Palin Pledged Openness But Didn't Deliver

As Alaska Governor, Claimed Broad Exceptions To State's Freedom Of Information Rules

(AP)  Sarah Palin's promise for a new era of government openness as the reform governor of Alaska started to crack even before Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign built a wall of protectiveness around her.

Palin was elected nearly two years ago with splashy moves like publishing the state spending checkbook online. She kept a campaign pledge to allow the public to view online communications between state officials and potential bidders on a major gas pipeline, a contrast to her predecessor.

But her administration has claimed broad exceptions to Alaska's freedom of information rules to keep government e-mails secret, and it's shown reluctance to disclose documents about sensitive topics, ranging from polar bears to policy issues. And her state's online checkbook is limited in its detail.

Disclosures about private e-mail accounts used by Palin and her top aides have raised questions about whether they were trying to evade disclosure under the state's public records law. Her aides have denied this.

Alaska's attorney general, appointed by Palin, determined in August that any personal communications on state-reimbursed cell phones and BlackBerrys can be kept secret under the Public Records Act. That could sweep information from public view if it were deemed personal, although the attorney general said state officials or courts still could review the records as needed.

For citizens or journalists seeking public records in Alaska, the government generally must provide copies of records upon request within 10 days. The Associated Press has received some documents it sought in as little as one day.

But when the AP asked for documents about nursing homes last June, state officials initially demanded $5,000 in fees. The fee was only waived three months later and the request satisfied after the AP printed a story on how state officials had effectively turned over questions about Palin's record to members of the McCain political campaign.

Alaska now charges $960 per e-mail account for searches, plus additional fees for copying.

Like Palin, McCain has promised to set new standards for transparency and accountability. Before becoming governor, Palin resigned from a state oil and gas board where she said confidentiality rules prohibited her from publicly discussing ethics problems she encountered and reported internally.

Now Palin is dogged by accusations of stonewalling in a home-state investigation into whether she pressured officials to fire her former brother-in-law, a state trooper. After initially promising to cooperate, Palin challenged the lawmakers' impartiality. The results of that investigation are expected to be made public as early as Friday.

"As soon as the heat comes on, the openness and transparency goes away," said Anchorage Daily News editorial page editor Matt Zencey.

At a campaign rally, Palin described her state's online checkbook and said she would "bring that kind of transparency, that responsibility, and accountability" to Washington. But the U.S. government already has a more in-depth public accounting system, a result of legislation sponsored by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and co-sponsored by McCain, Palin's running mate.

The site, USASpending.gov, offers details about federal contracts, loans, grants and insurance payments. Alaska's Online Checkbook provides little detail beyond the vendor and amount spent, such as money spent on travel. Citizens must separately submit a formal public records request to learn who traveled, the destination and travel purpose.

Even while Palin ditched the prickly press relations of her predecessor, Frank Murkowski, her staff complained about TV crews waiting to question people outside her office. Longtime state Capitol reporter Gregg Erickson said there were early signs she wouldn't meet the high bar of openness that she had set for herself.

Palin asked Erickson early on why he had to sue an earlier administration to get public records.

"I told her the reason governors keep it secret is they find it lots easier to govern if they can control the flow of public information. That seemed to stun her," said Erickson, editor of the Alaska Budget Report newsletter. "It's a principle she certainly discovered. Within a few weeks we were running up against difficulty," he added. He described a set of heavily edited records that he only received in full after appealing on legal grounds.

Alaska lawmakers found Palin secretive about her budget plans, and they were angered she didn't signal her vetoes before axing projects they supported.

"The problem is, she campaigned on being open and transparent," Democratic state Rep. Beth Kerttula said. "She says she's open but the reality with the budget is, the goals she did lay out didn't seem to be followed."

A University of Alaska professor, Rick Steiner, spent months working to obtain reports by Alaska marine mammal experts that didn't mesh with Palin's opposition to the federal designation of polar bears as a threatened species.

Steiner was told variously that he had to be more specific in his request, that the information didn't exist, that he could find it on a state Web site, and finally that it was protected by a "deliberative process" provision under state law.

Palin made her name as a reformer when she ferreted out e-mails of a state official she suspected of wrongdoing. Back then, she said withholding such information violated her beliefs as a public servant. Now Palin's aides are withholding swaths of e-mails exchanged among her and top staff that critics and news organizations have sought under the Public Records Act. Some were sent to Palin's husband, Todd.

