Palin big hit in Omaha
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star
OMAHA — Thousands of Nebraska Republicans showered Sarah Palin with affection Sunday as the party’s newest star brought her vice presidential campaign to the state.
They gathered on short notice, lining up for hours to fill the 2,500-seat Music Hall in the downtown Civic Auditorium with several thousand more spilling into overflow arena space.
Palin quickly dismissed media pundits who, she said, were suggesting “the only reason she would go to Nebraska is because (Republicans) are scared.”
“I’m going to Nebraska because I want to go to Nebraska,” Palin told her boisterous supporters.
The Alaska governor, John McCain’s surprise choice for running mate, added a stop in Omaha to her Sunday schedule with barely 24 hours notice.
But she has become such a political phenomenon since her appearance at the Republican national convention in September that scant preparation time didn’t matter.
People were waiting in line Sunday morning 10 hours before her evening appearance. A line snaked through downtown Omaha for blocks Sunday afternoon waiting for the auditorium doors to open.
Standing on a stage filled with campaign workers and supporters at 7:30 p.m., Palin joyfully accepted a couple of University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey shirts with a team name that she said “has a nice ring to it.”
The self-styled political maverick and hockey mom liked the message: “UNO Maverick.”
Palin delivered her standard campaign pitch of lower taxes, job creation, energy independence and determination to achieve victory in Iraq.
McCain, she said, “isn’t afraid to use the word victory” when he talks about the war in Iraq.
“It sure would be nice if just once (Obama) would say he wants America to win.”
U.S. military personnel are “fighting terrorism and protecting us and our democratic values,” Palin said.
“They’re fighting for the freedoms of those who were protesting when we drove up today.”
A small band of Obama supporters stood across the street from the auditorium all day, carrying signs and shouting Obama slogans.
The “phoniest claim” in this year’s presidential campaign is that Obama is “gonna cut your taxes,” Palin said.
McCain would provide “tax relief for all Americans,” she said.
Palin’s signature argument for energy independence, what she describes as “the all-of-the-above approach,” triggered chants of “Drill, Baby, Drill.”
Nebraska farmers “can tell you fuel costs can make the difference between turning a profit and losing a farm,” she said.
Palin somewhat altered her Saturday attack on Obama for “palling around with terrorists,” having cited his association with William Ayers, a former member of the Vietnam-era Weather Underground.
In Sunday’s remarks, she did not repeat those words, but referred to the Ayers association and continued to suggest Obama is “not a man who sees America as you and I do.”
Three hours before she spoke, Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson told a downtown news conference that Palin’s Saturday attack had moved the campaign “from the silly season to Swift Boat season.”
Look for more Republican efforts to “change the subject” from the economy and other challenges facing the country, Nelson said, including a likely revival of Pastor Jeremiah Wright’s controversial sermons in Obama’s former Chicago church.
Four years ago, Democratic nominee John Kerry was plagued by TV ads disparaging his performance as a Swift Boat commander in Vietnam.
Nelson said he believes Palin’s sudden trip to Omaha may have been prompted by concerns that Obama could win an electoral vote in red-state Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
“It tells me they know something,” he said.
Most of Nebraska’s Republican heavyweights, with the exception of Sen. Chuck Hagel, shared the stage with Palin.
Gov. Dave Heineman introduced her. Reps. Jeff Fortenberry, Lee Terry and Adrian Smith joined Senate nominee Mike Johanns in addressing the crowd.
Signs popped up everywhere.
“Joe Six Pack,” shouted one man’s sign, celebrating Palin’s appeal to working class voters.
“A Breath of Fresh Air,” another sign stated.
The crowd cheered Palin’s applause lines and booed references to Obama, Sen. Joe Biden and “the mainstream media.”
Palin joked that she purposely avoided answering some of Katie Couric’s questions during her much-discussed CBS interview “to give Tina Fey more material” for Saturday Night Live.
Fey’s latest imitation of Palin on NBC centered on her performance in last week’s vice presidential debate.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
Post Your Comment
Standards and RulesYour posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
While Republicans at the rally chanted DRILL BABY DRILL, she suddenly believes in "Energy independence," even though her home state of Alaska survives off of royalties obtained from Oil Companies.
...Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
She carries the standard of a party that has run up a TRILLION dollars in deficit spending and who claim to represent "conservative" values.
...Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
Palin came to Nebraska just because she loves Nebraska.
....Riiiiiiiiight. "
Immigration wrote on October 6, 2008 8:01 am:
Hey Juan wrote on October 6, 2008 8:01 am:
Sue F. wrote on October 6, 2008 8:07 am:
Cameron wrote on October 6, 2008 8:08 am:
joseph wrote on October 6, 2008 8:16 am:
you betcha "
Jeff wrote on October 6, 2008 8:25 am:
MarkyMark wrote on October 6, 2008 8:36 am:
ted wrote on October 6, 2008 9:01 am:
Not Fooled By Rhetoric wrote on October 6, 2008 9:01 am:
Hey Dr Juan wrote on October 6, 2008 9:03 am:
to all those cynics wrote on October 6, 2008 9:06 am:
wake up wrote on October 6, 2008 9:06 am:
if she is so smart why is she so afraid of the media? she's even afraid of doing the Bill Orielly show. Obama did it even though O'Rielly loves to bash the Democratic party.
Vote for the Repulicans and 'll see you in the unemployment line, watch more of our jobs go overseas with a McCain administration. "
JB wrote on October 6, 2008 9:49 am:
i agree wrote on October 6, 2008 9:58 am:
read his stance on ethanol www.ontheissues.org/2008/John_McCain_Free_Trade.htm "
the real mary wrote on October 6, 2008 10:25 am:
Hey JB wrote on October 6, 2008 10:27 am:
tired of it all wrote on October 6, 2008 10:44 am:
jo gale wrote on October 6, 2008 11:00 am:
what at you talking about? both Obama's came to Nebraska. but even if they didn't who cares? enjoy voting for the guy who has 7 houses, maybe you can live in one after he sends your job to china. "
T wrote on October 6, 2008 11:14 am:
Make up your own mind on the issues, don't let Rush Limbaugh or Rachel Maddow do it for you.
If you don't vote, get registered and do it OR don't complain! "
Ignignokt wrote on October 6, 2008 11:19 am:
Energy independence means having U.S. citizens rely on U.S. energy resources. Geography isn't my strongest subject, but as far as I know, Alaska is part of the United States. If any part of this is difficult to understand, then I don't know how else to explain it.
Barack Obama carries the standard of a party that wants to increase the deficit even more by making huge expenditures on national health care, and increase taxes nationwide (hurting our economy even more), all in the name of 'fiscal responsibility'. The 'change we can believe in' is also 'change we can't afford'.
Now I'm going to take a page out of your book...Michelle Obama (not a candidate for Pres or Veep) came to Nebraska just because she loves Nebraskans...Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. "
Dee wrote on October 6, 2008 11:20 am:
CS wrote on October 6, 2008 12:29 pm:
New to Lincoln wrote on October 6, 2008 12:56 pm:
It's a good thing Obama won't come to Nebraska, he would be run out of the state. "
eddie wrote on October 6, 2008 1:42 pm:
Good one wrote on October 6, 2008 1:43 pm:
I realize she was joking when she said it. However, the REAL joke is on those of you choosing to vote Repuglican. Why on earth any of you think that another four years of the Repuglican "help the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" mantra is a good thing is beyond me. Even if I were one of the rich (and I so am not!), I would be willing to pay a higher percentage in taxes than those who make less. Of course, with the current (and heaven forbid future) Repuglican way of thinking, I'll never find out what it's like to be one of the "rich." "
John wrote on October 6, 2008 1:56 pm:
tanker wrote on October 6, 2008 2:30 pm:
OBAMA Supporter wrote on October 6, 2008 2:31 pm:
She is not “middle class” her and her family makes almost $200,000 a year. So tell me is that middle class? So those of us who are making around $70,000 a year, that would be poverty in her book.
I would not classify her as a “role model.” She allowed her young teenage daughter to get pregnant. She is proud of her son for joining the military, just to stay out of prison for vandalizing school property. That is something to be proud of and not something we need to look up to her as a role model. She does not care about the population in her own home state of Alaska. So why would she care about those of us who “live in the lower 48.”
