LETTER: Palin never AIP member

Most recently I have pulled the entire record regarding the Alaskan Independence Party’s 1994 Convention file. I went through all the video, audio and paper records for that function.

Something I should have done earlier before making the statement that Governor Palin was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party. For that I humbly apologize to Governor Palin, and, to both national and local press and media.

I, foolishly, repeated and accepted as fact what an officer of this membership shared with myself and husband, Dexter Clark, over a year ago. My statement was incorrect regarding the governor’s membership.

What was correct was that Todd Palin was a member, that Sarah as a candidate for governor appeared at the AIP Convention in 2006, and sent a welcoming DVD to the membership at the 2008 AIP statewide convention.

Those truths do not take away my fault in misspeaking regarding her membership. For that I do take full responsibility. I hold Governor Palin in high regard, I believe she is far and away the best individual Alaska could have as governor, and as a woman, mother and wife is one of the best examples walking!

Thank you and again, I apologize to all.

Lynette Clark, chairman

Alaskan Independence Party

Editor’s note: Below find the original comment thread to this story. Additional comments may be added below.

PDXChick wrote on Sep 14, 2008 11:21 PM:

" 'st' - why is it that you people can only respond by creating lies and turning the focus to Obama? Don't you think that by now, after almost 2 years of being in the public eye and with his life sifted through (similar to what's happening to Palin, by the way) that he'd still be a viable Presidential candidate if there was any question such as the ones you raise? Nice try with your fearmongering, rumor-milling and outright lying. Your obviously a McCain-Palin ilk and on a mission to spread their disease. "

st wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:16 PM:

" Similarly, an important question is whether Obama is loyal to the U.S., its constitution, and its citizenry. "

Sue wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:04 AM:

" Whether Sarah was a member is essentially irrelevant because her husband was and she clearly with her DVD and appearances supports them. What is far more scary was Dexter Clark's telling everyone how they need to "INFILTRATE" all existing political parties to take them over! So the question from the lower 48 is: Is Palin loyal to America first or Alaska? "

st wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:17 PM:

" Half the population of Alaska has had membership in the AIP at one time or another. Sarah must be the exception! Lynette Clark's integrity is above reproach; she would never lower herself to "retract" because of pressure, but only because she discovered her error. Thank you, Ms. Clark, for your honesty. "

FUNNY wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:59 AM:

" I do not know who your are trying to convince, Ms. Clark! We're all not buying it! Not for one second!! We all know that you were told to retract your earlier statement from the McShame/McPalin/McRove Campaign. YOU RECEIVED YOUR ORDERS! The video clips are already out there. And we all know that hubby, Todd, was a member for 7 years. Does EVERYBODY LIE in Alaska??? "

connecticut man wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:05 AM:

" And to top it all off Chryson - the leader of the AKIP - has claimed that he helped Palin take down the chairman of the GOP party? Yet he doesn't know if she was a member of his party in a town of 5,000? He can't remember? How many AKIP "not-members" were elevated in the Alaskan GOP after Palin finished taking out all of the old guard? Are you buying anything the AKIP is selling? "

connecticut man wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:00 AM:

" Here we have a leader of a group that has stated at their convention their wish to infiltrate other groups with their members trying to tell us that she is not a member after first saying she was a member. Then we have an old chairman of the AKIP, Mark Chryson saying he canpt remember if she was a member while he was the organizer of the regular Wasilla meetings for the members of AKIP and Todd Palin had been a member the entire time Chryson was the Chairman. "