The Alaskan Independence Party and Palin
There’s been much hoopla around the blogosphere in recent days about Barack Obama’s questionable associations with domestic terrorist William Ayers. Seems that there is bad judgment there at best.
But what about Sarah Palin’s associations with the Alaska Independence Party? Is her various levels of association with them not just as bad judgment?
The AIP’s website states as their goals a vote on one of the following options:
1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.
These goals were laid out by party founded Joe Vogler, who once these said such provocative statements:
I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.
There were some reports earlier that Palin was once a member of the party, but this turned out to not be true. Palin has always been a Republican since 1982. However, there is one who can claim past membership: Todd Palin. The First Gentleman was a member of the party from 1995-2002. He then apparently become an Indpendent (go Todd!) until recently, when he registered as a Republican.
Then there are conflicting statements about Palin’s exact level of involvement with the party. Some say she attended the 1994 and 2000 AIP conventions, though Palin says she never has. Undisputed is her video address to the 2008 AIP convention, apparently in her capacity as Governor.
Now, obviously, there is absolutely not a shred of evidence that she holds the secessionist views of the AIP. But as with any other unknown association, it brings up more questions than answers, yes? Wife to a former AIP member, and reportedly an attendant at two of their conventions? Hmm…
What is it with the relative political newbies and their questionable associations? I don’t see any history of possible radical associations in the histories of John McCain or Joe Biden. Must be something about Gen X. Says this Gen Yer.
Well, had she associated with the party openly for many years, worked with party officials, helped disburse millions of dollars to the party’s pet projects, attend a party hosted by the party to launch her political campaign, then I’d agree.
But since she didn’t do much more than tape a pro-forma greeting that was shown at the opening of her convention, then I’d say that no, there’s no equivalence.
Of course, the party never advotaced the murder of innocent Americans, didn’t blow up a few govenrment buildings, nor did it try to detonate a nail bomb at a military dance either.
Regardless of what you might think of the party (and I think theyre a bunch of loons), there’s a vast difference between wanting to separate youeself from your country and trying to destroy its core isntitutions by blowing up buildings and killing people (and now by indoctrinating children with old progressive fascism).
Sarah Palin’s ties to the Libertarian Party are much stronger than to the AIP. In fact, she has no ties to the AIP. All her ties to 3rd parties in Alaska are to the Libertarians.
In Alaskan politics, within the GOP, there’s been a whisper campaign from her opponents that "Sarah is a closet libertarian."
In 2005/06 she spoke to two meetings of the Libertarian Party of Alaska in Anchorage.
In 2006, she accepted the endorsement of leaders of the Alaska Libertarian Party in her Governor’s race. Many, including LP State Chairman Jason Dowell actively campaigned with her right by her side.
Her Libertarian opponent, Billy Toien, even endorsed Palin 3 days before the election, famously telling Libertarians around the State: "Don’t vote for me, Vote for Sarah."
In front of 3,000 at the Egan Center on election night, immediately after she had won, Palin publicly thanked the Libertarian Party for their support, and walked over to Toien to give him a warm bear hug.
The media must have the Libertarian Party confused with the AIP. It’s easy to understand why. Both partys are closely aligned and have great crossover. For instance, former Libertarian Party Chairman Scott Kohlhaas, is now running for State House as both a member of the LP and the AIP in East Anchorage.
But please do try to get the story right. Again, Sarah Palin has few if any direct ties to the Alaska Independence Party. Her ties are to the Libertarian Party. She is in short a "Libertarian-Republican."
No one ever said Sarah was a member of the AIP. But Todd was. Nobody’s ever disputed that as far as I can tell.
What of Todd’s 7 year membership? I know he’s not very educated and all, but…..