McCain/Palin campaign communication director came out this morning on GMA and said all they talk about 90% of the time is the economy. As far as I can tell all they talk about is how much they can smear one campaign over the other. I have not heard anything come out of Palin mouth about the economy. Oh, wait a minute that is probably because she will insert her foot in her mouth and tell something that McCain does not want the American people to know about what he is going to do to those of us who are scraping by paycheck to paycheck. He will halve to raise taxes to pay off the huge debt that Bush left. He will continue to spend money at an alarming rate.
Know your facts before you go vote in 4 weeks. I have read mine and continue to read them.
I am voting for the candidate that I feel that is looking out for all of the Americans not just the high earners in this country.
VOTE FOR OBAMA/BIDEN!!!!! "
Nina wrote on October 6, 2008 2:36 pm:
Obama supporter wrote on October 6, 2008 2:38 pm:
Her abrupt appearance on the national stage has been less than stellar, her negative accusations (questioning Obama on his associations) has been disappointing She would rather mudsling than spell out the Republican's plan to keep taxes low, help the economy, provide healthcare, boost America's global image, improve schools and protect the environment.. Her focus is not on the issues and the lack of commitment is frightening.
He performance at the debate was laughable. She completely avoided answering at least 10 questions. When she was coherent, it was clear she was spewing a memorized script. When does NOT screwing it up qualify for the ability for leadership?!
Her speech in Omaha, last night proved that she feels EVERYONE in Nebraska are idiots who are incapable of "fact-checking" her statements. I noticed she increased her "gosh darns", probably thinking we ALL speak that way??? Do we really think she is prepared to be President? Or even Vice President, I highly doubt, her Joe six pack mentality will be effective globally.
Anyone voting for Bush, I have two questions for you. One, name 10 successes of George Bush? Second, HOW (on major issues) has John McCain DIFFERED (based on his voting record) from Bush? "
airedale wrote on October 6, 2008 4:35 pm:
All the Joes that I know prefer 12-packs or kegs. "
dan quayle wrote on October 6, 2008 5:30 pm:
M wrote on October 6, 2008 7:16 pm:
$20 says she didn't even know Nebraska was a state before she was told she was going to show up here! "
Man oh man wrote on October 6, 2008 8:28 pm:
That would be tough on Nebraska's corn-growing backbone, dontcha think? You BETCHA! wink. "
MarkyMark wrote on October 7, 2008 8:48 am:
Faith A. White wrote on October 7, 2008 9:26 am:
the real mary wrote on October 7, 2008 10:29 am:
"Average American moron, IQ 60, drinking beer, watching baseball and CNN, and believes everything his President says."
Makes sense to me - how else could the Republican Party get so many Joe Sixpacks to vote for them? "
Dr Juan wrote on October 7, 2008 10:40 am:
I would prefer -frankly- that she NOT be one of us. You elected a God-fearin, "one of us" guys in 2000 and 2004... and look at things at the end of his term. Now you can't blame everything on Bush... sure he only had a month to read and act on BIN-LADEN DETERMINED TO ATTACK IN US, and sure he was the failed exec of an Oil Company who made a killing on their stock a month before the company collapsed, and sure he thought there were WMD in Iraq before he invaded that sovereign nation, and sure he loved to de-regulate industry for free trade purposes but didn't see the investment banking failure coming...but can so much bad luck be everybody else's fault? And now you put your "faith" in a woman just because you've been marketed to believe that she is "one of us?"
She was picked as the VP nominee PRECISELY because she could get you to think that way. Meanwhile, her running mate is married to one of the richest women in the country and they own what... 7 houses??? Are you one of them, Faith A White? "
And the scary thing is wrote on October 7, 2008 12:14 pm:
to markymark wrote on October 7, 2008 1:56 pm:
Ignignokt wrote on October 7, 2008 3:43 pm:
"the republicans could have dug up hitler and nominated him for vp and this stupid state would still show up in droves and vote for him."
"It is embarrassing to be from Nebraska anymore, the people that call Nebraskans hicks understand that you people would vote for Bush again if you could."
Is calling Republicans names like "Repuglicans" or "Redumicans" supposed to convince anyone that Obama is the best choice for president??
Here's a few quotes for you to chew on...
"Resort is had to ridicule when reason is against us." - Thomas Jefferson
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." - Eric Hoffer
"If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names." - Elbert Hubbard "
craig wrote on October 7, 2008 3:49 pm: