations the Palins have created to explain their family problems. After reading this, I wonder why the news articles tend to describe the "nasty divorce" as being between Trooper Wooten and his wife, instead of being between Wooten and Todd and Sarah Palin! There are points described in the affidavit where reasonable people might legitimately wonder why Todd was not arrested and possibly sedated as a way to calm down his hysteria about this dude.
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/08/1...
Even if the Palin's are guilty of the trooper gate incident; all that says to me is that they were able to recognize a questionable person when they saw one. Unlike the judgement Barrack Obama used when he associated himself with more elusive characters.
Palin claims she's innocent just because it came out of her mouth and all her supporters believe it....unreal! I will not support or condone her lies which can be seen in the many videos of her. She is vindictive and acts like a spoiled child who wants her own way all the time. She has proved her college education was a total waste. Todd Palin is now lying too and taking the blame for Palin since no one will hold her accountable or responsible for anything she does, they just keep making more excuses for her. We have all watched the videos of her mouthpieces doing just that many times along with explaining why Palin doesn't know what goes on in her own administration. She is an embarrassment to this state and a bad joke on the American people.
village boy ......what a great representation of fine Alaska citizenry.
His theme should be: "Keeping Racism Alive in the 21st Century".
What a bufoon. Great public education you have there Village Boy....get e refund.....you didn't learn anything.
Palin has an education? Wow....doesn't show....wait.....it's in Journalism.....oh yeah.....she's a journalist.....No, wait....she's a Governor.... No, she's a candidate for VICE-PRESIDENT of the United States of America.
Apparently you folks don't feel that the USA deserves the very best for leadership....I think McCain agrees with all of you.
I can think of hundreds of close friends that have higher degrees than Palin's and I wouldn't consider them for VP. Maybe they arent't qualified because they breed a little more responsibly than the Palin clan does.
Palin's nomination is an insult to anyone with even the slightest amount of education. It's tough to say, but.....VOTE NON-REPUBLICAN !!
a1shiva-
Yes, and add to that an investigation of the power and control and abuses and coverups the troopers and their union perpetrate on Alaska.
A bunch of these people on here are utterly obsessed. It seems they think about nothing else and have nothing else to do.
Would anybody expect a different conclusion in the report by the McCain/Palin campaign?
villageboy said: If you love freedom, love your country, love our consitutional rights, blah, blah, BLAH...
----------------------------
I'm guessing this is sarcasm or a troll but if not: what, have you not left mom's basement in the last 8 years, villageboy?
That was a nail biter. I thought I would get to the end of the report and the conclusion would be 'guilty.' Well, good to know she had nothing to do with it.
gee corinne, yeah it's weird how people are worried about the moral character of a presidential politician isn't it, they should just be allowed to breeze through life with no questions asked shouldn't they?
Because, after all, a deity such as S.P. shouldn't be held accountable should she?.....
Care to elaborate on ALL of the- "power and control and abuses and coverups the troopers and their union perpetrate on Alaska" you are ASSUming are taking place?
What do you stand to gain if McPalin gets the presidency? the same "peace of mind" Bush supporters had when he got elected?
If Obama gets elected- I will gain comfort in the knowledge that our country is getting back on the right track and will look forward to see the, much needed, further improvements take place.
"If you love freedom, love your country, love our consitutional rights, all of you petty minded crybabys will shut up and offer her our prayors and support."
--villageboy, obviously you don't know what the hell you're talking about. If I love freedom, my country, and my Constitutional rights, then I will use my rights and freedom to speak up about things I feel are wrong. You are completely wrong and do freedom and those very rights injustice when you say things like "shut up". I know the irony is lost on you, so I'll leave it at that...I'm not going to shut up!
It will be interesting comparing the differences in the two reports.
My fellow posters, let us not forget that Palin is in this publicity stunt for popularity hopeful to be the first female candidate to reside in the White House! Hell, Palin can't even decide which religion best correlates with her belief as she is hopelessly tapping anything that sounds...sounds...POPULAR! At the rate Palin dashes around the country and switching between masks that suits a crowd...Palin forgets that America sees how her mental ability is not align with the VP position she is auditioning for! Like McCain, Palin is just another fading aspiration beyond her league!
