Palin And The Alaska Independence Party

The Alaska Independence Party calls itself the third largest organization in the United States. Its platform calls for the defense of "states rights," to "seek the complete repatriation of the public lands, held by the federal government, to the state and people of Alaska in conformance with Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17, of the federal constitution."

Basically, the AIP wants a vote on secession. According to the organizations' website. "[T]hough it is widely thought to be a secessionist movement, the Party makes great effort to emphasize that its primary goal is merely a vote on secession, something that Party advocates say Alaskans were denied during the founding of the state."

The AIP says that Gov. Sarah Palin used to be a member of the party. Earlier this year, Palin recorded a welcoming address to the AIP's convention.

Her greeting is innocuous enough. And an Alaskan political consultant tells me that the AIP is a marginally accepted part of the political culture there.

At the AIP's meeting, the AIP's vice chairman, Dexter Carter, extols Gov. Palin's virtues. He recalls Palin's service as a member of the party at about six minutes in to this clip.

Mr, Carter says that AIP members must "infiltrate" -- his words -- the other two parties and push for the cause of Alaskan independence.

A McCain spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

(Note: the Daily Kos's muckrakers have been worthing through the story all day.)