Schlafly Chides McCain Camp for Palin Cancellation

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Schlafly Chides McCain Camp for Palin Cancellation

September 02, 2008 3:36 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis reports: Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly is taking the McCain campaign to task for notifying her at the last minute that Sarah Palin will be a no-show on Tuesday when the Republican National Coalition for Life holds an event honoring the Alaska governor.

"I think this is clearly somebody in the McCain campaign who doesn't understand where the votes are coming from," Schlafly told ABC News. "They only told me this at 10 o'clock last night, and it was a call from somebody down-the-line in the McCain campaign.

"The pro-lifers who paid $95 to come to this event because of Sarah Palin are going to be very unhappy," she added.

Schlafly is expecting 800 people, most of whom are delegates to the Republican National Convention, to attend Tuesday's reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul, Minn. The event runs from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT.

The purpose of the event is to honor Palin for being a political figure who "not only talks the talk, but walks the walk" when it comes to putting "life first."

Debbie Joslin, a Republican National Committeewoman from Alaska, will accept the pro-life award on behalf of Palin.

Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella said McCain's running mate will not be attending the event because she is "preparing for her speech at the convention.

"Events that were set up before she was named McCain's running mate did not account for the fact that her schedule would be changing as a vice presidential nominee," said Comella.

The Republican National Coalition for Life event never appeared on Palin's vice presidential schedule.

Nevertheless, the McCain campaign did not notify Schlafly of the plan to back out of the event until Monday night, and Schlafly claims that the Secret Service scoped out the event site earlier in the day on Monday. The McCain campaign was not able to confirm Schlafly's claim about the Secret Service.

Schlafly, who gained her iconic status among conservatives by leading the fight against the Equal Rights Amendment, called the selection of Palin to be McCain's running mate "terribly smart."

"I cannot believe what she has done to energize the Republican Party and the people who were, at best, lukewarm about McCain," said Schlafly.

Schlafly noted how Monday's announcement that Palin's 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant and planning to marry the father of her baby, did not alter the views of social conservatives about McCain's running mate.

"I don't think that has dampened enthusiasm in the slightest," said Schlafly.

Schlafly added that Tuesday's event would have been a good opportunity for Palin to quickly address her daughter's pregnancy and to eliminate further discussion of it.

"She was not going to be subjected to questions at this event," said Schlafly.

Asked what she plans to say about the cancellation at the event, Schlafly said, "I am certainly going to say that it was McCain that canceled."

September 2, 2008 in McCain, John, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (120)

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This should give the "Republican National Coalition for Life" more time to discuss the evils of the death penalty. Oh wait, what was that? That human life isn't important? Interesting.

Posted by: TSnow27604 | Sep 2, 2008 4:16:57 PM

It's very possible that they've pulled her out of this event b/c she's going to withdraw. First evidence of it, I think... We'll see.

Posted by: megan | Sep 2, 2008 4:18:08 PM

My son in 7th grade has more international travel experience than Palin. Everyone of his teachers have more education than she does. A B.S. in communication from the University of Idaho? Please!

Posted by: dano | Sep 2, 2008 4:21:13 PM

geecee: They both made bad judgement. McCain for picking her and her for excepting. Empty suites...

Posted by: beck | Sep 2, 2008 4:27:03 PM

I guess she is not much of a "multi-tasker" after all. A speech and an event to meet supporters all on the same day?... OMG I cannot do all of this!!!
If she were POTUS, are we going to hear.. I cannot go to Mexico because my daughter is pregnant and my husband has the flu? (I know it sounds sexist)
Wow! A speech to rehearse and an event all on the same day. We did not have so much to do when I was mayor of the metropolis of 6,000!

Posted by: Jim | Sep 2, 2008 4:28:50 PM

The Republicans are in trouble, First Ron Paul gets blue balled by his own party, Then Huckabee & Romney get passed over by the Moose Hunter???
They then use the Hurricane as an excuse for small crowds & lack of interest in there convention. Theres more people outside protesting then inside!! LOL Tonight George W is speaking, McCain is being supported by Bush??? I dont think this looks good!

Posted by: Joshua | Sep 2, 2008 4:32:18 PM

Posted by: Joshua | Sep 2, 2008 4:32:20 PM

Yeah. Repukes should kick Palin out and get Paris Hilton as their new VP bet who is more credible

Posted by: ROME | Sep 2, 2008 4:35:12 PM

Hey guys I have become a liberal now. I can prove it to you here are my complains about Sarah Palin. She wears stupid glasses, her daughter sucks....urh....urh.....urh....why would she wear a skirt?....urh....urh...I will keep you guys update about her. So what you think do I get the prevelege to be a Lib?

