Florida Times-Union: Palin wows Jacksonville crowd

*
Sarah Palin returned to Jacksonville Thursday night, her first appearance in Northeast Florida since a book signing event there November 24 of last year. From the Florida Times-Union story:

Although the event was a fund-raiser for the anti-abortion nonprofit group Heroic Media, political jabs were everywhere.

For Palin, state Sen. John Thrasher, state Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart and Jacksonville City Council President Jack Webb, the evening was ripe for digs at numerous politicians.

Among them:

Palin called the recently passed health care legislation “a hit” on children with disabilities.

Thrasher promised to bring back controversial abortion legislation vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist, a name that drew heated boos twice in the evening, and said voters need to hold Crist, now an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate, accountable in November.

Heroic Media, a faith-based group, is dedicated to buying ad space on television, websites and billboards to encourage women not to abort their babies.

Mark Nelson, the Florida director for the group, said it is aiming to raise about $150,000 to buy ad spots over a 10-week period in Jacksonville. The group said on Thursday that it has raised about $50,000 toward that effort.

[...]

Using the recent commemoration of the 90th anniversary of women’s suffrage, Palin attacked traditional women’s organizations for supporting abortion rights.

“How about protecting our littlest sisters in the womb on equality day?” she said.

Gov. Palin will be making other appearances for Heroic Media in Houston in October and Dallas in November.

WOKV News Director Rich Jones reported:

"The biggest advance of the abortion industry in America is the passage of Obamacare," Palin said. "Elective abortions have nothing to do with health care. It's about ending lives, not saving lives."

[...]

"Unfortunately your Republican governor," Palin began before pausing. "I don't know if he wants to be one or is a Republican anymore."

After the crowd booed, she continued.

"Your governor, he decided to veto this pro-life bill," she said before drawing laughs by sarcastically pointing out that Crist still calls himself pro-life. "He forgot that when to comes protecting the sanctity of life actions speak louder than words."

Associated Press coverage of the event is here.

This is the first time we know of that Gov. Palin has publicly gone after Crist. From Aggieland, we say gig 'em, Governor!

- JP