Alaskans angered that Palin is off-limits: queries go thru campaign, Her political capital is erodin

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-troopergate21-2008sep21,0,2158301.story

Alaskans angered that Palin is off-limits
Queries are directed through the McCain campaign machine. Her political capital at home is eroding.
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 21, 2008

ANCHORAGE -- Jerry McCutcheon went to Sarah Palin's office here last week to request information about the firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, the scandal that for weeks has threatened to overshadow the governor's role as Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate.

McCutcheon was given a phone number in Virginia to call: the national headquarters of the McCain-Palin campaign.

Why, he wanted to know, did he have to call a campaign office 4,300 miles away to find out what was going on in Alaska government? The longtime civic activist phoned his local state representative, Les Gara, who quickly filed a protest.

These days, many such queries about Monegan -- or anything else involving Palin's record as governor -- get diverted to McCain staffers. A former Justice Department prosecutor from New York flew in recently to advise the governor's lawyer and field reporters' calls about Monegan. Soon after, Palin's willingness to cooperate in the Legislature's probe of the affair ended.

McCain staffers have even been assigned to answer calls for Palin's family members, who have been instructed not to talk.