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Sarah Palin Tones it Down a Notch
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ShareOctober 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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Apparently Obama has some sort of mind control to make the people go completely crazy and consider voting for him. Where is Bullwinkle Moose and Rocky the Flying Squrriel when you need them. The evil one is about to overtake the world. There is few choices. bullwinkle and rocky, or people comming to their senses and realizing that Obama is a very dangerous man. He has so far (that I have heard) repeated the first debate at the second debate, and in Indiana a third time. I could repeat the empty words with him. he apparently likes the type of person that would destroy and kill others (terrorist, here and in Kenya). Rumors have it that he even trades babysitting with terrorist Ayres. Come to your senses America, we can't elect a man that says our troops raid villages and kill innocent people. He could never be a real Commander in Cheif.
Think before you vote. I am not scared by much, but this man scares me to death.
Lets go 4 years with John mcCain and then see where Obama is then. Maybe he could prove himself. Mabye Not! Life is too important to be taken seriously, and this election is too important to take a chance on a very risky person.
By the way I am now depending on Sarah Palin for my latest news and truth. Sorry, NEws media, you failed!!!!!!!
jjsjr
Posted by: joseph | Oct 13, 2008 8:19:35 AM
The McCain-Palin group is finally learning that when you whip your 33% of the electorate into a frenzy, there will be consequences.
Posted by: Ann | Oct 13, 2008 8:19:42 AM
Obama's Kenya campaign
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/12/obamas-kenya-ghosts/
How will Obama spin this one.
Posted by: Jill | Oct 13, 2008 8:20:56 AM
Palin baby - get back in bed and make some more babies with your husband. Then you can spend the rest of your life being a soccer Mom which, apparently, is what you do best.
Posted by: Bob | Oct 13, 2008 8:21:00 AM
I hate to admit it, but stephen50 is right. This is a pretty thinly veiled slam piece.
Posted by: michae1 | Oct 13, 2008 8:22:08 AM
McCain and Palin have shown that they are fear brokers. Fear of talking about issues,fear of the opponent--so let's fight dirty, fear that their platform can not stand the test. I favor many of the platform issues, unfortunately the representatives of the platform "scare me." I realize we as a people practice horrible tactics during campaigns, but that does not make it right. We as a people need to return to the Biblical principles that this country was founded upon. We may not practice them perfectly, but at least we tried to practice them. "Stay with the ONE that brought you---God--Jesus. Let's stop making new rules and rely on Biblical principles that have stood the test of time. Let America Bless God with obedience and God will Bless America.
Posted by: Jo Jackson | Oct 13, 2008 8:22:22 AM
Stefanie Schoonmaker said, "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!"
SHE WON THE STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, CITY COUNCILWOMAN, MAYOR, AND GOVERNOR. SHE SEEMS TO BE A WINNER AT ALL LEVELS. WHAT HAVE YOU EVER DONE IN YOUR LIFE STEPHANIE SCHOONMAKER?
IT ALSO AMAZES ME THAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR A PAGEANT 24 YEARS AGO. IF I PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL, PEOPLE WOULD NOT KEEP REFERRING TO ME AS THAT FOOTBALL PLAYER TWO DECADES LATER.
Posted by: USAF Officer | Oct 13, 2008 8:23:26 AM
Obama supporter Paul Krugman won the Nobel Prize in Economics this morning. But what does he know? Let's listen to Sarah and Todd on the economy. Good grief.
Posted by: fougasseu | Oct 13, 2008 8:24:19 AM
The McCain campaign doesn't know what to do to combat the fact that most of the country blames the financial crisis on the GOP. Someone once said, "I you take credit for the rain be prepared to take responsibility for the drought." The government takes more responsibility for the economy than it deserves, but now it's reaping the rewards of doing so.
Posted by: Mickey | Oct 13, 2008 8:24:54 AM
divide and conquer is karl "the toad" rove`s M O (Not going to work this time toad)
McCain`t is a fossil and Palin is a very bad joke played on the good people of America
Posted by: Curious Orange | Oct 13, 2008 8:25:35 AM
Good Lawd, since when do you have to "almost apologetically" ask the citizens of a country to check out the connections of an opponent in an election. As an outsider looking in, because we down here happen to like America, I have to say your media is astounding, to those not resident in America. I have been fighting to find an objective and unbiased piece of journalism on your elections. I hope you all choose wisely, you should check out the connections of ALL your candidates, including Obama. Good Luck America, choose wisely, and I hope, without the media's help.
Posted by: elle | Oct 13, 2008 8:25:37 AM
It's about time she shut her big, ignorant mouth.
Show me anyone who buys into her rhetoric and I'll show you someone I can sell anything to.
Posted by: Offal | Oct 13, 2008 8:26:03 AM
Bob said "Palin baby - get back in bed and make some more babies with your husband. Then you can spend the rest of your life being a soccer Mom which, apparently, is what you do best."
1. CALLING A FEMALE "BABY" IS CONDENSCENDING.
2. WITHOUT MOMS MAKING BABIES YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE.
3. HOCKEY MOM NOT SOCCER. DID YOU JUST JOIN THE DEBATE THIS WEEK?
Posted by: Bob
Posted by: USAF Officer | Oct 13, 2008 8:27:18 AM
She keeps saying, "We know who the bad guys are"... These are words from a deeply deceived mind, out of touch with reality, trapped behind fears, trying desperately to get us to be afraid of trusting Obama. What a sad wretched state these so-called evangelicals have reached, a new desperate low point of foolishness and deceit. But at least, THANK GOD, McCain realized he was at the head of an evil mob and started to change the tone. This clearly signals his loss, a house divided against itself, but at least he won't drive the country into civil war... hopefully. But that remains to be seen how this will play out in the end. THANK GOD Bush is not running, as we all know he would never have backed away like McCain just did.
Who are the bad guys, Sarah? Clearly you put Obama in with that group. McCain at least has moved away from YOUR "bad" spirit of fear and hatred.
Repent, Sarah! Your pride and arrogance will be your undoing if you don't.
Posted by: steve | Oct 13, 2008 8:27:40 AM
Got no brain?
Then vote McPain!
Posted by: GrammyofTwo | Oct 13, 2008 8:27:41 AM
@stephen50: this is a blog, not a news story....
Not that I care, but yes, Palin is being used by the GOP and she obviously does whatever she's told to do -- like a well trained lap dog. I think people should pay more attention to the fact that it is more than 50% likely (due to McCain's family medical history) that she will become president sometime during the next four years if McCain is elected. Think about how bad Bush has been and multiply by ten.
Posted by: SteverB | Oct 13, 2008 8:27:52 AM
Braking news Palin has abused her powers as governor, you wont hear that on Faux news
Posted by: elennon1 | Oct 13, 2008 8:28:47 AM
Offal said, "It's about time she shut her big, ignorant mouth.
Show me anyone who buys into her rhetoric and I'll show you someone I can sell anything to."
IF NO ONE WAS BUYING HER RHETORIC, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR YOU TO POST ON THE BLOG.
Posted by: USAF Officer | Oct 13, 2008 8:28:57 AM
J then tell us where we would see the lie
Posted by: Dennis | Oct 13, 2008 8:29:49 AM
if palin is merely questioning i would agree with her. but she has engaged in far more than that. inciting an audience to the level of danger to others and accepting with silence audience comments that are ethnically loaded along with comments loaded with personal threats is inexcusable and borders on a george wallace nature. i am afraid that her "toning down" has come too late for this voter and i personally do not believe or trust her. choosing her was an error in judgement on john mccains part. roger
Posted by: roger lehnert | Oct 13, 2008 8:30:46 AM
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