but the problem is that speaking in complete sentences is hardly sufficient justification for the 6 and 7 figure salaries of some of today's elite talking heads. Sooner or later, the media will have to return to the tradition of speaking in complete sentences, but thinking in full paragraphs -linking THOSE paragraphs together long enough to form coherent thoughts. The American public deserves no less.
Is the abuse of power issue a big issue? YES. Should the media continue focusing on the recent report? Yes. Is it the issue that will eventually carry weight with the American public and extend the Obama-Biden lead in the polls? Probably not. Follow me to below the fold as I explain why I think this issue will be a non-starter for many in the American public and which issue has the ability to knock the McCain-Palin camp back on its heels.
The McCain camp has already started on it's immoral march to Palin's defense by attempting to justify her actions as a 'family matter'. Once again, Wooten's (alleged) deplorable actions are used to help average Americans identify with the Palin family desperation. He was allegedly abusive, is alleged to have used a Taser on a child, is alleged to threatened to kill Palin's father, and has an alleged history of drinking and driving while on duty.
That she abused (interpreted by McPalinites as 'used') her power to protect HER family will make sense to many who wish that they had friends in high places to protect them and those they love. That's the little picture. The media has yet to connect the dots creating the big picture. Those reporters interviewing McCain camp flacks seem to be flabbergasted offered the explanation that anyone in Palin's shoes would have done the same. Some talking heads repeat it. What the media has not, and most likely will not, focus on is that while she protected HER family (as is her excuse), she left thousands of other women and their children vulnerable by firing Monegan. Monegan is the man she'd credited with doing a great deal in protecting victims of abuse. As the media will ignore it, most other individuals will ignore that aspect of the Monegan firing as well. Questions I'd like to hear the Gov. asked:
- Obviously, there is conflict in the Palin family's account of events and that of Wooten. What evidence has the family offered to support the allegations against Wooten? How could a public safety official be expect to fire an employee without evidence of wrongdoing?
- Why was firing Monegan the only option the governor felt she had available to her?
- Given the earlier praise for Monegan's work, and the high rate of abuse for Alaskan women, why wasn't Monegan simply demoted and shifted to another position so that he could continue that work?
- How long did it take to replace him and how long before his successor took up his work on behalf of Alaskan women and their children?
- How was this firing different from others that have been linked to her time as a mayor and then governor - firings that have been alleged to be politically motivated?
- What assurances would the American public have that if she were to be elected that the nation wouldn't end up dealing with another 'motivated firing' of national civil servants? We are still dealing with the firing of 9 U.S. attorneys which may now become a criminal matter.
- Would Todd Palin have the same level of access to power, and policy and decision makers as he's had in Alaska:
The report notes a few instances in which Palin pressed the case against trooper Mike Wooten, but it was her husband, Todd, who led the charge. Todd Palin had extraordinary access to the governor's office and her closest advisers and he used that access to try to get Wooten fired.
Gov. Palin knowingly "permitted Todd to use the governor's office and the resources of the governor's office, including access to state employees, to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired," Branchflower's report reads.
Gov. Palin should be required to go on the record about her actions and why she and her family (as well as the McCain camp) tried to stall the investigation. The Palins and the McCain camp should be made to answer about misleading the public about the nature of that commission. The commission's members include TEN, count them, TEN Republicans and only FOUR Democrats. Rachel Maddow kept hitting that point home, last night. Sitting in for Keith Olbermann, David Shuster did the same. Where was the rest of the media!?!?! By all means, continue to cover it.
The problem is that the MSM will never cover the most unsavory parts of the investigation. They're either ill-equipped or unwilling to do so. The issue that would resonate without requiring anyone to connect dots is one that will matter to nearly all Americans... the tax issue!
