The issue that will significantly damage Sarah Palin's reputation, and by extension John McCain's, has nothing to do with her rather extreme religious beliefs, her disregard for Polar Bears, Troopergate or most of the other things that bug us progressives. To undercut the mythology they have created for Palin, the attack must go directly at the image they have constructed-- the reformer who brings change by taking on the status quo, including her party. And the way to do that with a low-information electorate, as always, is to keep it simple, stupid.
The most damaging thing to this mythological image that I've heard so far is not apparently illegal-- at least not in that bizarre state of Alaska, but for most people it will surely seem flat wrong:
Ms. Palin received a “per diem” expense allowance for 312 nights she spent at her home in Wasilla, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
The $60-a-day allowance is available for state employees when traveling on official state business to cover meals and other sundry expenses. Ms. Palin’s per diems, which included some charges for partial days, totaled $17,059, from Dec. 4, 2006, when she took office, through June 30, 2008, the most recent data available, according to Sharon Leighow, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office. Ms. Palin’s salary is $125,000 a year.
Ms. Palin was able to receive the allotment while she was at home because her official “duty station” is listed as Juneau, the state capital, aides said. That allowed Ms. Palin to file for per diems while she was working out of her Anchorage office and commuting from her home about 45 miles away in Wasilla. Juneau is nearly 600 miles away.
The practice of billing for staying at home seems to be unusual. Many officials said it would not be allowed in their states, including California, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, as well as other jurisdictions. On the federal level, officials said members of Congress do not get per diem allowances for routine home visits.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
This is something most everyone can wrap their heads around pretty quickly-- Palin billed the taxpayers for travel when she stayed at her own house-- not once, not twice, but at least 312 times.
That's not change that you can believe in, that's not reform, that's just another corrupt politician taking advantage of a loophole in the system to line her pockets. It undercuts her image, and makes one wonder what the hell kind of operation is that governor's office in Alaska, anyway?
How big of a job can that be, if the governor doesn't even have to show up at the capital city to conduct business. How many governors telecommute?
This also goes right at the heart of what has infused the McCain campaign in recent days. Their new tact is that they are the real change-- they take on entrenched powers that be, even if they are Republican! Yeah, right. We need to replace mooseburgers, snowmachines, and motherhood with the image of a cynical politician who stays at home and STILL hits up the state for extra cash intended to reimburse for travel.
Surely this practice went well beyond reimbursing herself for legitimate expenses she incurred. Most people will see this pretty easily, but the Democrats must be relentless with the story. Not a day or two and let up. She's still repeating the same old lies day-in-and-day-out, in part because she has not been forced to respond to a meaningful attack with teeth. The press will love for the Democrats to hit with this one because it is simple-- even the press can understand it. It's tailor made for cable news and talk radio. And letters to the editor-- have you written yours yet?