Posted on 05/28/2011 10:00:30 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sarah Palin’s “One Nation” bus tour appeared to have gotten off to a false start yesterday as a member of the pro-veterans organization Rolling Thunder went on NBC to denounce her presence at an upcoming event of theirs, claiming no one had invited her. Turns out, as per organization spokesperson Christine Colborne, Palin had been invited, but had RSVP’d too soon for the group to announce her arrival to all its members.
Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey called up the organization and got in touche with Colborne, who explained that the issue was one of “internal miscommunication” and that Palin had been invited by Michael DiPaolo, a retired board member. Ted Shpak, another organization spokesperson and veteran himself, hadn’t been notified of Palin’s appearance by the time he went on Andrea Mitchell Reports and was seriously concerned that Palin would be a “distraction”:
Colborne spoke with me on the phone in the middle of an all-night car ride to Washington DC, and explained that the last-minute RSVP didn’t get communicated through the echelons of Rolling Thunder. Everyone is either in transit or already in DC, and internal communication broke down as often happens before a major event. Shpak (and Colborne) were taken by surprise by Palin’s announcement. Shpak does have the authority to speak for the organization, Colborne says, but he had no idea that Palin was invited by DiPaolo, and Shpak worried that Palin’s arrival might be a “big distraction” from the issues on which Rolling Thunder wants people to focus.
Morrissey adds that, with groups like these, the communication error is particularly understandable because it subsists exclusively on volunteer work– none of the people involved in it get a paycheck, and veterans like Shpak are involved based only on their passion for the job. As for Shpak, he has yet to issue a statement on his appearance given the news that Palin is not, in fact, crashing his event.
Shpak’s appearance on MSNBC denouncing Palin below:
(VIDEO AT LINK)
damage done, gasbags
This has moved into bizarre-land. At this point, if the poor woman blinks, some nut will accuse her of evil motives.
(I know, I know, she’s not really a “poor woman”, but good grief, the piling on, the invented accusations, the witch-hunting is just flat crazy.)
How is this a ‘false start’ for Sarah, when it was a mis-communication within the organization? Sarah didn’t screw up. The loudmouth who talked to the media did.
Indeed. A certainty at any point.
Just NBC doing its duty, in service of Obama and the DC establishment (and all that G.E. moolah...$$$$$), by once again attempting character assassination on Sarah Palin, utilizing LIES. Miss the old days when they used to just twist stories to fit their agendas. Now they create total fabrications to smear those who oppose their masters.
send Mr Chitpak under the trike
As we've been discussing on a previous post, Rolling Thunder should welcome the notoriety of Gov. Palin’s presence, just as it should welcome anyone who hasn't been a foe in the past.
The one who has now “politicized” this event is Ted Shpak, by fully cooperating with MSNBC in an attempted Palin hit piece.
Andrea Mitchell needs help for her unhealthy obsession with Sarah Palin.
That the media has done and continues to do this to Palin is MORE reason that she should run, be supported and win. Otherwise the media will believe they can just crash any candidate if they keep it up long enough. They and we need a high noon moment, a political showdown. They must stop torpedoing potential leaders and spokespeople, they must be shown that it does not work, that they can’t intimidate or remove options from the field. Every time someone says, “I like her, but the media has done her in and she can’t win”, they are empowering the media and encouraging them to do it again just as they did with the good candidates in 2008. They try to sniff them out and do them in way in advance of them even having a chance of running sometimes. Remember the “water buffalo” incident?
To anyone who makes that statement, I would respond "So, you let the Media make your decisions for you?"
funny how no one, even here on FR, is criticizing nbc for not checking their sources before running with a story
seems a simple recheck of facts would have resolved the false story... which should require a retraction by nbc at this point (i won’t be holding my breath)
I bet Rolling Thunder has a lot of T.E.A Party members who are not happy with the man right now.
The Shpak seemed a bit too eager to complain to an enthused Mrs. Greenspan.
Anybody can ride their motorcycle with them. They don’t send out engraved invitations.
I bet the media couldn’t care less if it were Mitt Romney attending this event..but when its Sarah Palin, they just make up lie after lie about her..yet they constantly tell us how irrelevant she is..yeah sure media..we already know the truth, she would kick Obama’s ass from east to west and you know it
Yes. Excellent points.
I have a lot of respect for the organization. Why didn't this guy find out if she was invited or not from the leaders of the group?
This is a hit job pure and simple. I'm just surprised that they found someone in the organization who would do this.
Sarah's not my first choice, but she didn't deserve this.
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