Statement by Franklin Graham on Accusations Against Sarah Palin

"She is a kind and compassionate God-fearing woman"
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Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Dr. Billy Graham and president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued a statement in support of Gov. Palin Tuesday:

"I have been shocked at the reports from those suggesting that former Governor Sarah Palin has some level of responsibility for the horrific shooting in Arizona. I got to know Governor Palin when she served as Governor of Alaska. She was extremely helpful to Samaritan’s Purse in providing relief to remote villages throughout the state. Most recently, she and members of her family traveled with me to Haiti where we visited Cholera clinics, temporary shelter communities, and participated in an Operation Christmas Child distribution."

"She is a kind and compassionate God-fearing woman who believes with all her heart that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Whether you agree with her politics or not, it is outrageous to suggest that her political opinions encourage violence toward anyone. This is a time for mourning and prayer for the victims and their families."

Visit the BGEA website here.

h/t: David Patten

- JP

Rev.Graham: Sarah Palin's Compassion Touched Haitians' Hearts

She is a woman of strong principle and faith in God
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Rev. Franklin Graham, in a Newsmax.TV interview, said that Gov. Palin’s visit to Haiti is testimony that she is not “afraid to get her hands dirty.” The first woman in history to be governor of Alaska is a “woman of strong principle and no question she has a strong faith in God,” commented the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham:

The former GOP vice-presidential candidate “has tremendous compassion for people, she loves people, and she cares deeply about people,” Graham said.

“She was an encouragement not only to the staff and to the relief workers (but) even to the Haitian people who didn’t know her,” Graham said.

“She came in with her smile. She would sit on the cots. Now, you have to understand a cholera clinic, these cots have been soaked in urine, and fecal matter, and vomit. Cholera is a horrible thing, and she just sat right there in the middle of it, holding peoples’ hands, talking to people, holding babies, it was an amazing thing. She’s quite a lady and not afraid to get her hands dirty.”

[...]

As for Graham’s appraisal of Palin, he said: “When you read her book ‘Going Rogue,’ she gives a testimony on how she gave her life to God. And the last page of her book ‘Going Rogue,’ she mentions or says to the reader if you haven’t done what I’ve done, I encourage you to do it. And she invites a person to invite God into their heart, their life. I’ve seen the governor on a number of occasions and no question her faith is a big part of her life — that’s who she is. She’s a believer in Jesus Christ, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, that’s just her makeup. It’s her DNA.”

[More]

- JP

Video: Mission of Mercy in Haiti

This is a country in great need
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From "On the Record" Monday night on Fox News, video of Greta Van Susteren and Sarah Palin in Haiti with Rev. Franklin Graham:



And courtesy of Samaritan's Purse, here's video of Rev. Graham and Gov Palin at a press briefing held this weekend in Haiti:


- JP

SMH: Palin broadens horizons in troubled Haiti

"I do urge Americans not to forget Haiti"
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Samaritan's Purse Video

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

Sarah Palin toured Haiti Sunday amid post-election unrest, comforting quake and cholera victims and gaining humanitarian kudos as she geared up for a possible White House bid in 2012.

The 46-year-old former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate was accompanied on the weekend trip by her husband Todd and 20-year-old daughter Bristol.

On the 11-month anniversary of January's devastating earthquake, there is deep political uncertainty in violence-plagued Haiti, where rioting after disputed elections killed five people this week.

During their tour, the Palins distributed Christmas shoe-box gifts to children, held the feet of baby cholera victims and offered solace to homeless quake survivors.

The cholera epidemic has claimed 2,200 lives since it erupted mid-October and concern is growing about its possible spread in the neighboring Dominican Republic where more than 20 people have been infected.

In a tightly-managed press opportunity on Sunday, Palin, the media superstar of American conservatism, spoke only briefly to reporters and refused to take questions.

"The reason why I won't be answering questions is because we don't need to be getting political here today, okay folks," Palin said.

"If some of these politicians would come here again, not to get political, but if some of the politicians would come here and see the conditions, perhaps they would see a need for say, military airlifts," she later added.

[...]

Before leaving the press conference on Sunday and surveying the destruction for herself with a helicopter tour of the ruined capital, Palin urged the world not to forget Haiti's plight.

"Young people, perhaps through Bristol's eyes, will be able to see that what really matters in life is not the material comforts that we seem to crave and strive for in the US," she said.

