May 21, 2010 in Idaho

Palin bashes media, stumps for Ward in Boise

Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review

Tags:2010 electionIdaho electionsIdaho politics

Chris Butler photo

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Idaho GOP congressional candidate Vaughn Ward wave to the crowd during a rally for Ward at Qwest Arena on Friday, May 21, 2010, in Boise.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)

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BOISE – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had harsh words for the “lamestream media” and the liberal left as she gave an enthusiastic speech rallying voters for GOP congressional candidate Vaughn Ward in Boise on Friday.

“I like those bumper stickers that say, ‘You can keep the change,’” Palin told a crowd of between 1,500 and 2,000 at the Qwest Arena in downtown Boise.

Palin joked that she was giving the speech in “borrowed clothes, again,” a reference to the flap over clothes purchased for her when she was the GOP vice presidential candidate.

In this case, her luggage didn’t show up after she and her family flew all night to make it to the Boise gig, leaving her in sweats an hour before the rally. A Ward campaign volunteer purchased an outfit from a Boise shop in short order, and Palin wrote the volunteer a check.

Ward, who headed the McCain-Palin presidential campaign in Nevada for five months in 2008, is facing state Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, in Idaho’s primary election on Tuesday for a chance to challenge freshman Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick.

Although he’s been viewed as the front-runner, with high-profile endorsements from a number of top GOP elected officials, a big lead in fundraising and a nine-month jump on Labrador in campaigning, Ward’s campaign has suffered in recent weeks from a string of embarrassing revelations. Those have ranged from his violating military regulations with a campaign ad, to being late paying his property taxes, to cribbing position statements from other candidates. Another was his failure to vote in the 2008 general election, despite being on the staff of the McCain-Palin campaign; Ward said he was too busy with the campaign to return to Idaho to vote.

Palin suggested Ward could be muddied as he seeks a seat in Congress. “The left and some of the lamestream media, they can really play dirty sometimes, trust me on this one, I know this one,” Palin declared. “The things that they can do could be quite hurtful, so now more than ever Vaughn’s going to need your support.”

She said, “They see Vaughn as a threat. … They’re afraid of him because a vote for Vaughn is that vote to take the gavel away from the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda.”

Palin shared folksy stories about her Idaho roots, quipped about Googling redneck jokes, and aimed her ire at the current Democratic administration and Congress.

She mentioned Minnick, whose “blue dog” conservative voting record in Congress helped gain him the only Democratic endorsement from the national Tea Party Express group. Said Palin, to hoots and applause, “Walt, it’s who you’re hanging with, man.”

She also focused on Ward’s military record; he’s a decorated veteran of the Iraq war and a Marine reservist.

“Vaughn has been courageous enough to serve our country and fight for you, fight for all Americans,” Palin said. “Those are the qualities we need in leaders today who like Vaughn can go to Washington and take back a majority for common-sense conservatives, who understand the Constitution, and they understand that freedom isn’t free, freedom is a God-given right and is worth fighting for.”

Of the crowd in the arena for the rally, about half were in floor seats that cost $10 a head, while the others filled free seats on risers along the side. Money raised by the event, including $250 tickets to a VIP reception beforehand and $1,000 apiece for those who wanted their photos taken with Palin – at least 50 lined up for the privilege – went to the Ward campaign. The campaign said Palin didn’t charge a speaking fee and instead made a donation to the campaign; the $10 tickets went to cover the cost of the event.

“She didn’t benefit from coming here,” Ward said after the rally. “She benefited from trying to help out a candidate she believes in.”

Palin endorsed Ward on March 30, along with two other veterans who are seeking congressional seats in Florida and Illinois. In August, Palin’s father and father-in-law came to Idaho to stump for Ward.

Palin, an Idaho native, graduated from the University of Idaho.

