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Ethics Scandal Is No Waterloo for Palin

Gov will skate past latest allegations unscathed: Nate Silver

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2009 10:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – The latest ethics complaint against Sarah Palin—investigators believe she misused her position to solicit personal legal donations—won’t leave a scratch, writes Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com. Here’s how to predict which scandals will make it big:

  • Can it be reduced to a sound bite? Nope. Heck, the AP struggled to summarize it at all.
  • Does it cut against a core element of her brand? Nope. McCain’s attempts to paint Palin as an ethics crusader never stuck.

  • Does it reinforce a core negative? Yes, because it dusts off doubts about her resignation.
  • Can the opposition use it? Probably not. The public dislikes Palin, but doesn’t like it much better when Democrats pick on her.
  • Does it have enough tabloid oomph? Not normally… but “a meteor would pretty much have to hit the earth for the media not to amplify a piece of Palin gossip.”

This Feb. 8, 2009 file photo shows Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the start of the 2009 Iron Dog snow machine race in Big Lake, Alaska.
This Feb. 8, 2009 file photo shows Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the start of the 2009 Iron Dog snow machine race in Big Lake, Alaska.   (AP Photo/Al Grillo, FILE)
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin addresses about 100 people who showed up to a bill signing ceremony in Unalakleet, Alaska, on Friday, July 17, 2009.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin addresses about 100 people who showed up to a bill signing ceremony in Unalakleet, Alaska, on Friday, July 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matthew Daly)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Caps
Jul 23, 2009 12:38 PM CDT
NH, what a bunch of BS your comment is.
inky
Jul 23, 2009 12:08 PM CDT
Pit bulls wearing lipstick are bred to be biters. Sound biters.
jaguarj
Jul 23, 2009 3:30 AM CDT
And she hasn't been anywhere!!

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