Palin's Pals: Talking about those Alaska fringe alliances on CNN
By David Neiwert Tuesday Oct 14, 2008 1:30pm
Well, now we know what it takes to get a response to legitimate questions about their candidate out of the McCain/Palin campaign: Appear on CNN.
I did so today, on Rick Sanchez's CNN Newsroom program, where we discussed the Salon piece Max Blumenthal and I co-wrote and its ramifications. Sanchez was particularly focused on Palin's connections to the Alaskan Independence Party, so that was the bulk of our discussion. (I'll update with the transcript when it's available.) [Update: Here is the transcript.]
Now, when we were preparing the Salon piece for publication, I contacted the McCain/Palin campaign first by phone to ask for their reactions to our report's findings. They asked me to send an e-mail, which I did. But I never heard a word back from them.
So today, after CNN picked up the story, they were in fact able to elicit the following response:
CNN is furthering a smear with this report, no different than if your network ran a piece questioning Senator Obama's religion. No serious news organization has tried to make this connection, and it is unfortunate that CNN would be the first.
We are trying to arrange to have one of the Governor's people come on air to respond in the event you do run this piece.
A few points about this:
-- A smear by definition is untrue. However, everything in our story is fully documented. We've even posted the relevant documents here so readers can judge the accuracy of the story for themselves.
-- This is not about Sarah Palin's faith; it's about her conduct as a public official.
-- In fact, CNN is not the first network to pick up on this story. Rachel Maddow at MSNBC in fact featured Blumenthal on her Thursday night broadcast, when the story first broke, to talk about it.
If Team McCain wants to convince anyone this is merely a "smear", they're going to have to demonstrate some falsity or distortion first.
What we've already heard from some Palin defenders is that this report is merely another attempt at "guilt by association."
But "guilt by association," by definition, involves an entirely irrelevant association (which describes the William Ayers "connection" to a T). Palin's associations with the "Patriot" right, however, are entirely relevant, because they reflect directly on her conduct as a public official and her judgment. They also, I should add, reflect on a deeper level the kind of right-wing populism she's been indulging in recent weeks.
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How the hell did McCain end up with a running mate that once did a video for a sessionalist party?
Did he do NO background check on her?
Yet another gut decision, very mavericky very patriotic, very country
first.
Didn't you know Bill Kristol brought her to McCain's attention. All those rightwing religious nut jobs are creaming in their pants for Sara. Never mind she isn't qualified. She won a beauty contest, thats all that matters to that group. Just think what this country will end up as with her as president. She already isn't toeing the party line. She loves to get the hate going bring out the worst of people. Ya betcha
by the religious right. This is their stealth candidate.
Did they delegate the job to Cletus the slack jawd yokle?
My experience is that the majority of the RR are uber patriots not the kind of people that would aprove a sessionalist leading them.
And you wonder why the first time she was asked about the VP job (the famouse "what does a VP do?" video).
She said "only if it benefits Alaska".
I wonder if McCain's camp is losing voters over stuff like this. There are the 18% that won't change their minds no matter what. But will it give anyone pause that this potential VP may, in fact, be worse than the one we currently have?
Obama is up 3% in Missouri...MISSOURI!!!
That says it all.
I'd rather see him up in a statistical dead heat than down.
"I want to talk directly to the American people when I say, Rev. Muthee
the Kenyan Evangelical Witch Hunter told me to rip that 49th star
right of that American Flag, " Governor Palin said as she stirred the pot
of Racism, Intolerance and Secession.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTDhgR3p12w
Toward the end of the last thread, I asked you David if you were the person I saw on CNN this afternoon. You have just answered my question. After I listened to you, I went searching for your article at Salon. Having found it, printed it out and read it through twice, I realize that Sarah Palin is much more frightening than I had even imagined.
Thank you so much for educating me in regard to who Ms Palin really is and how she operates. Any time I hear the word, "infiltrate" I get the heebee jeebies.
