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Motorcycle Rally Hosts Uneasy About Palin's Presence [Rolling Thunder confirms Palin invitation]
The Atlantic ^ | Friday, May 27, 2011 | Chris Good

Posted on 05/27/2011 12:41:31 PM PDT by kristinn

SNIP

"It is a big distraction, because my phone's been ringing off the hook since she announced it," Ted Shpak, legislative director for Rolling Thunder, the group that hosts the annual rally in support of American POWs and veterans, told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell in an interview Friday. Shpak implied that Palin's presence would detract from the event's focus.

"We're not political, this is not a political event," Shpak said. "The way it came out, it sounded like we endorsed her."

Though Palin will reportedly make Sunday's rally the first stop in her bus tour, Shpak was clear that her bus will not ride in the group of motorcycles that will travel from a near the Pentagon, along the National Mall, and back.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: enemedia; palin; pds; rollingthunder; sarahpalin; waronsarah
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To: Mr. K
Let me clarify- She was not "invited" as a speaker or as an endorsement- EVERYONE who is a biker and supports their wonderful cause is "invited" democrap and republican. It is not political.

This author is trying to make it sound like they DONT WANT HER THERE which is totally false, if you read his furter comments

And some of you are falling for it, when you should know better already.

21 posted on 05/27/2011 1:09:15 PM PDT by Mr. K (CAPSLOCK! -Unleash the fury! [Palin/Bachman 2012- unbeatable ticket])
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To: kristinn

Didn’t George Bush speak at one of these events; and didn’t Obama turn down an invitation to speak?

What’s the big deal if Sarah shows up?


22 posted on 05/27/2011 1:09:42 PM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: Mr. K

The left will file complaint after complaint against any 501(c)3 that gets near Sarah — just like they filed meritless ethics claims against her in AK.

The left knows that a telegenic, charismatic orator can be packaged and sold to the voters to win the Presidency. See BHO

That is why they hate her.


23 posted on 05/27/2011 1:11:02 PM PDT by Andy from Chapel Hill
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To: kristinn
I know him and have worked with him in the past. Rolling Thunder is a 501c3 and must stay out of electoral politics.

.....because 501c3's are never partisan and never get involved in politics......
24 posted on 05/27/2011 1:11:45 PM PDT by Tzimisce (Never forget that the American Revolution began when the British tried to disarm the colonists.)
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To: eureka!
Video of Shpak on MSNBC at Mediaite.

Mediaite also notes the contradictory ABC News report.

25 posted on 05/27/2011 1:12:03 PM PDT by kristinn (Lowering the IQ on FR since Jul 31, 1998)
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To: humblegunner

Look at this and tell me the same thing....big disconnect here.....wonder what’s behind it, huh?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/rolling-thunder-riders-praise-sarah-palins-participation-in-rally.html


26 posted on 05/27/2011 1:12:33 PM PDT by Gaffer
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To: ASOC
I guess you missed this part:

"We invited her to ride, she has accepted and she and her husband have both agreed to ride for us.”

27 posted on 05/27/2011 1:13:46 PM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: Gaffer
No no no~!!

By saying she was not "invited" the organizer meant it was not a political endorsement of anything. They have to be non-political or lose 501c3 status.

This author is puposely using those words to make it sound like she is not WELCOME or DESIRED

This is a totally false impression if you read he other statements and the libtard author did it on purpose.

AND PEOPLE HERE ARE FALLING FOR IT

28 posted on 05/27/2011 1:15:43 PM PDT by Mr. K (CAPSLOCK! -Unleash the fury! [Palin/Bachman 2012- unbeatable ticket])
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To: All
Via Politico:

While some organizers of Rolling Thunder, a veterans' motorcycle rally in Washington this weekend, are a bit nonplussed by Sarah Palin's plans to attend, she's not going uninvited: Palin will be the guest of an Alaska veterans group, according to a top Rolling Thunder official.

"An invitation had been extended to governor and she accepted," said the group's National Parliamentarian, Mike De Paulo. "She was not invited to speak -- she wass invited to participate. She wanted to experience the run and see who we are and what we're about."

De Paulo said she'd been invited by an Alaska veteran leader, and a Palin staffer forwarded an email confirming that.

"The invitation is still open for her to ride and speak at the Rolling Thunder event," Joseph N. Fields III, the Chair of the State of Alaska Veterans Advisory Council wrote Palin in one email, dated May 13.

29 posted on 05/27/2011 1:17:43 PM PDT by kristinn (Lowering the IQ on FR since Jul 31, 1998)
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To: reasonisfaith
I don’t think there’s ever been a more polarizing figure than Sarah Palin.

I understand it’s possible, but I find it hard to imagine anyone having strong feelings about her that are not politically linked.

Sarah Palin is polarizing because she represents the polar opposite of what the left has tried, and often succeeded, in bringing us to as a nation. Where the left presents dependency on government as the best way of life for all, Sarah Palin represents the middle class person (her dad was a school teacher) who worked her way through college, pursued her dreams (of being a TV news reporter) and, in Palin's case, 'settling down' to be a loving wife and proud mother (of 5) in an age when having more than 2 children is considered by liberals to be 'disrespectful of the planet'. She was picked by John McCain to be his vice president in the 2008 campaign and when she gave her stirring acceptance speech at the RNC convention, she instantly became a political star and a beacon of hope for disgruntled conservatives who were sick if having to go to the polls and vote for RINOs every election day. So, in effect, Sarah Palin is the polar opposite of what the left preaches as acceptable. Liking or disliking Palin is as much cultural as it is political and that divide is simply more apparent when personified by an attractive, vibrant woman who not only talks about values - but lives them. To the left, such values as self-sufficiency and a religious conviction (Christianity) are impediments and not to be encouraged. Palin - and millions of Americans - disagree. If that makes Sarah Palin 'polarizing', so be it.

