The Post is reporting that Sarah Palin not only was close to indicted Senator Ted Stevens right up until his indictment, but had been a director of his 527. Palin is making a very big point that she fought corruption in Alaska, even in her own party. Evidently that fight started after Stevens was indicted.
(Palin as mayor of Wasila also hired Stevens' Chief of Staff as a lobbyist and got $8 million in federal earmarks).
Palin, an anti-corruption crusader in Alaska, had called on Stevens to be open about the issues behind the investigation. But she also held a joint news conference with him in July, before he was indicted, to make clear she had not abandoned him politically. Stevens had been helpful to Palin during her run for governor, swooping in with a last moment endorsement. And the two filmed a campaign commercial together to highlight Stevens's endorsement of Palin during the 2006 race. Shortly after Palin was announced as McCain's vice presidential pick, the ad was removed from her gubernatorial campaign web site. It remains available on YouTube.
Palin, an anti-corruption crusader in Alaska, had called on Stevens to be open about the issues behind the investigation. But she also held a joint news conference with him in July, before he was indicted, to make clear she had not abandoned him politically.
Stevens had been helpful to Palin during her run for governor, swooping in with a last moment endorsement. And the two filmed a campaign commercial together to highlight Stevens's endorsement of Palin during the 2006 race.
Shortly after Palin was announced as McCain's vice presidential pick, the ad was removed from her gubernatorial campaign web site. It remains available on YouTube.
The 527 that Palin was one of three directors of was intended to train GOP women on campaign funding. Her name was one of the original ones as director in 2003 but was replaced in 2005.
There were many complaints that this 527 was in fact illegal, or at best pushed the envelope for legal support groups.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...