Nonsense: New Palin Ethics Story

Update 2: According to Rob Port and her Twitter:

RT @AKGovSarahPalin: inaccurate story floating reLegal Defense Fund;matter is still pending;new info was just requested even;no final report

Update: Also note below that there isn't even a hearing suggested.

I finally found a more substantive story on this item up at Memeorandum. What a load of crap this is. That, or any politician who ever had a legal defense fund would be the subject of headline news. Just read this graph:

In his report, attorney Thomas Daniel said his interpretation of the ethics act is consistent with common sense.

An ordinary citizen facing legal charges is not likely to be able to generate donations to a legal defense fund, he wrote. "In contrast, Governor Palin is able to generate donations because of the fact that she is a public official and a public figure. Were it not for the fact that she is governor and a national political figure, it is unlikely that many citizens would donate money to her legal defense fund."

Gee, ya think?

The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else. The report recommends that Palin refuse to accept payment from the defense fund, and that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the Alaska Personnel Board.

Comments

[Lala]

She should do like Charlie Rangel who took his defense money out of his campaign donations.

[zaugg]

The people that are filing these "ethics complaints" need to have their own faces and lives exposed on the interwebs. They cease being anonymous when they harass a public official.
War Palin 2012.

[tally]

I agree Zaugg, here's a photo of the lady.

[tally]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-11-13-alaska-senate-race_N.htm

[jefferson101]

Bill Clinton had a legal defense fund for the impeachment proceedings and thereafter, as I recall. Of course, no one would suspect that Bill traded on his position as President to get people to donate, now would they?

Sheesh!

Where do they get this crap, and why aren't we using the same thing on them? Could it be that the folks sitting on the panel hearing the complaints are biased?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[ObeliskToucher]

It's interesting to note that the "independent" attorney who wrote the report, Thomas Daniel, works for Perkins Coie.

Perkins Coie is "...counsel of record for the Democratic National Committee, and other political clients include nearly all Democratic members of the United States Congress, as well as several Presidential campaigns, including those of John Kerry and Barack Obama." (Wikipedia).

This is a new definition of "independent" that I wasn't aware of...

[Slide]

Looks like the Quitter from Wasilla is in another fine mess.

[carly]

What a surprise another unethical act by Palin. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

[Hrothgar]

In war, some of the normal rules of civilization are waived. The Alinsky Rule of attacking the person should be adopted agressively by the conservatives and an endless array of time-consuming frivolous charges should be continually brought against ACORN, NOW, PETA, the New Black Panther party, Democrat representatives, senators, and governors.

[nina]

Time to payback, If you live in a state with a dem gov start placing ethics complaints.

[Slide]

"In war, some of the normal rules of civilization are waived. . ."

yeah... and let's demand their damn birth certificates too. yeah

[tally]

Looks like Chatman and her bff in the press leaked, charges need to be brought up.

[White and Black Mixed]

Sarah Palin is a hottie who oozes sex, and nothing more. However, in America she does not need much else. Otherwise she would be seen as dumb, silly, erratic and perhaps crazy with all of her antics. Todd is also easy on the eyes and that helps her quite a bit. So sad.

[mark l.]

"yeah... and let's demand their damn birth certificates too."

ethics complaints versus a investigation of a violation of the constitution.

i'm skeptical of both, but one has far more importance.

[Lala]

Gov Patterson (D) NY just illegally appointed a Lt.Gov.

[Molon Labe]

Thomas Daniel's law firm has received over $1MM from Obama.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2297729/posts?page=283#283

[ShawninPHX]

"Bill Clinton had a legal defense fund for the impeachment proceedings"

Sorry - I just have to laugh at these kind of comments. Yes, he did. However, the FEC and the law allowed him to have it. Alaska law, however, does not. This is like me saying, "Well, Montana did not have a speed limit so I shouldn't have to abide by the posted 75 mph speed limit." Good luck winning that argument.

Look, all's fair in love and war and this certainly has been a war with Gov. Palin. However, it's clear she did not abide by the law. That does not make me like/dislike her any more/less. It just says she needs to admit that she misunderstood the law and will make full restitution.

Why is it OK for Rep. to break a law (even if so convoluted), but not a Dem?

[tally]

Thomas M Daniel, Attorney Perkins Coie > Obama For America April 2009 Perkins Coie $688,316.42.

Where is the GOP? Are they all pussies? Stand up and fight.

[Slide]

remember all those comments from the right about the "rule of law" when they tried to impeach Clinton. Nevermind.

[cindi]

statement posted by Palin on her facebook page on 7/22 ay 1:46 am

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=106338608434&ref=nf

[Slide]

"statement posted by Palin on her facebook page on 7/22 ay 1:46 am"

well, that clears that up.

[DN]

After 16 unsuccessful attempts complains, all dismissed, I think it is proved (thank you Dems!) that Palin is probably the most ethical governer we have: I doubt that anyone else would come out so clean after one year of digging dirt with such concentrated efforts. At least, any sane person would wait for a court decision before bashing Palin on such flimsy grounds(assuming he is not paid for it).

[jlm]

Sure if she wasn't a public figure it would be "unlikely that many citizens would donate money to her legal defense fund," but come on, if she wasn't a public figure she wouldn't even NEED a fund since she wouldn't be constantly bombarded with ridiculous complaints! Carry on with the witchhunt...

[Slide]

"that Palin is probably the most ethical governer we have" The "we" being Republicans? I might agree with you there, you have one hell of a corrupt party.

[Patrick Bateman]

I've never seen The Quitter's birth certificate. She could just clear up all those ethics complaints if she would just show us the birth certificate.

[Mike2Cents]

Palin is a bad obsession to have...for both the right and the left.
But it seems to be about the only thing that can stir up the regulars here (to his credit, DR seems to be steering clear of feeding the birther nuts).
Even if it turns out that SP's legal defense fund ran afoul of some laws, there's nothing to suggest it was intentional or malicious on her part.
She's got plenty of $ coming her way...no need to skim off any defense funds.
And again, she strikes me as a lot more decent a person than her detractors will allow (if not quite as saintly as her fans insist).

[Patrick Bateman]

"Even if it turns out that SP's legal defense fund ran afoul of some laws, there's nothing to suggest it was intentional or malicious on her part."

Hilarious. Are "intent" and/or "maliciousness" prerequisites of the offense in question? No, no, not prerequisites in your fevered mind, but actual prerequisites according to the statute in question. If not, I imagine that as long as there is "nothing to suggest" that one intentionally or maliciously commits ANY offense, we'll all just walk along and ignore them?

Don't worry; no one expects an intellectually honest answer.

[Mike2Cents]

Patrick -
I think you are misreading what I wrote and misreading me.
I'm far from Palin supporter and most of my posts here tend to reveal which side of the fence I'm on - if we are to allow for only 2 sides
I'm generally highly critical of Palin and her supporters. But I do make an effort be sensible, esp. about things of which little is known yet. Maybe she's a rabid evil criminal - but I just don't think she is.
From a political standpoint, I wouldn't vote for her as VP, Governor, Senator, or even local PTA.

[Mike2Cents]

p.s.
Maybe next time ask an intellectually honest question?