Posted on 10/29/2010 11:32:32 PM PDT by freespirited
Sarah Palin took aim at Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski late Friday evening, after a phone call from the senator’s camp resulted in the suspension of a local conservative radio talk show host.
Palin charged on her Facebook page that one of Murkowski’s “hired guns threatened” radio personality Dan Fagan, who encouraged hundreds of Alaskans to file as write-in candidates Thursday afternoon just hours before the filing deadline – a development that was seen as a blow to the senator’s write-in candidacy.
Murkowski’s media buyer, John Tracy, called Fagan’s radio station Friday to tell the station manager that he believed the talk show host was electioneering by offering prizes to listeners who signed up as write-in candidates.
Palin’s barbs, however, were directed towards Murkowski .
“Does all this sound heavy handed? It is,” wrote Palin in a Facebook post. “It is an interference with Dan Fagan’s constitutional right to free speech. It is also a shocking indictment against Lisa Murkowski. How low will she go to hold onto power? …She made it clear that if you disagree with her and encourage others to exercise their civic rights, she’ll take you off the air. “
The outpouring of new write-in candidates came in response to a temporary order by the state Supreme Court earlier this week that allowed election officials to hand out lists of write-in candidates to any voter who asks for it. By increasing the number of write-in candidates, Fagan’s intention was to dilute any advantage Murkowski would have by having her name on a list.
Late Friday evening, the Supreme Court ruled that election officials could continue this practice through Election Day, though the list of write-in candidates – which now numbers more than 100 – will only be provided to a voter if he or she asks for it.
Fagan told POLITICO earlier Friday that he received a voice mail from his station manager telling him that he had been suspended from the air until the company attorneys investigated the matter.
“Electioneering?” said Fagan. “That’s what talk show hosts do. We constantly advocate for or against candidates.”
Tracy, a former longtime television news anchor in the state, confirmed that he called the radio station to tell the manager that he believed Fagan’s actions were wrong. He accused the radio host of electioneering because he said Fagan was offering prizes to listeners with names similar to “Lisa Murkowski,” who registered as write-in candidates.
Tracy said he spoke with Murkowski campaign manager Kevin Sweeney before he called the station, but made it clear he was not directed by anyone in the campaign to place the call. Tracy said Sweeney did not stop him from calling – and he said he would have halted if Murkowski’s campaign manager told him not to do it.
“They said if you feel that strongly about it, go ahead and do it,” said Tracy. “If they had not wanted me to do it, I wouldn’t have done it.”
A spokesman for Murkowski’s campaign confirmed Tracy's account of his call to the campaign.
Fagan supports Murkowski’s opponent, tea party-backed Republican Joe Miller, who earned Palin’s support early on in the primary – an endorsement that is widely credited with aiding his upset primary victory over Murkowski.
Fagan and Palin haven’t always been on the same page.
“Dan Fagan has not always agreed with me, but I will gladly defend his right to speak freely on his radio show, which he has often used to criticize me,” Palin continued. “But when I was his governor, I never would have dreamed of threatening his right to free speech.”
Palin and Murkowski have had a tenuous relationship over the years and it’s only grown worse during the Senate campaign. Palin defeated Murkowski’s father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, in the 2006 GOP primary to win the governorship and supported the senator’s primary challengers in 2004 and this year.
Polls show Murkowski leading Miller and Democrat Scott McAdams in the three-way race.
So he admits the Princess' campaign wanted it done.
Funny how Murky is trying to distance herself from this. I do love that this is starting to get national attention. I hope the wicked witch of the north goes down bad on Tuesday.
The article notes she is leading but failed to mention by how much. Hmmm - Politico, no wonder.
This is getting traction...good.
She is NOT leading. The latest reputable polls either have Miller in a slim lead or a tie between him and the hag. (Check RealClearpolitics. com) There was one poll published yesterday or the day before, putting Miller in third place!! However, the same polling “institute” saw Obama having a fighting chance in Alaska. He lost by some 20%.
Commentators (Ace of Spades and others) picked that poll apart - not even worth considering, except by Politico of course.
Burn the witch.
May this be the final stake through her cold black vampire heart.
The Washingtonians will stop at nothing to remain in DC, a paradise for the busybodies who have nothing better to do than extort our money and tell us what to do or else.
Mercowskii is vile, disgusting, and despicable.
Palin is up there fixing the problem. Maocowski is toast.
No it isn't and anybody who thinks it is doesn't understand the First Amendment.
Sarah Palin’s post is remarkably written.
You are saying too much, or too little.
Its not a free speech issue. Fagan is acting as an employee, and the business has every right to shut him down if he says things that harm the bottom line. He can still stand on a corner and say what he wants.
That being said, LOL, this is great. Murky draws attention to her vindictiveness and highlights the lengths and extent she will go to to intimidate and bully. She’s looking like a nasty mean spirited B...H.
Fagan, should get on the internet while suspended and re-engage with his listeners and keep the heat on Murky.
Close race? Write-ins have to write in M-U-R-K-O-W-S-K-I, give me a break. Miller’s got it.
What Murky is also saying is that Alaskans are too stupid to pick her name out of a list of 50 names. Another Antoinette.
Giving them Demmies a little taste of their own medicine! GOOD!!!
When you have an agent of a United States senator urging someone be taken off the air for exercising their rights, it certainly is a free speech issue.
I can’t decide, either.
How does one “exercise” their rights. Also, if his rights are being violated, he should get a lawyer. Has he?
And of course not all people who have their rights violated, get lawyers.
Are you impying the opposite.
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