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Sarah Palin Tones it Down a Notch

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October 13, 2008 7:27 AM

ABC's Imtiyaz Delawala and Ron Claiborne report: Gov. Sarah Palin significantly ratcheted down the rhetoric from her campaign speeches last week Sunday evening at an outdoor rally in Brush Run Park in St. Clairsville, OH, making no mention of Sen. Barack Obama’s connection to former anti-war radical William Ayers, and using nearly-apologetic language when making criticisms of the Democratic presidential nominee.

The harshest words from the Republican vice presidential nominee came when she discussed Obama’s abortion positions, which she also spoke about at a rally in Johnstown, PA Saturday. But her comments on Sunday were far more gentle, couched in nearly-apologetic language.

“It's not negative and it's not mean-spirited in a campaign for me to ask you to check out our opponent's record, and I would ask you to check out our opponent's record on a couple of the legislative opportunities that Barack Obama has had to reflect his feelings on the same issue that I just talked about,” Palin said. “I'm not being negative, not mean-spirited, but please check out his record on partial birth abortion and on the Child Born-Alive Act, and I'll let you judge for yourself.”  The crowd booed at her mention of the controversial abortion procedure called 'partial birth abortion' by some critics, but Palin did not follow the crowd's mood.

While Palin cited the anger felt by many of her supporters -- as expressed verbally at two separate town meetings earlier in the week -- Palin attempted to turn it into a positive message on Republican nominee John McCain reforming Washington.  She did not turn it into anger at the Democratic nominee, who is leading the race in most national and battleground state polls.   

“All across America, I know that there’s a lot of anger right now,” Palin said. “There’s anger about the insider dealing of lobbyists and anger at the greed of Wall Street, and anger about the arrogance of the Washington elite. And with serious reforms to change Washington, John McCain is going to turn your anger into action.”

While Palin made no mention of William Ayers, who just days ago she charged was "a terrorist" with closer ties to Obama than he will acknowledge, she did speak about “terrorists” in general as the “bad guys,” and then went on to describe the “bad guys” in the current economic crisis. It was unclear if Palin was attempting to allude to Ayers when speaking about "terrorists."

“Help me Ohio to help put John McCain in the White House," Palin said. "He understands… For one thing, we know who the bad guys are, OK? We know, we know that in the war, it’s terrorists, terrorists who hate America and her allies and would seek to destroy us, and the bad guys are those who would support and sympathize with the terrorists. They do not like America because of what we stand for: liberty, freedom, equal rights. Those who sympathize and support those terrorists who would seek to destroy all that it is that we value, those are the bad guys, ok?”

“Now in the economic crisis that we’re in, we know there, too, who the bad guys are," Palin continued. "In this time of economic crisis, we know it’s been those who have been greedy and corrupt and arrogant and have taken advantage of hardworking honest Americans, and just as important though, we know who the good guys are, and it is you, and we will fight for you, and we will put government on your side. We will end the arrogant and the selfish practices of Washington and of Wall Street because your United States government is to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Let us make it so again.”

As she often does on the campaign trail, Palin focused much of her remarks on energy indepdendence. The enthusiastic Ohio crowd added a new slogan to Palin’s remarks when pushing for more coal mining by chanting “Mine, Baby, Mine,” a takeoff of the “Drill, Baby, Drill” chant that’s a staple of Palin rallies, leaning on her support of increased drilling for oil off-shore and in her homestate of Alaska. Judging from Palin’s reaction, the mine chant could become a staple of her speeches in the remaining days until Election Day.

"Mine, Baby, Mine. Ok, I'm bringing that all across the U.S. Do you mind if I plagiarize that? Thank you. That is a good one,” Palin said, drawing applause and cheers from the crowd.

October 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (349)

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Breaking news, Obama has problems! Tony Rezko is now talking to the FBI about his connections to Chicago politicians. You won't hear anything about this from ABC news!