She is the stealth candidate.
Where oh where is Christopher Walken when we need him?
Lets hope we can give her a one way ticket back to AK. Hopefully the good people of AK will impeach her. I would ask her if the people that built that big boondoogle actually built her house for free at taxpayers expense. I would be pissed if that happened. I hope the good people of AK will question her further.
Massive Palin Scandal Brewing
A scandal twice the size of Ted Stevens’ is brewing for Sarah Palin.
http://plaidlemur.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/ma...
..."So, Sarah Palin’s home involves a company involved with Ted Stevens, Palin became the director of Ted Stevens PAC within months after the home was built, and there is a plausible quid pro quo with the involvement of the $12,500,000 Wasilla sports complex. These connections are proven with city, state and court documents, the question now is whether Palin’s home had any amount of work contributed by Spenard, Veco, Burkhart, or any other contractors involved with the building of the Wasilla sports complex. My guess? There’s more to this story than has been uncovered so far. Todd Palin didn’t build a nearly 4,000 square foot luxury, lakeside home valued at over $500,000 by himself. Who helped him build it?"
I think that there may be something more to this. Granted, it's speculative, at this point, but the players and the connections are interesting and necessitate further investigation.
very good work, David! Esp. the part preemptively heading off any David Frum style preaching and screeching by defining what a "smear" is.
I've been looking for it all over since I heard part of it this afternoon. Great work!!
I'm shorthanded this afternoon. I'll get it up on YouTube a little later.
asdf
Well, the piece and CNN's interest in it lit a fire in the McCain campaign. Some times the truth will do that.
Max Blumenthal on Sarah Palin’s Radical Right-Wing Pals and Her Ties to the Pro-Secessionist Alaskan Independence Party
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/13/max_bl...
Also on the show was Frank Schaeffer (as in “John McCain: If your campaign does not stop equating Sen. Barack Obama with terrorism, questioning his patriotism and portraying Mr. Obama as ‘not one of us,’ I accuse you of deliberately feeding the most unhinged elements of our society the red meat of hate, and therefore of potentially instigating violence.") http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/13/former...
"-- In fact, CNN is not the first network to pick up on this story. Rachel Maddow at MSNBC in fact featured Blumenthal on her Thursday night broadcast, when the story first broke, to talk about it."
Didn't you know? MSNBC isn't a serious network. They *question* things.
Yes that is true already say it on MSNBC with Rachel but I think Keith mentioned to. They do great work.
What a lame comeback! Reminds me of my pathological-liar B-I-L. He could (and would) lie straight to your face without batting an eye, and if you questioned him, he'd turn it around and make it *your* fault/problem.
The McCain Meltdown is making like a Fudgsicle in August.
At last!
This has been simmering in the blogs for more several weeks. Salon has done 2 excellent articles on it, including pointing out that the AIP has actually been consorting with Iran to embarrass the US at the United Nations.
It is really stunning how far behind the blogs the MSM is.
Make that jobS. Excellent piece at Salon and a good, rational, focused appearance on CNN. Welcome to C&L!
I commented that Palin is shooting holes in the swamped boat(McSame campaign) to let the water out. NOW,I think she just pulled the pin from a grenade. This stuff gets better by the hour. What fun.
It's not that suprising that Palin supporters don't know the difference between INVOLVEMENT and "guilt by association".
I'm having a good day, how about you McDummy/Moose girl????????? Obama's amunition box is OVERFLOWING!!!! WHEEEEEEEEEEE
I do not understand how the republican party can run a vice presidential candidate who's husband does not even want to be an American and HATED the united states government up to the time he found out his wife is going to have access to the highest most sensitive secrets we posses
I want to also point out that her husband had NO problem co-opting his wifes office of governor and we can safely assume he will do the same
this is one bizarre candidate and the republican party has some nerve fielding someone like this politician
Wonderfully handled David. You didn't overplay the hand or in any way step beyond the facts. You exude credibility sir.
