Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, stands next to Lt. Gov. Parnell, center, as she talks to one of her staff during the governor's picnic in Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday.
(Al Grillo/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
Three reasons Palin’s move might be about money
The Alaska governor’s quixotic decision to resign, effective Sunday, could be motivated by any number of factors. But money – saved or earned – appears almost certain to be one of them.
By Yereth Rosen | Correspondent/ July 26, 2009 edition
Anchorage, Alaska
Many Americans are still confused about the sudden resignation of Gov. Sarah Palin, who will leave her post at a picnic in Fairbanks today. But one clear message has emerged, say friends and foes of the former vice presidential candidate: It is, at least partly, about the money.
No. 1: Legal bills – the personal costs
It’s about a personal legal bill that the governor says has exceeded $500,000 to fight a barrage of more than 20 ethics charges.
The charges range from the serious – using state money on personal travels – to others that have been quickly dismissed. One Anchorage blogger alleged that it was a conflict of interest for Governor Palin to act as the starter in a snowmobile race in which her husband was racing, because she wore the jacket of her husband’s team.
Alaska is unusual in that any citizen can file an ethics charge against the governor so long as it is submitted in writing, signed under oath, and includes details of the alleged violation.
To offset the personal cost of fighting the charges, Palin has set up the “Alaska Fund Trust” – a legal-defense fund administered by a longtime friend and soliciting contributions nationally. But Alaska’s independent counsel has said that the fund itself violates the state’s Ethics Act, which prohibits using an official government position for personal gain.
That assessment is not final or fair, say Palin supporters, who claim the governor has been harassed because of her national profile.
No. 2: Legal bills – the costs to Alaska
It’s about additional costs to the state that would be incurred if she stays in office, Palin and her supporters have claimed. The Palin camp has said the associated tasks cost the state nearly $2 million.
A hastily assembled spreadsheet provided by the governor’s office earlier this month, however, attributed most of those costs to salaries and benefits of state employees already on staff. It also included some questionable line items in which state attorneys’ time was valued at $1,000 or even $30,000 an hour.
No. 3: Cashing in?
It’s about the opportunity to cash in. Levi Johnston, who has fallen out with the Palins despite being the father of Palin’s grandson, has claimed the soon-to-be-former governor is anxious to do this.
The governor has a book deal that could be worth millions of dollars, and she could use her charisma and national fame to launch a lucrative new media career.
“The world is literally her oyster,” Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton told CNN’s Anderson Cooper just after her bombshell resignation announcement.
If Palin does use her political fame to reap financial riches, she would do so at the risk of her long-term legacy, says Rep. Jay Ramras, a Fairbanks Republican who often clashed with the governor.
What happens now?
Whatever is in her future, Palin is at peace with her decision to leave office prematurely, says a friend who is heading her legal-defense fund.
“She’s a pretty positive and upbeat person,” Kristan Cole, a Wasilla real-estate agent who has been friends with Palin since childhood, said at the July 22 news conference.
The mode of her departure, however, seems certain to mark an end to any political aspirations in her home state. “Sarah Palin has any number of things that she could do quite successfully in the future. But she’s never again going to be elected to public office,” predicts Ivan Moore, an Anchorage-based pollster and political consultant
Comments
3. Mike | 07.26.09
Bottom line is, Sarah quit in the middle of the job. People will not forget that no matter how it is spun. Everything that is happening around her is of her own making, so the idea that her departure has somehow been forced on her will never sell. I wish her the best, but she will be playing from the sidelines from here on.
4. simon wakelin | 07.26.09
The fourth reason would be this article… we can only hope this does indeed end any political aspirations she may have mulled over while goin’ a fishin’ …
5. William Shipley | 07.26.09
I think that more than the money, there is the paralysis. Sarah Palin is hard working and likes to get things done. In the post VP environment she has been targeted not only with the absurd ethics charges but also the Democratic members of the Alaskan legislature are no longer as willing to work with her, and she still has enemies among the Republicans — she really is a reformer. So, in addition to running up big bills, her days were being spent dealing with the ethics complaints, freedom of information fishing expeditions, and battles from grandstanding legislators. The pipeline was moving along, but there were not going to be many new things that could be done next spring in the last legislative session of her term.
