Gov. Palin: ‘It was prayerful consideration. It was prayerful’

She received multiple standing ovations, and throngs of attendees crowded the stage.
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In Sarah Palin's second public speaking appearance following her Wednesday announcement that she would not run for president in 2012, the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate referenced that decision only briefly in a speech Saturday, when she described her disappointment with those of her supporters who voiced outrage over the decision:

“They got mad and they would send some pretty mean emails and messages, and I thought ‘Oh come on, you’re going to trust me to be the leader of the free world but you don’t trust me to make the decision that God led me to make at this time,” she said.

“It was prayerful consideration. It was prayerful.”

Gov. Palin was speaking to the Extraordinary Women Conference at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she called for the restoration of America:

Palin’s 90-minute speech veered from stories about moose hunting to Tea Party politics to the challenge of raising a son with Down syndrome. Her message centered on the importance of having faith in God and steering America “back on the right track.”

“Now isn’t the time to retreat, now is the time to reload with truth so we can fight for this country and reload for America,” she said to more than 10,000 Christian women who traveled from across the country to hear her speak.

The theme for the evangelical Christian women’s conference was “extraordinary hope,” and Palin quipped:

“I’m talking about real hope, not that hopey changey stuff that some politicians try to get you go believe in.”

The visit was Palin’s first to Liberty, and hotels across the region sold out for the event.

Liberty chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. introduced Palin, and presented the self-described “hockey mom” with an LU hockey jersey.

“We met her at a Glenn Beck event in Washington last year and we just have watched her make such a difference in our country and we appreciate everything she does,” Falwell said.

See also Sarah Palin Speaks to Thousands at LU

- JP