[More]

Additional coverage: Reuters story here, video here. Katrina Trinko mentions it at NRO's The Corner here. Examiner Devonia Smith has an op-ed here and a photo gallery here. Greta Van Susteren posted a short video here. Greta will report on the Haiti trip in Monday's "On The Record" at 9PM Central on Fox News.

- JP

Rev. Graham and Gov. Palin arrive in Haiti

Evangelist and Samaritan's Purse president Franklin Graham and Sarah Palin arrived in Haiti today to survey the organization's work with cholera patients, deliver Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts, visit shelters, tour rubble removal sites, and meet with volunteers and staff.

"I am pleased that Gov. Palin will accompany us on a brief trip to Haiti this weekend, and I appreciate her willingness to visit Haiti during such troubled times,” Graham said. “I believe Gov. Palin will be a great encouragement to the people of Haiti and to the organizations, both government and private, working so hard to provide desperately needed relief."

Fox News host Greta Van Susteren, who visited North Korea with Samaritan’s Purse in 2008 and 2009 to report on the organization's medical work, is also on the trips.

More, including photos, at the Samaritan's Purse Today blog.

Updates...

AFP reports:

Conservative US politician Sarah Palin was undeterred by days of politically-charged rioting that has left at least five people dead as she began a weekend tour with a visit to an earthquake refugee camp.

Stepping off a yellow helicopter, Palin visited a community where Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse provides shelter for victims of an earthquake in January that killed 250,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless.

"I've really enjoyed meeting this community," Palin said. "They are so full of joy. We are so fortunate in America and we are responsible for helping those less fortunate. Samaritan's Purse is still here doing the tough work."

Palin, accompanied by leading US evangelist and Samaritan's Purse president Franklin Graham, will see for herself the massive devastation from the quake and learn about a cholera outbreak that has claimed more than 2,200 lives.

Also along on the trip, Todd and Bristol Palin, as well as Rev. Graham's daughter Cissie Graham Lynch, who is tweeting here.

- JP

Samaritan's Purse: Saving lives in Haiti

"We're going to be here for several years to come"
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As we reported Thursday, Gov. Palin is headed for Haiti this weekend with evangelist Franklin Graham. Hopefully, her visit will help focus some attention on the work Rev. Graham's relief organization Samaritan's Purse is doing in the earthquake-ravaged country. Here are some videos that describe the situation in Haiti and the relief efforts undertaken by Samaritan's Purse:


- JP

Gov. Palin headed to Haiti with Franklin Graham

In humanitarian effort by Samaritan's Purse, Franklin's relief organization
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Politico has confirmed with a Palin source that Sarah Palin is traveling to Haiti this weekend with Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham and an evangelist like his father. CNN broke the news today that Gov. Palin and Rev. Graham will visit a cholera clinic and other locations in a humanitarian effort by Samaritan's Purse, Franklin's relief organization.

Leave it to Politico to focus on the political aspects of the trip, as Andy Barr doesn't shy away from doing:

The Haiti trip could serve two distinct political purposes for Palin.

First, it provides an opportunity to expand her image and policy portfolio beyond her limited image as a darling of the tea party movement.

Second, she'll be able to better establish her claim to evangelical voters if she chooses to seek the Republican presidential nomination. Evangelicals overwhelmingly supported former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, one of Palin's potential 2012 rivals, in the early 2008 GOP primaries and caucuses.

Or maybe Rev. Graham simply asked Gov. Palin to help out some people in need. 'Tis the season...

- JP

Sarah Palin: Politically Correct U.S. Army wrong to disinvite Graham

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Sarah Palin gave the U.S. Army a good scolding on her Facebook Notes page Friday morning for reneging on its invitation to Franklin Graham to speak at the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer service:

The Army’s Loss in Dis-Inviting a Good Man

My, have things changed. I was honored to have Rev. Franklin Graham speak at my Governor’s Prayer Breakfasts. His good work in Alaska’s Native villages and his charitable efforts all over the world stem from his servant’s heart. In my years of knowing him, I’ve never found his tempered and biblically-based comments to be offensive – in fact his words have been encouraging and full of real hope.

It’s truly a sad day when such a fine patriotic man, whose son is serving on his fourth deployment in Afghanistan to protect our freedom of speech and religion, is dis-invited from speaking at the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer service. His comments in 2001 were aimed at those who are so radical that they would kill innocent people and subjugate women in the name of religion.

Are we really so hyper-politically correct that we can’t abide a Christian minister who expresses his views on matters of faith? What a shame. Yes, thing have changed.