"It's incumbent on the government to explain why these communications should be treated as confidential if outsiders are included," said John McKay, a First Amendment lawyer in Anchorage.

Any messages about official business are public records, but the state e-mail servers capture them only if at least one party uses an Alaska state e-mail address, said Kevin Brooks, deputy commissioner of administration.

Palin has been careful to send copies of official e-mails to at least one employee's government address so they would be retained, spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said. She said Palin used a private e-mail account to avoid conducting personal business using state equipment.

Former Alaska Gov. Wally Hickel once fled an elevator to avoid a reporter's questions, but Palin invited Bob Tkacz, a business freelance reporter who covers Alaska government, for a chat when he staked her out this summer. That didn't mean she spilled the scoops.

"She's a nice lady," he said, "but when she doesn't want to say something it's very hard to get anything out of her."

[kc629]

For 8 years Todd Palin belonged to a political party whose chief platform was about seceding from the Union. That alone should make his wife not eligible for the VP office. Todd Palin is not even a loyal American.


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Posted by Dibs977 at 10:01 PM : Oct 07, 2008


you''re right all they want is more of our governemnts $$ and fame

[trigs_8]

McCain gave us the gift that keeps on giving. It says a lot about his desperation to get the brass ring at any cost. Poor advice by his staff and supporters. He should have won in 2000 but Bush set the bar to a new low and now he''s taken a page out of the Bush playbook. Sad.

[grangerwoods]

VIDEOS JOHNNY MAC DID NOT SEE
PALIN IS ANTI-AMERICAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIi4rbIXbkw

Listen very very close from the 6 minute mark to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8&feature=related

Her own confirmation!

[robert2237]

armydog2- So what part of San Fran-sicko do you live in? It is very plane that you do not live in Alaska, so with this type of bs it sounds more like either San Fran-sick or Berkly-sicko. Tell the truth for once

[midvale3]

I was talking to my son who is serving a second tour of duty in Iraq. He was leaning toward mccain until he picked palin as his running mate. His question to me was where did he find this crazy b-itch. He sent in his absentee ballot and told me he couldn''''t vote mccain because of her.


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Posted by armydog2 at 07:34 AM : Oct 08, 2008


You have my wish he returns home to you safe and sound.

[midvale3]

Palin is a very dangerous person. She''s able to portray the racist, bigoted feelings of many Americans but put it in a nice looking, concise package. She is a Baracuda and uses her looks and "aw shucks" talk to gice people a false sense that she''s harmless, then strikes. She would put this country back 100 years in racial harmony if put in charge anywhere else but mostly white Alaska. She needs to fade away like David Duke.

[robert2237]

sleepyric-Do you really think anybody belives this bs about your son. My guess is that you are somewhere in you 20 or 30 and if so man you had a kid real early. The fact is that most military welcomed a person like Palin as VP, someone we can relate to unlike the big BO.

[sleepyric]

They call her the Attack Dog. Well we all know what a female dog is don''t we?? In this case, spell that in caps! Not qualified. Mental. Soon to be a fading memory. Bad memory!

[armydog2]

I was talking to my son who is serving a second tour of duty in Iraq. He was leaning toward mccain until he picked palin as his running mate. His question to me was where did he find this crazy b-itch. He sent in his absentee ballot and told me he couldn''t vote mccain because of her.

[alaskavoter1]

ALASKA GOVERNOR Palin = RECALL!!!
I am a Alaskan life voting Republican. This 2008 Election, I will [with pleasure] vote Democrat! This Alaska Governor has Destroyed and continues to attempt to Destroy "MANY GOOD ALASKAN PEOPLE(s) Professionally and Politically during her "VERY SHORT" term position as Mayor in a small community Wasilla, Ak (Approx 5,000 + residents during her reign) and current Alaska State Governor.(of approx. twenty months). Whenever Palin is confronted with a question that she does not know, does not have a clue or simply does not want to answer, her indignation which turns to...ANGER...is unquestionably familiar!......McCains'''' V.P. selection Sarah Palin unequivocally has NO business being the Alaska Governor, let alone, a USA candidate for Vice President.... Maverick??..... ****AMERICA SHOULD BE FEARFULLY CONCERNED****. I voted for Sarah Palin in Alaskas 2006 Governor Election. MISTAKE!.... Never Again%u2026 I repeat-NEVER AGAIN!!...Alaska Governor Palin is an absolute Embarrassment to the Alaska People(s) and "IS" proven to be an insatiable Liar!! How can she possibly ASSUME the to possess the ability to clean up America, when she cannot clean the ''MESS" she has created in Alaska. Yes,--- A Mess FOR Alaskans to Clean-Up!!!!!!............ MCCAIN, you should be ASHAMED of yourself!!!! This victim (palin)has no business in this Presidential Arena.

