The Odd Lies Of Sarah Palin XIV: What Trade Missions To Russia?

[Joanne98]

By now, the pattern is familiar. Palin responds to a question she fears reveals something she wants to conceal and lies:

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We -- we do -- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where -- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is -- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there.
There is no evidence of her conducting any trade missions with Russia:

I spent some time on the Governor's Web site seeking more details about her trade negotiations with Russia. There's a press release about Gov. Palin's meeting with a trade mission from the Yukon, but nothing about Russia anywhere in the archives.
And the second pattern: a refusal to respond to the press seeking factual information:

When asked for examples of trade missions with Russia that have taken place under Palin's watch, gubernatorial spokeswoman Kate Morgan refused to answer the question. Morgan said she could not legally discuss any trade missions with me because she's a state employee and I had first heard this claim through the Couric interview, which was part of Palin's campaign for the vice-presidency.
Just don't ask Goldfarb. He'll leak your question to his stenographer, the Washington Post's Howie Kurtz.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/the-odd-lies--6.html

[grannie4peace]

1. that's those hunting parties that they used the ebay jet for!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. cannot legally answer a factual question? MY ASS.

fire that stupid cow for following McLame's orders. And I apologize for insulting cows.

This is beyond ridiculous, it is insulting. and devastating to our nation's future. Because, dammit, there still is a possibility that she will be president.

[spindrifter]

3. A public disclosure request ought to do the trick.

I'd ask for Alaska trade missions involving Governor Palin.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Trade missions are joint government-business trips, aren't they?

And I've NEVER heard of a SECRET trade mission.

In fact, they usually bring their own PR people and issue daily communiqués.

And they're ADVERTISED in the business mags. Remember, they're trying to DRUM UP NEW BUSINESS, not conduct a clandestine operation.

So I'm sure some enterprising reporter can EASILY confirm this.

[rvablue]

5. FOIA! FOIA! FOIA!!

Sullivan is doing a good job with factchecking.