What irony that Gov. Palin claims that she'll get 'all mavericky' on the big spenders and greedy corporate elites and politicians who try to defraud the American public. Her claims about protecting Americans from 'greedy politicians' may be as false as her claims about Alaska's 'Bridge To Nowhere'. This issue has been out of the public eye for a few days, and is almost never mentioned in the MSM:
One big issue that tax attorneys are pointing to is the fact that the Palins did not report as income the $43,490 that the state gave the family to cover travel expenses for Mr. Palin and the Palin children. Had the Palins reported these payments as income, the couple would have had to pay taxes on it.
These tax attorneys note that neither Mr. Palin nor the children were employees of the state. Nor were they traveling on behalf of the state. There was some discussion that perhaps some portion of Mr. Palin's travel expenses might be excludable as income if there was a bona-fide business reason for his presence and if he assisted Mrs. Palin in her official duties.
I'm glad that the NYTimes has started having the discussion, but most of the media has not focused on this story with the same precision and unrelenting repetitive intensity with which they've reported the hate-filled McCain-Palin rallies and attacks against Sen. Obama.
- Gov. Palin billed the people of Alaska when she stayed at her own home.
- She billed the people of Alaska for travel expenses for her family, and seemingly she'd have known that it was only allowable if they were employees of the state.
- She failed to report that income on her tax forms.
- Subsequently, she failed to pay taxes on that additional income.
This is the story that has legs! Any American understands that if they, or any member of their family, failed to report income, and it was later exposed, the repercussions would be quite serious. There hasn't been as much as a slap to the hand for Sarah and Todd Palin.
I am in the heart of middle America - a liberal Independent in a sea of Conservatives and moderate/conservative Independents, and they just don't care about Palin 'protecting' her sister, nephew, and father. She's recast as a powerful feminist who was able to do for a victim what any person 'in their right mind' would do if given a chance. There's no focus on the larger and more serious implications of the Palin's actions - most especially with Todd being granted unofficial status as the co-Governor (the very thing that conservatives hated about the Clintons despite the fact that there is little evidence that Hillary Clinton served as a shadow President as Todd Palin has served as a shadow Governor). Those same individuals who defend the abuse of power are stumped when you ask them to defend the unreported tax issue.
Just as it's 'The Economy, Stupid', this tax issue, in a time when the American public is looking at a taxpayer 'rescue' of corporate America, matters.
As the American public is dealing with the multi-trillion dollar portfolio loss, the tax issue matters.
As the American public is struggling to pay monthly bills and trying to figure out how to make ends meet on shrinking salaries, it matters that a VEEP candidate charges her own taxpayers so much money, in what MAY be a move that may be unethical, illegal, or BOTH - if investigated.
This tidbit from HuffPo offers new insight, as well:
Overall, the Palins reported a gross income of $127,869 in 2006, and paid taxes amounting to $11,944 (an effective rate of 9.3 percent). In 2007, the family reported earning a gross income of $166,080 ($107,987.00 of which came from Gov. Palin) and paid taxes totaling $24,738, for a rate of 14.9 percent.
But there is some discrepancy with the latter number. According to an accompanying 2007 personal financial disclosure report, Palin's "income" as governor of Alaska was $196,531.50, well above the $107,987.00 that was noted on her W2 form from that same year. An email was sent to the McCain campaign for clarification. And this story will be updated should aides reply.
It MATTERS that Sarah Palin says that she wants to 'protect' the American public, given her seeming penchant of treating the Alaskan taxpayer as 'extra income'.
I have yet to hear Gov. Palin comment on her tax returns, nor evidence that the McCain camp has responded and explained the discrepancies and omitted income. Are the sudden attacks on Sen. Obama's character solely a 'come from behind' ploy by the McCain camp, or an act of desperation and attempt to keep the media from focusing on Gov. Palin's tax issues? If tax attorneys are right that she SHOULD have reported this income (income she probably should NOT have collected in the first place), much tougher times are ahead for the McCain camp.
The mavericky maverick McCain has offered the American public a mavericky sidekick, who, apparently, is like every other politician that causes REAL fear, concern, and loathing in the American voter. Bad judgment? That's an understatement!
By the way... thought it might be good for a laugh... in a truly tragic way: