McCain camp: Probing Palin, AIP ties like 'questioning Obama's religion'

[tekisui]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Reporter_Palin_tied_to_ideology_that_1015.html

The subject of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's relationship with the "extreme right-wing fringe" in Alaskan politics has become a matter of controversy since an article last week at Salon.com detailed her ties to the secessionist Alaska Independence Party (AIP).

However, the McCain campaign believes that the subject of Palin's ties with AIP should be off limits.

CNN's Rick Sanchez interviewed one of the two co-authors of the Salon.com article, David Neiwert, during a Tuesday segment on Palin's radical connections. Neiwert told Sanchez that although Palin never belonged to AIP herself, as a city council member in Wasilla in the 1990's, and then as mayor, she "was pretty closely associated with ... the AIP faction" in Wasilla and helped enact their "far-right agenda items."

Palin also attended at least one AIP convention, when she was running for governor in 2006, and this year she sent them a message of support, saying, "Your party plays an important role in our state's politics. ... I share your party's vision of upholding the constitution of our great state. ... Keep up the good work."

CNN was unable to get anyone from the McCain campaign to appear during the segment, but did obtain a statement from a spokesperson. "CNN is furthering a smear with this report, no different than if your network ran a piece questioning Senator Obama's religion. No serious news organization has tried to make this connection, and it is unfortunate that CNN would be the the first."

Neiwert scoffed at this statement, pointing out that that AIP has nothing to do with religion. He explained that AIP began as "basically the Alaska contingent of the Patriot movement, which in the lower 48 states manifested itself as people who formed militias, tax protesters, constitutionalists, and that sort of thing."

"In terms of ideology -- not actions ... but ideology -- are they similar to the group that blew up the Murrah Building?" asked Sanchez, referring to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

[Puzzler]

1. OK... so the AIP is a religion??

Or at least the equivalent of a religion? I think not. It's a political party, and as such, is more than fair game in political discourse.

[last1standing]

2. That's because palin believes very strongly in the AIP.

So strongly that it has become her religion.

At least that's the only meaning that makes sense from the mcRacist camp so I say we go with that. :evilgrin:

[chelsea0011]

3. This "probing Palin" stuff has got to stop

[Kalyke]

6. Isn't that the name of Larry Flynt's new movie about her?

:D

[iiibbb]

4. Does this mean that they're not denying the ties to AIP?

[The Magistrate]

5. McCain Confirms Palin Has Religious Commitment To Treason Against The U.S., Sir

Would seem the best head-line take-away from the flack's statement....

[fascisthunter]

7. FAIL.... Actually It's the Truth Versus Your Lie

[Left Is Write]

8. Questioning Palin's political ties is not at all akin to "questioning religion."