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Politics | 10/10/2008 8:22 am

McCain Campaign Releases Report on Palin's 'Troopergate' Problem

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
AP

McCain-Palin campaign officials have released their own report on the Sarah Palin "Troopergate" controversy, saying she is cleared of any wrongdoing.

Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the race against Barack Obama is the subject of an Alaska State Legislature investigation into whether she abused her power as governor by firing her public safety commissioner for resisting pressure from her husband and others to fire her former brother-in-law, Mike Wooten.

AP reports that the release of the report came hours after the state Supreme Court refused to halt the ethics investigation. Alaska state lawmakers were expected to release their own findings Friday after a probe that began before Palin was chosen as McCain’s running mate.

Lawmakers planned to vote to release the estimated 300-page report and some of the 1,000 or more pages of supporting documents in the case. The panel could recommend that the case be closed, that another committee continue to investigate, or that the matter be referred to criminal investigators.

Campaign officials have yet to see that report but they argue that the investigation has falsely portrayed a legitimate policy dispute between a governor and her commissioner, Walter Monegan, 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."

"I just hope that the truth is figured out," Monegan told the Associated Press. "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.

The New York Times says an examination of the case, based on interviews with Monegan and several top aides, indicates that Palin and her husband, Todd, along with other officials in her administration, indirectly pressed Monegan and his staff to get rid of Wooten off the force more strongly than has been previously reported.

"To all of us, it was a campaign to get rid of him as a trooper and, at the very least, to smear the guy and give him a desk job somewhere," said Kim Peterson, Monegan’s special assistant.

