Socialized medicine okay for Tripp

More Palin Hypocrisy:  Tripp Has Government Provided Health Insurance

By Shannyn MooreThe dangers of "death panels" were explained to Americans on Sarah Palin's Facebook page. Oh, sweet Lord, she must not sleep at night...her grandson could be the next victim of "socialized medicine."

Recently released documents from the custody battle show clearly Tripp Palin Johnston has socialized health care through Indian Health Services and the Alaska Native Medical Center.

Palin's family has federally funded health care afforded to them...but if you had it Barack Obama might kill you. Put this on the list of Palin's Greatest Hypocritical Hits...volume 97.Comment:  A court document (see link) says that Tripp Palin Johnston is "an enrolled tribal member of Curyung Tribal Council within the Bristol Bay Native Association consortium."

During the 2008 presidential campaign, I posted some items on whether Sarah Palin's husband Todd was an Alaska Native or not. The gist seemed to be that Todd was a shareholder of the Bristol Bay Native Association, and thus perhaps technically an Alaska Native. But he wasn't an Alaska Native in any real sense--i.e., as a participant or believer in a tribal culture.

The same presumably applies to his children and to his grandchild Tripp.

In any case, it's clear Sarah Palin is one of the biggest hypocrites and liars in contemporary politics. Remember how she was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it? What does it say about Republicans that she's a leading contender for their next presidential nomination?

For more on the subject, see More on Todd Palin's Background and Todd Palin Not Native After All?

Palin to ditch Native husband?

Todd and Sarah Palin to divorce

Affairs on both sidesAlaskaReport has learned today that Todd Palin and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin are to divorce. Multiple sources in Wasilla and Anchorage (including a former Palin staffer) have confirmed the split.

A National Enquirer story exposing previous affairs on both sides led to a deterioration of their marriage and the stress from that led to Palin's resignation as governor of Alaska last week.

The Palins were noticeably not speaking to each other for most of last Sunday's resignation speech in Fairbanks. Sarah ditched Todd right after the speech and left without him. Sarah removed her wedding ring a couple of weeks ago.

Sarah has recently purchased land in Montana and is considering moving the family there. Sarah Palin is originally from Idaho.Sarah Palin Lover Revealed!In a world exclusive The NATIONAL ENQUIRER names GOP VP Candidate Sarah Palin's secret lover!

No less than three members of the man’s family including one by sworn affidavit have claimed that Sarah Palin engaged in an extramarital affair with hus­band Todd’s former business partner, Brad Hanson.

These sources have named Hanson as Palin’s secret love, and say their affair nearly wrecked both their marriages.

Hanson owned a snowmobile dealership with Palin’s husband Todd, who immediately dissolved the partnership after he heard stories about the affair, which occurred around 1996, according to the sources. At the time, Palin was mayor of Wasilla.Sarah Palin STILL not getting a divorce (in case you don’t believe it)

By Jimmy OrrRidiculous? It is. Palin is no longer the governor of Alaska and hasn’t surfaced since her resignation. Her Twitter account has remained eerily silent. She’s a ghost.

But knowing how news regarding Palin spreads like wildfire, Palin’s spokesperson Meg Stapleton posted a statement on her Facebook page denying the allegation.

“Yet again, some so-called journalists have decided to make up a story. There is no truth to the recent “story” (and story is the correct term for this type of fiction) that the Palins are divorcing,” Stapleton wrote. “The Palins remain married, committed to each other and their family, and have not purchased land in Montana (last week it was reported to be Long Island).”Comment:  Among the people who denied sex scandal until they proved to be true are Bill Clinton, John Edwards, and Mark Sanford. Denials aren't worth much as evidence these days.

Unless AlaskaReport.com made up the "multiple sources," they're the ones who "made up" the divorce claim. It remains to be seen whether the claim is true or not.

