Sarah Palin's Tea Party Dinner Disaster

Mother Jones ^ | Jan. 27, 2010 | Stephanie Mencime

[FTJM]

Will Sarah Palin's Tea Party dinner be a bust?

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips likely assumed that scoring a dinner speech by the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate would guarantee a huge turnout for his National Tea Party Convention, scheduled to start Feb. 4 at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel. But according to Tea Party insiders, the tickets for the Palin banquet aren't selling—and some conservative activists who have already paid to attend are now demanding refunds. With the controversial event shaping up to be a potential flop, some Tea Partiers are urging Palin to cancel her speech to avoid a humiliating public relations disaster.

[Mobties]

Mother Jones?! Far out! It’s been years ... decades, even.

[mosaicwolf]

I could care less about what the left wing rag Mother Jones says. I make up my own mind based on what people say and do. When Gov Palin came out and said she would campaign for McCain, and I paid to attend the event, I would want a refund too.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yours is equally as cute. I’m married to an Irish-Swede...an interesting mix! ;)

[Skooz]

Mother Jones?

Are you serious?

[rintense]

From what I read, the tickets were close to $600! How is that appealing to ‘average Americans?’

[newfreep]

Consider the source - Mother Jones is a communist rag.

[Cacique]

bump

[irishtenor]

Beer AND lutefisk?

[xone]

zot

[FTJM]

From what I read, the tickets were close to $600! How is that appealing to ‘average Americans?’

Exactly. Everyone needs to back away from this convention until its priorities change.

[rintense]

At least Sarah isn’t keeping the money (from what I’ve also read).

[Clinging Bitterly]

Yup. It's a lot for a dinner for one of the lesser known political orgs. She is going to be speaking at my county's GOP 2010 fundraising kickoff dinner in April. The price of admission is $550 a plate and it will sell out the several hundred available seats - but it's GOP and FOR the purposes of campaign fundraising.

It is unclear (to me at least) what the financials are all about in this thing back East. It is a non traditional arrangement and perhaps should be better explained. Fact is it is becoming much maligned by some outfits on both sides of the fence and there is a grain of truth in what they are saying.

As regards Sarah Palin herself she is making hay right now and I don't begrudge her that, but it appears she is contributing this fee to one or more of her causes and the folks slamming her ought to at least be honest about that.

[Kickass Conservative]

I predict that there will not be an empty seat in the house when she makes her Tea Party Speech.

Thw whole story is just fodder for the haters, nothing more.

Is there anyone else out there that someone would want to see and hear other than Sarah? I think not.

[goodnesswins]

Are you talking about Palin speaking in Eugene? I thought it was $250 a plate????

[Clinging Bitterly]

Hmm, maybe and dang it I don't have the email anymore - I know whatever it is I'm not going to have the money.

It's all a lot to me right now. The Present Occupant says anybody can buy a truck and mine is 27 years old and has been fighting gallantly to stay on it's wheels. Wasn't sure what I was gonna do and just today I found a 19 year old truck I could afford so I can at least get my chores done.

[goodnesswins]

Do you have any idea who got Sarah to come to Eugene....of all places????

[Clinging Bitterly]

I really don't know. I got out of the county party org. almost 15 years ago. I'm still thinking about getting back in this year but haven't decided yet.

Oh, there is a lot of old money down here, more than most people think, and they have a lot of pull with the GOP. My last boss was a guy who could call the President and actually GET the President.