6. Andres | 07.26.09
No surprising that a high profile member of the Republican party is seeking own benefits disregarding the pepople the oath to serve.
7. Janet Gari | 07.26.09
To me Sarah Palin has show business “star quality,” but no ability whatsoever to govern at any level. She seems to be proud of her ignorance, which is why she is completely unprepared. I can see her in a successful sitcom (with available cue cards), where her looks and personality, plus a good sense of comedy, would keep her in the public eye, but I have a feeling that even in that milieu she would have a problem taking direction.
8. Trish | 07.26.09
Bravo for Gov. Palin. She is an A+ classy lady and thinks family and belief are more important than the barage of unfounded, baseless ethic lawsuits against her. It is the RATS who should find a solid base and factual information prior to launching a suit against this lady. They show their fear with all the garbage the thrust into the courts. Proud of you Sarah, very proud.
10. Fred | 07.26.09
Why does almost everyone in the media assume or pretend to assume that Palin lied about her reasons for resigning and then proceed to make up other mostly negative reasons for her? And why is Palin’s resignation treated so differently, more negatively, than those of other governors who resigned this year just to further their own political ambitions?
These are questions Palin’s supporters wonder about, a lot. We think we know the answer to those questions already, and we are waiting for someone in the media to show us that our answer is wrong. No luck in that so far.
11. Tom L | 07.26.09
Interesting that Palin has so many ethics suits against her, don’t you think. Have other Alaskan governors matched her in the number of lawsuits filed against them? Have other Alaskan governors resigned for this reason? I wonder why.
13. George Moore | 07.26.09
Sarah has everyone confused because she’s not a Washington DC insider. You see, she is a humble servant, has honesty, integrity and moral values. Most people don’t ever see these quantities in a politician. She has a servant’s heart. You can bet that I will be supporting and voting for Sarah when she runs for president! We need 535 Sarah Palins in congress!
14. Jeff | 07.26.09
> “The world is literally her oyster,” Palin spokeswoman
> Meghan Stapleton told CNN’s Anderson Cooper just after
> her bombshell resignation announcement.
Meghan Stapleton does not know the difference between the words “literally” and “figuratively.” If the world is literally her oyster, that’s kind of gross.
15. Michael | 07.26.09
I think a lot of Americans could use some extra money to pay off bills, loans, and even legal fees. I would also think a lot of Americans would look at having an opportunity to legitimately earn more money as a good thing.
18. hiwaycruzer | 07.26.09
What a laugh;
“If Palin does use her political fame to reap financial riches, she would do so at the risk of her long-term legacy, says Rep. Jay Ramras, a Fairbanks Republican who often clashed with the governor.”
“Long term legacy” as what? A politician? A TV personality? Pleeeeeze…. What credibility is there to lose or legacy to leave behind in either case? One is just as unsavory as the other.
19. Honey G | 07.26.09
I don’t blame Gov. Palin for resigning. It’s obvious that the Media is unfair with their negative comments about her.
20. Jessica | 07.26.09
I really hope we don’t see more of her now in the media. I do not like this woman and would really dislike seeing her on TV or the news more than I do now.
21. DaveK | 07.26.09
“The world is literally her oyster” ??
Not figuratively, but literally? So is she going to eat the world?
22. Mickey34 | 07.26.09
Please note in your story that Kristan Cole, the long time friend/real estate agent quoted in the 2nd to last paragraph is the Administrator of the Alaska Fund Trust - but not identified by name in paragraph 5. You should have mentioned that those people are one and the same.
Also, Alaskans and others are asking if Palin’s claim of 500K in legal fees is actually true. No one knows, but if the false statements about how much the cost to the State of Alaska is any clue, I doubt they are. Therefore, Sarah Palin may be soliciting donations from people under false pretenses.
23. jsavage | 07.26.09
Sirs, incoming gov has same values as Palin? Ouch! When’s he or she leaving office to go on the speaking tour for big bucks? js
25. Dr Jack | 07.26.09
Gov. Palin is making the right move at this point in her career. She has 18 Months until the mid-term elections and during that time she can set herself up as the anti-Obama and make a ton of money. It is much easier to run for office, withstand criticism, etc with money. Further, separated from the lower 48, immersing herself back in Alaska politics would have doomed her to obscurity. Good Move Sarah. Make a ton of money and tel your critics “I am woman, hear me roar.”
