The New York Times is reporting that the Legislative Committee in the State of Alaska that has been charged by the Republican controlled Alaskan legislature with determining whether or not Alaska Governor Sarah Palin abused her executive power in the firing of the State’s public safety commissioner, referred to as Troopergate, has delivered its ruling. The committee has determined that Governor Sarah Palin violated the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by firing the public safety commissioner:

A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state’s public safety commissioner. The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn’t the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor. The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated. Monegan says he was dismissed as retribution for resisting pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor’s sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

This is finding is absolutely appalling! I cannot, for the life of me, understand how a person who was under investigation for unlawful acts could be elevated to the position of Vice Presidential nominee … especially in light of these findings. It remains to be seen what, if any, punishment will be handed down to Governor Palin for these unlawful acts but I’m just *aghast* that we are learning this information about her just weeks before voters will determine if she is fit to serve as Vice President of this country. I’m sure the denials will be coming fast and furious from her camp in the coming hours/days but if this doesn’t serve as a HUGE WAKE-UP call then I don’t know what else could. Is this really the kind of leadership we need in this country?

On the other hand, I would like to publicly commend Senator John McCain for showing respect to Senator Barack Obama earlier today when members of a McCain rally were heard shouting, in my opinion, racist epithets about Obama. After members of various McCain rallies this week referred to Obama as an “Arab”, a “traitor” and a “terrorist”, McCain very angrily rebutted against those hateful exclamations and begged his followers to show respect for Senator Obama:

The anger is getting raw at Republican rallies and John McCain is acting to tamp it down. McCain was booed by his own supporters Friday when, in an abrupt switch from raising questions about Barack Obama’s character, he described the Democrat as a “decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.” A sense of grievance spilling into rage has gripped some GOP events this week as McCain supporters see his presidential campaign lag against Obama. Some in the audience are making it personal, against the Democrat. Shouts of “traitor,” “terrorist,” “treason,” “liar,” and even “off with his head” have rung from the crowd at McCain and Sarah Palin rallies, and gone unchallenged by them. McCain changed his tone Friday when supporters at a town hall pressed him to be rougher on Obama. A voter said, “The people here in Minnesota want to see a real fight.” Another said Obama would lead the U.S. into socialism. Another said he did not want his unborn child raised in a country led by Obama. “If you want a fight, we will fight,” McCain said. “But we will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments.” When people booed, he cut them off. “I don’t mean that has to reduce your ferocity,” he said. “I just mean to say you have to be respectful” … On Friday, McCain rejected [the racism being espoused from a member of his Town Hall Meeting rally]. “I don’t trust Obama,” a woman said. “I have read about him. He’s an Arab.” McCain shook his head in disagreement, and said: “No, ma’am. He’s a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign is all about.” He had drawn boos with his comment: “I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.”

I absolutely applaud and respect Senator John McCain for not allowing this kind of hateful ire to be thrown around during this campaign (at last). While I believe that, at times, his campaign stokes the fires of this hateful response from his followers, I commend him for being the bigger man and finally publicly chiding that hate-speech coming from his own followers. After the jump, watch video of McCain refuting the hateful, racist things that his campaign supporters are espousing about Barack Obama …

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