Palin and Ted Stevens

Ted Stevens is that elderly Alaska senator currently under indictment for various unethical practices. Some folks believe that Mr. Stevens is the epitome of corruption and a symbol of how Republicans act in Alaska.

Sarah Palin, McCain's erstwhile pick for vice president, is said to be a "reformer," and hangs her hat on that nomenclature.

Maybe "reformer" is not the word she was looking for.

When Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., he "revealed the existence of the 527 group - a type of independent political corporation named for [a] ... section of the tax code..."

The Washington Post, in an article dated 9/1/08, says that "The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call reported that several experts called the group an example of the fine legal line between a legal effort to conduct political activity and then-new prohibitions against raising unlimited soft-money.

"Board members of Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service were legally allowed to raise as much money as they wanted from corporations or unions or unlimited donations from individuals -- all of which would have been illegal for Stevens to do himself."

Sarah Palin's name was "listed on 2003 incorporation papers of ... 'Excellence in Public Service, Inc.' ... She served as one of three directors until June 2005, when her name was replaced on state filings."

Before Stevens was indicted, Palin told Stevens to "be open about the issues behind the investigation. But she also held a joint news conference with him in July [2008], before he was indicted, to make clear she had not abandoned him politically."

That makes sense as Stevens had been helpful to Palin in her run for governor. He endorsed her and filmed a campaign commercial with her in 2006.

It is most interesting that "Shortly after Palin was announced as McCain's vice presidential pick, the ad was removed from her gubernatorial web site."

I wonder what "reform" really means to Palin.