For more on the subject, see More on Todd Palin's Background and The 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Palin trots out grandma

Yup'ik ties give Palins unique Alaska connection

NATIVE:  Grandmother on Todd's side calls the governor a 'special gal.'As a candidate for governor two years ago, and more recently on the national stage, Sarah Palin has avidly pointed to her husband's Eskimo heritage. Lena Andree is one-half Yup'ik, and Todd Palin is one-eighth.

The Palin children are Native, too--one-sixteenth, eligible for Indian health benefits under federal law, as lineal descendants of Native enrollees under the 1970 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

During the 2006 governor's race, Palin introduced Andree on stage at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention and described her own family's mixed roots as an example of how whites and Natives can surmount controversies that divide them.

"I look at Alaska as a family, and I want my own family to be used as an example of how it can work," Palin told the state's biggest Native organization that year.

When it came time to debate, however, Palin was often at odds with her Native listeners. On sensitive subsistence hunting and fishing issues, her positions resembled those of urban sportsmen's groups who backed her.

In the election, she finished far behind Democrat Tony Knowles in rural, Native-dominated districts. Urban and small-town votes carried her to victory. As governor, she has come under criticism for not reaching out to Natives, though her efforts to assist rural Alaska economically have been praised.Comment:  For more on the subject, see The 2008 Presidential Campaign.

More on Todd Palin's background

Todd Palin and his heritage, the "Series of Tubes" looks at both the PalinsAlthough he is a shareholder of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, all you need to be a shareholder is to inherit the shares (which he could have gotten from his grandmother or mother.)

What hasn't been mentioned is whether he is an enrolled member of a tribe. There are more stringent blood quantum requirements for some tribes. That they haven't said, "And a member of X tribe... or X village tribal organization..." is pretty telling.

What keeps being mentioned is that he is a descendant of a Yup'ik woman (his mother.) I didn't connect with why this kept coming up in American Indian (Lower 48) commentary until I realized that, as Alaska Native people, this is a very common term because of the corporations. For many services or memberships, you can either be an "original shareholder" or a "descendant." If you were not 1/4 blood quantum Alaska Native in December of 1971 or before, you could not be an original shareholder--which is why, though I have more than the required blood quantum, because I was not born earlier, I am not an original shareholder. I am a "descendant." The frequent mention of his mother and of his being a descendant tells me that he is used to signing on as a descendant, not an original enrollee, which means that, despite him being born before 1971, he was not 1/4 or more Yup'ik.

To be very clear--I absolutely do not believe that blood quantum defines how "Native" you are. The frequent mention of it as a disqualifying factor is wrong. For that matter, there are countless ways to be a proud member of the Native community, and none of it has to do with that extra 1/16 more Native blood you have than the next guy over. What defines you as a Native leader, and a Native example, is much easier to nail down, and in this case, Todd would not be the definition of either.

He has also never been part of the Southcentral Alaska Native culture, nor have his children, despite being raised here. To me, this says he is either disinterested, or because he is limited in a few of the organizations (namely tribal) he is rejecting the whole. In any case, both the Palins have a dismal record on Native issues, so please, do not look to Todd's heritage to help with them. That he hasn't done anything because of it so far is a good indicator that he won't be encouraging his wife on anything in the future.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Todd Palin Not Native After All?

The power behind Palin?

Native 'first dude' holds power

Is Todd Palin the next LaDonna Harris?Some of Gov. Palin's critics have questioned why Todd Palin is involved in the governor's official correspondence. After all, he's not a politician, nor does he have government credentials of any sort. Rather, he's an award-winning snowmobiler, fisherman and an oil-field production operator on Alaska's North Slope.

Of special note to Indian country, Alaska's first gentleman is also of Yup'ik Eskimo descent, and Gov. Palin has cited her husband's and children's Alaska Native heritage as signs that she is committed to and well-versed on Native issues. The governor commonly refers to her husband as Alaska's "first dude."

Given his closeness to the governor, not all Indians view Todd Palin's fingerprints in the governor's dealings as such a bad thing. Some said it would be especially helpful if he could help the general public understand more about tribal issues, especially those surrounding Alaska Native Corporations.

