The Reason for McCain’s VP Pick are Getting a Bit Clearer
What is the best way for a faction to protect its flashiest and most appealing protege from valid legal investigation? The answer appears to be to inject said protege into a national political race. Ever since she was tapped as McCain’s VP candidate, individuals from both sides of the aisle have publicly wondered why McCain would risk such a seemingly dangerous and unconventional pick. I mean, what presidential candidate in their right mind would select someone currently under governmental investigation for abuse of power for their running mate, especially when said candidate is behind in the polls at the time of the pick, in part due to his connection with a similarly corrupt incumbent administration?
But as this article shows, the motivations behind such a pick are likely less driven by McCain’s desire for reform, and instead more driven by the neo-cons’ desire to protect their rising star.
A lawyer for five Alaska Republican legislators suing for a delay of the investigation known as Troopergate said he will wait _ but not too long _ to see what the Legislative Council, a joint bipartisan oversight panel, does before asking a judge for an injunction… Elton had previously refused to call such a meeting before panel investigator Steven Branchflower issued his report. In a letter Wednesday to House Speaker John Harris, Elton said circumstances had changed.
He said the situation had become so politicized it was difficult to imagine it could get any worse. Elton said he used to fear that any debate without a report would be "run through the prism of presidential politics and focus on motives." But now, he added, the debate is "taking place through press conferences and lawsuits."
So, instead of avoiding such a potentially toxic choice to begin with, the movers behind the Republican campaign for the White House pushed instead to insulate Palin from the investigation by putting her in a position that makes the investigation appear to be politically motivated. By throwing her in the middle of a contentious election, they can project the perception that any investigation into her conduct is motivated purely by a desire to defeat the Republican ticket in November. Nevermind the fact that the panel that originally approved the investigation was overwhelmingly Republican (the panel consisted of 10 Republicans and only four Democrats) - now that she is the VP candidate, any look into her actions as Governor - even one that began well before her selection as McCain’s running mate, no less - must be motivated by a pure political desire to see her defeated.
It is sadly ironic that such a political maneuver could succeed in asserting that the bipartisan investigation is some kind of a political ploy. Yet another reason why my faith in the current American system - one that I fought and sacrificed a good deal of my health and well-being to defend - is slowly but surely eroding.
