Line Between Public, Private Lost on Small-Town Palins

Todd and Sarah Palin’s small-town roots, and the everyone-knows-everyone nature of politics in Alaska, have led to some blurring of the lines between public and private in Todd Palin’s role in his wife’s administration, the Washington Post reports. After one supporter complained, Gov. Palin swiftly called him. “In Alaska, that’s the way it works,” he said. “Politics doesn’t stop at the front door.”

Some insist that Todd’s role has been exaggerated, and attribute his involvement to devotion to his ambitious spouse. “He’s not political. He’s Sarah-oriented,” said one anonymous Republican. Alaska’s House speaker said the Palins often lose sight of boundaries, particularly by having Todd sit in on legislative meetings. “Sometimes emotion gets the better of them,” he said. (More Todd Palin stories.)