Sarah Palin: Country needs dose of 'Midwestern Common Sense'

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Sarah Palin told a crowd of 1,100 in central Illinois Saturday that what unites Americans is stronger than what divides them. The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate cited a strong work ethic, security and a government that allows people to live how they choose as uniting factors, and she encouraged Americans to unite to get the nation's troubled economy back on track. Gov. Palin's address was the inaugural speech last night in Five Points Washington's "Lessons From Leaders" speakers series:

Palin commented on the Land of Lincoln having a "most diverse political scene" and referenced the "Will it play in Peoria?" cliche.

"Nobody here is ordinary. ... Much of the eyes of America are on this part of our nation because this is a representation of good, hard-working, grounded, unpretentious, patriotic Americans," she said.

One of those people, Palin said, is former President Ronald Reagan, a Eureka College graduate, who believed in limited government in order to expand opportunity and prosperity. Reagan was a Midwestern boy who understood the importance of work ethic, not entitlement, she said.

"We need a dose of that Midwestern common sense now more than ever," Palin said.

[...]

Palin took several jabs at President Barack Obama's Harvard Law School education. She said the U.S. is on pace to quadruple the deficit, called the federal health care bill "Obama-care" and the "mother of all unfunded mandates," and chastised Congress for what she called "bullying" of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc.

"Washington's idea is to tax and borrow and spend our way out of big problems," Palin said, adding both Republicans and Democrats are to blame. "We're sticking our kids with the bill. I think that is immoral."

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis said Palin hit on points resonating throughout the country "like getting the government under control and getting taxes under control and having people get the government back."

Leadership is speaking out, sticking up for your beliefs, getting involved and contributing to the community. "We want leadership that offers common sense principles and offers common sense solutions," she said.

A sold-out crowd of 1,100 people turned out for Palin's speech, titled "You Don't Need a Title to Make a Difference." Audience members submitted questions for possible inclusion in a question-and-answer session after the speech.

Said U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria: "She's definitely got a role in shaping American politics and American policy, and when she speaks, people listen.

"I thought she gave a very inspiring speech about some of the challenges she went through in her own life as mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska and as a candidate for the vice presidency of the United States," he added.

John Morris, who is director of development for the Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Program and Reagan Museum at Eureka College, said Gov. Palin's remarks about the 40th president's alma mater were "thrilling," because she is a potential Republican candidate for president in 2012:

"Eureka College is a national living legacy to this story that in America you can come from anywhere and with the right values you can go on to help change the world. Eureka College is the living legacy to the story of Ronald Reagan," Morris said.

This is a re-write for the Peoria Journal-Star's Sunday edition of the incomplete story karen McDonald filed late last night. The Sunday PJStar also has a companion article by Steve Stein focusing on local reaction to Gov. Palin's speech.

Illinois Review relays RNC Committeewoman for Illinois Demetra DeMonte's post-event thoughts:

"I just returned from an amazing evening in Washington Illinois. Sarah Palin’s optimism - her belief in the goodness and wisdom of the American people - mesmerized an audience with the message that the American dream is still alive – and that it is up to us to ensure that it remains alive. Although speaking in an positive tone Sarah did not avoid talking about the serious problems confronting us today. She particularly sited the deficit and national security as the most compelling issues of our time."

"She called upon on all of us to hold our elected officials accountable on election day and to do what is necessary to preserve our freedom and the American way of life we cherish , not only for us but for our children and grandchildren."

- JP

First reports: Gov. Palin's speech played well in Peoria

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Marc Strauss of News Center 9/25 in Peoria reported that a crowd of 1,100 turned out for the Saturday evening event at Five Points in Washington:

Ron and Hazel Dyar came to see Palin speak after she personally replied to a letter they'd sent her.

"We're so proud of it and we have shown this note to many, many people. They just think this is awesome," bragged Mrs. Dyar.

Palin's husband, Todd, accompanied her. And after receiving the key to the city the former governor of Alaska explained why Central Illinois is a key to the nation's future.

"A lot of the eyes of America are on this area looking at what it is that you're doing right," Palin told the crowd from the podium. "Perhaps it will help other communities emulate those things that have been successful here. It is such an honor for me to get to be here. I so appreciate the key to the city."

Palin's message while speaking at Five Points was entitled "You Don't Need A Title To Make A Difference".

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"We cut the waiting list off at 200. And that was in the first 24 hours," said Cheryl West, who helped organize Palin's appearance.

The Peoria Journal-Star's Karen McDonald filed her story when Sarah Palin completed her keynote address around 9:30 p.m. after speaking for about an hour:

"So much of the eyes of America are on Peoria and this central region because it is kind of a melting pot of America and there's a great diversity here and an opportunity to disagree without being disagreeable in order to get the best policies, the best ideas implemented," Palin said during the banquet.

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Tickets to the sold out event were $75 to $100 for the speech only, $200 for the banquet and speech and $2,500 for a private reception limited to 50 people. Though officials did not release what Palin was paid for the speaking engagement, POLITICO.com reports she is paid $100,000 per speaking engagement.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Five Points capital projects fund and provide scholarships for area students.

"They're raising a boatload of money for the Washington Community Center Foundation, which is a positive thing for this community," U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, said at the banquet. "And kudos to the Board for being smart enough to bring someone like Sarah who's extremely popular with a segment of the community who are willing to buy tickets and donate to this cause."

The reporter filed this obviously hurried story before the question-and-answer session began., but promised more detailed coverage Sunday. The Washington Examiner has the Associated Press story here. More from Illinois Review here.

- JP

All tickets sold for Sarah Palin at Five Points tonight

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Sarah Palin will speak on the importance of personal engagement and leadership at Five Points Washington tonight near Peoria, Illinois at 7 PM CDST:

She will appear as part of the "Lessons from Leaders: A Series of Contemporary Speakers." Palin will also participate in a question and answer session at the end of her remarks at the Caterpiller Performing Arts Cent.

Proceeds from the event will be used for the Washington Area Community Center capital fund and to create new scholarships for area youth.

As is the case with most Palin appearances, both the banquet and separate seating for the event have been sold out and the waiting list was filled.

Will it play in Peoria? You betcha!

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Up until now, members of the media have only been allowed into Sarah Palin speaking events if they purchased a ticket. But at Five Points Washington's "Lessons from Leaders" banquet April 17 in the Peoria, Illinois area, that policy has changed, according to the Journal Star's "Word on the Street" column:

"Due to several requests that we have received, we have arranged for the local media to attend the April 17, 2010, Lessons From Leaders with Governor Sarah Palin," read an invitation we received last week.

That said, space is limited. West said not all local media outlets are being allowed.

"Media asked if there was any way we could help them out. I said I would have to think about it and figure out how and if we could do something," West said. "This is not a political thing. This is a private function. We're trying our best to accommodate a few media, but we are space limited."

All tickets quickly sold out. The 400 banquet/speech tickets - at $200 each - sold out less than 24 hours after Palin's appearance was announced. Speech-only tickets sold for $100 on the main floor and $75 for the balcony in the 1,000-seat Caterpillar Performing Arts Center.

Whether the policy change is a singular exception only for the Peoria event remains to be seen, but we suspect so. The policy of requiring the media to purchase tickets just like everyone else is, we believe, part of the Washington Speakers Bureau contract language for appearances by Gov. Palin.

- JP