[Governor] Palin's Tea Party raises eyebrows

The Politico ^ | January 8, 2009 | Kenneth P. Vogel

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sarah Palin’s plan to deliver the keynote address – for a fee – at next month’s first-ever National Tea Party Convention is getting renewed attention in light of her rejection Thursday of an invitation to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

The decision to blow off CPAC – traditionally seen as the year’s must-attend event for the conservative establishment – in favor of a little-known convention is prompting some soul-searching among CPAC supporters, and is being interpreted as a calculated play by the former Alaska governor to cast herself as the potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate of the high-energy, anti-establishment Tea Party movement.

But it’s also renewed questions about her political judgment and brought scrutiny on the Tea Party Convention, which kicks off two weeks before CPAC’s Feb. 18 start date and has cast itself to some degree as a more homegrown, grassroots alternative to the traditional conservative conference.

“It’s a missed opportunity for her, for sure,” said GOP operative Brad Blakeman. “CPAC is an established mainstay of conservatism that those seeking to be active in 2010, 2012 and beyond should take advantage of to be seen and heard, while the tea parties are a manifestation of frustration that is loosely organized and hasn’t proven itself at the polls.”

Palin has committed to speaking at April’s Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, considered a must-attend for_prospective candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination.

Still, the CPAC snub combined with the Tea Party commitment were clearly intended to send a message, asserted Erick Erickson, founder of the influential conservative_blog_RedState.com, which is owned by a publishing firm that is co-sponsoring CPAC. “I get why she did it,” he said. “It is a purposeful decision on her part to try to claim a segment of the conservative movement as her own.”(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hard to believe that a mostly stay-at-home Alaska housewife is causing all this ruckus. Wasn't it decided last July that she was all washed up?!

Two page article.

[MNlurker]

She’s pissing off all of the right people and that’s a GOOD thing :)

[Patrick1]

Didn’t CPAC take sponsorship from the John Birch Society? Or do I have my organizations mixed up? If so then it is a wise move on Palin’s part not to be associated with those nuts.

[ConservativeMind]

She could be among a bunch of RINOs at CPAC (The Huckster, Romney, McCain, Newt, etc.) or she can be among conservative people, being a headliner and getting paid.

I think Sarah chose best!

[bigbob]

“GOP operative”

All you need to know.

[Pox]

A replacement party for the Republicans must begin somewhere. Although it may be many election cycles before the Tea Party (or whatever it eventually becomes) is successful, it's about time it's begun!

The only problem is, it's probably too late to reverse the marxist course the tyrants in D.C. have set.

[GonzoGOP]

The lefties and the RINO elites hate Gov Palin and everything she stands for. So much the better. Tea Party Barbarians for Palin unite!

[Bigtigermike]

Media like politico is dumb and dumber....CPAC is not mainstream anymore but has been infiltrated by RINO’s the past few years...notice the dig at her getting paid for speeches, they were gushing when Bill Clinton was getting!

This is a attempt at being some type of hit piece!

[Huck]

Very interesting.

[mnehring]

so who is going to ping BobJ?

[fatnotlazy]

Don't know much about CPAC, but I picture it as a collection of stuffed shirt politicians and political supporters. If so, I give Mrs. Palin kudos for going to a tea party instead of a conference of windbags. Far too many politicians do nothing but carry on with each other; they have no clue as to the problems of their constituency. That Mrs. Palin would want to hang with ordinary people ensures that her base will support her, and that may be far more important and beneficial in the long run.

[mollynme]

Did they doctor that photo of her to make it look like her eyes are crossed?????

[Talisker]

Sarah Palin’s plan to deliver the keynote address – for a fee...

Good Lord, the hypocrisy of of the media is nuclear.

[CommieCutter]

They picked the dumbest photo of her they could find. On purpose.

[ronnie raygun]

She will court the tea partiers and lead them to the GOP doors with demands they will not be able to ignore! SHE’S A SMART COOKIE!

[JaneNC]

Not smart at all.
Reagan ALWAYS spoke at CPAC. Of course it is not paid.
Palin gets 100k to speak at Tea Party convention.
And CPAC = the grass roots.

She is foolish to dismiss CPAC.

[atomicweeder]

It's a smart move. CPAC is no threat to GOP. But the Tea Party could actually become a third party, like Perot, and splinter the conservatives, like Perot did in 92.

Palin is making sure that the Tea Party stays with her -- and therefore, within the GOP.

[Natural Born 54]

From FR home page:

“Free Republic no longer supports CPAC due to their partnership with homosexual rights activists.”

[Beach555]

So where is this Tea Party convention? I think I just might be able to come up with $560 by April if it’s not too far away.

[arthurus]

As with the normal course of organizations, CPAC has become more and more centrist Republican. As the Romneys and McLains have gone to CPAC to get their conservative credentials validated, CPACs endorsement has become less and less an endorsement of conservatives and increasingly the calculation that follows the question,”but can he get elected?” has RINOized CPAC.