Sarah Palin was accused of an ethics violation pertaining to her interview with Greta Van Susteren on Monday, November 10, 2008 conducted at her Anchorage office. This defense package addresses the charge, and the footage in question, and concludes that Sarah Palin did absolutely nothing wrong in that interview.
James M. Newton and Ron Devito examined and analyzed the footage, leading to this document’s ultimate conclusion that the charge has absolutely no merit.
CHARGE:
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/594143.html
Specifically:
“Zane Henning, a North Slope worker from Wasilla, said he filed the complaint with the attorney general. He says Palin is promoting her future political career on state property, pointing in particular to the governor’s Nov. 10 interview with Fox News Channel host Greta Van Susteren.”
THE VAN SUSTEREN INTERVIEW
Part I
From 0:00 – 5:24 — the discussion was entirely about the $150K wardrobe brouhaha from the VP campaign.
5:25 – 9:56 Media unfairness and allegations pertaining to the “Africa issue,” NAFTA, gossip and rumors that were spread, but not corrected by the mainstream media pertaining to her pregnancy with Trig, and banning books (which were never even published at the time).
This entire segment was about the prior campaign. Not a word was spoken about a future political career.
Part II
0:00 – 9:51
This entire segment discusses attacks on Sarah Palin, feminism and Sarah Palin’s family during the prior campaign. Nothing about future office in this segment.
Part III
0:00 – 1:11 Abortion and human life
1:12 – 2:54 Bringing people together
The first 2:54 were general position issues — nothing unethical here.
2:55 – 6:54 — Sarah Palin disusses her interaction within the prior campaign, how she was managed and allegations of her “going rogue.” Nothing unethical here…
6:55 – 8:54 — Sarah Palin says that “if there is an open door, I’ll plow through it,” but also said that the future cannot be predicted; that her role now is to serve as Governor of Alaska and show the rest of the nation how Alaska can be a model for success. There is absolutely no material in these few minutes that constitutes campaigning for another office.
Based on the foregoing, this defense package conludes the following:
The charges brought by Mr. Henning are frivolous. Mr. Henning’s charges completely lack substance and foundation. Sarah Palin did not use her Anchorage Governor’s office to conduct a campaign for future office. She spent her interview discussing what happened on a dead campaign, and her transition back to her Gubernatorial position, something which is entirely appropriate and expected of a governor who returned to work from a prior campaign for higher office.
There was nothing unethical about Ms. Van Susteren’s line of questioning pertaining to Sarah Palin’s future plans. Sarah Palin categorically stated in this interview that the future is an unknown and that her mission is to best serve the people of Alaska, which for now is as their Governor. Sarah Palin did not in any way shape or form use state property or time to launch a campaign for another office.
Mr. Henning’s frivolous charge should be immediately and summarily dismissed.
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