17 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Connie Godin
Seems Cindy McCain thinks only poor draftees get PTSD. Bet she said that about drug addicts at one time also. Nasty I know but fair is fair.
By Connie Godin on 10/10/2008 10:11 am
Jennifer Dooley
Alaska Supreme Court justice Walter Carpeneti, questions attorneys during oral arguments before the Alaska Supreme Court in Anchorage, Alaska, Wednesday Oct. 8, 2008 on whether to shut down an abuse-of-power investigation into Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Justices Robert Eastaugh, r and Warren Matthews, listen. The state Supreme Court refused Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 to halt the ethics investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin. (AP Photo/Al Grillo) (Al Grillo - AP) Court removes last hurdle for Palin ethics inquiry By MATT APUZZO – 18 hours ago ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s Supreme Court has refused to shut down an ethics investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee. The decision Thursday sets the stage for state lawmakers to release a report on their investigation Friday. The report could prove to be an embarrassment for Palin and a distraction for John McCain’s presidential campaign in the final weeks of the race. Lawmakers are investigating whether Palin abused her power to settle a family dispute. Her former public safety commissioner says he was dismissed after resisting pressure to fire a state trooper who had gone through nasty divorce from Palin’s sister. Republican lawmakers had sued to block the report, saying it had become politicized.
By Jennifer Dooley on 10/10/2008 10:26 am
Brooklyn Gal
Jennifer, Thanks so much for the report. I am just wondering if this is the type of justice we can expect from a McCain presidency? To issue their own findings rather than allowing the investigative process to take place. So instead of awaiting the results of an investigation already in place prior to Palin’s candidacy as VP, McCain’s people issued a statement clearing her of all charges?? So, is this what we can expect from a McCain administration—foregoing the actual investigation process? Didn’t GW defend his AG when in fact he had abused his power? Hasn’t McCain already found Obama guilty of fraternizing with terrorists? What would such a investigation by McCain concluded about Charles Keating?
By Brooklyn Gal on 10/10/2008 10:57 am
Ms. Dee
Yo! Jennifer! Thanks!
By Ms. Dee on 10/10/2008 12:41 pm
Brooklyn Gal
Jennifer, It seems the verdict is in. Now watch the McCainers spin this one.
By Brooklyn Gal on 10/10/2008 8:06 pm
C Hardy
Ok dont all politicians abuse their power? I mean seriously…we may never hear about it but doesnt it go on every day…I mean right down to sitting at yuor desk and getting blow j**s?
By C Hardy on 10/10/2008 12:28 pm
Ms. Dee
C O, Come on. NO! Not all politicians abuse their power. When they do, there are, or should be, negative consequences. Just because our current administration has set a poor example is no reason to just pitch the law out the window.
By Ms. Dee on 10/10/2008 12:46 pm
C Hardy
Ms. Dee…I agree maybe not all of them are bad or abuse their power but I do feel that most are out for themselves…so in a way they do abouse their power to get what they want for themselves or for their cause…I dont think they start out that way but I feel most end up that way…I mean do you really think Obama and McCain really care about us? I mean really truly care or they aer just working for their parties to become the next POTUS…I find it hard to believe any Poltician b/c every time you think they are really for the American people something comes out that proves me wrong…
By C Hardy on 10/10/2008 12:56 pm
gulliver fourmyle
well, where ya been, witchy-woman? And here we agree—-totally—-why do ya think politicos spend so much to reach ‘power’? to benefit society? or profit from their ‘investment’—-seems your savvy has made a quantum leap—-congratulations, few may do so. i recall a wise lesson from a Lit Prof—-he asks his large class this—-‘If you have a strong ‘under-current’ desire to ‘slice-up’ people, yet wish also to be a good person—-what happens?’—-we were stumped. after waiting he replied, ‘You become a surgeon!’ so true of ‘human nature’. trust any politico? no way. trust Obama? Why—-if he could have put ego aside? we would have a Hillary/Obama ticket, and a landslide for Dems—-either his ambition, or the old, ‘smokey-room’ politics chose him, as the ‘least-likely’ to defeat Any white Reep. IMHO,if Jesus Christ flew down from Heaven on a white horse, landing on the floor of Congress? the ‘Secret-Service’ would put a 100 bullets in him, as an ‘alien-invasion’. that’s my faith in our guv—-zip—- i truly feel our last chance at an Honest Prez was Bobby Kennedy—-last Honest Prez? Carter—-but so naive of ‘D.C.’, he never had a chance. Obama may not be ‘hip’ to the quicksand of D.C.—-but Biden is—-as a Green, i’ll vote for Mr. O—-as the lessor of 2 evils—-
By gulliver fourmyle on 10/10/2008 10:23 pm
Eliza Dodd
Thats How The Nazi’s do things,,,, dont ya know ? wink ,wink !!!
By Eliza Dodd on 10/10/2008 1:45 pm
C Hardy
Oh goodness ELIZA, I really hope that wasnt directed towards my comment considering you called me buffalo breath just a couple of hours ago…are u following me around this blog? Please dont, I have chosen to ignore all your rants and really feel sorry for anyone who feels sorry for you…You truly show your true issues when you resort to name calling and telling people, well me, that you want to puke on me…You dont know who I voted for in the past elections nor do you know who I am voting for in this election YET you seem to think you do…Oh thats right your clairvoyant and a chickawaa…WOW, maybe we are 100th cousins 100 times removed then… WINK, WINK… Oh and once you move to France to get out of the US b/c you hate it here so bad…I’ll be more than happy to fly the plane and buy the gas so that way you cant complain about that…
