Meeting Sarah Palin (Young Iowa reporter was at movie, luncheon, met Gov. Palin)

The Creston News Advertiser ^ | June 30, 2011 | Payne Horning

[2ndDivisionVet]

As some of you might recall, my first column featured Sarah Palin. I wrote a piece featuring her resumé and highlighting a few of her accomplishments. That column attracted the attention of Myrna Beeber a regional manager for Organize4Palin, a grassroots database of volunteers building connections and ready to campaign if Palin runs for president. Myrna contacted the Organize4Palin Iowa Coordinator Peter Singleton and set up lunch between the three of us.

We dined at A&G Steakhouse and had a compelling conversation regarding the former governor and the organization they represented. Only a few weeks after our lunch did I receive an email from Peter inviting me and a guest of my choice to the world premiere of “The Undefeated,” a film featuring Palin’s rise to the national stage.

The debut screened Tuesday at the Pella Opera House, a true historical landmark that has been apart of the Dutch town since 1900. I was honored to receive tickets to the exclusive event and was looking forward to being one of the 340 fortunate individuals to see the movie 17 days before it is released nationwide. After the film, a cookout was held in the downtown courtyard.

Little did I know when I first received the invitation that Palin herself would be attending the premiere. Reading the email confirming that she would not only make an appearance but watch the movie and dine with the guests present was a dream come true. The opportunity not only would benefit me, but the Creston News Advertiser, as well. While many reporters from television and print media covered the event, only a select few were allowed to watch the movie, myself included.

After the movie, we had dinner outside in the courtyard under sunny skies. The crowd waited anxiously for her to finish her meal and begin greeting her fans. With the help of Myrna, I squirmed my way through to the front where Palin was being bombarded left and right with requests for her autograph, handshake and or photo.

Palin was signing buttons, books and other memorabilia left and right, at which point I was able to hand her my column that I had written about her. Confused, she looked up for an explanation, a request I was more than happy to oblige. I introduced myself and shook her hand, explaining that I wrote the opinion column for the Creston News Advertiser where I worked at as a staff reporter.

“I wrote about your resume and your accomplishments,” I said. “I tried to set the truth straight, just like your video.”

She looked me in the eyes and thanked me. Palin signed her autograph and wrote “keep the faith” and “thank you” beneath it. I gave her a copy of the column to take with her should she find time to read it.

[babyfreep]

I found him on FaceBook and told him about his article being posted here. He replied again. Maybe he’ll become a FReeper. :-)

From Payne:

I followed the link and I appreciate you posting my article. It truly was an incredible, unique experience and it’s something I will never forget. In fact, I am having the signed copy framed believe it or not.
I was curious, however, how you found it? And this site that it is now posted on, what is the low down on this site? Thanks again.

From me:

FreeRepublic.com is a forum for conservatives. You can read more about it from their home page. They started during the Clinton impeachment era when you were just a kiddo. :-)
We take articles of interest from all over the web and post them or excerpts from them (depending upon copyrights, etc), then the users can comment. You have to show the source and author when an article is posted. There are many Palin-fans on that site. Someone else posted it, I read it and thought....”hmmm...nearly anyone under 40 has a FaceBook” and I looked you up.
Sign up and comment...lots of Palin articles and many many smart folks on that site who really believe we need more honest media in this country, as we all know how slanted most “main-stream” has become.