Is Sarah Palin a Secessionist?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

this is starting to sound like a communist witch hunt. shall we dig up mccarthy while we're at it?

From the passive-aggressive attacks against the potential McCain/Palin voters here on VJ, Palin is proving to be a great pick. The democrats on this board look like they're upset with the Biden pick. I don't blame them, but they should take it out on Obama, not us.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The possibility of a secessionist on a national ticket troubles me greatly. It really is that simple, all the amateur psychobabble in the post above notwithstanding

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The story has gone mainstream!

From ABC News Senior National Correspondent Jake Tapper

Members of 'Fringe' Alaskan Independence Party Say Palin Was a Member in 90s

September 01, 2008 6:52 PM

The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., likes to herald the independence of its new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Officials of the Alaskan Independence Party say that Palin was once so independent, she was once a member of their party, which, since the 1970s, has been pushing for a legal vote for Alaskans to decide whether or not residents of the 49th state can secede from the United States.

And while McCain's motto -- as seen in a new TV ad -- is "Country First," the AIP's motto is the exact opposite -- "Alaska First -- Alaska Always."

Lynette Clark, the chairman of the AIP, tells ABC News that Palin and her husband Todd were members in 1994, even attending the 1994 statewide convention in Wasilla. Clark was AIP secretary at the time.

"We are a state's rights party," says Clark, a self-employed goldminer. The AIP has "a plank that challenges the legality of the Alaskan statehood vote as illegal and in violation of United Nations charter and international law."

She says it's not accurate to describe the party as secessionist -- they just want a vote, she says, adding that the members of the AIP hold different opinions on what Alaska should be.

"My own separate opinion as an individual is that we should be an independent nation," Clark says. Others in the AIP "believe that being a commonwealth would be a good avenue to follow." Some advocate statehood -- but a fuller statehood than exists now.

She doesn't know what Palin's position was.

"It never came up in conversation," Clark recalls. "But when she joined the party, our platform was right under her nose."

Clark says that Palin left the party and became a Republican in 1996, when she first ran for mayor of Wasilla.

The McCain-Palin campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The AIP platform states that the purpose of the party is to "seek the complete repatriation of the public lands, held by the federal government, to the state and people of Alaska in conformance with Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17, of the federal constitution ... To prohibit all bureaucratic regulations and judicial rulings purporting to have the effect of law, except that which shall be approved by the elected legislature ... To support the privatization of government services ...”

Walter Hickel, a former Republican governor, was elected to the governorship in 1990 as an AIP member -- the third-largest party in Alaska -- with a plurality vote of 38.8%. A Seattle Post-Intelligencer story that year said that "Hickel is running with the Alaska Independence Party, a fringe group advocating that the 49th state declare itself a sovereign nation. But he's not a separatist; he's an opportunist: the Independence Party was the only 11th-hour ticket to the general election."

Hickel returned to the Republican Party in 1994; he endorsed Palin in her gubernatorial run in 2006. Subsequent AIP gubernatorial candidates did not fare as well as did Hickel, garnering less than 2 percent of the vote.

Earlier this year,

for its annual convention, where AIP vice chair George Clark told the small crowd that Palin "was an AIP member before she got the job as a mayor of a small town –- that was a non-partisan job. But you get along to go along -– she eventually joined the Republican Party, where she had all kinds of problems with their ethics, and well, I won’t go into that. She also had about an 80 percent approval rating, and is pretty well sympathetic to her former membership."

Lynette Clark says that Palin is "a fine individual. She's forthright and she puts Alaska first."

She is not a fan of McCain.

"I can't understand why in God's name she has aligned herself with a candidate who opposes the development of our republic and Alaska's resource wealth," Clark says.

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think VP Palin will get the GOP back in the Whitehouse. Clearly, she appeals to a demographic that is fundamentalist and to the right of the party. That's not the independants that McCain needs to be shooting for to win. She may be a fine upstanding personable person, she may be charming and slightly more attractive than the average politician but that's not going to sway the middle ground moderate independants.

Nice try McCain, but by not thinking outside the box you are going to shoot yourself squarely in the foot.

I love a good mixed metaphor!

Edited September 2, 2008 by Madame Cleo

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Clearly, she appeals to a demographic that is fundamentalist and to the right of the party.

Those fundis might have an issue or two with Palin's pregnant unwed teenage daughter. I suspect that type of thing is not quite in line with their particular fundamentals...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Clearly, she appeals to a demographic that is fundamentalist and to the right of the party.

Those fundis might have an issue or two with Palin's pregnant unwed teenage daughter. I suspect that type of thing is not quite in line with their particular fundamentals...

Doubtful. Check out the threads on Free Republic, they're celebrating the decision not to abort. One poster actually responded with a wish that Bristol has 10-15 more!

[Ban Hammer 13,692]

Clearly, she appeals to a demographic that is fundamentalist and to the right of the party.

