Palin Trooper Scandal: McCain Campaign Takes Over

Newsweek reports on the top terrorism prosecutor John McCain's campaign has hired to stop the investigation against Sarah Palin:

A former top Justice Department prosecutor now working for John McCain's presidential campaign has been helping to direct an aggressive legal strategy aimed at shutting down a pre-election ethics investigation into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The growing role of Edward O'Callaghan, who until six weeks ago served as co-chief of the terrorism and national security unit of the U.S. attorney's office in New York, illustrates just how seriously the McCain campaign is taking the so-called "troopergate" inquiry into Palin's firing last summer of Walt Monegan, Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner.

O'Callaghan emerged publicly for the first time this week when he told reporters at a McCain campaign press conference, in Anchorage, that Palin is "unlikely to cooperate" with an Alaskan legislative inquiry into Monegan's firing because it had been "tainted" by politics. That new stand appeared to directly contradict a previous vow, expressed by her official gubernatorial spokesman on July 28, that Palin "will fully cooperate" with an investigation into the matter.

But O'Callaghan (who resigned from the U.S. attorney's office at the end of July to join the McCain campaign) is doing more than just public relations when it comes to "troopergate." He told NEWSWEEK that he and another McCain campaign lawyer (whom he declined to identify) are serving as legal "consultants" to Thomas Van Flein, the Anchorage lawyer who at state expense is representing Palin and her office in the inquiry. "We are advising Thomas Van Flein on this matter to the extent that it impacts on the national campaign," he said. "I'm helping out on legal strategy."

The AP adds that McCain campaign control over Palin extends beyond the trooper scandal:

GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is effectively turning over questions about her record as Alaska's governor to John McCain's political campaign, part of an ambitious Republican strategy to limit any embarrassing disclosures and carefully shape her image for voters in the rest of the country.

...

Palin's normal press secretary, for example, now turns away inquiries from any reporter who isn't permanently based in Alaska, referring questions to the presidential campaign. Trouble is, some of McCain operatives only recently have arrived in Alaska and struggle to explain Palin's positions on arcane state issues.

McCain's campaign has sent at least one dozen researchers and lawyers to Alaska to pore over Palin's background, ready to respond to questions about her tenure as governor and mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. Griffin has been leading the team in Alaska, which includes operatives of the Republican National Committee.

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Republicans are rebutting what they describe as smears against Palin. Last week, McCain's campaign formed a "truth squad," which includes current and former GOP politicians who agree to speak with reporters. Heading up the effort from Arlington, Va., are Mark Paoletta and O'Callaghan, both Republican lawyers, and Brian Jones, a former communications director for McCain.

A conservative Alaska columnist lambasted Palin in the Anchorage Daily News for her reaction to the investigation:

You really can't experience the full effect of Monday's news conference featuring Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton unless you hear it for yourself. Stapleton passionately attacked former Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan. Her rhetoric was plain, desperate, and obvious. Her tone, pure shrill.

With intensity, urgency, and alarm in her voice, Stapleton described Monegan's behavior as commissioner as egregious insubordination, full of obstructionist conduct and a brazen refusal to follow instructions.

Did Walt Monegan, former Marine, and lifetime crime fighter deserve this? Of course not.

But history has proven, get in the way of Sarah Barracuda's political ambition, and you won't know what hit you.

Meanwhile, TPM reports on Palin's latest explanation for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan -- he was too aggressive in fighting sexual assault.

Comments

[BuzzingAlong]

If there is nothing to troopergate, why bother to cover it up?

I think that there is more to the story that they want to prevent the public from knowing.

[Agent420]

She is a political s l u t.

[abby4ever]

Don't try to be subtle, just say it straight out.

:)

[LemonMeringue]

She really has become a joke.

"Palin" has already come to mean something more than just her name. Question is, will "Palin" become a noun or a verb? As in "we've been Palined" or "my date last night was a real Palin."

[babyboomerorig]

I still think she's Cheney in drag.

What right does the McCain campaign have to cover all this up? She was asked to run as his Veep candidate, while he knew of this issue?? Either McCain's real stupid or she just bowled him over with her looks...

Ethics are ethics...showing the "appearance of impropriety" is enough to keep her off the ballet.

[BuzzingAlong]

McCain did not vet Palin.

[johnnyjust]

Keep attacking Palin.

It's your only hope.

[babyboomerorig]

Easy shot, except for the fact that she has so many lies sitting out there and this big abuse of power thing going on...

Hmmm.....echoes of the current adminstration. "It's my ball and I make the rules. The rest of you just deal with it."

[blueshield]

I think Palin's a fine woman, smart, beautiful family, good for Alaska, and in way over her head.

Let's face it, she's V I A G R A for a Republican election. Their flip-floppy old member wasn't getting any attention from women, and she's stiffened his base. She's got him excited and the party has come to attention.

But, she's just his prop, and no matter how hard he tries, America's tired of getting screwed, and he won't be able to keep it up all the way to November.

[Agent420]

But Cialis can be taken daily so Johnny can beg 24/7.

[CTtransplant]

Best belly laugh of the night! Thanks!!! :)

[maggieblue]

No need to attack her. She's shooting herself and the Republican party in the foot.