45 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

spokanada on May 21 at 11:53 a.m.
wow, 1500 people! I thought I read that Sarah Palin was there? Seems like a small crowd.
Scoutster on May 21 at 12:22 p.m.
Shill, Baby, Shill.
bdr on May 21 at 12:23 p.m.
SHE JUST KEEPS GETTING WEIRDER AND WEIRDER AND ENDORSING (UN-VOTEABLE TRASH RAND PAUL).
OPEN LID ON FILE 13………AND DUMP THE TRASH.
REPUBLICANS AND THEIR FRACTION PARTY ARE DONE.
(WHIG PARTY IS WHERE THEY CAME FROM) AND THE DUMPSTER IS WHERE THEIR HEADING TO.
GreenFriendly on May 21 at 12:27 p.m.
“She called Ward “the real thing,” saying he’s pro-gun and pro-life.”
How messed up in the head to you have to be to have those kind of morals. Seems a bit contradicting.
spokanada on May 21 at 12:30 p.m.
does pro-life mean being against capital punishment?
spokanada on May 21 at 12:39 p.m.
I heard that Obama is going to rename the gulf “Lake Palin”
mikeln on May 21 at 12:57 p.m.
Why would anyone want this stupid, stupid, stupid person on their side.
spokanecougar on May 21 at 1:14 p.m.
Man she is so dumb and stupid. Hows that whole “Drill baby drill” thing working out for you? Damn she is dumb and gets even dumber, scarier and more radical every passing day.
eagleproducer on May 21 at 1:14 p.m.
Of course these new brand of tea party Repubs want the mid-term election to be about the completely innocuous term “values.” They are hoping that will hide their complete lack of policy other than shrinking government so that it can be drowned in a bath tub.
It is nice to see people who put “values” at the head of their political priorities are willing to shell out a thousand bucks for a photop with Saracuda.
Why doesn’t she just take the next inevitable step into porn and get it over with?
johnclarke on May 21 at 1:20 p.m.
crowd of “about 1500” eh ? Citation needed.
PhiltheBibliophil on May 21 at 1:29 p.m.
Wow, 10 posters so far and nobody agreeing how wonderful she is. And this close to Idaho no less! I see her daughter is now on the lecture circuit demanding fees of $10K up. Boy this family is milking the minions of what little cash we have left on a daily basis! And its really lame entertainment! Can we please see Saint Sarah’s College Transcripts to see that she actually graduated from Moscow U after quitting all the colleges she quit at!
horse_feathers on May 21 at 1:52 p.m.
The evidence of her success will be at the ballet box of whoever she endorses and right now I thinks she is out doing Obama.
SugarShane on May 21 at 2:14 p.m.
OMG say it aint so horse feathers! Palin is out doing Obama?
I thought she just said she was all about values.
nslopeofw on May 21 at 2:21 p.m.
All ten of the extremely jealous liberals in the PNW commented on here. Watch the elections this year, and see just how nutty you all sound. Notice there were 1500 people at her rally, not the couple of hundred the MSM normally “reports”.
Personally, I agree with a lot she has to say. What i don’t like is the fact that she can’t separate her religion from her politics. But even with that fault, she is better than most in the government now.
flutieflakes on May 21 at 2:41 p.m.
Republicans defining “values” for the rest of us?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/seattlefan68/Surprise.gif
mikeln on May 21 at 3:03 p.m.
I stand by my stupid person remark. If this is some of the best the republicans have to offer and people are gullible enough to put these kind of idiots at the helm, we will need more than some god to save us.
PhiltheBibliophil on May 21 at 3:16 p.m.
If the posters here are any indication. Dems and Obama by a Landslide and this is “Conservative” Spokane! Not!
misjustice on May 21 at 4:10 p.m.
The Quitter on Twitter endorses the Plagerist Ward! What a perfect pair! And the newest poster boy of the Teagagger Party is self-destructing as we post; Rand (y) Paul has twisted himself into a pretzel in an attempt to clarify his stance on the Civil Rights Act. REALLY, are these alleged people the BEST that the Teagaggers can do?? LMFAO! ; )
soccermomsusie on May 21 at 5:06 p.m.
Sarah, you are the best! I supported President Bush for his 8 glorious years and he will be given a second chance this November when we take it back!
The tea party will show the world that we are ready to go back to leadership that acts on its gut, listens to the voices in its head (the voices are called God), lets corporations do whatever they want (God’s will), starts wars when we feel like (with no apologies to anyone), eavesdrop on terrorists without stupid court orders.
Sure this all costs money, but these are the End Times, we can spend whatever we want, and we will - just not on socialist medicine and Obamascare.
Obama thinks he is really Kenyan Kool trying to undo all the advancements President Bush made. Some people call those advancements “a mess.” I call it “God’s will.” And Barry O’Kenyan Bamalama better not mess with God’s will and his instruments/tools George W. Bush and Sarah Palin.
See you at the next tea party everyone. No Earl Gay Tea this time, though.