Those fundis might have an issue or two with Palin's pregnant unwed teenage daughter. I suspect that type of thing is not quite in line with their particular fundamentals...

late to the party again?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Clearly, she appeals to a demographic that is fundamentalist and to the right of the party.

Those fundis might have an issue or two with Palin's pregnant unwed teenage daughter. I suspect that type of thing is not quite in line with their particular fundamentals...

Doubtful. Check out the threads on Free Republic, they're celebrating the decision not to abort. One poster actually responded with a wish that Bristol has 10-15 more!

I see, teenage sexual activity and sexual activity out of wedlock is now cool with that crowd. What little it takes sometimes...

[alienlovechild 75]

Those fundis might have an issue or two with Palin's pregnant unwed teenage daughter. I suspect that type of thing is not quite in line with their particular fundamentals...

The Dems are alreadygetting desperate by bashing Palin's daughter. This tactic bombed when Kerry (or was it husband-of the-year Edwards?) brought up Cheny's lesbian daughter.

Who is expected to be more responsible: a 17 year-old from a conservative household or a 50 year-old president who was having sex (well oral sex) and lying about it with sworn testimony leading to impeachment proceedings?

Most of ####### about Palin's daughter smacks of something like, "Hey, I'm not racist but a lot of people are so we can't have Obama on the ticket." Classy.

Remember all the people said the candidates' families are off limits?

Edited September 2, 2008 by alienlovechild

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Those fundis might have an issue or two with Palin's pregnant unwed teenage daughter. I suspect that type of thing is not quite in line with their particular fundamentals...

The Dems are alreadygetting desperate by bashing Palin's daughter. This tactic bombed when Kerry (or was it husband-of the-year Edwards?) brought up Cheny's lesbian daughter.

Who is expected to be more responsible: a 17 year-old from a conservative household or a 50 year-old president who was having sex (well oral sex) and lying about it with sworn testimony leading to impeachment proceedings?

Most of ####### about Palin's daughter smacks of something like, "Hey, I'm not racist but a lot of people are so we can't have Obama on the ticket." Classy.

Remember all the people said the candidates' families are off limits?

That's the best you got there? How about if you can't effectively project your values onto your family, how can you be expected to project them on a nation? If you can't control matters in your home, how will you control matters in the government? Those are legitimate questions.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The secessionist story is better, IMO. I'm uncomfortable with this whole pregnancy angle - much too personal.

Can we keep this thread on topic?

[alienlovechild 75]

That's the best you got there?

It's takes a big man or dog to slap around a pregnant teen on the Internet. That was your best shot, slimeball.

How about if you can't effectively project your values onto your family, how can you be expected to project them on a nation? If you can't control matters in your home, how will you control matters in the government? Those are legitimate questions.

Clinton and Edwards and others weren't model parents but I wouldn't convict a family member for another's misdeed. That goes against the grain of our legal system. Hope no one in your family screws up and the rest of your family pays for it.

Family life problems that aren't illegal isn't a legit issue unless the person accused of wrongdoing is running for office or is a public figure.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

this is starting to sound like a communist witch hunt. shall we dig up mccarthy while we're at it?

Did you call it a witch hunt when Obama was being vetted by such issues as Rev. Wright, his schooling in Indonesia? I understand the sentiment that some of this is absurd, but in this case, if she is in fact a member of this group, that is very relevant to electing her to the oval office as VP. Because she is relatively unknown and was obviously not well vetted, the process will now take place through the media, for better or worse. This story definitely has substance and any American should at least be aware of her affiliation with this organization....and find out just where her loyalty stands with the U.S. of A..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How about if you can't effectively project your values onto your family, how can you be expected to project them on a nation? If you can't control matters in your home, how will you control matters in the government? Those are legitimate questions.

Clinton and Edwards and others weren't model parents but I wouldn't convict a family member for another's misdeed. That goes against the grain of our legal system. Hope no one in your family screws up and the rest of your family pays for it.

Family life problems that aren't illegal isn't a legit issue unless the person accused of wrongdoing is running for office or is a public figure.

Well said. I agree.

[alienlovechild 75]

This story definitely has substance and any American should at least be aware of her affiliation with this organization....and find out just where her loyalty stands with the U.S. of A..

It's laughable to believe Palin is trying yank Alaska out of the union. Loyalty? Is this where you start to question her patriotism? Have you now or have you ever been a member of the Alaska Independence Party?

You're really stretching here. The stuff about Wright was out there for months but was ignored by most the media. By contrast, Palin has been in the race for 3 days for and we are getting all stories how she was Alaska to secede, force creationism in all schools and now the pregnant daughter stuff. I've never seen anyone in a presidential race get trashed so much so quickly. If she wasn't a threat to the Dems would just say nothing now and let her have it later when it's too late to replace her.