By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

So much for Sarah Palin's claim to be a maverick, someone who doesn't play politics the old-fashioned way. Now she is.

On Monday, John McCain's camp announced that Palin would not cooperate with a bipartisan investigation -- which includes an independent investigator -- of her role in firing Alaska's public safety commissioner.

A McCain campaign spokesman said Palin wouldn't take part "so long as it remained tainted and run by partisan individuals who have a predetermined conclusion."

He was referring to a Democratic state legislator involved in the probe who had said the case might produce criminal charges.

Unfortunately for Palin, she has told the American people she has nothing to hide in this case -- which means she ought to be cooperating fully.

Already, Palin is starting to look like all other politicians. She backtracks when things aren't going her way. She attacks anyone who doesn't agree with her.

And, in this particular case, she's inviting a subpoena for her testimony. If one comes in the next few weeks, Palin could be embroiled in a nasty legal affair touching on her veracity as governor just about the time Americans go to the polls in November.