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
Cougardave on May 21 at 5:16 p.m.
Sarah makes more sense than most of em!
Diana on May 21 at 5:45 p.m.
“listens to the voices in its head (the voices are called God)”. ROFL!
crikey on May 21 at 6:17 p.m.
Oh yeah, and all you left-wingnuts are such upstanding and moral critters that honesty in any form sends you into diatribes like this? You sure are easily spooked by the opposition…and with VERY good reason.
mtngardener on May 21 at 6:58 p.m.
Well there are more than 10 “liberals” in PNW and most of us are not jealous. We just can’t quite believe the lack of deep thinking evidenced by Palin and some of the Tea Partiers as well as their dimished knowledge of history. I’m an Idaho voter and I’ve read statements from some of these people saying we need to take back the land our governors in Idaho gave away to the feds. The only states that could make that kind of statement are the original 13. All the states which started as territories belonged to the federal government (well after we took it away from the Indians). The feds created our state. That is only one example.
mikeln on May 21 at 7:08 p.m.
Bush and his ilk sold us and our children to China for a pot full of gold. They are traitors, through and through, and should be held accountable and hung for the bastards they are. If you people would open your closed minds for just a second you could see the damage these crooked men did to our once great country. The present government is not much better, but at least they are not the brazen traitors the last group of so called leaders were. Our jobs are gone, our wages keep most of us liveing paycheck to paycheck, just look at all the pay day loan places around. Our banks are full of people that think they are worth more money then they are. The plumber that works on your water system is worth more for one days work then all of the bankers put together. The people at the top, who call themselves republicans are nothing more than a bunch of faciast pigs that have used fear to push their agenda. To follow them in their quest to destroy our country is just plain foolishness.
Scoutster on May 21 at 7:15 p.m.
All you conservatives and tea partiers who think ALL of us who are liberal are against Palin, please think again!
I LOVE that she and the tea partiers are out there. I think its great. And if Sarah and Beck and the others have found a 21st century method of selling their books and shows, let ‘em loose! (PT Barnum said it best: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”)
I say the more the mainstream conservative media plays up these guys, the better it is for progressive causes.
Political conservatism is always an evolutionary dead end when it gets down to actually solving problems “today”. Ask “Read my lips, no new taxes” H.W. Bush, or “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” George Wallace. And how bout that 3/5th of a person in the original Constitution?
The louder they yell, the sillier they sound. So, please, keep screaming!
crader72 on May 21 at 7:29 p.m.
For someone who spends most of her waking minutes trying to be talked about by the media, she sure spends a lot of time whining about it. Passive-aggressive much? Her 15 minutes expired about 16 months ago.
Diana on May 21 at 7:47 p.m.
Crikey, I’m definitely spooked by the opposition. Just not in the way you think. Whatever comforts you…
http://republicanoffenders.com/
nslopeofw on May 21 at 9:44 p.m.
If you palin haters really knew the truth, not the lies fed to you by MSM and tina fey, you might actually like her. problem is, liberals have become “the party of hate and jealousy”. Hate for anyone who doesn’t think like you, and jealousy towards anyone who is successful.
misjustice on May 21 at 10:22 p.m.
The Quitter on Twitter is the darlin’ of the Teagagger because she talks to them in terms they can understand; just as boy george did, as if they are 5th graders…
And with her bein’ so smart and all, and the rest of us just bein’ jealous and all, sure that most ‘Mericans want this ditz to really have some political power, especially since she QUIT her last office before her term was up…
Here’s a flash back to Ms. Palin from the 2008 campaign;
“It’s one of the most cringe-worthy moments in recent American political history:
“Do you believe in the Bush Doctrine?”
The awkward pause, then the smug, patronizing comeback.
“In what respect, Charlie?”
Charlie Gibson, taken aback, perhaps realizing that this is The Moment for which he’ll be known for the rest of his career.
“The Bush — w-w-well, what do you interpret it to be?”
And then the painful, filibustering non-answer that I can hardly bear to watch without feeling embarrassed for Sarah Palin, John McCain, and this great nation of ours.
I’m not saying that every American besides Governor Palin knows what the Bush Doctrine is. Hell, I wasn’t sure I knew what it was until Charlie Gibson confirmed it for me. But then again, I’m not a Republican governor who’s running for national office.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-sachs/sarah-palin-the-bush-doct_b_125852.html
