I wasn't going to say much more about Sarah Palin, but in the past day or three I heard yet another Republican "pundit" bring up Michelle Obama's America remark from months ago. If the spouses of candidates can still be questioned, then shouldn't the Democrats harp every single day on Palin's husband (and possibly Palin herself) having voter registered in the Alaska Independence Party which exists to question whether Alaska should or should not secede from the USA? This isn't a naive and stupid comment; this is deliberate alliance with a political party that questions whether we are the Collective States of America or the United States. Being a member of the party isn't against the law, but it once again questions a philosophy and motivation. This isn't someone saying for the first time in their adult life they are finally proud of their country but someone who is part of a group whose founder, Joe Vogler, says: (Note, this is from their website and is not my interpretation: "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."

If it turned out that Joe Biden's wife was once a member of a group organized to vote on whether Delaware should vote or not to secede, don't you think the GOP would be spending millions of dollars harping on that 24/7?

Palin's husband was a member of the AIP until 2004. Palin was considered to be a member, too, although on their website they now say they were wrong and say she wasn't (Strangely they only updated this on Sept 3rd although in one of their videos they still say she is a member). But even if she never registered for their party, as you can see in the embedded video, she addressed them as recently as this year and told them she believes in their views on the Alaskan constitution (not the U.S. Constitution) and to keep up the good work. John McCain keeps saying Country First and as his VP choice he brought in someone who believes in Country Last. This needs to be mentioned again and again and again until the election.

Once again, from the AIP website, this is their mission statement:

"The Alaskan Independence Party can be summed up in just two words:
ALASKA FIRST!

Until we as Alaskans receive our Ultimate Goal, the AIP will continue to strive to make Alaska a better place to live with less government interference in our everyday lives.

The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:

1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.

The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences.

If Michelle Obama's comments are up for constant scrutiny, I think Palin's connection with the AIP and its beliefs need to be brought up again and again and again until everyone in the other 49 States who are not asking to secede understand their significance.