Right about now, there is essentially no excuse for the sort of vile commentary on Sarah Palin. For being who she is, she has suffered some of the most lowbrow sniping I've ever witnessed in a political campaign. I'm not going to get all outraged about it. Nobody died. But somebody did try to kill. For all the talk about the 'evil racists' in the Republican Party, nobody ever threatened Barack Obama's Trinity Church. But in fact an arsonist did try to burn Sarah Palin's church.
Accelerants were found in multiple locations on the outside of Wasilla Bible Church, including around entrances and exits, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Nick Starcevic, an ATF spokesman in Seattle, said it was not yet clear what type of accelerant was used. Samples have been taken to the state crime lab in Anchorage for testing. It could be up to two weeks before investigators find out the results, said James Steele, who heads the Central Mat-Su Fire Department.
Investigators typically take scrapings from where they think the fire was lit, said Assistant State Fire Marshal Kelly Nicolello. In this case, that could include parts of the outside of the building and the soil underneath.
The Friday night blaze caused an estimated $1 million in damage to the 212-year-old building and displaced one of the largest congregations in the Valley. The 35,314-square-foot building is valued between $4 million and $5 million, according to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Five church members were inside when the blaze started but they were able to get out safely after the fire alarm sounded.
Church burnings? Has it has come to this?
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