[Gusto2]

No one is attacking her. They are asking legitimate questions. When she decided to accept the VP nomination, she accepted the consequences. She is not inmune to the review of her background. We the People have a NEED AND A RIGHT to know the background of anyone who is seeking to represent us around the world. If you Republicans can dish out trash you should expect to be exempted from it.

[MBryant]

I'm not sure that attacking Palin isn't feeding the McCain campaign strategy around her. She's the "Weapon of Mass Distraction" and her job is to keep the blogosphere, the cable news talking, chuckling, wagging heads, the news/culture/fashion/gossip rags, the daytime / semi-news / personality / late-night / comedy talk shows all focused on ... SARAH PALIN. Scandals - help her do her job - Dem/Blue wonk outrage - helps her do her job. As long as everyone is focused on SARAH PALIN - no ones talking about Bush or the Economy or not finding Bin Ladin or McCain's weak policies or his family background or Obama's potential or Joe Biden.

The only way to derail Sarah Palin and defuse McCain's WMD is to ignore her. (and that's not easy to do).

[Kuroneko]

"Cover up"? No kidding. I wonder if she'll continue with her "Thanks, but no thanks" and "Governor's jet on eBay" gigs all the way until the election. They already sound silly, given the magnitude of economic news in the last few days and looming thick cloud surrounding her "troopergate" scandal.

[Agent420]

The cloud is Alaskan black flies. They love garbage.

[Lupin77]

I think what we are seeing is a coverup attempt of the troopergate facts from getting out to us and we deserve to know what really happened in this case after all she is running for vp.

[senseandnonsense]

I think I have it figured out now. Palin and McCain must be practicing to reform the government! Although, I admit that reforming the government by obstructionism and refusing to answer questions is a little too abstruse for me to understand. I think Richard Nixon tried that. Also, reforming the government by avoiding one's own accountability is also a little, contrary... But I sure can see how the Republicans will jump on the bandwagon of this kind of reform!

[Sammy00400]

I dont know if I would call it a cover-up so much as a total overreaction. Name aside this isnt Watergate. The campaign should have done nothing, did what the investigator asked, let it run its course, then dismiss the results as partisan if it doesnt go their way. As it is many people think there is something to hide. I am curious who made the decision to do everything possible to quash the investigation.

[rj610]

at first i was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. having just had her thrust on the national scene there really was no reason to trust or not trust her. but me thinks they doth protest too much and now i'm convinced she has something to hide and not just in this particular scandal but many other things. everytime i see her on tv i want to puke and i think it's totally absurd that she could come within a heartbeat of the presidency. i understand the republicans in high positions who want her because she is as they say a blank slate, but what's with the average person on the street who never heard of her before mccain introduced her and are now tripping over themselves to praise her? and why, because she can read from a teleprompter?? how insane.

[lynettema]

Before the McC campaign got so involved, I just thought this was a disgruntled employee. Maybe not. Maybe there are things to discover or Palin is as she seems - just another corrupt Republican.

[gtalkspolitics]

Palin is Petty and vingful, she is revengful and small if you don't agree with, she uses her political power to get rid of you just like This current adminstration NO CHANGE JUST MORE OF THE SAME

[irishcat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Zqoi-xmdU

[noneIn2008]

Alaska is just not like the good ol days in the 70's.
Having worked as a teamster in Alaska in the 70's, Wooten would have been fish food in the 70's. You taser my nephew, threaten my dad, beat my sister. Fish food.
Monegan would have been in a foundation to the pipeline. Multiple times, you go behind the govs back and try to cut deals with the other side.

The good ol's boys ganging up on the woman are a little more like the 70's so there are still some left over Dems and Reps up there.

[Gusto2]

She was elected governor of Alaska, not dictator of Alaska. You just don't fire an employee because he disagreed with your decision or did not do your political and revengeful deeds. This is not about Reps or Dems it is about justice and if she is a real patriot she will allow the justice system to take its course and as the governor of the state she should be setting the example, not acting like a suspicious criminal.

[kwon35]

IF you have nothing to hide, why not go and tell your story? why request for it to be moved to where Palin has full control over the hearings? why not submit all the email requested?

This whole email hacked will be an excuss to delete those emails.
After the election, wait and see all the lying come out.

[Birdman]

I can only think of one reason why they would want to stop it, that is because she is guilty. If they manage to stop it based on false pretenses then they can say there was no evidence to continue the investigation. Which by republican standards is the Christan thing to do, lie, lie, and lie some more. when called on it lie again, or attack the person and say you support Obama. When that doesn't work then they resort to character assassination. All of the basic Rovian tactics we have seen time and again, BTW has GW found those WMD in the oval office yet?

[FemiMommy]

I wonder if it's not just that she's guilty of this but uncovering this would lead to way more serious things we haven't even heard anything about yet... It doesn't seem like that big of a deal in Republican-land to use your power to get someone fired. And, honestly, they could really play it as someone who was sticking up for her sister, worried about her nephew, etc., and probably most people would buy that.

[BuzzingAlong]

I vote for uncovering this would lead to way more serious things we haven't even heard anything about.

[Saltamontes]

Sarah Palid really should understand the meaning of the words she uses before she uses them. In using "verbiage" to refer to something McCain said as she did on her Fox interview, she was saying that McCain was verbose or excessively wordy. Also, I cannot find "impactful" in my dictionary at all.