A serious, fully developed piece of journalism. Nice work.
whether a smear has to be untrue or not but given that reality has a liberal bias, wouldn't stating facts be inherently unfair to the repub ticket?
that Life ain't fair BUT all's fair in Love and politics
"And not only did she, you know, associate with them in order to advance her political ambitions, she advanced their agenda on a local and state level. Beginning with Mark Chryson [former AIP chairman] and a character named Steve Stoll, who’s known around Wasilla as “Black Helicopter Steve,” because he’s rumored to have buried several high-powered automatic weapons in his front yard in expectation of the federal government ushering in the new world order, these characters are very paranoid, conspiratorial people who loathe the federal government and believe that the federal government is responsible for all the ills that have befallen their state. That’s why they—you know, that the Alaskan Independence Party was founded. It was founded to find a means, some remedy, so that Alaska could secede from the union. Its founder, Joe Vogler, said, “I’m an Alaskan, I’m not an American. And I hate America and all her damned institutions.” So this is what the party is about."
Sounds like some commie bastard. And Palin said Obama doesn't think like 'We' do?
I don't understand your reply. The excerpt is from an interview with Max Blumenthal, not "some commie bastard", as you've referred to him. Blumenthal is the co-author, (with Neiwart) of the Salon piece that David Neiwert is referring to.
He was talking about Joe Vogler's quote and comparing it with Sarah Palin's intimation that Obama doesn't see us the way we do.
You might want to check the dictionary definition of "smear":
The closest is probably the Wordnet definition:
...but note the key word or in the first three words.
In summary, no, a smear does not have to be false. In the real world most smears probably will be false (or at least misleading), but it's not always necessary.
For example, remember the Obama-madrassa smear from a few months back? If it'd been rephrased to say something more like "Obama attended a predominantly-Muslim primary school" then that'd actually be true - but it'd still be a smear (due to the malicious intent).
Slander is a false, malicious statement. I guess this means there can be smears and there can be slanderous smears.
Thanks everyone.
Couple things I should probably mention:
I meant to point out that in the video Sanchez played of Palin addressing the AIP this year, she pointedly mentions how much she appreciates "political competition," seemingly to rationalize the video. But in fact she recorded no such video for the Democratic Party's convention.
Also, a minor thing: He mispronounced my name. It's NYE-wert.
You seem to be something of a stickler for facts. Do they still teach that in Journalism Schools? With regard to Palin, do you suppose she meant competition in the race to secede?
I really enjoyed the interview. I've been waiting for the MSM to pick up on this story. I was very curious about the connection.
I hope you don't mind that I've been reinforcing your story with Max Blumenthal's interview.
You guys did a terrific job. I can't believe you got people to talk about the Palins. It seems to be a taboo subject among most people, for fear of retribution.
Thank YOU,David.
So, Obama association to a terrorist (when Obama was 8) is fair game. But Palin's when she was Govna' to a terrorist oganization is a smear? Okay, sounds fair to me.
I think the reason Obama's campaign has been successful is that they realize that there is nothing fair about politics, especially when combined with a 24 hour news cycle.
I've noticed at the 'topics' at the top of the page that Palin has been included in 'racism/bigotry' and fringe/nut groups. Maybe just put 'Palin' cuz we all know she belongs in those subtopics.
she was runner-up, a position I hope she gets to reprise very, very soon.
That's a calssic non-denial denial
toad Palin's involvement with AIP matters. if this was michelle obama all HELL would break out. this pressure
on Palin has been beneficial to the obama campaign. sarah palin is the weakest link. the vice president
does matter. we've seen that the last 8yrs.
It if obvious to see that Todd Palin runs Alaksa.
It's becoming patently clear each time we listen to Palin's very narrow worldview and total inability to express herself that even the Governorship is well over her head. It's no wonder she has to have Todd help her out. Her inability to govern wisely and ethically is already apparent (Troopergate). But what she has done in permitting him to do so will result in further charges - criminal charges which will be forthcoming as a result of the affadavits of the investigation - and will be lodged against both Todd and Sarah. I expect that she will be censured and then impeached before she can even get back to Alaska following her loss of the Vice Presidency.
