[rintense]

Ah, the real story is Sarah never planned on attending the event, as was confirmed by her spokesperson. It was a rumor started on the net, likely here on FR.

[CedarDave]

Ah, the real story is Sarah never planned on attending the event, as was confirmed by her spokesperson.

Who and when?? Any links??

It was a rumor started on the net, likely here on FR.

It was certainly circulated widely the past few weeks including news that only guests would be allowed; no reporters. Rumors have legs, but this one was not "shot down" until now, as far as I know. And Ziegler who is a FReeper (or someone with his screen name) is only ginning up the story for his own purposes, i.e. his radio show.

[hole_n_one]

From Ziegler's mailer..........

I will tell the full story behind me replacing Sarah Palin as the speaker at the August 8th event at the Reagan Library.

Ziegler is asserting that Palin was, at some point, the scheduled speaker. He can't very well "replace" someone who was never in place to begin with.

[SoCalPol]

Thank You for a Factual comment.
Yes,
Meg Stapelton, Sarah’s spokesperson confirmed with Seimi that Sarah was not attending.
Seimi Valley R’s still kept going ahead

[libbylu]

No, it was on the website, I think it was the Simi Valley Women’s republican club. I saw it myself.

[RonDog]

Ah, the real story is Sarah never planned on attending the event, as was confirmed by her spokesperson...

That's a little strong, Rin.

The way that I understand the words of Meg's statement were that Governor Palin never CONFIRMED that she would be there.

You may not realize it, but the many local "Republican Women Federated" groups in California are the HEART of the conservative movement (such as it is) here in California.

And, they do some truly AMAZING work out here getting Republicans registered, getting out the vote, and otherwise energizing the conservative base out here to oppose the hard-core leftist agenda of California legislature -- and now also the leftist agenda of our "girly man" Governator, and more recently, of our Marxist president.

So, I cannot imagine that they would promote an event billed as "An Evening with Sarah Palin" without SOME kind of encouragement from Governor Palin's staff -- at least INITIALLY, when this event was first planned, last February.

I will concede that the RWF groups are almost all VOULUNTEERS -- and as such not seasoned professionals.

And, I can understand that in their zeal to promote what would understandably be an EXTRAORDIANRY forum for Sarah Palin, making one of her first public appearances since resigning as Governor of Alsaka debut in the home of the Gipper, they would have downplayed any gentle discouragement from the Palin camp, that she probably wouldn't be able to make it -- hoping that she would be there anyway.

But I DO NOT believe that they ever got the much-needed "tough love" announcement that Governor Palin would absolutley NOT be there -- until the press release one week before the event.

And, for THAT failing, I fault the Palin staff. Maybe they were just trying to be nice, and not hurt the feelings of this small local group of supporters. But they HAD to have seen all the MASSIVE national coverage of this impending appearance.

While I understand that they cannot deny EVERY ONE of the many "scheduled appearances of Sarah Palin" announced, they really needed to get out there in front of THIS one -- much sooner.

So, I see this as more of an unfortunate MISUNDERSTANDING than as a "rumor" -- or worse.

And I truly believe that SVRWF acted in good faith (if misguided) -- rather than from malice.