NBC Boise: Why is Sarah Palin in Boise? Vaughn Ward defends campaign
Fox News Boise: Campaign Prepping for Palin Visit
Gov. Sarah Palin took the stage at about 11:30 a.m. She made mention that her luggage hadn't arrived.
"I'm in borrowed clothes, again ... The more things change, the more they stay the same," Palin joked. Palin talked about the "hometown feel" of Idaho, describing residents as unpretentious, hard-working, patriotic, average Americans.
Palin, who was born in Sandpoint and graduated from the University of Idaho, talked about her Idaho roots. Her father taught school and coached in Sandpoint. She mentioned others in her family who'd graduated from Idaho colleges.
"We're all a bunch of potato heads," Palin said. Palin said her father didn't make it to Boise today because he was busy getting a new hunting dog. "Does that tell you anything about the home I grew up in? Politics or hunting dogs?" Palin said.
"It's one of the highlights of his life," (father is a huge Boise State Broncos fan). "We need someone to take a stand against the big government agenda of Nancy Pelosi," she said. Palin also talked about fixing "that ObamaCare scheme that was forced down our throats."
She said the media is afraid of Ward because he's a threat to "the left's hold on the First District." She told the crowd to hold the media accountable when they "twist and turn what Vaughn said." She referred back to her education at the University of Idaho, where she got a degree in communications.
She said she learned then the "who, what, where, when and why," but she said modern journalists have strayed from the traditional journalistic values. "I think it's appalling and a violation of our freedom of the press," Palin said.
She made only one reference to Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick. Minnick, the incumbent, has gained a reputation for a very conservative voting record. But Palin implied that isn't enough. "Walt, it's who you're hangin' with," Palin said
“I like those bumper stickers that say, ‘You can keep the change,’” Sarah Palin told the crowd in Boise. She called Vaughn Ward “the real thing,” saying he’s pro-gun and pro-life. “Vaughn has been courageous enough to serve our country and fight for you, fight for all Americans, serving in the Iraq war,” she said.
“Those are the qualities we need in leaders today who like Vaughn can go to Washington and take back a majority for common-sense conservatives, who understand the constitution, and they understand that freedom isn’t free, freedom is a God-given right and is worth fighting for.” That won Palin a loud cheer and round of applause.
America, if you love your freedom, thank a vet! And if you’re looking for leaders who believe in integrity, service, and country first, look to our veterans.
Last week I campaigned for a true American hero, John McCain, and this week I’d ask you to join me in supporting a new generation of heroes who are heeding their country’s call for leadership in Washington.
There are a number of great veteran candidates running for office this year, and there are some excellent organizations dedicated to helping them, including: Iraq Vets for Congress and Combat Veterans for Congress (please click on the links to visit their websites).
There are three veterans in particular I’ll be supporting this week.
The first is Major Vaughn Ward, a fourth-generation Idaho native who grew up on his family’s farm in Shoshone and is running in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District. Coming from a family with a proud military tradition, Vaughn enlisted in the Marine Corps after college and was finishing up his service when the September 11th attacks occurred. He put his life on hold and heeded his country’s call – serving first as a CIA Operations Officer and later volunteering with the Marine Corps for a combat tour in Iraq, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V. After returning from Iraq, Vaughn went to work for the McCain/Palin campaign. I was grateful for his support then, and I’m happy to support him now because I know that he believes in the same commonsense conservative ideals that we cherish. Vaughn knows that real job growth comes from the private sector, not government. He believes in free market reforms, tax relief for families and small businesses, and a return to a constitutionally limited government that lives within its means. He’ll carry the conservative banner to Washington and will rein in the reckless growth of government to get it back on our side. And remember, a vote for Vaughn is a vote to remove the gavel from Nancy Pelosi’s grip. Please visit Vaughn’s website here to make a donation to his campaign, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
The second veteran is Captain Adam Kinzinger, a decorated special-operations pilot who flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adam is running for Illinois’ 11th Congressional District against a freshman incumbent congresswoman who seemed to pull a bait and switch on voters to get elected. She sounded like a blue dog on the campaign trail, but didn’t vote like one in Washington. Instead, she voted in lockstep with the Pelosi agenda – on Obamacare, the stimulus, cap-and-tax – and the list goes on. She’s part of the reason for Congress’ 11% approval rating. Adam is a strong fiscal conservative with a proven track record as a reformer from his years serving on his local county board. Adam started out in local office, and, like many of us, believes in making government more accountable to the people. When you serve in local office, your constituents truly are your neighbors. Adam understands this, and I know that he will listen to his constituents and work for us, not against us, in Washington. Please visit Adam’s website here to make a donation to his campaign, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
The third veteran is Lieutenant Colonel Allen West, a decorated war hero who’s served with distinction in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of you may have heard of Allen from a speech he gave last year that became a viral video on YouTube with over 2 million viewers. Allen’s personal story is a testament to the commonsense conservative belief that our nation’s greatness is rooted in freedom, because with freedom comes equal opportunity, and that, coupled with hard work, leads to success. Allen is a small government fiscal conservative running against a leftwing ideologue who’s marched to the beat of Nancy Pelosi on every issue from cap-and-tax to the stimulus, TARP, and, of course, Obamacare. It’s time to send Allen to Washington in his place. Please visit Allen’s website here to donate to his campaign, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
I believe that these great veterans will fight for us in D.C. to uphold and defend our constitution as courageously in the halls of Congress as they did on the field of battle. I’m so honored to offer my support to these American heroes, and I hope you’ll join me in helping them so that they can serve us all in Washington.