- Title: USA: Sarah Palin attends Republican Rally in Orange County California
- Date: 17th October 2010
- Summary: ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 16, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ATTENDEES WALKING INTO REPUBLICAN PARTY RALLY VARIOUS OF REPUBLICAN MERCHANDISE BEING SOLD (SOUNDBITE) (English) RON AMBURGY SAYING: "I'm here to see Sarah Palin" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DONNA MEISENHOLDER SAYING: "Sarah Palin" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID BUSK SAYING: "Sarah Palin" (SOUNDBITE) (English) CECILIA RODRIGUEZ SAYING: "Sarah Palin" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAT SAYING: "I'm excited to see Sarah Palin." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAREN BIRO SAYING: "She's gorgeous, she's smart, she holds such values, such integrity, she's such an amazing woman." (SOUNDBITE) (English) JANET TRACY SAYING: "I love the fact that the left hates her so much." PALIN WALKING TO STAGE AND GREETING CROWD CROWD PALIN ON STAGE CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (English) SARAH PALIN SAYING "Here's a question for you: What do you think that we should do with a Nancy Pelosi, a congress that, what should we do with these folks who spent more than 7 trillion dollars just in the past two years, incurring enormous, unsustainable, immoral debt? And they did all that and yet they couldn't even muster the effort, I guess, to pass a budget. They couldn't lift a finger to stop the biggest tax increase in U.S. history that's going to slam us to the mat come January 1, this tax increase that's going to force so many of our small businesses to tap out, you know. They were able to accomplish that and these politicians though who are supposed to be working for you, you are their employers, what do you do with employees like that, who aren't doing the job? You fire them." PALIN ON STAGE AND CROWD MEDIA COVERING EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SARAH PALIN SAYING "We ask for leaders with servants' hearts and ears to hear what the people are asking them to do for us, and we're not asking for much from them. We're asking for leaders who won't mortgage our kids' future with trillions more in debt, and leaders who understand that raising federal taxes in a time of economic woe is a recipe for disaster, it's a recipe for bankruptcy of our country."
- Embargoed: 1st November 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1QR3OBUXZ5KOG5CTSBSHPN3Y0
- Story Text: Several high profile members of the Republican party were on hand at a fundraising event in Southern California on Saturday (October 16), but no matter who was on stage, it was clear who the people were there to see.
"Sarah Palin," said Donna Meisenholder.
"Sarah Palin," said David Busk.
"Sarah Palin," said Donna Rodriguez.
"I'm here to see Sarah Palin," Ron Amburgy said.
"She's gorgeous, she's smart, she holds such values, such integrity, she's such an amazing woman," said Caren Biro.
The 2008 Republican Party Vice Presidential Candidate took to the stage at the gathering in the conservative-leaning Orange County to enthusiastic crowds less than three weeks before the decisive midterm elections in the United States, taking the opportunity to slam leaders in congress who she said have played a part in the economic woes of the nation.
"Here's a question for you: What do you think that we should do with a Nancy Pelosi, a congress that, what should we do with these folks who spent more than 7 trillion dollars just in the past two years, incurring enormous, unsustainable, immoral debt?" Palin asked the crowd. "You are their employers, what do you do with employees like that, who aren't doing the job? You fire them."
"We ask for leaders with servants' hearts and ears to hear what the people are asking them to do for us, and we're not asking for much from them. We're asking for leaders who won't mortgage our kids' future with trillions more in debt, and leaders who understand that raising federal taxes in a time of economic woe is a recipe for disaster, it's a recipe for bankruptcy of our country," she added.
The rally, held blocks away from Disneyland in Anaheim, was attended by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Van Tran, a popular Vietnamese congressional candidate from Orange County, and the conservative media personality Andrew Breitbart.
The Republican leaders in attendance aimed to drum up support in the region before election day and "race to the finish line," as they put it, on banners and signs.
Palin was the ultimate draw for those in attendance, and afterwards, many felt exhilarated to have been in the same room with her and to hear her speech.
"I just think she's a great American, and she's going out of her way to help the country, so I think she's great. She wants to get rid of Pelosi and Reid, and I'm all for that," said Debbie Swiontek
"I think she's basically here to fire up the base and get people excited and get them to turn out, and I thought she accomplished that and made a good presentation," John Sexton said.
"I've always enjoyed Sarah Palin ever since the first time I saw her on a stage, and she's the essence of California, she's the essence of Alaska, she's the essence of the United States people. She is who we are," Rita Sandor said.
Palin did not spend much time speaking about specific candidates, and the two highest profile candidates in the state, Meg Whitman, who is running for governor, and Carly Fiorina, in the race for a seat in the senate, were absent from the rally, citing scheduling conflicts.
Although Sarah Palin remains hugely popular within her base, a recent Field Poll cited that 58 percent of registered voters in California hold a negative view of her, and that a Palin endorsement could likely hurt a candidate more than help.
Still, Palin's unpopularity with Democrats and the left wing does not upset some of her followers.
"I love the fact that the left hates her so much," Janet Tracy said.
For fans of Palin who want to look inside her life, the chance is near -- cable channel TLC is airing an eight-part series on the polarizing Republican, widely thought to be weighing a run for president in 2012.
Palin's second book, "America by Heart," is expected to be published in late November after her 2009 best-seller "Going Rogue".
Palin's eldest daughter, 19-year-old Bristol, a single mother and paid speaker on the topic of abstinence before marriage, is currently a contestant on the popular TV show "Dancing with the Stars."
Bristol Palin's former boyfriend Levi Johnston is also working on his own upcoming TV show which chronicles his bid to be elected mayor of Wasilla, Alaska -- a post once held by Sarah Palin.
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" debuts on TLC on November 14. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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