Karl Rove in Alaska? McCain's Spin and Interference With Bi-Partisan "Troopergate" Investigation

Politicians are good at spin. The McCain camp has brought a whole new level of it to our small state -- in what looks like an effort to show they can play the same Karl Rove-like political games that have haunted this country for the last 8 years. I like Governor Palin on a personal level. But I don't like what the McCain campaign is doing to our state. I don't like deception. And I don't like politics as usual.

Alaskans are starting to see evidence of a Karl Rove-like effort to stonewall what started as a non-controversial, bi-partisan "Troopergate" investigation. A little deception here, a few personal attacks there. And the kind of spin you see at an amusement park tilt-a-whirl station.

This investigation was started by a Republican-dominated Alaska Legislature to look into Governor Palin's conduct in seeking the termination of a State Trooper, once married to the Governor's sister, Trooper Michael Wooten. The McCain camp wants to stop it by saying it's a "democratic" investigation. Apart from facts, and the reputations the McCain folks don't mind destroying, there's not a lot standing in the way of this strategy.

Until August 29 "Troopergate" was a small state investigation Governor Palin, and every Republican and Democrat in a Republican-led Legislature, had agreed was appropriate. But things changed the day Governor Palin joined the McCain ticket. His handlers went ballistic that the Governor agreed to an investigation they now needed to stop.

I know Senator McCain is now running on a political platform of "change." Leave aside how he'll fight to change what he's voted to do to this country for the last 8 years. If you ask me, the only thing he's changed so far is Governor Palin's position -- her decision to cooperate with this once-small investigation.

This is one of those cases where there's a clear truth. It's a clear truth -- about a bi-partisan investigation -- that I hope McCain's operatives will ultimately fail at spinning into a "partisan" plot against his running mate.

To get their way, and prevent sworn testimony from leaking out on what I suspect was probably a minor breach by Governor Palin, McCain's operatives have come to Alaska to add invective in a state where people generally get along. They've chosen to vilify: 1) one of the state's most respected public officials, Senator Hollis French; 2) the state's most respected law enforcement official, Walt Monegan; and 3) a highly respected former DA and Victims Rights advocate a legislative committee voted 12 - 0 to hire to conduct the investigation, Steve Branchflower.

It's the ghost of Karl Rove. Say something untrue enough times -- like that al-Qaeda is training with Saddam Hussein's help -- and people will believe it. Not this time. I'm not sure if I mentioned a few important facts.

Did I mention that no one ever attacked the Troopergate investigation by Alaska's Legislature -- started long before Governor Palin was placed on McCain's ticket -- until August 29? That was the day Governor Palin joined the McCain bid for the White House.

Did I mention that before the McCain camp got involved, the Governor stated of the Legislative investigation: "That being the route they choose, so be it. I'm happy to comply, to cooperate." (KTUU.com, July 24, 2008). She repeatedly stated she'd comply, and that it was the right thing to do.

Did I mention the personal attacks against our local public officials only started after Sen. McCain sent his flacks up to our small state on August 29? They came with a mission to make America believe a Republican-initiated investigation, started with a unanimous committee vote of eight Republicans and four Democrats, was a "partisan" plot. That's only a tough sell if people know the facts.

Did I mention they now claim the Legislature cannot legally proceed with an investigation into government misconduct (I thought Republicans didn't like attorneys who made frivolous arguments), and that they are threatening to to go to court to stop it? The Governor's attorneys started writing those letters on -- you guessed it -- August 29. Before then they agreed the investigation was proper.

Oh, and what about this: last week the McCain camp put our Governor in a bizarre position. They told her to file an ethics complaint against herself! Yup, again after her VP nomination. Too weird? What's behind this move? You guessed it. Lawyers.

To create the legal argument that the Legislature cannot investigate government misconduct, the McCain team has had her file a complaint against herself before something called the State Personnel Board. That's a 3 member group of Republican Gubernatorial appointees -- that, if it started this week, wouldn't get an investigation done, and reported to the public, until after the November election. Convenient.

Hm. The Legislature has announced they'd have their investigation done -- if witnesses would cooperate like they were until August 29 -- by October 10. I can't imagine why the McCain camp would prefer an investigation that doesn't get finished until after November. Any ideas?

So what about the claim that this investigation is some sort of partisan plot against a Republican ticket? A legislative committee of eight Republicans and four Democrats asked former Assistant District Attorney Hollis French, a Democrat -- to hire a legislative investigator in July. He did. He's not doing the investigation. So the complaint that he's a Democrat who supports Barack Obama is, well, weak. He's a Democrat who supports Barack Obama, who was appointed before Governor Palin was a VP candidate. More importantly, he's a Senator who has the confidence of a majority Republican Senate.

He once said to the press the results of the investigation are likely to be troubling. He shouldn't have said that. But the Governor's said it too. The newspapers have said it. We all know it. The public record already contains evidence that the Department of Public Safety was contacted roughly 20 times by Palin senior staff, and her husband Todd, about firing Trooper Wooten. The Governor has conceded that based on this evidence, the public could conclude the Department could have felt pressure from above to fire Trooper Wooten.

