Alaskan Independence Party: The Last Refuge of a Scoundrel

In 2004, America's malleable mainstream media allowed itself to be manipulated by artful Republican operatives into devoting weeks of broadcast attention and drums of ink to unfairly desecrating John Kerry's genuine Vietnam heroics while obligingly muzzling serious discussion of George W. Bush's shameful wartime record of evasion and cowardice.

Last week found the American media once again boarding Republican swift boats against this season's Democratic candidate armed with unfair and hypocritical attacks artfully designed by GOP strategists to distract attention from the cataclysmic outcomes of Republican governance. Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin has taken to faulting Senator Barack Obama for his casual acquaintance with a respected Illinois educator Bill Ayers, who forty years ago was a member of the Weathermen, a movement active when Obama was eight and which he has denounced as "detestable." Palin argues that the relationship proves that Obama sees "America as being so imperfect that he is palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."

The Times dedicated a page one article to Obama's relations with Ayers and CNN's Anderson Cooper obliged Palin by rewarding her reckless accusations about Obama's patriotism with a major investigative report. Fox, meanwhile, is still riveting its audience with wall to wall coverage of this pressing irrelevancy.

But if McCarthy-era guilt-by-association is once again a valid political consideration, Palin, it would seem, has more to lose than Obama. Palin, it could be argued, following her own logic, thinks so little of America's perfection that she continues to "pal around" with a man--her husband, actually--who only recently terminated his seven-year membership in the Alaskan Independence Party. Putting plunder above patriotism, the members of this treasonous cabal aim to break our country into pieces and walk away with Alaska's rich federal oil fields and one-fifth of America's land base--an area three-fourths the size of the Civil War Confederacy.

AIP's charter commits the party "to the ultimate independence of Alaska," from the United States which it refers to as "the colonial bureaucracy in Washington." It proclaims Alaska's 1959 induction as a state "as illegal and in violation of the United Nations charter and international law."

AIP's creation was inspired by the rabidly violent anti-Americanism of its founding father Joe Vogler, "I'm an Alaskan, not an American," reads a favorite Vogler quote on AIP's current website, "I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." According to Vogler AIP's central purpose was to drive Alaska's secession from the United States. Alaska, says current Chairwoman Lynette Clark, "should be an independent nation."

Vogler was murdered in 1993 during an illegal sale of plastic explosives that went bad. The prior year, he had renounced his allegiance to the United States explaining that, "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government." He cursed the stars and stripes, promising, "I won't be buried under their damned flag...when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home." Palin has never denounced Vogler or his detestable anti-Americanism.

Palin's husband Todd remained an AIP party member from 1995 to 2002. Sarah can be described in McCarthy-era palaver as a "fellow traveler." While retaining her Republican registration, she attended the AIP's 1994 convention where the party called for a draft constitution to secede from the United States and create an independent nation of Alaska. The McCain Campaign has reluctantly acknowledged that she also attended AIP's 2000 Convention. She apparently found the experience so inspiring that she agreed to give a keynote address at the AIP's 2006 convention and she recorded a video greeting for this year's 2008 convention. In other words, this is not something that happened when she was eight!

So when Palin accuses Barack of "not seeing the same America as you and me," maybe she is referring to an America without Alaska. In any case, isn't it time the media start giving equal time to Palin's buddy list of anti-American bombers and other radical associates?

Comments

[sidchandra]

12:17 AM on 11/02/2008

I guess the Dems havent brought this story out more, since they dont need do. Obama is winning handily, and is in double digit lead in the swing states. Dont think they need to stoop down to this story, otherwise, I would think they would have by now.

Plus, lets not forget Obama is running a real "high water" campaign. He's tried to run above race, prejudice and instant gratificat­ion politics.

I dont think he really wants this story to be front and center. It would make him look more like Palin if he did. He wants them to be the "wild ones out there", which is completely the correct approach.

[sidchandra]

12:09 AM on 11/02/2008

The problem with candidates is that they work in a country like America for one and only one reason - the corporate media, which is an accurate representa­tion of the "instant gratificat­ion" mentality of the population of this country.

What bigger proof does this country need that basically anybody can become President of this country if they just say the right things which sound like they know what they are talking about like a bunch of parrots ? "Freedom is on the march" , "I want to do what's right for America", "Drill, baby, drill" etc.

And the like ...

Unfortunat­ely, candidates like Palin survive and even thrive in this county because of one simple reason. Its the same reason why this country likes fast food, and low intellect TV.
This country is filled with "instant gratificat­ion" seekers. Thats the reason. And people like Palin and Bush are the perfect candidates for "instant gratificat­ion, fast food" politics.

This country doesn't like thinking about complexity­. It wants simple answers to complicate­d questions, which don't exist.

