Palin May Have Fired Aide Over Affair

The Wall Street Journal reports on another Sarah Palin firing -- one that sheds light on the way she mingled personal and political business:

Sarah Palin and John Bitney go way back. They were in the same junior-high band class. Mr. Bitney was a key aide in Gov. Palin's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. When she took office, she gave Mr. Bitney a job as her legislative director, and a few months later stood beside him at a news conference and praised his work.

"Whatever you did, you did it right," she told Mr. Bitney and his team.

Seven weeks later she fired Mr. Bitney for what her spokeswoman now describes as "poor job performance."

What happened in between? According to Mr. Bitney, Gov. Palin got a call from another old friend, Scott Richter, informing her that his wife, Debbie Richter, and Mr. Bitney were having an affair. Mr. Bitney had kept that secret from the governor, even as he told her of his divorce, he said.

...

When Gov. Palin was notified by Mr. Richter in July 2007, she called Mr. Bitney into her office. She already knew he was going through a divorce, and, Mr. Bitney said, he had "led her to believe there weren't going to be any more surprises."

Mr. Bitney said the governor "indicated to me that she was hurt, disappointed and upset, and that she didn't know what she wanted to do."

A few days later, Gov. Palin's chief of staff "indicated to me that I needed to leave the governor's office," Mr. Bitney said.

The Politico has more:

While Palin's office framed the departure as an "amicable" mutual decision, Bitney told Politico that Sarah and Todd Palin "were upset with me about my divorce and who I was dating, and they didn't want that in the governor's office. I wanted to stay with the governor and support the governor -- we're talking about someone who's been a friend for 30 years -- but I understood it, and I have no ax to grind over the whole thing."

Still, Bitney took a line from the "Seinfeld" character Elaine, deeming Palin "a bad breaker-upper."

Palin also fired, according to the Politico, "a campaign adviser whose mother-in-law fought Palin's legislative agenda, a local political mentor who she felt represented the "old boys' network," a police chief who she said tried to intimidate her with "stern look[s]" and a state commissioner who refused to fire her sister's ex-husband."

Comments

[LemonMeringue]

Would she feel ok if she were fired for HER affair with her husband's business partner?

The McCain campaign failed to stop this story by the NE with their threats of lawsuits, which tells me the NE can prove it.

[Jsaint]

With Mcnothing's temperment issues and Ms " terminator" what will the country be like the next 4 or 8 years under their control??

Its something we need to focus on!!!

[gifu]

Ms. Macho Insecurity. A softer, gentler Rambo for the 21st century. Does Sylvester Stallone have a long lost daughter, by chance?.

[GeoLee]

I guess the question is Would she have fired Gonzalez? Rove? Libby or any number of justice department employees who were involved in illegal acts or only if they ahd marriage infidelity issues? So far it seems personal issues are what leads her decisions. The God complex, I guess.

[RobinSeattle]

Somebody needs to ask her if she is comfortable with Having David Vitter in the Senate after he was discovered to be sleeping with prostitutes given this item.

Could be very uncomfortable for her.

[autumnimprov]

I've seen Palin with her baby and her hubby some weeks before the VP thing. I'm not suspicious.

However, WOMEN (I'm a woman, too): she vetoed funding for Alaskan Special Olympics with her line item veto in her role as Alaska governor after the end of the session, this year. As a woman and a mother, I am infuriated by that. Also, she vetoed funding with that same line item veto, in the same year (this year) for a shelter that houses pregnant teens.

As a WOMAN, I cannot support Sarah Palin. I'm at a loss what to call her (in Alaska, we invest less time in name calling and stigmatization), so I won't bother at all, but I'd NEVER vote for her. Never. I have my values, of long experience as a woman and a mother. A compassionate one. A successful one.

[JMT1]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. People are upset with Koch because he said she's scary. She is. She's extremely scary. I'm a woman of a certain age and there's something in my gut that tells me something is not right with her. I actually believe she could be worse the the Bush/Cheney administration. I hope John McMess knows what he's getting into because I can definitely see her trying to not only dictate our lives but try to run him out of the Whitehouse by any means necessary.

[LemonMeringue]

She is scary and like the George W. Bush package, the Palin package is meant to make it seem less scary.

Palin is Dick Cheney in a skirt.

[mesut]

I think if women are looking for her to support them and issues I don't see it happening. Gov Palin doesn't strike me as the type of woman that would stand up for all women. She strikes me as the type to say "get there on your own. I did!"

[RoxanneAustin]

She is, indeed, scary. Even four years of McCain-Palin could make us long for the return of the Cheyney-Bush years.

[winfie6]

I agree with you 100%. I wonder how she get's along with Mrs. McCain? She makes Hillary look like a girl scout.

[gifu]

Thanks for the info.

[MountainTime]

Doing a heck of a job Bitney.

[bolingo]

lol!!!

[Ourrias]

Then why didn't anyone fire Sarah Palin for the extra-marital affair she had with her husband's business partner.

You know - - the one her husband actually found out about.

You know - - the one that caused her husband to dissolve the business partnership he had with the guy who cuckholded him by doing Sarah on the side.

Why didn't anyone fire Sarah for her affair?!?!?

[ProFromOre]

The business the Palins STILL have not filed taxes on or paid any taxes. In fact, they flaked out so completely on corporate paperwork & mandatory meetings that this year or last, Gov Palin's name was on the letterhead of the involuntary dissolution notification the Palins and the lover received. In essence, she screwed the party twice. once literally, and once by killing his business! Hah!

Speaking of flaky on paperwork. If the Gov would have only signed the earnest money agreement for the property the new sports arena in Wasilla sits on, the city would have paid a mere $127,000. Because she flaked on it, the property ended up costing the city: ~1,250,000! Nice job, mayor.

