Palin Target Of New Ethics Complaint (Related To Travel By Palin's Children)

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

CBS News Investigative Unit Has Learned Of New Complaint Related To Travel By Alaska Governor's Children

(CBS) CBS News Investigative Producer Yvonne Miller-Halee and Kim Lengle wrote this story for CBSNews.com.
Alaska Governor and Republican Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin may be facing another round of scrutiny, this time for charging the state for her children to travel with her while conducing official state business.

CBS News has obtained a copy of the complaint that Frank Gwartney, a retired lineman in Anchorage filed last Friday, with Alaska’s Attorney General, Talis Colber in Juneau. “Palin ran on the platform of ethics, transparency and anti-corruption. I’m tired of the hypocrisy that exists in Government and people need to know the truth,” said Gwartney.

The complaint against Governor Palin, alleges Misuse of Official Position: “Gov. Palin attempted to and in fact did use her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits for her daughters...” All the allegations contained in the complaint are related to state reimbursed travel.

In Alaska, ethics complaints filed against the Governor are confidential. “We can neither confirm nor refute that a complaint has been filed against Governor Sarah Palin. Any complaint remains confidential unless the person being charged waives confidentiality or if the complaint progresses to the state of probable cause,” Assistant District Attorney, Dave Jones told CBS News.

Bristol, Piper and Willow, Palin’s daughters, accrued $32,629 in travel expenses while Palin’s husband Todd raked up $22,174 - all billed to the state for a total of $54,803.00.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/28/cbsnews_inves... ;topStories

[livetohike]

1. I'm so tired of seeing her drag her children around. They have

no place on the campaign trail, imo. This is how she governs too? Turns the governor's office into a day care center? Charge the state for toting them around on her travels? It's bad enough her husband shadows her everywhere.

She's extremely unprofessional. I haven't heard one pundit discuss this at all either. Maybe I'm wrong .

[King Coal]

13. If she doesn't take them, they get pregnant.

[superconnected]

32. Since she can 't stop getting pregnant, it's no wonder her kids can't control it either.

[roguevalley]

18. She has to pay taxes on this, on 150K of clothes and the like. WAY

TO GO, ASSHAT!

She makes me cringe but I cannot WAIT for her to get back here and find out we loathe her with the fire of a thousand suns.

[livetohike]

24. We'll be sending Sarah home to you all in a few days

Go at her, with all of our support .

[GinaMaria]

21. You're not wrong

She is unprofessional. I've heard many professional women say this about her. Her choices are certainly odd regarding her family at the office, but I think the thing that really set off the alarm for the women I know, was the debate. Nothing said unprofessional like winkin' and wigglin' at a serious debate. She made herself a joke. Her behavior is a big no-no for professional women (and I suppose men too, but don't know).

The truth is, the pundits don't need to address it, imo. Professional people recognize her actions for what they are. I've never seen anyone act like that in the workplace. She acts like she's at a job interview for Hooters not a job interview for VPOTUS.

[livetohike]

23. Well said!

I'm retired now, but my career was spent as a teacher and then in manufacturing management. Palin's behavior and insistance on bringing her children to the work with her are ridiculous. I see your point on why the pundits aren't addressing it, but then I haven't heard any of them say she is stupid either (another thing I believe).

[GinaMaria]

25. I'm trying to think of it from the pundits' POV

They may want to speak the truth in a way that won't make them look petty or mean. so they talk about how she was unable to answer questions, show clips of her talking in circles etc. instead of flat out calling her stupid. It's a more factual way to handle it. Actually imo, it is the better way to handle it.

I do a lot of Corp Comm and education design stuff and live by the motto : People will tolerate the conclusions of others but will ultimately act on their own conclusions.

This is mostly used in learning and org change scenarios, but actually works well here. You give people the info they need and allow their brains to come to a conclusion. When done correctly pretty much everyone comes to the same conclusion and because of this will change a behavior or adopt a new approach etc. Could explain why Palin is having such a hard time. Give the facts or show the evidence and people will come to a conclusion they will act on.