Ah, Ms. Palin; the gift that keeps on giving…
Dazzeetrader11 on May 21 at 10:55 p.m.
Msjustice said “The Quitter on Twitter endorses the Plagerist Ward”…<–”plagiarist” is the word….once again use that dicitonary. <sigh>….
Sarah won’t be in any office. She seems to be a genuinely good person but she speaks poorly and speaks to emotions. Conservatives do need some new ideas and they’ll have their day. First thing first though….get rid of thes flaming socialists like Obama whose attempts at bankrupting the US are severe and ongoing.
Best to hope for is to stop these lib dems in November then it’ll take some time to reverse or enact legislation to defrock the bills passed. One thing is certain, if the Republicans get smug and figure their struggle is over, they will lose the country for a long time.
Dr Paul didn’t say anything wrong, he just didn’t say what Rachel Madcow wanted…. so she attacked which was her dispostion at the outset. He’s clarified that he’s all for civil rights….and supports the Civil Rights Act. Not enough apparently. As with many Conservatives, he just cannot abide by the government telling people what o do, how to live and then stealing money in higher tax rates to punish them for convervative beliefs. Tyranny is to be fought at every turn. Obama attacks Arizona and now Oklahoma because of their positions on illegals. Their position is theirs…and Obama has no business buying latin votes by punishing legal voting practices. I hope it’s occurred to many of you that Obama promised to stop the two wars, close gitmo, etc but has done nothing…except tell Holder to be sure terrorist be mirandized so they receive US citizen protections. What a crock of garbage!
misjustice on May 22 at 1:12 p.m.
Lazee Dazee and her broken record rant….yawn!
Doesn’t matter what the story is about, her comments are always the same…yawn!
Obama is a socialist, Obama is a Maoist, Obama is a Communist, Obama is trying to “buy” Latino votes, Obama is scary, Obama is a Nazi, Obama = tyranny, Obama is a showhorse, Obama is________ fill in the blank…yawn…yawn…yawn…Boring, and not very original…but what else can be expected from Becker Heads???
misjustice on May 22 at 2:20 p.m.
Whatever happened to the Quitter on Twitter’s little show on Faux Noose, “Real American Stories”? And by having her own show doesn’t that make her a part of the ‘lame stream’ media that she so eloquently decries? LMFAO!
eagleproducer on May 23 at 7:55 a.m.
LIke I’ve said before, the tea partiers are the best thing ever that happened to progressive causes.
I almost think ACORN is behind their machinations!
What say you, Dazee?
nslopeofw on May 23 at 3:37 p.m.
You are right, Spokentucky, as the liberals lose more and more seats, you will be proven right more and more. When this 4 years of spending are up, history will remember Obama for two things. 1) The first African American president, and 2) the first president to take an active role in destroying the American way of life.
Sarah Palin reflects the country’s drive away from anything Obama. Her popularity will not go away because the liberals keep beating her down. There is too much info out there showing Obama and his cronies are career politicians, with nothing on their minds except keeping themselves in money and power. This can be said of past presidents as well, just not in the light that is being shown now.
“I will broadcast the health care debate on C-SPAN, so you can see who the people are that bow to special interests”.
“I will shut down Guantanamo Bay”
“I will get us out of Iraq”
“I will not have any lobbyists in my government”
“It will be a transparent government”
“I will not raise taxes for the middle class” (of course, this is based in HIS interpretation of middle class)
“I will lower the national debt in my first year in office”
Anything here true? Anything here more of a “misspeak” that what Sarah has said?
nslopeofw on May 23 at 3:43 p.m.
Misjustice-
Her show is about Alaska, and the way of life up there. It will be shown, don’t worry. And, if it isn’t shown, oh, well, she has already been paid. That will be Discovery’s choice. I bet if it is on, it will be a big hit. There will be a bunch of the liberal media teaparty haters trashing it, and their pittance of a following cheering them on, but in the end, real Americans will still watch it and enjoy it. I say real American’s, because, real Americans don’t hate the other American’s who believe differently than they do.
nslopeofw on May 23 at 3:48 p.m.
Misjustice-
Lazee Dazee? Quitter on twitter? Name calling is so mature. I guess your kind of right when you say “boy george” and the 5th graders, its just that you got all of the names wrong in reference to the party that has to act like 5th graders to get their point across.
WOW, the party of maturity.
misjustice on May 23 at 4:39 p.m.
When Republican’ts stop using their slang adjectives for Progressives and the Democratic Party, I’ll refer to them as Conservatives and Republicans but until then I’ll amuse myself with the nicknames that I prefer; turn around is fair play, especially in politics…