This is the mayor's job she got SO MUCH experience from, remember? It's turns out when she tried to ban books in the library, a citizens' group started a recall movement. The city council negotiated a settlement: Palin kept her 'title' and the city got a city mgr to DO the work.

Hmmm, it seems in her case, she had a mayor's job, WITHOUT any responsibilities.

Liar, fraud, mean-spirited. Cheney? Nope, Palin.

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"The Failure Party": bringing you lies, hypocrisy, deceit and failure since 1972.

I was once taught "it takes the village to raise a child." I now propose 'it will take the nation to save our country'

[morefromLA]

There is only talk, no proof, unless you know of some.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Where there's smoke...

[ProFromOre]

Actually Todd didn't dissolve the business. They didn't file taxes or have mandatory corporate meetings, so they were involuntarily dissolved by the state. The letterhead on the dissolution had Gov Palin's name on IT!

SO the Gov got the partner twice! Once literally and once by killing the biz.

[winfie6]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Twice Ha Ha

[kfdan]

"Palin also fired, according to the Politico, ... a police chief who she said tried to intimidate her with "stern look[s]" and a state commissioner who refused to fire her sister's ex-husband­."

Palin sounds like the kind of person who fires people on whim! Do we really need such people in office? I for one think it's about time to get real cool heads into the top positions ... Palin doesn't sound like she's made of the 'right stuff.'

[InTheSouth]

Let's all please note that a VP who can be intimidated by stern looks will not fair well in foreign affairs. What the heck is she going to do if Putin gives her a stern look or speaks to her disrespectfully? Nuke him?

[LMT]

...and WHY does it seem that "Todd" was always involved in the governor's decisions? Who elected him?

[Razz]

She’s a religious fanatic. Have we all forgotten what the religious right has done this past 8 years?

We cannot afford to have another inexperience religious fanatic leader make decisions in the name of God.

KEEP YOUR OWN BELIEFS TO YOURSELF, DON’T INJECT IT INTO POLITICS AND HENCE INTO OUR LIVES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[Palin Supporter]

You seem to forget that obama had attended a christian church for 20 years which spewed of hate and racism

[AlgerHiss]

Was it the adultery or the lie?

Once you lie once, you've lost the confidence of your leader. Good time to exit.

[Ironfox]

And once you lie to Congress, and repeatedly lie to the American people, what then?

[qdog112]

Then you are eminently qualified to be the GOP nominee.

[gifu]

Retire with your riches and stake in the Carlisle Group.

[11907281]

Kinda like lying about a bridge and keeping the money even though it's not being used for it's intent, I could build a bigger list but you seem to only need one lie, so there it is.

[Palin Supporter]

Forgot about obama lying about pastor wright and his messages, but after a few months he seemed to remember the racist messages and half heartidly denounced wright. so there seems to be liars on both sides

[mamamay]

Folks this has nothing to do within these 59 or so days with becoming electible for President and VP. You can put a gun to moose ,deer, etc, to control them or kill them, but controlling who dates who to a governor's liking is childish and picyune. JMcsame and SaraMcBush need to take their attacks to learning skills that do not harm people in anyway nor abuse them. We need to get back on track and deal with the issues thats draining the American people.Wha­t about bringing the troops home,now. Don't worry about a surge working It's bringing our troops home safely and timely. .PBush is ready to bring some of the troops home too JMcCBush and SaraMcSame are squabbling over who said what way back during primaries, are they stuck in a rut? We need change that we can believe in. It's time to deal with this economy .we're hustling pay check to paycheck; save our homes, create jobs with equal pay, keep food prices down, and dont let us get sick because we need Healthcare as only Obama and Biden will bring to us, as we need it, not walk away from us when we're down and out. Folks FOCUS on the Issues.. Oil and gas up Winter's on its way. It is time to settle with who we know to bring the change we can believe in, not which friends to matchmake for 4 more years as Bush McSame and Palin,too. It's time for Obama's change.

[maveman]

Look closely folks--this is not who we need to help run our country--her inexperience with issues shows in her reasoning for dismissing people--is she ready to attack Vetter for having an affair--or how about Craig--?

[LarBear]

Let me get this straight..­. QUOTE: "According to Mr. Bitney, Gov. Palin got a call from another old friend, Scott Richter, informing her that his wife, Debbie Richter, and Mr. Bitney were having an affair."
But Scott Richter is the man Governor Sarah Palin supposedly was having an affair with.... and.... and... Scott was the Former Partner, Sarah's husband had a falling out with... and... and....
All this went on in Peyton Place, ooops, I meant Wasilla, Alaska, but not on the Bridge to Nowhere, which is Not connected, to the Road to Nowhere...­. Which John McCain can't remember if he has ever even been to Nowhere... But, but, wants to know if Cindy could buy a Home in Nowhere, just in case his Presidential Campaign goes Nowhere...­.

And, as a former POW, does he need a license to hunt Caribou Barbies, Loose Moose, Bipolar Bears, or sheep in Woolufs Clothing from his private Jet... It's the Wooluf, It's the Wooluf at the door.... Don't worry America, I'll save you!

[ProFromOre]

REALLY? My GAWD, it's Peyton Place North. The Gov was beatin' up people for her squeeze!

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"If it wasn't for lies, there'd be no McCain/Palin at all"

[mesut]

LOL (love the visual it creates)

[PurplePhase]

Let's think of the basics.

If conservatives wanted real change, they wouldn't be called conservatives.

[Liberal2]

From your keyboard to Obama's monitor. Priceless.

[bakingmom]

Brilliant! That is the key definition of the week!!!! LOVE it!