Hope I explained it well enough. It's not meant to be manipulation but just here are the facts, what would you do approach.

[speedoo]

2. So what's new here is that an ethics complaint has been filed.

The info about the kids travel expenses to NYC and elsewhere has been out there since shortly after the legislative ethics report was issued, IIRC.

[hisownpetard]

3. Hypocrisy at its finest.

[Hekate]

17. Graft. nt

[florida08]

4. 55k

Is a lot of taxpayer money. I realize Alaskans get paid for their oil but I doubt it's that much. I would think they would be a bit upset about it myself.

[LynnTheDem]

7. But with Palin's SOCIALISM of SPREADING THE WEALTH to Alaskans

from oil resources, Alaskans are making money from her. But yes, one would think they'd realize they're just paying it back into her own pocket with her fraudulent expense claims.

[florida08]

12. LOL

nicely done..and yes that was my thinking

[L. Coyote]

16. That's a lot of vacation money!! Where do I sign up?

[crossroads]

22. Welcome to DU!

[gingersnaps1]

5. Ummm, I don't know.

Let's see where this goes.

Question: what's going on with the opposition in Alaska? Are they preparing for a run or possibly try and oust her? I haven't heard or read anything about this.

[Lisa0825]

9. I heard there has been talk of a recall. nt

[LynnTheDem]

6. Sarah Palin' ethics violation complaint #4.

The republicans sure do love corrupt politicians, lol!

[Bushies gotta go]

8. Ohhhh... Sarahhhhhhhh

Yes, little Ms. Fundie... your state SO awaits your return.... I can't wait to send you packing next week when you can return to your beautiful state and start facing the music and fighting for your retention of your governorship... did you really think you were THAT good that you wouldn't be vetted in the lower 48? You may have fooled your voters once... but now you've learned a valuable lesson, huh?

[Political Tiger]

10. Bur she's a maverick!

The rules don't apply to mavericks...at least on Planet Neocon.

[CrispyQ]

11. Sarah Palin, the reform candidate.

[DemoTex]

14. " .. when she leaves them home alone, they get pregnant."

"According to expense reports, Sarah Palin charged the state of Alaska over $21,000 for her children to travel with her on official business. In fairness to Governor Palin, when she leaves them home alone, they get pregnant."

Seth Meyers, SNL

[armed_and_liberal]

15. They forgot about " Frank the lineman"

so much for the GOP working class hero campaign

[Winterblues]

19. She may be trying for some Felony convictions because in Republican world

You ain't shit if you don't have a felony or two on your "permenent record"

[GinaMaria]

29. Republican Street Cred?

You may be right. Felony convictions and screwing the poor need to be on their records to hold water with their peers.

[gratuitous]

20. She's very frugal, you know

Unless of course other people are paying the tab. Alors laissez les bon temps roulez, baby!

[redqueen]

26. Do Republicans want to run gov't like a corporation?

Where I work, the company pays for the higher-ups' families' perks.

Is that common in the corporate world? Maybe repukes are just too dumb to know that's a no-no in govt?

[GinaMaria]

28. It's a no-no where I work

even for higher ups.

I have heard of companies that do that. They consider it work/life balance and believe it leads to happier and healthier employees... which translates into more productive workforce. This may or may not be hard sell to stock holders. depends on ROI I guess.

I would think this is a no-no for government employees and those working at a non-profit.

[Zorra]

27. Where I come from, we call this type of behavior stealing. People go to jail

for deliberately taking other people's money without their consent.

[rashotte]

31. she makes me

absolutely ill...she is fake..not to bright and a horrible politician.

[KayLaw]

30. Most corrupt.

I don't care if her family tags along -my son and I travel with my husband sometimes. We pay any expenses we incur from our own pockets, though. Also, $55,000?