One thing that I have not seen reported, in all the Palin flailin', is Governor Palin's record of political contributions. The Federal Election Commission maintains a database where one can search for the contributions made by individuals. A search for Palin, Sarah reveals surprisingly little.
The FEC database shows only two contributions by Sarah Palin:
Contributions to Political Committees
PALIN, SARAH
WASILLA, AK 99654
HOMEMAKER
MILLER, MIKE
VIA MIKE MILLER FOR US SENATE
07/22/2004 300.00 24020641163
PALIN, SARAH
WASILLA, AK 99654
NA/HOUSEWIFE
ALASKA REPUBLICAN PARTY
06/08/2004 328.00 24961947273
Total Contributions: 628.00
This from a database that seems to go back to 1999.
Does anyone else find this a bit bizarre?
Only two political contributions by someone who is now a governor?
Has she even contributed to the McCain campaign?
Note also that Governor Palin described herself as a "homemaker" in the summer of 2004. According to Wikipedia, this is accurate. She had finished her second term as Mayor of Wasilla, and had resigned from the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission in January of 2004.
And note also that the single campaign that Ms. Palin contributed to -- Mike Miller for Senate -- didn't seem to get very far, according to FEC data. Does anyone know what kind of candidate he may have been?
Another possible line of inquiry: Did Gov. Palin contribute to the Alaskan Independence Party? The FEC database does not show such a contribution. But their older records may not be in the database.
Perhaps someone in the DC area can spend some time over the next few days checking FEC records?
UPDATE: Commenters DemocraticLuntz and Cris Nolan are correct: The FEC database shows federal contributions, and contributions over $200 need not be reported. My thanks to these Kossacks for the clarification.
UPDATE 2: Here's what the Alaska Public Officers Commission shows in the way of state political contributions for "Sarah Palin":
# Date: Amount: Type: To Candidate/Group: Election:
1 02/19/2002 $1,000.00 Monetary RSA - REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ALASKA 2002 Anchorage Municipal
2 08/19/2003 $75.00 Monetary KOHRING, VIC 2004 State Primary
3 06/23/2004 $100.00 Monetary MCLEOD, ANDREE 2004 State Primary
4 07/22/2004 $50.00 Monetary SULLIVAN-LEONARD, COLLEEN 2004 State Primary
5 12/30/2005 $100.00 Monetary AK RIGHT TO LIFE PAC 2005 Group
And here's what the APOC website shows for "Palin, Sarah":
# Date: Amount: Type: To Candidate/Group: Election:
1 10/01/1998 $150.00 Monetary GREEN, LYDA 1998 State General
2 11/15/1999 $125.00 Monetary RS - REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ALASKA 1999 Group
3 08/17/2003 $200.00 Monetary FANNON, DUWAYNE CHARLES 2003 MAT-SU Borough Municipal
4 07/22/2004 $200.00 Monetary GREEN, LYDA 2004 State Primary
5 10/14/2005 $150.00 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
6 02/24/2006 $33.00 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
7 02/25/2006 $28.98 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
8 02/28/2006 $19.00 MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
9 03/08/2006 $318.10 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
10 03/15/2006 $368.10 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
11 03/16/2006 $337.00 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
12 04/17/2006 $309.10 NON-MONETARY PALIN, SARAH 2006 State Primary
13 07/11/2006 $200.00 Monetary DAHLSTROM, NANCY A. 2006 State Primary
14 10/01/2006 $500.00 Monetary MENARD, CURT DR. 2006 MAT-SU Borough Municipal
15 11/29/2006 $50.00 MONETARY PALIN/PARNELL 2006 State General
So I stand corrected with respect to state contributions, and have so modified the title of this diary.
Sarah Palin: Alaska First.