Palin Broke the Law - not some optional code

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Saturday October 11, 2008 · 1:34 PM PDT

2008/10/11 · 13:34

I just want to remind everyone that while discussing this or blogging this event that (Contrary to Ed Rollins, your local wingnut or all those CNN Chryons constantly saying she didn't break the law, that she 'violated' an ethics 'code)' according to the investigator hired by the NON-PARTISAN legislative council (as non-partisan as a heavily republican body can be), Palin broke the law. It's not ambiguous, it is not blog speak.

repeat after me.

She broke the law. The word 'ethics code' does appear in the statute, but the relevant portion is called the ethics ACT and is a statute of the state of Alaska - i.e. a law.

Your local wingnut will be jumping on the fact that they said that it was within Palin's right to fire Monegan. But Alaskan law isn't like the law that governs the firing of, say, US Prosecutors for political reasons. Alaskan law legally binds its employees and officers to use their offices for the state good and not to further their personal interest.

Your local wingnut will be jumping on the fact that there was no financial gain involved. Remind them that Alaskan LAW provides a whole laundry list of what could be in the personal interest, and financial gain is only a part of that list. It's the LAW.

Your local wingnut will be jumping on the fact that the report singles out the acts of Todd Palin and that Palin isn't subject to these laws (not being a state officer or employee). Remind them that Alaskan state LAW specifies that Palin can not only violate the Ethics Act (Alaska Statute Title 39 Chapter 52) by acts of commission, but acts of ommission. By knowingly allowing Todd Palin to use a desk and phone in the Governor's office to pursue his personal business, she was inviolation of the LAW.

Your local wingnut might suggest that AS 39.52.100 speaks of the 'public Trust.' If so, just smile, and remind them that the statute also legally requires them to follow 39.52.100 (subject to immediate removal from their jobs - or for officials subject to impeachment report to the leg. for that), but really...are they seriously saying that it's OK, because the proposed VP ONLY violated the public trust?

Sarah Palin violated the law...if you're talking or writing about it, "abusing her power" should always be replaced by, or accompanied by "By VIOLATING THE LAW.

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