The investigator, Steve Branchflower, is a former DA and Office of Victims Rights head (a job he was appointed to by a Republican Legislature). He's actually conducting the investigation. Attacking Senator French doesn't really work if he's not investigating the case, or making any findings. So the McCain folks have attacked Mr. Branchflower. And they've tried to stop him from issuing subpoenas to the witnesses now directed not to talk. Today the McCain folks suffered a setback. A bi-partisan committee of Republicans and Democrats authorized Mr. Branchflower to move ahead to subpoena those witnesses.

And for good measure -- the McCain folks are attacking Walt Monegan -- the Public Safety Commissioner Governor Palin fired. The Troopergate investigation involves claims that Monegan was fired for not agreeing to fire Trooper Wooten, the Governor's brother in law involved in a very ugly custody dispute with the Governor's sister.

I don't begrudge the Governor for not liking her brother-in-law. I don't really like him either, from what I've read. I do begrudge those who'd attack Commissioner Monegan, a quintessential public servant who's worked for both Republican and Democratic heads on the state and local level.

These three public servants deserve better. What they've received so far, is a little dose of ugly Washington politics in a state where we don't see that stuff too often.

I stood on the sidelines when this investigation started. When Governor Palin fired Commissioner Monegan, my advice was to end the flap and just hire him back. He does good work. He's well respected. Unfortunately, my advice sometimes isn't that good, and the Governor didn't agree.

Then McCain's staff of outsiders came to town. And they began to launch personal attacks on people I respect. They started proving that the same old politics that have caused dissatisfaction with Washington insiders these past eight years are going to be the bread and butter of the McCain campaign.

So -- here I am today. I support an Obama presidency because he shares a vision I believe in. I've publicly supported him since the race started last year. I also think Governor Palin originally did the right thing in agreeing to take some small lumps by proceeding with a legislative investigation Republicans and Democrats, and much of the public asked for.

But unfortunately Alaska is the bull's eye in a national presidential race today. When told by the McCain folks that she needed to change her position, she did, as a loyal running mate. I understand that.

As an Alaskan I'm not really angry at our Governor for this mess. I do blame John McCain for the ugliness he's brought to our state this week. His folks have come to my small state to attack my friends, and people I respect, for political gain. In my book, that's not OK. We all mess up time to time. But this crosses the line.

In small states, like small towns, people who act like the McCain folks apologize. Until that happens, I'll keep defending three public servants who deserve better.

Comments

[Mybunchofgrapes]

Walt Monegan -- the Public Safety Commissioner of Governor Palin was fired because, he disobeyed an order from the governor. Palin's record has shown some scary questionable ethical situations in my opinion. And this nation deserves better.

I want a female president but ,I am not willing to sacrifice what my grandfather fought against racism and self hate. There is a smell of disrespect here and America and women hood should have better.

How can I trust someone who will not believe that women of rape and sexual crimes against children deserves no protection. The issues on native sovereignty and voters rights in Alaska and in the Palin administration needs to be addressed not covered up. McCain should have taken his time in vetting this woman.

McCain says she is his kindred spirit...goosebumps are running up my leg in a not so feel good way. Something is telling or motivating me to run to polls and yell at my folks you better come with me.

No wonder McCain is sending his attack dogs up north to clean the records for this woman -for if the truth hits the fan --maybe the destruction of the republican party is not far behind ..oh I did missed to speak ...McCain and Palin are not republicans they are reformers who just happens to be running on the republican ticket...my bag!

[GalapagoLarry]

Dear Alaska:
May I offer my condolence? As a Westerner I, too, am a bit consterned about the sudden attention by our friends in DC. Until it was determined that we are a "swing" state (no, make that a "battleground" state) (no, make that a "purple-to-blue" state) we managed to handle our inter-party differences with a minimum of bloodshed and animus. OK, we have learned to loathe the do-nothingness of Wayne Allard, but he's falling on his sword and doing the right thing this year. And thank the gods of civility, Tancredo has also fallen on the sword of ineviteble anonymity. But with a few exceptions, we have managed not to embarrass ourselves. Overly much. So, Alaska, buck up. Once Ms. Alaska Governor is no longer in the national spotlight, you can go back to real bipartisan problem solving. I do hope, though, that your experience with the national McCain Machine will serve as a warning to the rest of us what will be the Washington mood once they move in, were they to win. Thanks.

[PT6]

I hope that a Alaska Legislative Report, using the information available, will be provided to the American people on October 10, 2008 regardless of the "SubpeoneaGate Coverup" that the "Rove" like team is pursuing.

We deserve seeing the evidence collected to date on "Troopergate" to help in determining if this woman should be our President, since McCain is 72 and has had cancer four times and frankly appears somewhat frail frequently.