Unless McCain gets elected and he pardons his VP, for the good of the country ala Nixon.
In the past when qualified Veep candidates joined the ticket, perhaps the selection of a veep mattered little; however, there are two critical differences this time around vis-a-vis the McCain * Palin ticket.
1) McCain's age and health situation - (BTW, where are his health records??? All 1100 pages of them? Clearly, he doesn't want us to know what's really going on inside his body).
McCain has been diagnosed with Invasive Melanoma, Stage 3B out of 4. This means that his prognosis for fulfilling a 4 year term is very small - most oncologists would agree that he'd be lucky to live past 2010.
This means that his selection of a veep becomes critical and can result in dire consequences is that veep is not qualified.
2) Most Veep candidates are not criminals or charged with unethical behavior. This is also a new precedent for a veep candidate. This woman was charged with abuse of power - the very thing we abhored for 8 years with Bush. Then we find that she has radical secessionist ties - what else will we discover about someone so obviously unschooled, undignified, and so pathetically unqualified to hold even the position of Governor??
So, in this case of a Veep candidate being so poorly qualified and so ethically challenged to step in with the likely and predictable recurrence of his cancer (or perhaps brain stem metastasis) in a man physically handicapped by an incurable cancer which has come back 4 times already.....the chances rise dramatically that Palin would become president.
If that occurs, no one in this country is safe and we may as well kiss this country good-bye. We'd be totally screwed and ripe for takeover by any foreign power.
What we may have been witnessing on the tail with the eye droop and facial tics is the metastasis of this incurable form of melanoma - invasive melanoma. The only thing predictable about this stage is not "if" it will come back because we know that it will and may have made a comeback already as it's progressed to his brain. Remember the site of his radical removal - left side of face, all lymph nodes on that side, fairly close to his brain.
Keep watching and you will notice changes in McCain's mental ability as well as some central nervous system changes which are occurring and progressing rather rapidly.
This disease is a killer for which there is no cure. Google it yourself - don't take my word for it.
Americans appreciate greatly what you've done today in exposing the Palin connections to the AIP - something which many of us have known about and have been researching for weeks.
Not only is their charge of a smear illegitimate since it is based on direct connection but it is something relevant timewise as well as a direct connection to both Sarah and Todd Palin.
The people "get it" and the people are very worried about these radicals gaining entre to the infiltration of our government from one of the highest offices in this country.
There is NO way this country with the multiple crises it's presently facing needs to add the potential "infiltration of anti-US secessionists" to this toxic mix we already will inherit from George Bush.
This is now clear and we thank you for what you have done to enlighten the citizens of this country. Hats off to you, David!
Video of AIP meeting where they say Palin was a member but gave it up to run as a Republican (to go along, to move along).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4onL8NhC20E
Kudoos to David on the article. But he did not seem very prepared for the interview. I appreciate the hard work. but his language could be a little clearer....
eg...
AIP. is a fringe group that wants alaska to secede from the union.
it is a group whose founding leaders repeatedly insult the US and her government.( then list examples)
Great job, David.
Facts and objectivity first.
It's amazing to actually see something like that in the media.
see my comment on orcinus for further elucidation
It takes a great comedian and actor to recognize a fraud.
Think 'Alaskan Blue Parrot' and watch the video :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMyNk8J1c8g
Great job as always, Dave. Keep on waling on them and we will nail their mangy hides to the barn door with cold, hard facts. They can run and equivocate, but they cannot hide from their records.
Glasshouses and stones seem relevant to Prof Palin at this point.
This shows you how far the Republican Party has reversed itself from the Party of Lincoln. They have put on their ticket a candidate for vice-president, that by her actions, has endorsed the TREASONOUS Secession policies of the Alaskan Independence Party. And the last time I checked, TREASON is punishable by death or imprisonment.