30 posted on 05/27/2011 1:18:46 PM PDT by Jim Scott
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To: Gaffer

True, false or somewhere in between..

The idea that she can do no wrong and that anyone who disagrees with her is an enemy.. is disturbing.

She is not a deity.


31 posted on 05/27/2011 1:21:08 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: Mr. K
Is she running for office or something? Sounds to me like a prominent private citizen was invited to ride, and she accepted.

What's the fuss?

32 posted on 05/27/2011 1:21:19 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill

The complaint will get thrown out. Palin has not declared she is running for anything.


33 posted on 05/27/2011 1:21:44 PM PDT by battlecry
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To: humblegunner

You don’t get it as usual! The writer is trying to imply that the Sarah is trying to bulging her way in....when in fact, Sarah nor her staff ever said that she was using her bus in the rally, nor speaking nor be recognize at the event, all Sarah said was that they will begin the tour at the rally in honor of our troops

Once again you make yourself look silly


34 posted on 05/27/2011 1:26:45 PM PDT by Bigtigermike
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To: kristinn

The orignal anouncment:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-buzz/post/sarah-palin-rolls-into-dc—on-a-motorcycle/2011/05/27/AGHDGfCH_blog.html

The former Alaska governor, who is the subject of a lot of overheated speculation about whether she will run for president in 2012, has accepted an invitation to participate in the annual Rolling Thunder memorial ride this Sunday, an official says.

“As far as I know, she is trying to rent a motorcycle, so she can ride with her husband,” said Nancy Regg, a spokeswoman for Rolling Thunder.

Gregg says the tentative plan is for Palin to join up with the ride at the Pentagon at 7 a.m. The ride kicks off at noon, and hundreds of bikers will snake through D.C. to the event’s main stage, which will be between the Reflecting Pool and the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the Mall. The program is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m.

Gregg said Palin is currently not scheduled to speak at the event and watchers should not expect any type of “political statement” from Palin during Rolling Thunder.


I’m betting a bunch of libtards starting the phone ringing off the hook...

So now we have two “official” statements from Rolling thunder reps....she was invited...she was not...

Clearly.....Someone....is lying...


35 posted on 05/27/2011 1:28:22 PM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: kristinn

Bumping for later reference.


36 posted on 05/27/2011 1:30:30 PM PDT by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: kristinn
"MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell"....or Any Other member of the LSM making Any comment or doing Any story about Sarah Palin should be enough to alert all Freepers that all may not be exactly as presented in the original story. These people have ONE OBJECTIVE...to get Obama Reelected. During the next year and a half they will be working overtime to obfuscate, distort, and slander any Republican.
37 posted on 05/27/2011 1:30:56 PM PDT by radioone
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Just like black churches, the unions, and Soros-front organizations stay out of electoral politics?

It depends on the non-profit status and designation. By law, a 501c3 may spend no more than 5% of it's annual budget on advocacy (politics). A 501c4 does not have the same restrictions and that is what the majority of Soros-front orgs are. 501c6s are foundations and aren't particularly restricted depending on the sort of foundation it is. A good list can be found here.

My guess is that Rolling Thunder is a 501c3 for tax deduction purposes for their donors. The other designations aren't as free with that.

38 posted on 05/27/2011 1:32:25 PM PDT by Desdemona ( If trusting the men in the clergy was a requirement for Faith, there would be no one in the pews.)
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To: humblegunner; All
Rolling thunder loves Sarah Palin.

And are quite happy she is going to be there.

That's why they invited her.

Rolling Thunder Riders Praise Sarah Palin's Participation in Rally

May 27, 2011 1:29 PM

For the riders of Rolling Thunder, the news that Sarah Palin will participate in their national rally on Sunday came as a surprise. A welcome surprise.

“I think that’s wonderful,” said Gerri Tramel, president of one of Rolling Thunder’s Tennessee chapters. “Anybody that’s involved -- Republican, Democrat, independent, whatever -- if you’re involved with our veterans, I think that’s wonderful. Not just Sarah Palin -- anyone that’s a politician.”

For more than 20 years, as many as half a million motorcycle riders from across the country have descended on Washington, D.C., during Memorial Day weekend to raise awareness about prisoners of war and those missing in action. Rolling Thunder announced Thursday that Palin accepted an invitation to participate in its May 29 rally. She’ll kick off her One Nation Tour the same day, a bus trip along the northeast coast that aims “to educate and energize Americans about our nation's founding principles.”

Asked how Palin came to be involved with the rally, Rolling Thunder spokeswoman Nancy Regg said, “I honestly don’t know.”

“I’m not the person that invited her,” she said. “We send letters to people all the time and invite them. We invited her to ride, she has accepted and she and her husband have both agreed to ride for us.”

I've been around many times with the RT guys, they are fantastic. No way would they have a problem with Palin at ANY of their events. They excorted the TPX buses more than once.
39 posted on 05/27/2011 1:32:30 PM PDT by Syncro (Sarah Palin, the unofficial Tea Party candidate for president--Virtual Jerusalem)
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To: reasonisfaith

“I don’t think there’s ever been a more polarizing figure than Sarah Palin.”

Barky O’Bama?


40 posted on 05/27/2011 1:32:47 PM PDT by jospehm20
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