Palin Trooper Scandal, Broken Water-gate Present Problems
After only a few days having been selected as GOP candidate John McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may seem like the "perfect soccer mom" for the job, but reported controversies are already surfacing and could threaten McCain's run for the White House.
One of the most talked about topics of the weekend on the Gambling911.com website: Did Palin fly more than 3000 miles after her water broke - 8 months pregnant? The incident is becoming so notorious that some have labeled it as "Broken Water-gate", an obvious reference to the Nixon Watergate scandal from nearly 40 years ago.
Of the many comments posted related to this story, this one seemed to echo the vast majority of concern over "judgment" and "risk taking":
I'm an RN. Knowing she was having a baby with Downs Syndrome (Trisomy 21), prematurely, you would want to be checked by a Doctor right away. The bag of water broke before a 30 minute speech? She had to get to the airport, check baggage, walk to the gate, etc., get on an Alaska Air flight and fly several hours? No, because a Dr. would not have put his signature on a discharge order like that. Most of all malpractice litigation involves OB/ GYN care. She would have been admitted. After the water breaks you are open to infection. Or she could have arranged an air ambulance to go to Alaska. Since a fifth baby comes faster than the first, anyone with half a brain would not risk it.
Palin is also in the hot seat over an alleged "abuse of power". This one is being called "Trooper-gate".
The little-known vice presidential candidate faces accusations of firing public safety commissioner Walt Monegan in what amounts to a messy Palin family drama dating to her pre-gubernatorial days. Monegan had refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister.
The accuser is blogger and rental car executive Andrew Halcro, a Republican-turned-Independent who lost to Palin in the 2006 governor's race.
The accused is Palin, the rising Republican star with a clean-hands reputation who has the most to lose.
The man in the middle is former commissioner, Monegan, who says Palin never told him to fire the trooper, but he felt pressure to do so from members of her administration.
Then there's trooper Mike Wooten, who used a Taser on his stepson, Palin's nephew Payton. Wooten has been reprimanded for violating nearly a dozen laws and departmental policies since December 2001.
Palin steadfastly denies the allegations, and with her signature resolve, said she welcomes the investigation. "Hold me accountable," she challenge her critics.
Democratic US Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, remained steadfast as the -205 favorite at Bookmaker.com. John McCain was listed with +165 odds.