[Dadeo]

King Karl and the McCain legal team have goosestepped into Alaska. Their mission is to stall, confuse and turn it into a Democratic smear campaign. Let's see. Karl works for McCain and Fox News. Now I get it.

[maddronn]

The Executive, according to Sarah Palin:

• Government by a person who believes and acts like they are above reproach, answerable to no one, subject to no laws and permitting no affective oversite.
• A person who installs personal friends, in positions of power and authority regardless of qualifications, because personal friends are the only ones that can be trusted.
• A person who seeks absolute power, not by force but, by guile and subversion.
• A person whose prevarications stream constantly and are regurgitated over and over until all that’s left is acidic bile.

Does the Palin concept, and by extension the McCain concept, of the Executive sound familiar? It’s Bush/Cheney all over again.

If we the people are going to have any chance to reverse the dictatorial incursions into our fragile democracy of checks and balances by the Bush/Cheney regime we need regime change, not more of the same.

[vnetuolsbm]

The bueaty of this whole scandal is that it wasn't a big deal until the wrong hands got ahold of it. That's exactly what has been happening in American politics for the last 100 years or more. (Yes I Said 100 Years) The wrong hands keep twisting everything to their liking and ignore the law and order when it comes to justice and righting the wrongs. The last eight years have proven to show just what happens when you give the baby the stroller before it learns how to crawl. Something needs to be said. And you know what people,... I think this post pretty much says it all. Even politics at the "Alaskan Level" need to be changed. Too many people are making too many bad decisions.

[sherrybb]

I think this was a well written, thoughtful article. Perhaps Mr. Gara could not be too tough on the governor..what if he gets to work with her again. thx for clearing things up for us.

[Over50WhiteWoman]

New evidence? Yeah, that's the ticket!

[KathleenA]

Thank you for your thoughtful, logical, well reasoned post. I hope you are able to have your message conveyed to a wide audience, this is information all voters should be aware of.

[MinuteMan]

How can you possibly hold Palin innocent of the obstruction and character-assassination? She could still voluntarily testify and direct the others involved to testify as well. She could probably also have just have told the McCain camp that she wouldn't stand for any of this sleazy business. It might cost her the VP slot, but it would be the right thing to do. Monegan could have tried to find some way to placate Palin by firing Wooten and he probably would have kept his job though not his honor.

By joining in with the McCain team, Palin has completely bought into the dishonorable tactics of McCain's campaign!

[larsiler]

and they say they are gonna reform the country? America better be listening-they are most likely worse than Bush

[stryker]

Gee, republicans refusing to cooperate in an investigation, refusing to testify, calling a bipartisan investigation a Democratic witchhunt. Who does dick cheney, er, sarah palin think she is? She'd fit right in with the bushies. Some change!
The only original maverick is James Garner.

[gotsmarter]

Love your James Garner line.

Sounds like the same old Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain train roaring down the track. Now Palin is on it.

[lagumbo]

Well the people of Alaska is in for a rude awaking. If Carl Rove is their they need to watch out for their head. Look what he pulled off with the firing of the United States attorneys, look what he did with the
imprisonment of the governor form Alabama, look what he did with the outing of Valerie Plames. You alaskans are in big trouble. All this and Rove refused to be supeonead. This is who John Mcsame has gotten into bed with. When all this is over with, the people of Alaska will be ready to throw Palin under the bus. She is being used and she has no clue. When Obama is elected, watch what will happen to Palin and her governorship. The people of Alaska need to stand up now and if anyone knows anything about Palins' and her bad conduct they need to talk now. Carl Rove, John Mccain and the Republicans party only thinks of keeping the power, and they don't care who gets in the way, they will be eliminated. John Mccain is a dishonorable man.

[Herkybird]

Palin knows what is going on. That hatchet she carries around is not just for chopping wood! The day after she was elected Mayor she fired half of the city council. Although I did not think an elected official could be fired. As governor she has fired many state employees that did not agree with her or would not do what she wanted or for saying bad things about her. She won the governorship with a little over 14,000 votes. It would not take much to impeach her. And McCain/Rove best not interfere with a state investigation. That can be construed as tampering with evidence and THEY could end up in court. For her or agin her...the people of Alaska don't sound like the type that would stand for ctiy slickers coming around causing trouble.

[boo127tx]

OK,lets see here.McCain,Rove and party want to delay an investigation that's been going on before Palin was picked for Vice.
Would not vetting told them that?
Now they want the delay until after the election.O,just great,then after it's too late all find out what is known already by the few that we have another Cheney in office.
HA,then just try to impeach her for little troopergate.
Won't happen, then we are stuck knowing we have a lieing pitbull with lipstick as our VP.

Isn't life grand.

[Sammy00400]

I imagine the investigation wasnt a big deal to Palin because perhaps governor was as high as she wanted to go politically. Maybe senator but not VP. Also, it suggests she is being very carefully handled. Maybe more than Bush was. To me that doesnt suggest any kind of wrongdoing somewhere in the past. It does suggest however that maybe they think she is not up to campaigning on this level.