Posted by: J | Oct 13, 2008 7:43:37 AM

Forget Sarah Palin....
Obama is a risky, radical character that we still don't know

What the heck is the media thinking.
It IS important that Obama associates with terrorists and anti Americans.

Please investigate all of this.
Why are we not making an issue about it should be the question.

Are terrorists in controll of the media?

Posted by: al from nj | Oct 13, 2008 7:50:17 AM

Oh please, Palin... go back to Beauty Pagents in Alaska where you just might be able to handle the minimum-required intellectual prowess needed to actually win something!

Posted by: Stefanie Schoonmaker | Oct 13, 2008 7:51:11 AM

There must be specific orders to prepare for a loss between Palin cooling off and McCain actually defending Obama against his angry hordes.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | Oct 13, 2008 7:51:34 AM

The only thing worse than biased reporting is veiled biased reporting. The comments by the reporter on Palin are not about the content but about telling the readers to remember other old news, unrelated to this news. Remember readers: just because she didn't do it doesn't mean she isn't negative (don't forget. don't forget remember she did it before. she did it before.) And the reporter commented on the important issues: Boy did she blow that pronunciation! (remember readers she's dumb. she's dumb. And I, the reporter, think you, the reader, are dumb too because I have too keep bringing up these things so you don't forget.)

Obama doesn't need negative ads or statements - he's got the press to keep pointing things out even if Obama doesn't.

Posted by: stephen50 | Oct 13, 2008 7:52:19 AM

Independents don't like division, vitriol and hate. The McCain Campaign is unprecedented in their efforts to impart a wanton display of overt negativity painted with a broad brush stoke applied far too thin. Like McCain, 20th Century idealists embrace the past like a rusty shield. Thank GOD optimism shall always prevail!!!

I am an ever proud Obama/Biden supporter and contibutor. I am happy and hopeful about the future!!! Something that simply does not seem evident across the aisle. What a loss. What a senseless shame.

Posted by: Libratine | Oct 13, 2008 7:52:50 AM

I'm curious as to what Tony Rezko has to do with Sarah Palin. Why respond to an article ABC news has online when your response has nothing to do with the article.
And, who cares if Rezko is talking? Does him talking to police automatically mean that Obama is guilty of something?

Posted by: Jack Fletcher | Oct 13, 2008 7:55:06 AM

Sarah Palin is, to be nice, intellectually deficient and she is on the same track as John McCain. She and John are mud-slinging and smearing Barack Obama because they cannot discuss the issues with any intellectual ability. John McCain has already stated if the election is bsed on the economy, then he would lose. And what is the important issue right now - the economic mess that the Republicans have gotten us into. John McCain has stated he has voted with Bush 90% of the time. So what does that mean for you. If McCain is elected, he will continue the failed Bush politics. Barack Obama has remained calm and has not resorted to personal attacks on John McCain on Sarah Palin although in my opinion, he could have ripped them apart. But he didn't. He has shown he has the honesty, integrity and knowledge to be our President. We need change and McCain will not deliver it. Obama will give us the change we need! PS - I am a white woman, over 60, from a small town in Indiana.

Posted by: Lynn | Oct 13, 2008 7:59:19 AM

"Shame on you Barack Obama."

- Hillary Clinton, 2008.

Posted by: young_voter | Oct 13, 2008 7:59:40 AM

Palin is being used by GOP. Palin should be more worried about her political future.

You know what they do to pitbulls that lose a fight?

They get put down.

After Obama wins the election, Palin and McCain will take the blunt of the blame while GOP insiders will turn them in to scapegoats for losing the election.

Palin will be blamed for her harsh rhetoric when it was GOP insiders who wrote those harsh rhetoric.

I know we don't like earmarks, but maybe we can get some money to build a shelter for pitbulls that get used and abused. If we can do this for Michael Vicks dogs, we can do this for poor Sarah Palin.

