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Just another politician

fff

Well-known member
That "reformer", Sarah Palin is looking more and more like just another elitist conservative politician. The rules only apply to the little folks. Since she appointed all the members of the board that will hear the complaint, it's not likely to go much further than just a complaint. :mad:

Palin Target Of New Ethics Complaint

Alaska Governor and Republican Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin may be facing another round of scrutiny, this time for charging the state for her children to travel with her while conducing official state business.

CBS News has obtained a copy of the complaint that Frank Gwartney, a retired lineman in Anchorage filed last Friday, with Alaska’s Attorney General, Talis Colber in Juneau. “Palin ran on the platform of ethics, transparency and anti-corruption. I’m tired of the hypocrisy that exists in Government and people need to know the truth,” said Gwartney.

The complaint against Governor Palin, alleges Misuse of Official Position: “Gov. Palin attempted to and in fact did use her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits for her daughters...” All the allegations contained in the complaint are related to state reimbursed travel.

In Alaska, ethics complaints filed against the Governor are confidential. “We can neither confirm nor refute that a complaint has been filed against Governor Sarah Palin. Any complaint remains confidential unless the person being charged waives confidentiality or if the complaint progresses to the state of probable cause,” Assistant District Attorney, Dave Jones told CBS News.

Bristol, Piper and Willow, Palin’s daughters, accrued $32,629 in travel expenses while Palin’s husband Todd raked up $22,174 - all billed to the state for a total of $54,803.00.

“The Governor’s office has expended $54,803.00 in Alaska state dollars for family travel since December 2006,” according to the Governor’s Administrative Services Director, Linda Perez. “The documentation related to family travel has changed and you have to keep in mind that the governor and her family are very popular,” added Perez.

Sharon Leighow, Deputy Communications Director, said “Governor Palin followed state policy allowing governors to charge for their children’s travel and there’s also the expectation that the first family participate in community activities across the state.”

This new ethics complaint comes on the heels of the Federal Elections Campaign complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington for spending $150,000 on pricey designer threads.

CBS News previously reported on Palin’s fashion expenditures and FEC officials said purchases for such purposes are prohibited. Campaigns are not allowed to spend donated funds on expenses a person would have had regardless if they were running as a candidate or in office. That includes items like clothing, mortgage payments, country club fees, rent, groceries, etc.

The Attorney General will refer the complaint to the personnel board which is appointed by the Governor and currently includes: Debra English, Al Tamagni, and Laura Plenert. (No state employees sit on the board.) The board then determines whether the alleged conduct would violate the ethics act. If so, an independent investigator is appointed, evidence is gathered, and people are interviewed with the intent to establish probable cause. Eventually the board makes a decision and recommendations are made that may impose penalties, or disciplinary action, up to and including termination. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/28/cbsnews_investigates/main4554071.shtml
 

Mike

Well-known member
The "CNN TRUTH SQUAD" stamped Sarah Palins claims that she "Cut" a half BILLION dollars from the Alaska budget as "TRUTH".

I'd say Alaska got more than a even trade............ :lol: :lol:
 

backhoeboogie

Well-known member
fff said:
Alaska Governor and Republican Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin may be facing another round of scrutiny, this time for charging the state for her children to travel with her while conducing official state business.

From the media huh? Let's analyze that opening paragraph. "Hopeful". "Another round of scrutiny". "This time". "Charging the state".

This is probably from the media alright. If we wanted to see it, we could go to those sources and see this and more. They have been trying to dig dirt and soiled laundry every since she was chosen. All the more reason for me to cast my vote in her favor. :D :D

Will Alec Baldwin really leave the U.S. this time? That whole ordeal was worthy of national media coverage too. Over and over and over again. I wonder how many voters it influenced? :D :D :D
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
fff....I thought the dems were the one crying foul and dirty politics and negative campaigns......now look at them. Got CBS still scrounging around for dirt. What ever happened to the economy the war, the budget etc??
 

fff

Well-known member
ROTFLMAO! Are you guys saying:

1. No complaint was filed against Palin?

or that

2. CBS news should not have reported that such a complaint was filed?

or

3. It's ok since Sarah did it?

:lol: :lol: :lol:
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
fff said:
ROTFLMAO! Are you guys saying:

1. No complaint was filed against Palin?

or that

2. CBS news should not have reported that such a complaint was filed?

or

3. It's ok since Sarah did it?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

None of the above. Just wondering why they can "gag at a gnat and swallow a camel". Regardless I'm voting for McCain/Palin and I don't care if she and her family kill the last caribou in Alaska...I'm rootin' for her.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
Mike said:
The "CNN TRUTH SQUAD" stamped Sarah Palins claims that she "Cut" a half BILLION dollars from the Alaska budget as "TRUTH".

I'd say Alaska got more than a even trade............ :lol: :lol:


NOW
you believe CNN....when you scream " liberal media" any other time CNN is quoted here????


HYPOCRITE.....big time here.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
backhoeboogie said:
fff said:
3. It's ok since Sarah did it?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Since I am still voting in her favor, you could probably put me in this category (if I have to fit in one of the three you listed) :D


A perfect case of testosterone poisoning sounds like :roll: :roll:
 

mrj

Well-known member
So.........what is past policy/rules in this regard in AL? That is one big state and travel is not easy in anything but a plane....which is costly.

What have previous governors charged the state for their families to travel?

The story was just a little incomplete in detail, IMO.

mrj
 
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