By C Hardy on 10/10/2008 8:46 pm
Sherrie Crews
I am just wondering if this is the type of justice we can expect from a McCain presidency? To issue their own findings rather than allowing the investigative process to take place.” By Carol L. on 10/10/2008 11:57 am Of course, that’s why he’s called McSame. The only investigations that have been allowed on the corruption of the Bush administration have been the ones supposedly conducted by themselves. More of the same.
By Sherrie Crews on 10/10/2008 2:43 pm
Ro H
Carol, Yes! MsPale IN seems to make up all her own rules. I’ll bet she gets charged with, minimally; “Inciting a Mob” more severe, “Inciting a Riot” The blatant use of words to stir up, and incite people in a variety of ways is a very dangerous method of negative, mud slinging, political tactics - I think she went over the edge! Also. from the news today, PaleIn was found guilty of using her office for political purposes… I don’t know the exact wording, off hand. Unless McShame bails her out, or the bHush machine helps her out of this… she should be spending some time contemplating her naval at least, in a tiney room with bars, with a huge fine as well.
By Ro H on 10/10/2008 9:23 pm
Tee Zee
I can’t believe just how far from reality McCain and Palin really are to even to say this out loud!
By Tee Zee on 10/11/2008 9:18 am
Eliza Dodd
McCain booed after trying to calm anti-Obama crowd & I’m Loving every monute of it .. By Philip Elliott and Beth Fouhy / Associated Press LAKEVILLE, Minn. - The anger is getting raw at Republican rallies and John McCain is acting to tamp it down. McCain was booed by his own supporters Friday when, in an abrupt switch from raising questions about Barack Obama’s character, he described the Democrat as a “decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.” A sense of grievance spilling into rage has gripped some GOP events this week as McCain supporters see his presidential campaign lag against Obama. Some in the audience are making it personal, against the Democrat. Shouts of “traitor,” “terrorist,” “treason,” “liar,” and even “off with his head” have rung from the crowd at McCain and Sarah Palin rallies, and gone unchallenged by them. McCain changed his tone Friday when supporters at a town hall pressed him to be rougher on Obama. A voter said, “The people here in Minnesota want to see a real fight.” Another said Obama would lead the U.S. into socialism. Another said he did not want his unborn child raised in a country led by Obama. “If you want a fight, we will fight,” McCain said. “But we will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments.” When people booed, he cut them off. “I don’t mean that has to reduce your ferocity,” he said. “I just mean to say you have to be respectful.” Presidential candidates are accustomed to raucous rallies this close to Election Day and welcome the enthusiasm. But they are also traditionally monitors of sorts from the stage. Part of their job is to leaven proceedings if tempers run ragged and to rein in an out-of-bounds comment from the crowd. Not so much this week, at GOP rallies in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida and other states. When a visibly angry McCain supporter in Waukesha, Wis., on Thursday told the candidate “I’m really mad” because of “socialists taking over the country,” McCain stoked the sentiment. “I think I got the message,” he said. “The gentleman is right.” He went on to talk about Democrats in control of Congress. On Friday, McCain rejected the bait. “I don’t trust Obama,” a woman said. “I have read about him. He’s an Arab.” McCain shook his head in disagreement, and said: “No, ma’am. He’s a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign is all about.” He had drawn boos with his comment: “I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.” The anti-Obama taunts and jeers are noticeably louder when McCain appears with Palin, a big draw for GOP social conservatives. She accused Obama this week of “palling around with terrorists” because of his past, loose association with a 1960s radical. If less directly, McCain, too, has sought to exploit Obama’s Chicago neighborhood ties to William Ayers, while trying simultaneously to steer voters’ attention to his plans for the financial crisis. The Alaska governor did not campaign with McCain on Friday, and his rally in La Crosse, Wis., earlier Friday was much more subdued than those when the two campaigned together. Still, one woman shouted “traitor” when McCain told voters Obama would raise their taxes. Volunteers worked up chants from the crowd of “U.S.A.” and “John McCain, John McCain,” in an apparent attempt to drown out boos and other displays of negative energy. The Secret Service confirmed Friday that it had investigated an episode reported in The Washington Post in which someone in Palin’s crowd in Clearwater, Fla., shouted “kill him,” on Monday, meaning Obama. There was “no indication that there was anything directed at Obama,” Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren told AP. “We looked into it because we always operate in an atmosphere of an abundance of caution.” Palin, at a fundraiser in Ohio on Friday, told supporters “it’s not negative and it’s not mean-spirited” to scrutinize Obama’s iffy associations. But Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania an author of 15 books on politics, says the vitriol has been encouraged by inflammatory words from the stage. “Red-meat rhetoric elicits emotional responses in those already disposed by ads using words such as ‘dangerous’ ‘dishonorable’ and ‘risky’ to believe that the country would be endangered by election of the opposing candidate,” she said. ___ Beth Fouhy reported from New York. Associated Press writer Joe Milicia contributed to this story from Cleveland.
By Eliza Dodd on 10/11/2008 2:25 pm