Posted by: vegas | Sep 2, 2008 4:37:29 PM

THE PALIN SELECTION REMINDS ME OF THE J ROSS PAROLE SELECTION FOR VICE PRESIDENT WHEN HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT ...

Posted by: jamesearlc | Sep 2, 2008 4:40:36 PM

if you've been smoked by the baby decoy, you need to watch this to understand what the real agenda is.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html

McPain suffers from PTSD. in his diseased mind, the viet nam war continues. he must lead the country to victory. this is his mission.

McPalin is the key to making that happen. with her direct connection to the big guy in the sky, she will do 'his' will to brainwash any of the idiots out there who have yet to have their minds mashed to bits by the biggest group of tax evaders in the country, and....

yes, lead your sons and daughters into sure destruction in the ultimate battle of opinions about who is more correct, the 2000 year old myth or the 1500 year old myth.

or more correctly, not whether either of those is more correct but rather which opinion about either one of those is correct.

it's not too late for reason and ration to triumph over unbridled dogma.

if you get the picture, start typing. get the word out. 'god' may or may not be dead (there is absolutely no way to prove or disprove it) but there are plenty of people around who want you do die for their opinion of that word.

don't let it happen.

and most importantly, don't let them do it to your children.

Posted by: unbrainwashed | Sep 2, 2008 4:41:26 PM

You anti- people are pathetic.
Total distortionists.
Save your conspiracy theories.
Even Lindsay Lohan feels the need to 'comment'... that Palin shouldn't have announced pregnancy. She fails to understand that the press would have...and McCain/Palin had the sense to try and blunt the news with honest disclosure. Just like the rest of the posters here fail to understand Palin -was- "vetted". McCain understood the media frenzy to come and warned Palin of that. Palin' record in office and getting elected against two governors speaks for itself. She's diligent, knows when to get federal dollars , knows when to cancel projects gone bad, knows a darn sight more than the posters here.

Posted by: RR | Sep 2, 2008 4:42:23 PM

Is this bitter hag still alive and kickin?

Posted by: Billy | Sep 2, 2008 4:46:44 PM

Maybe the Republicans should stop teaching the financing ov condos and start financing the teaching of condoms.

Posted by: JY | Sep 2, 2008 4:47:37 PM

DRIP...DRIP....DRIP...you have 24 hours to get rid of Palin and get Jindal, Pawlenty or Romney in there QUICK!!! If he would have chosen Jindal, with the great work he did with Gustav, he would be sitting pretty and not RSVPing for a baby shower.

Posted by: latinovoter1 | Sep 2, 2008 4:47:59 PM

Although it is unnecessary to point it out, but how ironic that the GOP VP pick has more executive experience than the Dem POTUS pick. Have the Dems heard the expression, "Shooting yourself in the foot." They would be wise to not talk about executive experience when it comes to Obama. Such talk just highlights what a lightweight Obama is. Who in their right mind would entrust the executive office of the U.S. government to a lightweight with no experience? Oops, no one ever said the Dems or the left were in their right minds. Sorry!!

Posted by: eddie | Sep 2, 2008 4:48:17 PM

The GOP VP candidate makes the Dem's POTUS candidate look like a lightweight.

Obama will always come out second best when compared to Palin. Too bad, so sad Dems.

Posted by: eddie, | Sep 2, 2008 4:51:02 PM

Did McCain think this through? First he picks her, then he checks her out, then he hides her? This makes me doubt McCain's judgement.

Posted by: Theresa | Sep 2, 2008 4:51:35 PM

mccain is senile he use to stand up for what is right now he stands by king george then he picks palin and she calls hillary a name when her and mccain will need hillary supporters just to stay close to obama this fall. idiot!!!

Posted by: tom | Sep 2, 2008 4:54:26 PM

I'm so sorry to point out that some of you people are absolutely delusional, but in no way does Sarah Palin have more "executive experience" than Barack Obama. I live in a town of almost 60,000 people and I would be pretty appalled if the mayor touted his 6 years in office as evidence that he's ready to be vice president or, God forbid, president of this country. Too bad, so sad, losers.

Posted by: megan | Sep 2, 2008 4:57:19 PM

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