The corporations were established in 1971 after Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which settled land and financial claims made by Alaska Natives and provided for the establishment of 13 regional corporations to administer those claims. Many non-Indians have had grievances about the corporations and some have argued that economic benefits have not been widely dispersed throughout the state, although studies have found otherwise.

"There's always a need to spread more knowledge about our issues, and Todd Palin is an excellent resource--I'm sure he will be involved in some way in her campaign for vice president," said Jana McKeag, a co-chair of American Indians for McCain Coalition.

"It's all about access, whether it's through a spouse, or not--the more important fact is that [McCain and Palin] care and have proactive records on Indian issues."

There is precedent for positive developments happening for Indian country at times when powerful federal officials have had Native spouses.

It's well-known that non-Indian former Democratic Sen. Fred Harris from Oklahoma placed strong emphasis on issues affecting American Indians during his terms in office. His wife is LaDonna Harris, of Comanche descent; she and her daughter, Laura Harris, continue to have strong voices in the Democratic Party.

"There's no doubt Frank made Indian issues a priority because he had a tough Comanche wife," said former Republican Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a leader with the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe.

Nighthorse Campbell expects that Todd Palin, too, would have an influence on his wife's policies and beliefs involving Indian country issues, especially if she were elected to higher office.

"If you're not listening to your spouse, you're not being a very good spouse yourself," said Nighthorse Campbell.Below:  Palin and his children, including pregnant 17-year-old Bristol. For some reason, the party of hypocrisy has dropped its adamant opposition to teenage and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

Media smearing Todd Palin?

Here's an example of a conservative nutjob inventing a smear campaign where none exists:

'Fairness' and the Smearing of Gov. PalinHer husband, the liberal media reported, back in the 1980s got a ticket for driving “under the influence.”

This seemingly trivial story is actually the opening wedge of a multi-pronged orchestrated left-wing attack designed to appeal to the racism that has always been at the heart of the Democratic Party.

Palin’s husband, you see, is part Native American. His ancestors include Inuits, i.e., Eskimos. But if this fact enters the news untinted by left-wing bias, it would show Gov. Palin to be inclusive, non-racist, and noble—qualities the media intends to prevent voters from seeing.

The liberal media is therefore falsely implying that Palin’s husband is alcoholic, and from there it will echo those left-wing blogs who paint him with the “drunken Indian” racist stereotype long promoted by Democrats.Comment:  I've read a few dozen articles on Sarah Palin and her husband. Only a few have mentioned his DUI in passing. Not one has linked it to his Native ancestry or implied he's an alcoholic.

Nor has anyone said anything about Sarah Palin's attitude toward minorities. She may be a book-banner and a creationist, a hypocrite on earmarks and the Bridge to Nowhere, and a liar enmeshed in a scandal that may lead to charges, but no one has claimed she's a racist.

The only smear going on here is this right-wing attempt to smear the media. Republicans are upset because McCain picked a train-wreck of a candidate for VP. They're trying to salvage their campaign by blaming the messenger for the message.

Eskimo in the White House?

Todd Palin:  Governor Sarah Palin’s HusbandSarah Palin’s husband, Todd, is a really interesting guy with a diverse background of interests and hobbies. By all accounts, he and Sarah enjoy a loving and well adjusted family life.

Todd Palin was born in Dillingham, Alaska and his age is 44 years old. He is a lifelong Alaskan, a production operator on the North Slope, and a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world’s longest snow machine race!

He is a commercial fisherman, an oil field worker, a member of the United Steelworkers, and an Alaska Native. Todd’s grandmother grew up in a traditional Yupik Eskimo house in Bristol Bay and accompanied Sarah in her race for governor as she sought support from Alaska Native voters. Todd is 1/8th part Alaskan native American.Comment:  For more on the prospective "First Dude," see A Low-Key Outdoorsman Faces a National Role.