[read Alaska News-Politics adn.com]
Posted by AlaskaVoter

[dibs977]

For 8 years Todd Palin belonged to a political party whose chief platform was about seceding from the Union. That alone should make his wife not eligible for the VP office. Todd Palin is not even a loyal American.

[dibs977]

THE ISSUE is that we need honest, hardworking, intelligent people in office who will show wisdom and good judgement. We all want prosperity and health care. The right and left are not so far apart as a few extremists would have us believe. Let''s come together and choose people we can trust and that is not "Keating 5" McCain or bully Palin.

[dibs977]

Well Palin said she was "annoyed and impatient" with the questions given her in an interview---so that is the excuse she gives for a bad performance. As a paid lawmaker---that is her job to be able to deal with questions and not give excuses.
And are Palin''s eyes crossed or is that just a manic look in her eyes? Something is wrong--eyes are windows to the soul and hers are weird. Maybe that is why she blinked so much in the VP debate--nah--she just had her bangs in her eye. Does anyone else find her just unbelievably awful?

[jojo9357-2009]

To sgreen2006

http://www.salon.com/opinion
/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/

to use an OPINION as a source doesn''t cut it. Go to fact check.

[tonyatq]

BOTTOM LINE. THESE ARE POLITICANS NOTHING MORE. THEY DONT CARE ABOUT ME NOR YOU. THEY CARE ABOUT SELF. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME MCCAIN/PALIN-OBAMA/BADIN HAD LUNCH WITH YOU. MY POINT IS WE SHOULD NOT GET CAUGHT IN CHARACTER FLAW THEY ALL HAVE MADE BAD DECISIONS. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT YOUR 401K IN THE LAST WEEK. HAVE YOU NOTICED THE COST OF MILK, BREAD AND GAS AND WE ARE DEBATING CHARACTER FLAWS. MY FAMILY INCOME IS $150,000, I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT 16% AND THE MEDIAN INCOME IS $21,000. MY FAMILY IS STRUGGLING. EXCUSE ME IF I JUST WANT TO DEBATE THE ISSUES.

[tonyatq]

WeroinNM: Before you take the Sarah Palins interpretation of the article please read it yourself. I two find it troubling that Sarah Palin husband was part of a group who wanted to be independant from the US. What happen to country first? I also find it troubling that she had the commissioner fired because he didn''t fired her brother in law. THIS IS TOO MUCH LIKE BUSH AND CHENEY.

[tonyatq]

gssmith777 what you think about Todd Palin affilation with the Alaska independence group. As for brianwashing Bush and Cheney did that four years ago. Make at fool out of me once shame on you. Make a fool of me twice shame on me.

[tonyatq]

gssmith777 why is it when Sarah Palin is called out the media has to be bias. The only news show that is bias is Fox. I wonder why that haven''t report on her husband affilation with the Alaska Independence group. Speaking of Acorn, they also did not report how the GOP was trying to get people name taken off the voter roll whose house had foreclosed. I quess it was abc news bias that showed the American people just how dumb this women is. John McCain showed his judgement when he didn''t pick Mitt Romney and for that reason he want get my vote.

[jmurrieta11]

Surprise!

Miss Piggie Palin is just Dik Cheney with teats!

[strangeworld]

It''s a rather sad, but not unexpected testimonial to the corruptness of the modern republican party to tout a vice-presidential candidate who hides the truth while speaking otherwise. It would be nice if anyone on the republican ticket had some honor, but unfortunately they do not. The modern republican is a ethically bankrupt, poor example of what an American is supposed to be.