Sep 22, 2008 3 min read

Maybe it?s time for someone to investigate Sarah Palin?s ties to the Alaskan Independence Party, a fierce states rights party whose founder wanted Alaska to secede from the United States. True she was never a member of the party, but her husband was a member in 1995 and 2000. And according to Associated Press, Palin did address the Alaskan Independence Party?s state convention by video earlier this year, welcoming the party to Fairbanks.

?Your party plays an important role in our state?s politics,? she said in the video, which is posted on the party?s Web site. ?I?ve always said that competition is so good, and that applies to political parties as well.?

However, here are some comments attributed to Joseph Vogler, founder of the party. Here?s one that came straight from the party?s Web site.

?The problem with you John Birchers? is that you are too damn liberal!?

~ Joseph Vogler, Founder Alaskan Independence Party

Now for those of you who are too young to know anything about the John Birch Society, it was formed in the late 1950s with the idea of supposedly fighting communism. But it was also a fierce opponent against the civil rights movement and also anti-Semitic, basically blaming Jews and blacks for all the problems in the world. It was opposed by more mainstream Republicans who were put off by their hate rhetoric So, you have to wonder about a guy who found the John Birch Society ?too damn liberal? and a party who would put such comments on their Web site.

The party?s Web site also quotes Vogler as stating ?I?m an Alaskan, not an American. I?ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.?

In a 1991 interview currently housed at the Oral History Program in the Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Vogler is recorded as saying ?The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government. And I won?t be buried under their damn flag. I?ll be buried in Dawson. And when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home.?

So, why would Palin?s husband ever join such a group? And why would Palin ever welcome this group in her official position as governor. Does she share any of the group?s beliefs? As far as I know, Palin has never condemned the group or its beliefs. Sounds like she has some explaining to do.