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Sarah Palin is being criticized for not disclosing details of her funds or allowing cameras to speeches. AP Photo
In her Tea Party Convention speech last week Sarah Palin criticized President Obama for an alleged lack of openness and transparency. The President has argued that nearly all the health care reform negotiations were open to cameras but has acknowledged a lack of transparency in the last part of the process. Now multiple media sources are alleging that Palin is not being transparent in her own political operations.
The Boston Herald reports that Palin is again refusing to allow cameras and photographers to record her public events. Palin is scheduled to speak in Florida at two separate events next month. The events require an attendee to purchase a $250 or $150 ticket and the press are not invited. Palin also barred the press from many of her book tour appearances.
It is possible Palin is attempting to prevent another "telepalmter" incident. At the Tea Party Convention cameras caught Palin consulting crib notes written on her hand during the question and session.
Palin also is refusing to disclose what she is doing with the $100,000 speaking fee she received from the Tea Party Convention. Palin promised that the money would go to conservative causes but has not actually said what that means. Talking Points Memo has pressed Palin for details and she has thus far refused to provide any answers. Previously money from Palin's political action committee have been used to buy her own books.
Comments
Palin is a private citizen giving speeches to folks who have paid tickets to attend the events. She is speaking in front of bowlers, lumberjacks, and businessmen. The media is not barred. They can attend if they purchase the tickets.
Obama is the President of the United States who campaigned on the promise to the American Electorate that he would not make any backroom deals or "behind closed doors" negotiations. He vowed transparency in all matters that would shape public policy.
Unless you are asserting that Private Citizen Palin giving a speech at a Motivation Seminar is equal to the duly elected President of the United States, fulfilling the promise he made to the people who voted for him, I don't understand why you've even attempted to make this assocation between the two.
Obama lied...Palin is right to hold him accountable.
Congress should tax her and all republicans 100%. Just because she is not an elected official and has never promised transparency, Which I don't think I even know what that means when you are a private citizen, It is no excuse. I don't think you will get much argument from us that First amendment rights should never be allowed to the individual because the individual can never be trusted to do the right thing.
Sarah Palin is a public figure, whether you like her or not. She is of interest to the general public and, like all public figures, must sacrifise some privacy to the press. The press are always allowed into public events. If she wants privacy, she should remain home.
palin is just a zionist tool just like obama except she is on the zionist neo con team and obama is on the zionist marxist team, same crap diffrent pile.
Palin is seriously considering running for president. She said so herself. Candidates or pre candidates keep their speeches open so that the people can see how qualified they are. The governor of Minnesota is out there speaking too and is a pre candidate. He is open to the press even though Sarah ranks higher than him in likely candidate for president in polls. In a free democracy the people need to hear the candidates that are in the "run" so that they can evaluate them. Evaluation is what Sarah does not want. She wants us to accept her without question. She wants to hide all her faults as much as possible. This is not good for a democracy even if she is free to do it. We need to know what she stands for and how she thinks before we choose a candidate. She intends to hide as much as she can and hopes to slide into the candidate for president in the dark of night on her rabid fans adoration. As free Americans we need to demand she stand in the light and be evaluated.
Get off your lazy butt and buy the ticket...go see her speak...take notes and report what she says. None of these events are closed to the public
Nobody is keeping you from attending and hearing her speak.
Interesting that you speak of Obama's so called lies. Have you looked in to Palin's past at all Leigh? You need to. Especially before defending her. You are only embarrassing yourself.
Good job trying to link Palin with the same disgusting 'back room deal, lying, corrupt political promise breaking crap that Obama has been up to'.
What kind of ignoramus do you think is going to buy that these are equivalent? Those 'ignoramuses' are already on board and need no 'evidence', the rest of us are on to this tactic.
Jennifer,
Have you looked into President Obama's past? It seems to me that we know a whole lot more about Sarah Palin than we did about Barak Obama when he was elected. Since Palin had not yet declared that she is running for office then she is in fact a private citizen and is free to speak to whomever she wishes. The press can attend the events if they wish. Leigh is right. I hardly think a few scribbled talking points on her hand deserves so much scrutiny even if she did reference President Obama's dependence on teleprompters. If President Obama prefers a teleprompter so what? Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs mockery is over the line, however. The office of the President should be professional and above petty behavior.
Jennifer from Alaska...my guess is you are really Jennifer from California...or New Jersey...or anywhere else but Alaska.
Sooooo easy to claim you are from Alaska isn't it?
Maybe I should call myself Leigh from Chicago and pretend to be an expert on Obama.
All that aside, however,...to what lies are you referring?
A3strand you're joking right?
People aren't usually "joking" when it comes to the truth. Truth is, every aspect of Palin's life has been examined, analyzed, over-analyzed, scrutinized and researched...while wittle pwesident Obama gets powdered and pampered like a wee little baby by the media.
Leigh says that we are not part of the media and now our feelings are hurt.
Talk to the Palm!
Speaking of the Palins, what's the latest from Levy Johnston?