- Sarah Palin

- JP

Palin: Nation should seek God's protection and blessings

Friday, BGEA released the final two video segments of Billy and Franklin Graham's exclusive interview with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. On the videos, she talks about leadership and discusses Franklin Graham's work in Alaska with Samaritan's Purse.

A brief excerpt of Sarah Palin's comments:

"I believe our country has been touched by God," said Palin, "because when we formed our union, leaders back then dedicated our country to God and said that we would seek His will for our great nation.

"I think if we could get back to that humbleness," she added, "with that kind of contrite spirit, I think that we would be able to be provided more of the answers to so many of the great challenges that we’re facing."

Gov. Palin noted that it takes Godly counsel, prayer and "a collective humble heart of a nation seeking God’s hand of protection and His blessings and prosperity. I think if we could get back to that, our country will be a safer, more prosperous and healthier nation."

All five BGEA video clips of former Governor Palin's interview with the Graham's are here.

- JP

The Grahams' Interview With Sarah Palin

They called her every name in the book. They sent teams of opposition researchers and rabid media hounds to her state to dig for dirt on her. They smeared her, her husband and every one of her five children with vicious lies. They hacked into her private e-mail account and posted her messages on the Web. Their coordinated campaign of web and media attacks against her rage on 24/7. They even tried to burn down the church she attended, causing a million dollars in damage and threatening the lives of those were inside. Through it all, she has carried on with courage and optimism. How does Sarah Palin manage to do that in the face of such unprecedented and vicious hatred?

Her faith in God keeps her going. While she was a guest of the Graham family recently in their home in North Carolina, Billy and Franklin Graham interviewed Sarah Palin about her challenges and her faith. Read all about it and watch the videos the Grahams made of their interview with Sarah Palin here.

- JP

Mutual Admiration: Rev. Billy Graham and Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin was a dinner guest in the home of the Rev. Billy Graham Sunday, as she met with the world renown evangelist and missionary and his son Franklin in North Carolina.

Former Gov. Palin said she wanted to express her appreciation to the elder Graham and seek his guidance on how to spread a positive message, The Asheville Citizen-Times reported:

Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate, said she wanted to discuss at dinner with the Montreat-based evangelists how she can contribute to messages that “can be sent to give some hope and some opportunity to people who may be hurting right now.”

“It's a once in a lifetime honor to meet Rev. Billy Graham, who has contributed so much to our world,” she said at the Asheville Regional Airport.

Palin made the surprise stop in Asheville while on her tour promoting her new book, “Going Rogue: An American Life.” She greeted a few fans and supporters with a handshake and smile before making brief remarks with the Rev. Franklin Graham. He greeted her and some family members when her private jet landed.

“I, like many people, have been impressed with her strong commitment to her faith, to family and love of country,” the Rev. Billy Graham said in a statement released after dinner. “We had an opportunity to pray together. Life in the spotlight is not easy and I pray that whatever lies ahead for this family that their faith in God and his son, Jesus Christ, would remain strong and that God would put a hedge of protection around her and all those she holds dear.”

- JP

Sarah Palin's arrival in Asheville NC for Dinner with the Grahams

Sarah Palin arrived at the airport at 3:10pm and was warmly welcomed by Franklin Graham and some local supporters who turned out on very short short notice. The former governor then took some time to answer a few questions. 

Rchard Bernier of Asheville is a co-founder of Draft Palin for President.

h/t: Buncombe County GOP

Update: Associated Press: Palin dines, prays with Rev. Billy Graham in NC

- JP

Sarah Palin Will Meet Billy Graham Tonight

Sarah Palin is taking a few hours' break from her Going Rogue book tour tonight for dinner with world renown evangelist Billy Graham and his son Franklin. McClatchy Newspapers' Charlotte Observer reports:

Sarah Palin, who will sign books Monday at Fort Bragg, plans a stopover in Montreat today to have dinner with 91-year-old Billy Graham and his son, Franklin Graham, who issued the invitation.

"He just saw that she was going to be in the area and he said to come by," said Jeremy Blume, a spokesman for Franklin Graham. Former Alaska Gov. Palin, who was the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, will fly into Asheville this afternoon, Blume said, and then go to Billy Graham's mountaintop home in Montreat for dinner.

Although Sarah Palin has never met the elder Graham, she and Franklin Graham teamed up on a relief mission to some Alaskan communities which were hit hard last winter by the combination of a lean salmon fishing season and a spike in prices for diesel fuel and gasoline. The two delivered food to Russian Village and other communities as part of an aid effort that flew more than 40,000 pounds of donated food and supplies to to villages along the Yukon River.

- JP