Palin's Prayer: Former AK gov gives religious testimony

Excerpt from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal article:
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TUPELO - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrived in Tupelo in blue suede shoes, much to the delight of an estimated 6,500 fans.

Palin wasted no time Saturday at the BancorpSouth Arena invoking the name of Tupelo's native son, Elvis, as she began her hour-long speech that mingled personal religious testimony with political and social commentary.

"This (Elvis') story is an all-American story that shows you anything is possible and you never know where you'll end up in this blessed land," Palin said.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee took the stage at 3 p.m. as the keynote speaker for the Extraordinary Women Conference, an event that began Friday evening and featured various Christian female authors and speakers.

Women young and old hurried forward to snap photographs as Palin stood on a stage awash in pink and blue light.

[More]

- JP

Gov. Palin will speak at another Extraordinary Women event this weekend

3PM Saturday, Tupelo Time
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Sarah Palin, who spoke at an Extraordinary Women conference in Lynchburg, Virginia October 8th, will address a similar event in Tupelo, Mississippi this weekend:

The speech by the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee is set for 3 p.m. Saturday. It's part of the Extraordinary Women Conference at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo.

Michael Stewart, the conference's vice president for event development, told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that Tupelo is one of only four stops on the Extraordinary Women tour at which Palin will speak.

He said organizers "looked for markets where her appearance demographically made sense." Stewart said the presence of the Tupelo-based American Family Association is among the reasons Palin chose to speak in the city.

Gov. Palin is also scheduled to speak at 2012 Extraordinary Women events in Greenville, South Carolina in March and Birmingham, Alabama in April.

- JP

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

Lynchburg readies for Sarah Palin visit this afternoon

With Palin headlining, the conference sold out more quickly than usual.

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After addressing 5,000 people at an event in St. Charles, Missouri Friday night, Sarah Palin will speak to a crowd expected to be twice that size Saturday afternoon in Virginia at Liberty University for the Extraordinary Women Conference:

The former Alaskan governor will share her testimony of faith to more than 10,000 women who have traveled to Lynchburg for the conference.

"I just want her to share her journey with everyone," said Julie Clinton, conference host and president of the Extraordinary Women organization. "I think she relates to our audience very well and she's very excited about being a part of it."

Hotels around the region have sold out of rooms in anticipation of Palin's visit. The Wingate on Candler's Mountain Road ran out of rooms within 30 minutes of tickets going on sale last March, said Travis Dunn, front desk supervisor.

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With Palin headlining, the conference sold out more quickly than usual, Clinton said.

"We usually sell out this event every year, but we usually don't sell out as early as we did this year," she said.

Conference organizers are still selling tickets to the overflow venue at Thomas Road Baptist Church, which will show a live broadcast of the event. Several speakers, including Palin, will make a brief appearance at the overflow venue.

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- JP

Gov. Palin scheduled to speak at Liberty University in Oct.

Her remarks will be simulcast to 1,000 churches around the country
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As The Daily Caller's Steven Nelson observes, Sarah Palin will need solid support from social conservatives to win the GOP presidential nomination if she runs. Nelson interprets her scheduled appearance at Liberty University’s Extraordinary Women Conference as a sign that that she's aware of this reality:

The News & Advance, a newspaper in Lynchburg, Virginia, reported Tuesday that Palin will speak at the October 7-8 conference, mere months before presidential primary elections.

“Extraordinary Women is pleased to announce that Governor Sarah Palin will be sharing her testimony of faith with us at the 2011 Lynchburg Ewomen conference,” the group wrote on its website.

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Current Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. wrote in a statement to The News & Advance, “Governor Palin is greatly admired by our Liberty University faculty, staff and students for her patriotism and her determination to stand up for what is right despite vicious and unrelenting attacks against her and her family.”

The audience for Gov. Palin’s speech will be significantly expanded, thanks to a simulcast which will distribute her remarks to 1,000 churches around the country. Tickets for the event are priced between $49 and $89.

- JP