[PindoExpress]

12:30 AM on 10/18/2008

I'm a McCain supporter and I am about 80% positive that I am going to vote for him come november 4th. The reason why i am not 100% positive is every time I hear Palin speak or even her name mentioned I think about switching my vote. I'm dead serious and I find it extremely offensive that I'm constantly being told how much I should like her and how she is a breath of fresh air. I can't beleive that I'm sorry, it's too big of a pill to swallow. I worked with a guy that we all thought was in perfect health condtion and boom...hea­rt attack gone. It's real and could happen. I do like John McCain but like alot of us I'm sick and tired of bs by people like Carl Rove and the brainwash commitee telling me how great she is. She isn't and it is a joke that she got the nod as vp. Maybe some people buy it but for the rest of us that can think for ourselves it's down right insulting.­.... still.

[kendal]

04:04 PM on 10/20/2008

Just remember, 100% of your 80% goes to Palin for President should old John give out mid-term..­.a vote for McCain is a vote for Sarah...!

[retroredux]

08:39 PM on 10/15/2008

why hasn't the democratic party and/or the obama party brought this out more? In the Salon article, the current AIP chairmen plainly states that Sarah Palin is a "great member"-bu­t everyone is saying she's not, even though she spoke at this years AIP convention­?

Talk about terrorism! What Palin and her husband has done with this secessioni­st group is sedition at the least and treason at the most! This group is of the same ilk as McVeigh-th­e Oklahoma city bomber!

[scotnat]

03:56 PM on 10/18/2008

The 'Treaties' section of the AIP website includes the text of the following document -

'Declarati­on Of The Causes And Necessity Of Taking Up Arms' - July 6, 1775

Below it in red is the following -

'Be it known by all, that the Alaskan Independen­ce Party (AIP) does not advocate the taking up of arms first. We believe we can achieve our goals of FREEDOM by non violent means.

We attach this document to our site to show the comparison between the British and Federal Government­s on their treatment on peaceable and freedom loving peoples.'

The opening words of the Constituti­on of the United States are - 'We The People'. The peoples of the United States have been betrayed by both the Republican and Democratic parties as a result of their misinterpr­etation of what those words really mean as well as their own party political self-inter­est. There is no comparison whatsoever between the AIP and McVeigh.

'Just remember, especially in politics, that people who make statements as fact without knowing what they are talking about are just opening their mouth and letting their belly rumble.'

The 'Sanitizat­ion' of Scottish History - http://fol­lonblogs.b­logspot.co­m/

[scully09]

03:09 PM on 10/15/2008

they better do something quick!

[AllAmericanGal]

08:28 PM on 10/15/2008

I am amazed - disgusted - that an issue as important as this has not been reported more often by the MSM. I've been waiting and waiting since I first learned of this while watching Countdown with Keith Oberman. My internet research on this topic has proved to be very alarming.

This connection between Palin and the AIP needs to be exposed to the American public. They have a right to know. Yet, as always, MSM is silent except Oberman and Maddow.

I just recently (the first Presidenti­al debate) started watching the news again. I stopped watching the news, except for the BBC, after the last election because American media reports what they're told to report, not the whole story. (I stopped watching Fox in 2000). I was so happy to find that, for the most part, MSNBC seems to be on my side for a change in reporting this election, though they too have failed for the most part on this story. If you're not telling us everything­, you're lying to us. Half truths are lies and has left me with no respect for most American news reporters.

I definately applaud Oberman and Maddow for at least getting out what they could on this before someone shut them up.

I also thank you Robert Jr. for this story. Why haven't you been on the air? We certainly need your voice heard more often.

[indups]

11:45 AM on 10/15/2008

RICK SACHEZ DOES INDEPTH INTERVIEW WITH SALON ON PALIN'S CONNECTION TO THE AIP. PLEASE FOLKS, LISTEN TO THIS IN FULL.

THANKS RICK. HOPE THIS CATCHES THE ATTENTION OF ABC, CBS AND OTHER MSM. MORE FOLLOW UPS REQUIRED BY OTHER NEWS OUTLETS.

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=MODT4y90k­90

[Kerra52]

10:26 AM on 10/15/2008

How funny is it that McCain says that Obama gets away without being scrutinize­d by the MSM as McCain does. WTF? This AIP story is a BIG DEAL and much worse than Obama being on a board with someone who did something when he was 8.

CNN did a story about it yesterday afternoon but was it picked up by the other shows in the evening? NOPE. Oh but they made the ACORN story sound like something sinister and organized even though it was just a bunch of thugs hired by ACORN trying to get a paycheck without doing the work and COMMON with people who are hired to register voters. Of course MSNBC made it very clear that there is nothing here that will affect election day.

What is going on with CNN? they are so worried about being labled as biased that they purposely try and make stories about Obama more sinister than they are and let MCain and Palin get away with everything­!

MSNBC would rather report the news, ALL of the news and get that label than not do their job.

It is OBAMA that has beard the brunt of all this and McCain and Paling getting away with so much! And yet he is still winning with a POSITIVE campaign.

I don't know what is going on with CNN anymore.

[gabrielle-08]

03:06 AM on 10/15/2008

What did we all hear growing up.."Peopl­e who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"

Everytime I hear Palin open her mouth, with ignorant, smearing attacks or just plain lying ; all straight out "blanket statements­", I always invision all intelligen­t people wishing they could fly through the television screen and challange her with questions to throughly examime her attacks, and with accurate facts. Shake the believers. You know, that base.. the ones lacking in intellectu­al courosity; who soak up everything that is fed to them. I'm sure she'd be stumped. After all, that's not the fork she knows. A kind of salad metaphor..

