Palin Defends Firing Of Alaska Official
From this morning..
Palin Did Not Break The Law In Trooper Firing
From yesterday…
Breaking Bullshit: Alaska Panel Finds Palin Abused Power In Firing
By Mike Wereschagin and Salena Zito
Saturday, October 11, 2008
In Pittsburgh for a fundraiser Friday night, Sarah Palin defended her firing of an Alaska official shortly before a report was released alleging her action was an abuse of power and a violation of state ethics law.
The Republican vice presidential candidate spoke to the Tribune-Review after the fundraiser, but before the Alaska Legislature released an investigator’s report into whether the governor acted improperly in the firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan. Critics said Palin fired Monegan because Monegan would not fire Palin’s ex-brother-in-law Michael Wooten, a state trooper.
“It is important for a governor to take on the responsibility of making sure that everybody in her cabinet is in the right place at the right time to best serve the public,” Palin said. “I dismissed a cabinet member because he wasn’t the right person at the right time in his position — dismissed him having nothing to do with telling him to hire or fire anybody else.”
Though the probe was authorized by the Republican-controlled legislature, John McCain’s campaign criticized it as partisan, noting a Democrat led the probe.
“Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to whit: To get Trooper Michael Wooten fired,” the report said.
The report comes at a difficult time for the McCain campaign, which has watched back-and-forth leads in the polls tip to Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden during the last month. The nearly 300-page report does not recommend sanctions or a criminal investigation, according to The Associated Press.
The fundraiser last night — Palin’s third of the day — added more than $500,000 to the campaign’s coffers, said Jim Roddey, Allegheny County Republican Party chairman and master of ceremonies.
Tickets to the fundraiser at the Westin Convention Center Hotel, Downtown, cost $1,000. Supporters could have their pictures taken with Palin for $10,000, or participate in a roundtable discussion with her for $25,000.
About 200 people attended, including 84 Lumber owner Joe Hardy, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey and PNC Chairman Jim Rohr.
“Governor Palin was very gracious. She had her daughter Piper with her,” Roddey said, adding that, with 7-year-old Piper’s warm reception, “she may be planning a political career.”
“Never have I been more energized and more excited than when Governor Palin was tapped to be the vice presidential candidate,” said Republican National Committeewoman Christine Toretti, who helped introduce Palin.
“All I can tell you is we have 25 more days. Every day is crucial,” Toretti said. “I wake up every day, turn on the television and burst into tears. Why? Because I am worried about the future of our country. It’s not about Republicans, not about Democrats, it’s about what’s right for the U.S.”
Her 30-minute speech, in which she sharply criticized Obama’s votes on things like war funding, fired up the crowd, Roddey said. “She has a knack for doing that. They loved her.”
With voters saying the economy is their top concern, Palin, after the fundraiser, renewed her pitch for increased domestic oil drilling and coal power. Energy independence is the best way to stabilize a shaky economy, she said.
Other tactics would be “reducing taxes on our businesses so our businesses can keep more of what they’re owning and what they are producing and what they are earning, and that way they’ll be able to hire more people.”
Palin defended the concept of earmarks — federal budget allocations set aside for specific use — but not the secrecy that often surrounds how they got into the budget. McCain has crusaded against the process.
Palin, during her time as mayor of Wasilla and Alaska governor, has sought such funds.
“There’s nothing wrong with a state, a governor or a mayor requesting from the federal government a share of the federal budget,” Palin said.
“The problem is the abuse of the earmark process — those 11th-hour, behind-closed-door, deal-making things that go on, that John McCain has just been disgusted about.”
About 300 protesters gathered on two corners of 10th Street and Penn Avenue across 10th Street from the Westin. The crowd was boisterous but not unruly. Police said no arrests were made.
Protesters included six people dressed as polar bears holding a banner with the words, “Polar Bears Against Palin,” a reference to Palin’s opposition to listing the bears as a threatened species.
Ending the Iraq war remains the top issue for Temujin Ekunfeo, 57, of Beltzhoover. His son, an Army mechanic for eight years, was deployed in 2005 for a six-month tour that stretched into 18 months.
“It’s a mess,” said Ekunfeo, one of the protesters. Despite his son’s training, Ekunfeo said he spent his tour of duty manning machine guns. “He’s a mechanic, but he never had a wrench in his hand.”
Ron and Pat Covato of Whitehall, both 65, said they’re frustrated with personal attacks leveled by Palin against Obama. McCain and Palin have stepped up the character attacks in recent weeks.
“I think it’s denigrating to the democratic process,” Ron Covato said. “You disagree with ideas, not with people.”
Mary Oppel, who attended the fundraiser, disagreed. She wants McCain to step up his attacks on Obama, especially his associations with former Weather Underground leader William Ayers and his plans to expand government’s role in some parts of society.
“I would like to see McCain get more angry. I think he should point out the socialistic aspect of Obama,” said Oppel of Upper St. Clair, who said she was in her 60s. Oppel was disappointed in McCain for not attacking Obama more during their debate Tuesday night, and hopes he’ll step it up in the final debate Wednesday. “I think this last debate is very important.”
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