Palin Charged Alaska For Childrens’ Travel And Later Amended Reports
Even when her children were not to be part of state events, Governor Palin charged the state for their travel and later amended reports to state they were on official business, according to an AP investigation.
As governor, Palin justified having the state pay for the travel of her daughters – Bristol, 17; Willow, 14; and Piper, 7 – by noting on travel forms that the girls had been invited to attend or participate in events on the governor’s schedule.
But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend.
Interestingly, Palin amended her reports only after she became the VP nominee.
After Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain chose Palin his running mate and reporters asked for the records, Palin ordered changes to previously filed expense reports for her daughters’ travel.
In the amended reports, Palin added phrases such as “First Family attending” and “First Family invited” to explain the girls’ attendance.
At least one former governor who also had school-age children when he ran the state says what Palin did was inappropriate.
Tony Knowles, a Democratic former governor of Alaska who lost to Palin in a 2006 bid to reclaim the job, said he never charged the state for his three children’s commercial flights or claimed their travel as official state business.
Knowles, who was governor from 1994 to 2002, is the only other recent Alaska governor who had school-age children while in office.
“There was no valid reason for the children to be along on state business,” said Knowles, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. “I cannot recall any instance during my eight years as governor where it would have been appropriate to claim they performed state business.”
We already know that a bi-partisan panel discovered that Palin abused her power as governor. We also know that Governor Palin did not accurately portray the panel’s findings.
Sure the children had to go with her for state business. They had to explain to her “What a Govenor does”, read some newspapers for her, and help her make those “Maverick” decisions for “Joe Six Pack”………Plus her babysitter was busy.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Had the media paid this much attention to all of the candidates’ records, the media might merit something above total contempt.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
We also know the media has done nothing in regards to research O’Bama/Acorn connection, O’Bama/ayers, O’bama/wright, etc,etc.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
“Had the media paid this much attention to all of the candidates’ records…”
And in fact they did.
“We also know the media has done nothing in regards to research O’Bama/Acorn connection, O’Bama/ayers, O’bama/wright….”
We had five months of Wright. How many more months you want? Maybe we should go on for years and years like the Republicans did over Whitewater–and it was all for nothing, because they found nothing, and there never was nothing, and this is just more radical right wing subversive garbage from the Rovian/Segretti school of neoNazi world domination politics.
And I’ll tell you what. Karl Rove is more of a threat to this country, and to democracy and free speech, and to all the best things America represents, than Osama bin Laden ever was, or ever will be.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 am
Rove only has as much power as neo-cons and nationalists give him. Don’t give him so much credit, Rocky.
Palin is a shady character which is so strange for a politician but I fell it more important to look at her policy positions.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 am
She amended the records after being picked as the VP candidate? Would she have done so, had she not known it was wrong?
She essentially gave herself state funded child care. I think it is a great idea. Can the rest of us have it?
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 am
Well, she HAD to bring Bristol. We all know what happens if you leave her home alone.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm