Going rogue? Palin bans gadgets, reporters from speech
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is a lightning rod for controversy, but a recent attempt to keep a low profile might just result in, well, more press. The onetime vice presidential hopeful Palin, who stepped down from the governorship this summer, will be speaking at a Right to Life event in Milwaukee, Wis., on Friday evening, and her team has mandated that there are no reporters allowed--or gadgets.
According to CNN, laptops, cell phones, cameras, and anything else that could potentially be used as a recording device will not be allowed into the auditorium. Tickets to the event were $30.
It's not an unprecedented move by any means. Advance screenings of movies, for instance, regularly have a no-cell-phones policy now that just about any phone can be used as a recording device. And Palin is hardly the only high-profile politician to put a no-press, no-recording rule in place for a speech: Former Vice President Al Gore did just that for a keynote address at the RSA security conference in early 2008.
But the funny part is that banning the press will generally do very little good, since anyone with a notebook or a good memory could easily post quotes or a synopsis to a blog or Twitter account within minutes of the event ending. In this case, as with Gore's press ban at RSA, it's likely that Palin's move will just end up stirring up more buzz.
Considering her book "Going Rogue: An American Life" is coming out in a matter of days, that might ultimately turn out well--or not.
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
- by bvdon November 6, 2009 7:53 PM PST
- "Only an idiot would spend $30 to go hear that moron speak."<br /><br />Only an idiot would make a comment like that knowing full well that it would be offensive to a good number of people that happen to like her.<br /><br />Put it this way. She's been a governor, ran for VP, does tons of public speaking and gets huge crowds and just signed a multi-million dollar book contract.... and what is that YOU'VE done that's so special that puts you in a position to tell the rest of us how dumb she is and how idiotic her supporters are?
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- by jimmyhoops November 7, 2009 8:41 AM PST
- Winning a public office has never been an intelligence credential, it only means that you can win a popularity contest. I've accomplished more in my life then she ever will. The difference is that I don't need to stand on a podium to try and prove it. I'm sure that there will be plenty of people who line up to see her. But then again, more than half of this country is of below average intelligence. As the old adage goes, 'a fool and their money are soon parted.' And based on your comments, I'm sure that includes yourself.
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- by jimmyhoops November 7, 2009 8:54 AM PST
- No, no, no...one more thing.<br /><br />To correct the record, she lost a bid for VP, she quit her job as governor (mid way through her term) and she's given a couple of highly paid speeches. That does not amount to much in terms of accomplishments, but does speak volumes about her character. What it does amount to, thus far, is being little more than a side show at a carnival.
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- by jezzur November 10, 2009 1:47 AM PST
- bvdon, are you saying that she is impressive and brainy and deserving of, arguably, the second most powerful position in the world. If people really do think she is an impressive person and worth listening to, then no, I am not concerned about their feelings - I am concerned about education standards and rights to vote.
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<br />Maybe Palin as president? What feelings does that bring to you?
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- by shycelticwitch November 10, 2009 12:04 PM PST
- @bvdon.... I have helped 11 people start a career in the last 2 years. I have given 12% of my salary to honest charities like St. Jude. I have volunteered at Special Olympics events and food banks. I volunteer at the local library and give free computer graphic design lessons to underprivileged kids. I do all of this without the benefit of huge crowds and multi-million dollar contracts. <br /><br />This woman is a hate-monger of the worst kind, she uses deceptive communication and the media to support her misconceptions about "what America wants."<br /><br />Well Ms. Palin, you're pretty far off the mark as far as what real middle class americans want. It's true there are few of us left, so our voices are being drowned out by the poor who are crying foul at the banks and big box corporations, and by the rich who are crying "foul" at the government for reprimanding the banks and big box corporations for stealing us blind.<br /><br />What do we want? We want health care we can afford, interest rates we can afford, and a government who makes sure that it stays that way. What's so "liberal" or "socialist" or "elitist" about that simple request?<br /><br />Soon Ms. Palin will not be able to hide these facts any longer: that her "death panels' already exist in the form of health care insurance accountants; that our current health care system is simply a profit machine with no real benefit to the general public; that at a cost of $1200 per month for a family of 3 (basic plan) health insurance is beyond the reach of anyone earning less than $15 an hour.<br /><br />Think I am spouting nonsense here? Figure it out... $7.25 per hour nets the average person about $205 a week after taxes. An entire month's pay would not buy medical insurance for a family of 3. What's wrong with that picture?<br /><br />Forget salary caps and whacking bonuses... let them keep what they have. Instead, raise the minimum wage to $25 per hour, or require all employers who pay less than $15 an hour to provide fully covered medical insurance to their employees. <br /><br />Here's a question for ALL of you... if every person decided they were going to be a doctor, lawyer or other over-paid career choice, who would you get to collect your garbage, clean your house, service your car, etc., etc.... you know.. all those jobs that you think are worth little to nothing in compensation? Bet you'd see REAL FAST how important they are if no one was there to do them. Yet the people who do those jobs are nothing more than floor mats for you to wipe your pristine little right wingtip shoes on. <br /><br />I can only say... what goes around, comes around... and I'd say the return trip has only just begun.
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