On environmental issues, Palin supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, opposes the classification of polar bears as endangered species and believes global warming is not man-made. Palin is currently at the center of a controversy in Alaska known as Troopergate. Palin is accused of firing Alaska’s public safety commissioner after he refused to fire Palin’s former brother-in-law, who worked as a state trooper. McCain announced the selection of Palin on his seventy-second birthday. He is attempting to become the oldest American elected to a first term as president.