Sarah Palin is the most vacant, ignorant, unethical and shamelessly self promoting demagogue we've seen in politics in modern memory. There is no argument in her favor, all any reasonably intelligent, objective person has to do is listen to a single interview with Caribou Barbie to realize she is nothing but an empty vessel and shameless attack dog. The fact that so many tea-bagger types think she's the second coming is more of an indictment on "the movement" than her. You people would vote for a pet rock if it just kept repeating the same old tired sound bites and slogans like Sarah - "freedom", "big gubmint", "death panels". You are a sorry lot.
Im from Alaska and I can't stand Sarah Palin! She's STUPID and I am glad she's not our govenor anymore, She's a money hungry spotlighter, and doesn't give a damn about anyone but herself and her family. (by the way she's from Idaho originally), not born in Alaska.
Can conservatives just stop making excuses for this loser? She's a retarded, talking point spewing dolt. You wanna back her for President? Be my guest. That would be a dream come true for Dems. Maybe if tea baggers would back someone with some credibility they might actually be taken seriously and not looked upon as the lunatics that they seem to be.
Indy, Feinstein isn't going around the country making huge money for criticizing people for lack of transparency and/or using teleprompters. The point is she is a hypocrite and a walking contradiction. So spare us your version of the truth. I think everyone has had enough of it.
Sarah Palin is a mega-celebrity superstar who has creative control over her products. Tickets were available to her appearances in Florida. Why should lamestream media hacks get free passes? The are going to "report" their own fantasise & prejudices about Sarah, anyway. Who needs them?
Right! Sarah's not a retarded, stupid, fake, hypocritical, talking point ditto head, moron, idiot, simpleton, dimwit, bird brain, ignoramus, imbecile, nitwit, oaf, lunkhead, numskull bimbo!! How dare they! Stupid lame stream media! Palin for President! Freedom Fries all around!!!
She's terrrific! I hope she runs in 2012. She is the true face of Republican Party.
Paul,
Lucky for democrats, they have someone to make fun of so they don't have to spend so much time defending the incompetent loser they've got in the white house.
Get a frickin life Witt. To compare Obama and his broken promises of transparency to Palin who is a private citizen is so over the top it is proof of your mental disorder.
Obama is hiding POLICY from the American people. Palin has zero obligation to us.
Geeluv is typical of the Alinsky types. All insults and ZERO credible facts to back up his hate speech.
I have YET to read ANY of these imbeciles post ANY facts to back up their hateful rhetoric. Can any of you argue against her policies or anything she has done in Alaska while Gov or while she was on the Energy board?
I'll wait!
Palin is a celebrity talking head. She's going to make a lot of money and she's going to be around for awhile because the media courts her. She's no more "real" than (and rapidly becoming just as "elite" as) any politician, but she's pretty. She's really good at delivering mocking comments and quoting bumper sticker platforms with a smile and a wink, and her adoring fans fall over themselves to explain away all her inconsistencies and to give her attributes (intelligence, experience) that she has yet to demonstrate for herself. Yes, she's an influence, although WHY is a mystery. If Obama stands for hope and change - two things she's recently mocked quite publicaly - what does she stand for?? Apathy and status quo? Hopelessness and moving backwards? Sarah Palin is very, very good at being negative and being a victim. Who is proud of the influence she's had at stalling health care reform? Why does anyone think she is what this country needs right now?
"Why does anyone think she is what this country needs right now?"
She has nice hair.
She can "dribble down court and keep her eye on the basket".
She speaks plainly from the heart and palm.
She has a beautiful palm.
There are no more than 159 skeletons in her closet.
She is not afraid to move on from a job that sucks.
She will return expensive things after using them to save money.
Did I mention she has nice hair?
"The press can attend the events if they wish."
Um, no - that's the point of the article: The press is banned from the speech.
And for those who wook "they can buy tickets," besides the money crunch afflicting most media these days, there's the simple fact that IF they simply bought tickets, they would not be permitted to record video or audio or, most likely, even scribble notes in a reporter's notebook.
"wook" = "woof" - I need more coffee!
Geeluv Are you wearing a Che T-shirt? You are the very definition of a demagog. You are straight out of the smear chamber. Saul Alinsky would be so proud.
Paul: You said, Right! Sarah's not a retarded, stupid, fake, hypocritical, talking point ditto head, moron, idiot, simpleton, dimwit, bird brain, ignoramus, imbecile, nitwit, oaf, lunkhead, numskull...
Not anymore than you are!
klatoo = Glenn Beck chalkboard patriot.
Che, Progressives, state run mainstream media, ACORN, Saul Alinsky, FEMA camps Oligarhy.
You have learned much in the past year my son. Soon you will be ready to move to the compound in Utah.
Sick & Twisted,
You prove our point daily, ridicule w/o substance. Good job!
Look, it's easy. I just have to listen to 15 minutes of Beck And Hannity each day and I have an complete run down of "your thoughts". Nothing too complicated, lots of great catch phrases and plenty of the chalkboard patriotism that we all love!
STF! You must not watch Glenn Beck! Hannity maybe but only if Alan Colmes is there as counter-point.
You have learned much and mastered the trueness of our path. To hear such hate and hopeless dribble that spews from that slime would be a sell-out to our glorious cause.
