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WASHINGTON It didn't take Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin long to return with some words on her plans for the future, following her surprise announcement Friday of an early resignation.
And she posted them on Facebook:
“I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint,” the Republican Party's 2008 vice presidential candidate writes.
Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton vouches for the authenticity of the posting in which Palin casts herself as someone who has been misunderstood:
“How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make.”
An FBI spokesman, meanwhile, took the unusual step Sunday of declaring that Palin is not under investigation, an announcement prompted by rumors to the contrary on many Web sites.
“We are not investigating her,” said FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez. “Normally we don't confirm or deny those kinds of allegations out there, but by not doing so it just casts her in a very bad light. There is just no truth to those rumors out there in the blogosphere.”
His statement follows a Saturday letter from Palin's attorney Thomas Van Flein denouncing rumors that Palin resigned because she is under criminal investigation and threatening legal action for publishing “defamatory” material about her.
Palin wrote, “The response in the main stream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the politics of personal destruction. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it's right for all, including your family.”
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, meanwhile, said on “Fox News Sunday” that Palin's decision to resign was largely prompted by the personal legal costs of previous ethics probes against her.
“For months now, I have consulted with friends and family, and with the lieutenant governor, about what is best for our wonderful state,” Palin's Facebook message said. “We have accomplished so much and there's much more to do, but my family and I determined after prayerful consideration that sacrificing my title helps Alaska most.”