I always find myself screaming inside ,"you hypocrite,­! You hypocrite!
If McCain talks about Ayres in tomorrows' Debate, I hope Obama, brings up McCain's good friend G. Gordon Liddy, and a whole list of associatio­ns McCain has had. I hope he brings up Palin's
praise for the AIP and her husband's associatio­n with that group.

[dss]

07:09 PM on 10/14/2008

Obama might say to McCain-Pal­in:
I see your Ayers+Wrig­ht, and I raise you a Keating, an AIaska Independen­ce Party, a Troopergat­e, a Rev. Nagy, a Rev. Falwell, a Phil Gramm, and all the hate-monge­rs who you allow into your rallies without preconditi­on.

There is a lot of dangerous GOP ante in this pot....
the pot that would call the kettle black.

Luckily, high-infor­mation voters are not falling for McCain's and Palin's empty attacks. It seems very shallow to be railing against a past associatio­n with a man who was not even convicted, when Americans are committing suicide from losing their jobs, their homes, and their minds.

The most important election story are the voter suppressio­n tactics underway. GOTV, and make sure you are still registered­, tell your friends to make sure they are still registered­, be prepared to fill out a provisiona­l ballot, and call 866-OUR-VO­TE if you have any questions or problems on or before election day. RFK has been advocating that we be vigilant in fighting against disenfranc­hisement on election day. There promises to be a lot of problems with long lines in many precincts, not enough voting machines, and machines that will break down.

Don't back down. Make sure you cast your vote all the way up and down the ballot. Some congresspe­ople lost by 1,000 votes in '04 and '06 because voters were only voting for the top of the ticket.

[evekendall]

12:59 AM on 10/15/2008

Add Rev. Hagee and Rev. Parsley.

http://www­.alternet.­org/blogs/­peek/80253­/

[GingerB]

04:03 PM on 10/14/2008

Rick Sanchez just did a story about the Palins and AIP less than an hour ago! CNN actually covered it!

[Judyisacutie]

10:09 AM on 10/14/2008

The media has been absent on this story. The Ayers story was nothing. This is huge.

[indups]

12:07 AM on 10/13/2008

The founder of the Alaska Independen­ce Party said:
“I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutio­ns.”
Sarah Palin became a member.

There's plenty evidence about Palin's affiliatio­ns with the AIP secessioni­sts. A pity that the MSM is ignoring it. Is this a deliberate effort?

Now she attacks Obama with lies!

When will the media wake up to the truth about Sarah Palin?????

http://www­.latimes.c­om/news/op­inion/la-o­e-brooks4-­2008sep04,­0,5675222.­column

http://the­bruceblog.­wordpress.­com/2008/1­0/06/count­ry-first-s­arah-and-t­odd-palins­-troubled-­ties-to-ai­p-alaska-f­irst-seces­sion-and-t­errorism/

http://mir­roronameri­ca.blogspo­t.com/2008­/09/aip-of­ficial-on-­tape-sayin­g-sarah-pa­lin.html

http://mir­roronameri­ca.blogspo­t.com/2008­/09/palin-­connected-­to-anti-am­erican-fri­nge.html

http://mir­roronameri­ca.blogspo­t.com/2008­/09/lies-t­old-by-sar­ah-palin.h­tml

[Sabreen60]

10:33 PM on 10/12/2008

Please take this to the M S M !!!!

[TedB]

10:21 PM on 10/12/2008

Mr Kennedy, please take this message to the major media outlets. Right here you are simply pushing on an open door.

[Kris in WA]

12:05 AM on 10/13/2008

Yes, please take it to the MSM, Mr. Kennedy. We all need to do that!! lt is up to us. If each and every one of us e-mailed CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and let them know that we the people want this on as one of their investigat­ive specials and/or on their evening news for longer than just a blurb... they would hopefully oblige us. But we have to bombard them with e-mails. I just e-mailed the MSM but we are all in this together..­.and there is power in numbers!! So let's GET-R-DONE­!!

[AmericanWarrior]

09:58 PM on 10/12/2008

Why won't CNN do their job and talk about this? It drives me insane sometimes seeing, the Ayers, Bradley effect, and Rev. Wright stuff while this goes under the table. Palin is the person American's­, real United American's­, better be concerned about. Scary, scary, scary. How many states want a session? Could the United States of America have their own Russia vs Georgia situration that main steam people are totally unaware of? Wowwwww...­..

[Kerra52]

10:30 AM on 10/15/2008

Because they do not want to worry about being labeled as biased and "in the tank" for Obama. so Obama has had to put up with this extraordin­ary scrutiny from the beginning. They are only hurting themselves­.

Rick Sanchez ran a stroy on it and then CNN dumped it. Blitzer did not touch it, Larry King did not and neither did Anderson Cooper. But boy they will talk about Ayers until we are blue in the face. Actually it makes me see red.

ONLY MSNBC reports all the news and accurately­. They are paying the price with being labeled but getting the news out is more important to them and I admire that.

CNN is pathetic.