You know what? If you zoom in on the words on Sarah's palm, you'll see that it's Todd's handwriting.
Can the hypocritical conservative wing nuts please stop saying that progressives or those on the left do nothing but ridicule w/o providing any facts. It annoying. You guys do your fair share of name calling so spare me the holier than thou crap. And it doesn't matter if we provide facts. You refute, deny or make up ridiculous excuses for every stupid thing Republicans do. Look at Palin. Caught, ink in hand, after criticizing the President for using a teleprompter and yet no one has the guts to call a spade a spade and say she screwed up. It's just too hard for you.
As a matter of fact I challenge any of you wing nuts to site ONE mistake mad by a Republican. It will never happen. Because you guys are so intrenched in your insane beliefs that you can't be reasonable any more. You pick party over country every time and it makes me sick.
this country depends on two political parties putting their best and brightest. one party is no longer doing so.
I am an independent who has voted for both republicans and democrats.
you people need to wake up. if Sarah Palin had Madeline Albrithts head on her, we would not be talking about her and she would not be in the news every day.
what does that tell you.
i dont especially like some of what Obama is doing. But i tell you, I will not vote for a stupid idiot, and I wont sit on my hands either, if i see a stupid idiot up for POTUS, I will vote for the smartest person available.
If Sarah Palin is the smartest candidate the GOP can come up with, you can be sure you will lose the 2012 election.
Myself and many independents dont know who we will vote for yet. One thing we do know.....it won't be an idiot who gets my vote.
wake up and wise up.
Paul,
First you use every lame leftwing name to ridicule, then you slam us for pointing out that 'ridicule' is what you do!
If you've read comments on these posts for more than 2 minutes you have seen plenty of 'conservatives criticize republicans'. But hardly any lefties criticizing dems. That is just a statistical fact. (I just criticized McCain this morning, saying that I didn't think Palin's help would save him).
I don't see that writing a few words as a reminder (whether it's on a note card or a hand) is the same thing as reading 'every word' of a speech or a comment. This seems to be common sense to me, but you guys throw common sense out the window when it comes to politics!!!
Your illogical arguments are only topped by your arrogance and denial!!!
Kevin,
I wish you'd tell us what Obama's done since in office that is 'smart'. His policies don't even fly with his own party, his support for a candidate has been poison, his polls are tanking, his words are no longer believed. He makes a fool of himself when he's off the prompter...and when he's on he's forgotten and read words meant for others.
He's a genius!!!
After a year as governer, Palin was very popular!
Please explain your logic!
Kevin, The Palin followers won't listen to you. You've just called Palin stupid. The engine batteries in every trailer home across the country will be working overtime tonight keeping the power and the lights on so these patriots can think of some excuses to post in Sarah's defense on those internets.
Paul,
We're not going to 'stop saying this' and 'stop saying that' even is you say 'please'!
We'll say what we think is true, just like you do. If your heart can't take it, just leave the internet along and listen to Katie. It will save you alot of anxiety.
Paul,
We also won't listen to people saying 'Obama is smart' with no evidence to support it.
Why are his college transcripts are a 'secret'.
We know Biden is a genius, but how do we know Obama is smart?
Please explain it to us. The 'trailer trash' in America want to know!
Gigi, Obama was President of the Harvard Law Review. If you think that's an easy thing to accomplish you should go back into your trailer, find the nearest grease covered frying pan and bash yourself off the head with it. He also was prpfessor of law and senior lecturer of law at Chicago University. But that's not good enough. You need his transcripts. After that you'll need to see his math and Social Studies grades from Junior High. I don't remember this much interest in any other Presidents grades before. Were you this curous with Bush? Let me guess. You're going to say that you were.
Come on Paul, next you'll be saying that he actually knows how many states there are. Which I suppose then would then lead to him possibly having taught Constitutional Law. Or that he didn't use tiny invisible teleprompters at the GOP caucus meeting when he completely dominated his opposition and now they won't let him near a group of Republicans if there is a camera or microphone in sight.
Paul,
Let me guess, Paul; Bush's intelligence will be based on his performance in office.
Obama's intelligence will not????
Why am I not surprised.
If he does stupid things and says stupid things, he's still a genius! We know!!!!
Sick & Twisted,
Yes, and when he was off teleprompter he said he wasn't an ideologue--we believe that one.
He lectured them about fiscal responsibility! What a hypocrite1
He admitted that we wouldn't necessarily be able to keep the health care plan we wanted or our doctor after all! Ooops!
His polls are still plummeting since the GOP incident you're so proud of.
Getting back to Palin (the subject of this article). My guess is no cameras are allowed for fear of another embarrassing "palm" incident and also so she can spew fiction in order to placate the fools who pay $ to hear without concern of any fact checking. Now, with that said, I would be doing the exact same thing she is: bailing out of her political office so she can rake in the big bucks as a celebrity. She has used and is still gearing up for even bigger use of the rubes that pay this "Joe the Plumber" in a skirt to tell them what they want to hear. At least Scott Brown is still in office while cashing in with his new book. Palin is just a hustler at this point grabbing cash wherever, whenever, and however she can. If you want to change things donate to the Republican party and not this flim flam artist.
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