Palin defiant after probe jolts McCain campaign

Sunday 12th October, 04:08 AM JST

DAVENPORT, Iowa —

Vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin denied wrongdoing Saturday after a probe found she had abused voters’ trust as Alaska governor, in a new blow to John McCain’s trailing White House campaign.

Republican McCain was embroiled in turmoil of his own meanwhile, after he was booed late Friday by supporters and appeared to undercut his own campaign strategy by calling time on personal attacks on Barack Obama.

Alaska Governor Palin rejected the findings of a bipartisan legislative probe which found she violated ethics rules by letting husband Todd pressure top officials for the firing of her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper.

Asked by a reporter in Pennsylvania if the charges were true, Palin replied: “No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it. You have to read the report.”

The report said that Palin had “the authority and power to require Mr Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act.”

But in a phrase seized upon by the McCain camp, the report also said she acted within her “constitutional and statutory authority” in the case.

The probe was the latest blow to Palin, who electrified the Republican Party when she was first picked, but has seen her impact, especially among undecided voters and women diminish amid questions about her qualifications.

The damaging report could make it tougher for the McCain camp to portray Palin as a crusading reformer set to flush out corruption in Washington.

Wire reports

Latest 15 of 101 Total Comments Show All

BlackFlag at 02:03 AM JST - 13th October

I wonder what Del boy would say....
DerekTrotter at 02:38 AM JST - 13th October

She can be as defiant as she likes , i wouldn't say no.

I'm sure i can butter her up with a steak meal, yeah, that always does the trick, lovely jubbly.
GeorgeRoper at 06:24 AM JST - 13th October

I don't get all this, what's the big deal about michael palins wife? Why does she want to be in politics? Strewth, her husband has got money, and the woman is supposed to stay at home and be ahousewife, like Mrs Fourmille. On telly jeremy paxman said Palin is conservative, well i'm working class and proud of it, so i wouldn't agree with her extreme views anyway.
GeorgeRoper at 08:19 AM JST - 13th October

Palin has weird ideas, my wife Mildred, says she doesn't do her housewife duties and look aftyer her children proper. If she is crooked like they said on telly, then i reckon she should get the sack like normal people would.
MikeBarrymore at 08:58 AM JST - 13th October

I think she is a nutter, she doesn't like gays, but pretends to tolerate us!! Of course she is defiant, she is too stubborn to admit she's wrong, she thinks she is the bees kness, but her attitude is her downfall. Ccome on Obama, be the greatest hunky president ever!
SezWho2 at 10:16 AM JST - 13th October

GeorgeRoper,

Or is it Emily Litella? I think you mean Todd Palin's wife. I'm not sure that Michael would have stuck around so long waiting for her to do her housewife duties.

Oh, well. Never mind.
Sarge at 10:30 AM JST - 13th October

"Ccome on Oama, be the greatest hunky president ever!"

Mike, are you sure America is ready for a president with such a fit behind?
Nessie at 10:36 AM JST - 13th October

I haven't read a single speech she has said or a single policy as Governor of Alaska that supports that she is a mindless end of days Christian nut could you help me here supporting your assertion with some real facts?

Yes, I would love to help, if you can stop putting words in my mouth. I didn't say "she is a mindless end of days Christian nut."

This is what I said (with evidence in parentheses):

- participated in de-witching ceremonies (Video on Youtube)

- participated in inquiries about banning books (She has admitted this.)

- eroded separation of church and state (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/11/palin-blurs-line-betweenn133863.html)

- wants to believe the Earth was created 10,000 years ago, with humans and dinosaurs co-existing in harmony before the Fall (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-claimed-dinosaurs-an130012.html)

- associates with people who see Alaska as the destination for true believers after the upcoming rapture (http://davidwogan.us/?p=868)

Out of curiousity, would you like to see more erosion of the line between church and state?

And how do you feel about her being a tax cheat?(http://gawker.com/5059012/sarah-palin-tax-cheat)

I can see how people might like and respect McCain. I liked and respected him before he whored himself so blatantly in the recent campaign. But I honestly don't see what's to like about Palin as a candidate for public office, unless you're threatened by candidates who are smarter than you or you have contempt for the US Constitution.
coulrophobic at 11:04 AM JST - 13th October

"This is what I said (with evidence in parentheses): - participated in de-witching ceremonies (Video on Youtube)"

What is "de-witching"? There is no such word.

"participated in inquiries about banning books (She has admitted this.)"

Please have a look.

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/09/22/bozell-palin-book-burning-myth

"wants to believe the Earth was created 10,000 years ago, with humans and dinosaurs co-existing in harmony before the Fall"

As with the supposed book burning you offer no proof other than someone's claim (a music teacher) that she said this.

Got anything a more convincing?
Sarge at 11:52 AM JST - 13th October

coulrophobic - He doesn't.
Nessie at 01:59 PM JST - 13th October

What is "de-witching"? There is no such word.

You know what it means. If you don't, then watch the Youtube video.

I saw your link [on inquiries about banning books ].

I stand by my claim that she "participated in inquiries about banning books." This is not contested by anyone. Not by her. Not by your source. She did participate in such inquiries. The full story from a more neural source than yours:

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html

As with the supposed book burning you offer no proof other than someone's claim (a music teacher) that she said [the Earth was created 10,000 years ago, with humans and dinosaurs co-existing in harmony before the Fall].

The music teacher is on record as saying she is a young-earther. To my knowledge, she hasn't denied being a young-earther or a creationist. I acknowledge there is no definitive proof, but there is evidence, and that was my claim: I had evidence for each of my assertions.

I'm still waiting to hear how you and Sail feel about erosion of the line between church and state and her being a tax cheat. I've given up on Sarge because he doesn't seem to have much to contribute to the discussion.
Sarge at 07:04 PM JST - 13th October

coulrophobic - What did I tell you?
jwills79 at 08:27 AM JST - 14th October

Sarge,

You haven't said anything really. Where are the rebuttals for Nessie?
jwills79 at 08:31 AM JST - 14th October

The proof for the "de-witching" is all over the net (Youtube). The discussion about the books has been admitted by her. The proof of her belief system is in the Religion she practices. What more proof do need?

Her approval rating in Alaska is very low right now. I don't she will win the VP or even re-elected as Governor.
Nippon5 at 06:32 PM JST - 14th October

Seems her rating is at 68% now.. which is considered very high compared to others..

Its down form the unbelievable rating of 82%..

Its a rating that any political person would like I think..

Doesnt make her a great political person, Im just pointing out the wrong data provided by jwills79