The Sarah Palin cheerleading website, also known as the Anchorage Daily News, published an editorial that echoes the governor's press releases regarding the citizens who file ethics complaints agaisnt her.
The ADN takes exception with people publicizing their complaints, claiming that they're turning the whole thing into a politically motivated spectacle. Their bottom line: Ethics law is a means to hold leaders accountable, not a political plaything.
If we look at the mechanism of having a complaint filed and investigated, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the publicity surrounding their grievances remains the only weapon left to citizens who want to hold Sarah Palin accountable for her actions.
Any complaint filed against Sarah Palin is examined by the Attorney General, who's appointed by the governor. If the AG finds the complaint has merit, it proceeds to the Personnel Board, also appointed by the governor, for further investigation. (Correction: complaints against the governor, lieutenant governor and AG go directly to the Personnel Board)
If the citizens kept quiet about the contents of their complaints, they would be ignored, quite simply. Publicity is the only tool people have in such a defective system.
If the ADN did their job, investigating and highlighting the transgressions of the executive, there wouldn't be so many ethic complaints filed against Sarah Palin because she would feel obliged to act more ethically, knowing that she was being watched.
A news website that has a whole section about Sarah Palin, with features such as "Sarah Palin lookalikes", "Send in your photos of the governor" and "Palin and me", can't be called independent or pretend to be dedicated to journalism. It's a fan site.
Their comments section is now moderated by Conservatives4Palin, another fan site. An article that indicates 28 comments will have only 7 comments visible, for example. A great number of people were banned from commenting on the ADN site.
The ADN is an extension of Sarah Palin's official website. Their editorials read like the governor's press releases. The only difference is that the ADN can legally carry advertisements...
Statutes - Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act
Recall Sarah Palin
.
