Rules for Being Sarah Palin (It’s unethical to defend yourself against ethics charges)

WSJ ^ | 7/22/2009 | James Taranto

[mojito]

An Alaskan “ethics investigator” is taking a final shot at Gov. Sarah Palin, whose resignation as governor becomes effective at the end of this week. He claims that Palin “may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts.” According to the Associated Press, the investigator’s report “says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.”

The AP continues: “An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the ‘official’ legal defense fund.”

One can certainly see how a legal defense fund might raise ethical concerns. If, let us say, the beneficiary were able to use the money for personal expenses or in a political campaign, then a contribution to the defense fund could turn out to be the practical equivalent of, respectively, a bribe or an extralegal campaign contribution.

But no such impropriety is alleged here. Rather, the investigator claims that defending herself against ethics charges itself constitutes “personal gain”....

[mojito]

The ethics of ethics investigators.

[golfisnr1]

How dare her. Sarc Off.

[samtheman]

President Obama,

Please call off your filthy rabid dogs.

[reagandemocrat]

The ‘investigator’ is a partner in the law firm (Perkins Coie) that represents Obama in several birth certificate cases, as well as the Berg matter, and attacked Hillary in the primaries. He should have recused himself.

Ethics anyone?

[Neidermeyer]

If it is that blatant why doesn’t the governor file a complaint?

[Clock King]

Starting next Monday, Sarah should go after every one of these sub-humans, in the courts. Drag them through the mud, make them pay.

[lovesdogs]

I hope she has time to do that. There are a lot of other things on her agenda, like ridiculing Zero. That should send him into fits that are only possible from the biggest baby in the world.