Posted by: fatalcancer2GOP | Oct 13, 2008 8:02:52 AM

Back to "be afraid, be very afraid!" Now we have Arab terrorists and evil terrorists on Wall Street. I find myself more afraid of this woman.

Posted by: Susan | Oct 13, 2008 8:06:32 AM

"Barack Obama is a radical charachter we still don't know."

That is the most ignorant bit of misinformation allowed to be spread online.

Barack Obama is a United States Senator, he has been a POlitician for years. Stop making it seem like he is some wacho radical who just emerged onto the scene.

Show some respect, he is US Senator and has no ties to terrorists. You people should be ashamed, but then again, its your education that lets you think this way.

Back to college perhaps?

I guess now that GOP is turning their back on McCain, the Republicans are getting scared.

http://www.congratstothewinners.com/2008/10/republicans-getting-scared-court-obama.html

Posted by: FriendlyFred | Oct 13, 2008 8:10:04 AM

IF THIS IS NOT GREAT SATAN AMERIKA--WHY DO THE PEOPLE WANT A CHANGE FROM WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR TOO DAMM LOMG?

Posted by: michael ali | Oct 13, 2008 8:11:46 AM

Who is paying attention to this dummy, she can not even run ALASKA with out abusing power. WE know what she is about. NO McCAIN....

Posted by: JC WATTS | Oct 13, 2008 8:14:08 AM

OBAMA is whooping JOHN MCCAINS butt. SARHA is a Loser, and anyone voting McCain will be a loser...We are taking back this country from the dummies...

Posted by: JC Watts | Oct 13, 2008 8:15:45 AM

This economic mess that the repubicans have gotten us into? Where are you getting your news and information? Have you watched any of the congressional hearings on the Lehman bankruptcy either? for anybody that wants to pay attention, the roots of this problem go back to liberal policies that accused banks of racism whenever they wouldn't lend to low-income consumers. Then when Fannie and Freddie got out of hand, the people in charge (liberal congress) didn't head the warnings and do anything about it. These are the same people that will be making policy if Obama is elected. I am amazed how people think Obama is better for the economy. this link is an article warning about this in 1999 - before Bush was even in office.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE7DB153EF933A0575AC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Posted by: sidney | Oct 13, 2008 8:17:25 AM

Sign this petition if you think McCain should stop talking about Obama and William Ayers...and start talking about the economy instead:

http://www.McCainPetition.com

Gregg

Posted by: Gregg | Oct 13, 2008 8:17:30 AM

Rezko has been talking for awhile. He's said he has nothing to offer on Obama but has offered plenty on various politicians. So by association Obama is guilty because he's a politician and Rezko has stuff on politicians.
And cmon, Obama wasn't 8 years old this time.

McCain spent the last week looking for his integrity. Let's hope the party faithful can find theirs.

Posted by: keith Newman | Oct 13, 2008 8:17:41 AM

Bias reporting? For which side? It was determined that Palin ABUSED HER POWER. But that was a blip on the screen. Just this year Palin spoke at an AIP (aka Alaska-First) event. But does the MSM run a story? Nope.
So now, in the 11th hour, Palin wants to bring up abortion?!? We all know Palin's stance, but let's look at McCain's. He voted to allow unborn children access to SCHIP, but then voted against expanding SCHIP. Voted against expending education to help prevent abortions.

Posted by: Heather | Oct 13, 2008 8:17:57 AM

As McCain's campaign falls apart and becomes more and more evident that Obama will win, you will see more and more GOP members jumping ship from McCain.

GOP knows McCain doesn't have many years left and Palin is expendable. She can always go back to Alaska and never have to deal with her again.

So as more and more republican pundits question McCain's campaign and Palins choice as VP, you will see them losing support as we get closer to election day.

I just feel sorry for McCain and Palin.
I don't think they ever knew what they were going up against, the environment is not suited for anyone with a 'R' infront of their name.

Posted by: fatalcancer2GOP | Oct 13, 2008 8:19:34 AM

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