Palin's an Anti-Corruption Reformer—Or Maybe Not So Much

Gov. Sarah Palin's ties to the Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska's embattled (and indicted) Republican leader, are much thicker than the McCain camp would have you believe.

The Washington Post is reporting that Palin "began building her clout in her state's political circles in part by serving as a director of an independent political group organized by…Stevens."

But wait, there's more: Just before Stevens was indicted in July of this year, the Post notes, she held a joint news conference with Stevens "to make clear she had not abandoned him politically."

And she owed him some loyalty: "Stevens had been helpful to Palin during her run for governor, swooping in with a last minute endorsement. And the two filmed a campaign commercial together to highlight Stevens' endorsement of Palin during the 2006 race."

Palin is the gift that keeps on giving. Billed as a fresh, corruption-fighting GOP leader, Palin's looking more and more like an ambitious Alaska Republican crony, cozying up to power when it would get her ahead.