The Civil War was first and foremost about the preservation of the Union. Lincoln recognized how a nation divided could eaily be torn apart by foreign intervention. He knew the Southern states had to be forcibly returned to the Union if the United States was to survive. Britain and other nations were much stronger than the US in 1861, and would have easily reconquered their North American empire with only a weaker United States of America and Confederate States of America to oppose them. Britain's sea power alone at the time could have wrested away the western US.
Should Alaska attempt to secede, there would be war between the US Army and an Alaskan army, who would have to follow the orders of an Alaskan President. Brothers and families would once again be divided against each other. Is this what these radical bastards REALLY want? Are they prepared for the genocide and loss of life of "loyal" Americans in Alaska when the militants decide to "cleanse" Alaska in their madness?
Send in the FBI and other federal law enforcement officials, appoint federal judges and prosecutors and start putting these secessionist bastards on trial for TREASON against the United States. This shit has to stop somewhere, and now is the time.
Successionist movements are not treason, unless it's to aid and comfort an enemy, but it is however sedition, and could be consTitutional cause to call out the militia to quell them.
)O(
Not to be picky, but I think you meant "Secessionist" and not "Successionist" movement.
DEFINITIONS:
TREASON
a crime that undermines the offender's government
disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior
SEDITION
an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government
I'm sorry, but I'm seeing no difference.
You are attempting to reason it's sedition and not treason because treason is aid and comfort to the enemy. What you are failing to see is the enemy within which is the neocons who want to make our country into a facist state. Never mind the Taliban and all the other wackos around the world; we have more to worry about with our own "Taliban" movement such as the secessionists and white power Nazis which are being courted by McCain and Palin.
Don't know where that extra capital T came from, but then I am drunk again.
)O(
Did Neiwert refer to AIP, etc., as patriots and patriot groups? How do you refer to secessionist real live America Haters as patriots??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!
Ask her about oranges and she'll reply about apples. Her running for the VP is an insult to our intelligence.
.
Pallin' with Separatists.
.
All the info about the Alaskan Independence Party and its close connections to both Sarah and Todd Palin have been out there for ages, but I think the MSM has not touched it because the Obama campaign has not touched it. And that is a HUGE mistake when the non-stop Ayers smears keep coming.
The Obama-Ayers close connection is based on ZERO facts - and of course Obama has flat out denounced what the man did 40 years ago. But the MSM reports on it relentlessly anyways simply because the McCain bunch never stop talking about it! Ultimately, if we want the MSM to dial into the AIP thing, the Obama campaign and surrogates WILL have to keep talking about it too, and we need to keep badgering the media to report on it.
I think Obama running a pretty clean campaign that focuses on policy issues has been a key part of his great upswing in the polls and was a very smart thing to do. But the Ayers smear MUST be responded to emphatically - and it needs to be placed in sharp contrast with the FACTS about the Palins and the AIP that are solidly backed up. Instead of renouncing the extremist AIP, Sarah herself has recently PRAISED the group.
Palin has attended AIP conventions in the past, and THIS YEAR she delivered a videotaped address! My favorite part is at the end when she says "keep up the good work, and God bless you!
I would refer you to the excellent piece on DailyKos from way back on Sept. 1st for both the video and transcript of this address:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/4231/1.....
My fondest fantasy (that I have little hope will happen) is that
right when McCain whips out his Ayers malarky at the debate tomorrow (which he has promised to do), that Obama would cooly reply about the Palins well-documented close association with the extremist AIP whom she not only did not denounce, but formally praised as recently as this year.
The other side is going to Rev. Wright and Ayers us to death for the next 3 weeks... we'd better have something solid in response, or the damage they could wreak could be quite substantial.... especially if the dire economic situation improves some.
It's is refreshing to see that journalism is alive and well in some parts!
PALIN denounced the American flag. That's all she wrote. She's out!
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