24 April 2010 There are consequences and there are consequences

24 April 2010 There are consequences and there are consequences




http://us.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/23/palin.hacking/index.html?hpt=Sbin

“Palin testifies in hacking case

By the CNN Wire Staff

April 23, 2010 2:05 p.m. EDT

Sarah Palin told jurors that her life and campaign were disrupted when hacked e-mails were published.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Sarah Palin testified she didn't realize e-mail was hacked until it was reported in media

• Palin said 2008 campaign was disrupted when hacked e-mails were published

• David Kernell, 22, charged with identity theft, wire fraud, obstructing FBI investigation

(CNN) -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin testified that she did not realize anyone had hacked her Yahoo e-mail account during the 2008 presidential campaign until it was reported in the media, CNN affiliate WATE reported Friday.

The GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee took the stand for about an hour Friday morning in the Knoxville, Tennessee, trial of a man accused of hacking her e-mail, a manager in the court clerk's office said.

The prosecution is presenting its case against David Kernell, 22, who is charged with felony identity theft, wire fraud, intentionally accessing Palin's e-mail account without authorization and obstructing an FBI investigation.”

Knoxville TN is going to provide some interesting conflict in the coming week. Former Governor Palin has flown it to testify about the illegal intrusion of her personal Yahoo account. From what I’ve been reading, she is blaming the actions of David Kernell, who broke into her Yahoo account, for derailing her VP campaign and for isolating her from her children.

Let’s examine her claim a bit. Her use of a Yahoo account to conduct state business instead of the official Alaska network is highly suggestive of an attempt to avoid creating public records of her activities in office. The “trooper gate” events seem to confirm that she was operating outside official channels at least part of the time she was in office. It is reasonable to assume that something was being hidden by avoiding the official network.

It find it hard to accept that she suddenly lost all access to her children in Alaska when she was advised to close her Yahoo account. The phone lines didn’t vanish from existence and certainly new cell phones were available. I’d be more concerned that she left her children alone with their 17 year old pregnant sister. That seems to me be rather careless and not particularly in the best interests of either the 17 year old or her younger siblings.

Further, it was not the necessity of dealing with an invasion into her Yahoo account that damaged her campaign. It was her frequently demonstrated lack of qualification and her serious lack of ethics that made much of America aware of what a poor choice for office she was and is.

Her behavior since the 2008 election has done nothing to cause me to change my opinion of her. She is an opportunistic, greedy, fundamentalist, lacking in education, intellectual curiosity, and any speck of political ethics. The very thought of her in elected office is disturbing. Her use of wedge issues, incitement to violence, blatant attempts to use a false patriotism to divide Americans from each other, and her false populism all mark her as unsuitable for elected office.

Despite all that, she, as any other citizen, is entitled to personal privacy in on-line activity, as long as she is behaving in a legal manner. If the Federal Election Commission, the state of Alaska, or any other legally constituted government body or agency believe that she was or is in violation of our laws; then they should launch a legally authorized investigation. Doubtless, Palin would do all in her power to prevent such investigation being successful, as she did with the misuse of power investigation launched by the Senate of Alaska.

Still, it is not acceptable for individuals to invade internet accounts, bank accounts, or other personal matters that involve one’s own identification. If Mr. Kernell had grounds to believe something illegal was taking place, the proper thing to do would have been to raise his concerns to the Alaska government, the FEC, FBI, and/or other appropriate agencies. I do not approve of hacking computers for recreational purposes. Mr. Kernell, if he did access her account illegally, was wrong.

Assuming his guilt, the potential sentence of 50 years is far too long. Despite her protestations otherwise, no harm came to Palin’s children, no damage was done to her campaign by Mr. Kernel’s actions. Was Ms. Palin anyone else this would have been dealt with by plea bargain. Palin chooses to use the opportunity to keep her name in print and to raise sympathy among her supporters. Mr. Kernell may have done her a favor by distracting some of her voter base from self-destructive campaign activities and general un-suitability.

Mr. Kernell should have his day in court and the prosecutors should treat this case as the act of stupidity it was rather than allowing Palin to blow it out of proportion.

I find it difficult to believe I might ever support Palin to any degree. But despite the apparent illegal use of a private account for official business, Kernell broke the law, too. While she escaped any legal consequences for her violation of Alaskan law, Kernell does not merit absolution, just a revision of charges to something realistically related to the actual offense.