Governor Palin 4 President

Mendorf AF Base, AK - Governor Palin made a surprise visit to Sailors & personnel onboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis on Monday during the military joint-training exercise Northern Edge. The invitation came as a surprise for The Governor, who jumped at the opportunity to visit U.S. service members & learn more about U.S. Navy operations. "This is such an honor to be here," Palin said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for my husband Todd and I to see an aircraft carrier in action, and see what its crew does to keep America safe"

During the visit, Govenror Palin toured the ship's facilities to include; flight deck takeoffs and landings, bridge operations, a tour of the hangar bay, and a meet and greet with Alaskan constituents. "I'm enjoying this opportunity to meet the men and women of the ship," she said. "It's a chance to meet the people who have chosen to serve something greater and larger than themselves and a good time to say thank you"

Rear Adm. Mark A. Vance, commander of the Carrier Strike Group Three (CCSG) 3, said: "It's not every day The Governor comes onboard, We tell our Sailors thank you every day, but when it comes from someone like Governor Palin, it makes it all the more special" He said the visit comes at a time when the Stennis has been at sea for five months in various exercises before coming up north to Alaska in support of Northern Edge. "This is a huge deal for them," Vance said. "This visit is icing on the cake after a five month cruise at sea"

Throughout her visit on the ship, The Governor was asked what part of the ship excited her the most. Her reply was simple--”the people”. "Meeting the men and women really touched my heart," she said. "Just shaking their hands and meeting them is a real honor. I have a great appreciation for the military and everyone out here. When just looking at many of the young men here, I see my son. He's serving in the military and just like everyone here, has the same drive and dedication in protecting those he loves"

Governor Palin's 20-year-old son, Track, is currently serving in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Army. The Stennis will be wrapping up Northern Edge operations this week & returning to its home station for some much needed time off for the Sailors & personnel onboard the vessel.

In the coming week Governor will be making a trip to Europe to visit & thank our soliders serving overseas. The Governor clearly understands that the young men & women that are willing to pay the ultimate price to protect America are a step or 2 above all of us.

Anchorage, AK – Governor Palin & Alaska Army National Guard officials are visiting Alaskan soldiers who are serving overseas. Palin will make hospital visits, attend promotion ceremonies & observe training exercises through the weekend.

Federal clearance was received for Governor Palin, Alaska Adjutant General Craig Campbell & Alaska Command Sergeant Major Gordon Choate to travel for the Alaska National Guard visit.

"These troops are our fellow Alaskans,” Governor Palin said. “They are making major sacrifices for all of us. General Campbell and I will show our support & appreciation for our troops on behalf of all the people of Alaska."

"It is critical for the families that we give them as much information as possible to lessen the worry & build strength at home," said Lt. Gen. (AK) Craig E. Campbell, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard. "When the family is strong, the soldier is strong & the mission is completed with a high degree of success."

The U.S. Department of Defense has requested that no additional details of Governor Palin’s travel plans be released at this time for security reasons.

Anchorage, AK – The 15th ethics complaint (and 1 with the Federal Election Commission) filed against The Governor or one of her staff have all been dismissed, that is 16 to 0. The complaint, filed by Andree McLeod against Anchorage Office Director Kris Perry, alleged Perry used her official position for personal gain by traveling with the governor on three occasions.

The complaint was filed even after Perry obtained an opinion from her ethics supervisor, Linda Perez. In the opinion, dated September 28, 2008, Perez concluded, “By officially staffing the governor, you will be providing a more efficient means for direct communication between the state and the governor. It is in the best interest of the state at this time to have a state employee provide that staff function to ensure that information is provided timely to the governor and any decisions, questions or directions relayed back to the state.”

“It is outrageous to file an ethics complaint against a state employee who sought and obtained ethics guidance in advance,” Mike Nizich, the governor’s chief of staff, said. “This is not about ethics. This is not about holding the governor or state employees accountable. This is pure harassment.”

In dismissing the complaint on June 5, 2009, Acting Attorney General Richard Svobodny concurred with the conclusions of the investigator that “[t]he evidence reviewed does not support the alleged violations of the Ethics Act or suggest the need for further investigation. Under these circumstances, Ms. Perry was not using her official position for her own personal gain or to provide an unwarranted benefit to Governor Palin in violation of AS 39.52.120 (a) because Ms. Perry was traveling on authorized state business.”

The investigator continued: “We would also be remiss in not stating for the record that for the highly unusual situation of the vice presidential campaign, and even the two other trips, the record clearly shows that Ms. Perry gave far more of her personal time to the state of Alaska than she may have used state time, if any, for non-state-related or unavoidable personal activities.”

“While asserting false accusations of ethics law violations, the complainant simultaneously violates the same ethics law by publicizing her malicious accusations," Perry said. “These improper actions benefit no one, waste state money and resources, and only seek to damage reputations.”

In the past two years, the state of Alaska has spent millions of dollars processing ethics complaints, public records requests, and related lawsuits.