26. J Main | 07.26.09
This is America. It is our God given right, no, our sacred duty, to sell out for cash. The good Lord has smiled on our Sarah, and no longer will she be a simple country girl, but our very own home grown celebrity spreading the right message to real Americans. God bless America and our beautiful culture.
27. Dave Hullinger | 07.26.09
I believe she did what she felt was best for her and Alaska. If her time was taken up to fight instead of the peoples business, she did the right thing. Who in her business would quit there job, not to live off the taxpayer, while they fought to clear their name. No politician that I know of anyway.
28. john | 07.26.09
duh…this is an old news. any body who knows what is going on knows all she care is about money just like all politicians anywhere in the world. if you have fame there are idiots who will pay to follow you around. now she has fame she can milk all the money she can and live richer life than from a paltry governor’s salary. at least she is smart enough to know that.
29. Candace Brandt | 07.26.09
Isn’t it unfortunate that Sarah Palin may not, as stated by Ivan Moore, ever be an elected official again. Her departure seems more like a retreat in order to reload than a retreat from battle. It is also interesting that persons like Mr. Moore think that their opinions will be much more credible than Palin’s. He needs to remember that the press, in general, has worked very hard to tell us all that Alaska is disconnected from the rest of the U.S. and nothing much worthwhile could come from there. I think we’ll just have to wait and see. Most likely whatever Gov. Palin does will be quite interesting and probably not what you’re expecting.
31. Contessa | 07.26.09
Make no mistake- It is all about image and money for Palin- She already had plans to leave AK for Lower 48 appearances. I live in AK and not all Alaskans subscribe to her beliefs. She is an embarassment to Alaska and American politics.
34. Michael Jaworsky | 07.26.09
I don’t think that the complaint about her wearing her husband’s team jacket is accurately depicted by your reporter. The issue was that he was sponsored and maybe paid by a corporation. Palin wore a corporation jacket, which in the mind of the complaint maker make for her using her status and position to advertise for a corporation while her family was deriving financial benefit.
35. JohnsSideKick | 07.26.09
Like many articles about Sarah Palin, this one also is full of half truths and inflamatory remarks. This is just another episode of poor writing by poor reporters that are inept and useless. The simplity to tell the whole truth seems to be a thing of the past for many substandard reporters who should go back to class 101 journalism
36. Tim | 07.26.09
Governor Palin could probably pay off the supposed $500,000 legal bill using the advance from her book deal.
Given what she claims is the frivolous nature of most of the ethics complaints, it did not even seem necessary to hire a lawyer. The ethics board is a joke when it comes to ethics complaints against Palin because she appointed the board.
37. tony | 07.26.09
This is a Christian website and its posts about Sarah Palin are full of negativity and lack of objectivity. I know this website is not for a religious reason but with a Christian name it would turn off a lot of Christians and make them to leave God.
38. Tom | 07.26.09
Her resignation also allows her free to cross the country filling “SaraPAC” bank account for upcoming campaigns. “fund Sara fund” As an alaskan I welcome having a governor who is not distracted by the national spotlight.
40. Gill Bates | 07.26.09
I bet anyone dollars to doughnuts its about cashing in.
10 to 1 she ends up on TV.
41. geek | 07.26.09
I have no problem with Palin quitting to make money.
I do have a problem with all the other nonsense about her caring about the State of Alaska, she quit.
I guess honesty is like Mark Twain said a precious commodity that is used sparingly
42. R. Atkinson | 07.26.09
Palin shows her mettle - she has none. She folded because she can’t take a litle local heat. If VP, where the pressure is much, much greater, she would have failed in that office too - but with much worse effect. It’s better she get out of politics now before she can do any real damage to the country as a whole (instead of just poor Alaska).
43. Observer1 | 07.26.09
Correct me if I’m wrong: Isn’t the ease of making ethics complaints under Alaska law a result of a “reform” that Palin herself pushed through shortly after becoming governor?