LadyNYC, I wish I could meet you in person!! You just wrote the most eloquent and funny posts I think I've ever read. DITTO DITTO DITTO to everything you said. I couldn't agree more!
Heck, if Sarah and the McCain campaign have declared her innocent then she must be!!!!
Now I'm leaving to jump off a cliff along with the other Republican-lemmings....wink, wink.
What a witch hunt.
It's getting so a person doesn't want to even read the rantings on the comment board.
A trooper accused of many derelictions including stunning a child, illegally taking a moose, threats of killing someone, and people are rallying to his aide?
You want people like that pulling you over? In charge of keeping your children safe? You want the bureaucrats that left him on the job and didn't have the guts to clean house, to stay in place? are you INSANE?
I'm not naive. It's quite possible, even likely this is one of the reasons Walt Monegan was fired. "Not done on my watch.." How gutless. What a cop out.
Thank you Sarah.. I'm sorry for the politics that twist doing the right thing, into something corrupt.
Matthew,You are correct that Trooper is a poor excuse for a law officer.In saying that,remember,Sarah(then Mayor) also wrote a letter of recommendation and appointment to the Academy in Sitka, on his behalf.Guess he wasn't as creepy back then,or maybe just more tolerable with that wedding band on?
PS Thank you glow, for that link..
Although I didn't get the same impression you did from it.. I think everyone should read it.
especially all the attached documentation re investigation reports and evidence.
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/08/1...
You might question Todds bias, but you can't question the attached evidence and reports.
It doesn't seem like rants to me.. seems like people being pretty thorough in covering all the bases. The reports at then end regarding Wooten, those are lovely. And for all he did, he got 6 days off. What a joke. Drinking in a trooper car.. Please , just read the reports. If you still think Wooten should be a trooper and Monegan was really doing his job.. well then.. heaven help us.
With all the rules that Sarah finds not applicable to her, should we ask ourselves, 'Is Sarah less of a conservative republican and more of a anarchist'?
To Monegan who probably won't read this but to everyone who will:
"You just can't walk up to someone and say, 'I fire you.' He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."
If you're a Commissioner and serve only at the pleasure of the Governor, yes, he/she can do exactly that. And if you think he didn't do anything on your watch than you aren't watching.
Tasering a kid should be enough to fire him, prosecute him and if you didn't have the guts to do it than find someone who can.
And how many that made the decision on the ethics report are for Obama or got stepped on by Palin? Note they didn't even have enough evidence for a sanction or any other action. Sounds like they know there was nothing there and they were blowing smoke for political reasons only.
CPW
I truly enjoy reading the comments sections of these arcticles. I've discovered the comments themselves provide a better example of my fellow public than they portray in person. That said, I found the report enlightening on the many points the professional media has failed to cover in their reporting of the investigation. It seems that objective reporting has fallen by the wayside in favor of headlines and sensationalism to sell advertising spots and readership.
I support the Palin's as they await a decision in an investigation that (in my opinion) should never have occured. The presumption of innocence is paramount to our legal system. It appears from the comments on this page that many people have already tried and convicted Sarah Palin without benefit of all the facts or evidence.
I seems to me that the Judiciary has overstepped its authority as per allowed in the Alaska State Constitution.
I wish her well and would caution my fellow citizens to be objective in their assesment until all facts are in.
The kid didn't get "tazered", do any of you know how a tazer works?
First off the kid was the troopers son, second, the kid WANTED to be tazered (he is a young boy, daddys a cop, DUHHH!)the leads were taped (not embedded like normal) and the actual shock was less than half a second. So it's not like he just tazered some random kid for no reason.
The above comments are a good example of how people will crucify anybody (without knowing or DENYING the facts) in support of their politician, embellishing and making things up for no better reason than blind devotion to whatever deity they favor at the moment.
It's funny how whenever somebody supports a politician in court- it's always "corruption" or "wasting tax-payers money" or they "overstepped their authority"......until the facts come to light, then it's- well uhhh, hmmm uhhhh, errrrr, well um, you see........
It's also funny how people like to write directly to Sarah Palin as though she was hanging on every word typed here, lol, living in a dreamland must be nice.....
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