And I wasn’t refering to the Dipstick in Lipstick’s show on the Discovery channel; I was refering to her short lived show on Faux Noose…as I recall it only ran once, with retread interviews on Toby Keith and a rapper (whose name escapes me) both of which denied giving permission for their names/likenesses to be used…
Go ahead and worship at the church of Palin; it will be for naught, for the worshipers at least. Palin will take your money, and if she ever gets into politics again she will likely quit when the going gets tough…her track record speaks for itself…
NorthIdahoLady on May 23 at 6:10 p.m.
I’m quite surprised the turnout was so poor. Perhaps it has something to do with the *real* Tea Partiers (those who *don’t* want to do away with the separation between Christianity & State) being absolutely disgusted with her endorsement of Ward? That’s what I heard, anyway: “traitor Sarah” is another of her new nicknames by the real Tea Partiers.
chelsita on May 24 at 10:11 a.m.
God, I love America. You can get the best education in the world here, or completely forgoe one. Your choice. An education is a key to the world, but ignorance is bliss.
Whatever you believe and support in America, just vote. You owe your country and fellow citizens at least that much.
lsjogren on May 25 at 6:07 a.m.
Why doesn’t Minnick just switch to the Republican Party and avoid all this nonsense.
I mean, really the only thing conservatives could object to about Minnick is that his vote helps enable Pelosi to remain Speaker of the House.
I can’t imagine that Minnick condones Pelosi being Speaker.
If he doesn’t want to switch parties, how about this instead? Blue Dog Democrats like Minnick commit to supporting a moderate Democrat to replace Pelosi as Speaker in the next session, assuming the Democrats still have a majority.
The Blue Dogs hold the balance of power in the House anyway, why not get rid of Pelosi who is an anachronism and a major liability to the Democratic Party.
lsjogren on May 25 at 6:09 a.m.
“Bush and his ilk sold us and our children to China for a pot full of gold.”
Agree, so long as you acknowledge that “Bush’s ilk” includes Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
lsjogren on May 25 at 6:12 a.m.
By the way, I hope conservatives wake up pretty soon and recognize Palin is a fraud through and through. She’s got neocons in charge of formulating her policies, one of which by the way is to support amnesty for illegal aliens, something tea partiers supposedly are against.
It shows that the tea party movement is pretty confused about what it stands for when it shows a lot of enthusiasm for a phony conservative like Palin.
nslopeofw on May 25 at 4:17 p.m.
Isjorgen-
Most republicans, conservatives, and blue dogs, such as myself, hope one day you will wake up and see Obama for a much worse fraud that Palin will ever be. He has FAILED to do 90% of what he claimed he’d do on the campaign trail, yet gets a free ride from your crowd, all the while, you crowd slams someone who is no longer holding political office. Imagine if you applied the same standards to the president that you do to Palin. If you and MSM did that, democrat’s would be trying to impeach Obama, now.
We “non-progressive”, non “liberal” rest of the country have to live under a different set of standards that you and your MSM friends have set.. You only give the free ride to the uber-libs and Obama.
In AK, Sarah stood up to the oil companies, and taxed the crap out of them. Obama takes their political contributions, and gives them control, yet you slam Palin. Sounds like you follow the uber-lib party line, and don’t really care what reality is.
misjustice on May 28 at 12:14 a.m.
Oh, yea, Palin who stands up…for feeding at the public trough.
“A week ago, Palin backed a candidate for Senate in Washington state, Clint Didier, a former professional football player who also owns a farm and has railed against excessive government spending.
But at the same time Palin was calling Didier “a commonsense constitutional conservative [who] will help put our country on the right track,” it was revealed that he took at least $140,000 in federal farm subsidies. If having his hand out seems inconsistent with his bumper-sticker politics, it follows a familiar pattern of the Palin brand. In Idaho, Ward, the Palin candidate, also blasted government intervention in the private sector, even though his wife, the family breadwinner, earns her living through a mess kept alive by Federal bailouts — Fannie Mae.”
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/the-palin-brand/?ref=opinion&ref=opinion
Talk about a distracted disconnect from reality, nslo…Palin is that, in spades…as are the pols she stumps for…
mikeln on May 28 at 11:24 a.m.
I agree, they all sold us out for treasure. If Obama was a real leader, not just a shill for corporate america, he would be working to get their plunder back. Nice move by Haliburton, though, stealing our money and running off to Dubai….