44. mike Diggins | 07.26.09
What a weak article concerning the “facts” about Mrs Pallin. You fail to mention so many other pertinent facts; that this article should be written for Salon or maybe the Kos. This article wouldn’t even be considered fair, by a high school paper. And you quote a 19 year old kid, like he has any idea about raising a family or even knowing about fiances. I’m sorry to say that as Christian, I’m embarrassed, about why articles like this fail to even give the whole story just because they have different political views. This article was quick to point out some claims and was very weak on real facts. The only facts from this story is what Sara said in her resignation speech, “that she couldn’t afford her time and money. But you failed to even suggest that this barrage( I’m not even going to talk about the news channels that were intent on ‘bringing her down’, has had ANY effects on her). I really could keep going…but I’ll save it. Mike Diggins
46. ChrisTemple | 07.26.09
Well I am an American, and I am not confused at all about why she is resigning as governor. The only reason to be confused about why she stepped down is to doubt the reasons she has given are the truth.
If she was the typical DC politician, there would be plenty of reasons to doubt what she says is the truth, but she is anything but typical. Perception being reality in the world of news media, her critics would much rather take the opportunity to create a scenario that does damage to her reputation.
Without any speculation it is safe to say that she has outmaneuvered her political opponents and critics and has opened the door to do anything she wants. Yes, she can earn and raise money, and if you to dismiss her motives as just that, you are setting yourself up to be disappointed. Everyone knows that she has a much bigger agenda than that. Why else would there be such an effort out to damage her reputation.
47. K.C. | 07.27.09
Of all purported reasons she has given (none of which are believed by many Americans), the ‘cashing in’ reason seems most likely and really you can’t blame her for that.
I oppose her in most everything and have an extremely LOW opinion of her in most every regard - from her dishonesty, her ignorance, lack of wisdom, divisiveness and (in today’s speech) her utterly SHAMEFUL way she invokes ‘the honor of American Soldiers’ - implying that the media ‘makes things up’ about her and thereby dishonors soldiers!?! (as usual, her comment was so incoherent it’s hard to say what she meant - but that association is shameful).
Anyway, if she bluntly stated that this was her best chance to secure the financial future of herself and her family, that seems just fine to me. No matter how you slice it, she is a QUITTER. Might as well be honest - most of us would cash in given the chance and given the economy, etc.
48. Wayne Scheer | 07.27.09
She agreed to a four-year contract withthe people of Alaska and has reneged for a chance to make more money. On a personal level, I understand, but I see nothing honorable about it.
49. Suze | 07.27.09
I love it–the anti-Palin nutburgers hound her out of office with false ethics complaints that threaten to put her into debt for life, then blame her for doing what she must in order to pay the bills. This is the new Leftist Disappear Squad in action. They can blow across their smoking barrels now, can’t they? What a bunch of thugs these characters are. No conscience at all in the Left.
50. BJ Bissell | 07.27.09
It seems to me that anyone already in politics has an agenda perhaps known only to themselves that outlines future possibilities for them and their aims. I usually am among to last to know what these are.
I depend on a free press to show me the pieces of the puzzle when they know them. From these pieces I construct for myself the gist, the design, the outcomes, and/or the blocks.
Now, the Palin move to leave as governor of Alaska so abruptly is a patterne unknown to me. I await further developments and hope for the best for all concerned.
51. kd | 07.27.09
I would rather have her as a media darling than a political one.
She adds nothing of substance to the debates, except to put forward political talking points of the Republican political machine.
52. linjaynes@earthlink.net | 07.27.09
I am surprised by her decision to quit,she has to no that from her position of power as the Governor, she can be effective in her State. Now as a private citizen,that power of the office is no longer there.
I expect her desire to turn her popularity, into money for her family is the real reason she resigned early ,& bottom Line dosnt it alway’s come down to the money?
I wish her & her family well.
53. suki | 07.27.09
Why would she want to run for office, is my question. She is a target for every liberal, many moderates, and most of the press corps.
If I were her adviser I’d suggest that she could have more influence and power by staying out of electoral politics and using her political capital in ways that benefit her, her family, and the country, without making her children targets of pundits, journalists, and crazies.
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1. Arthur | 07.26.09
“The world is literally her oyster”
…huh?