NBC13 Video: Sarah Palin's entire Rainbow Omega speech

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Courtesy of WVTM-TV

Sarah Palin draws crowd of 800 to Rainbow Omega fundraiser

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who has a a son with Down Syndrome, spoke Wednesday night at the biggest fundraising dinner ever for Rainbow Omega, a faith-based Alabama program for developmentally disabled adults. The crowd of about 800 payed $250 and more for tickets to hear the first woman to be the Republican Party's candidate for vice-president. Her address lasted about 40 minutes:

Much of her speech focused on how she and her husband, Todd, learned that their fifth child, Trig, would be born with Down Syndrome and how they came to accept Trig as a “gift from God”.

Palin started her speech by offering thoughts to the people of South Alabama who are facing severe hardship from a massive oil leak gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.

She emphasized that while “shocked and saddened”, she and her husband still believe in domestic drilling.

“We still need to,“ she said, tying the production of domestic oil to security concerns over buying oil from hostile regimes.

“Energy independence gives us more security, creates jobs, and makes people more able to give to charities like this,“ Palin said.

Palin finished her remarks by attacking a favorite target of hers: the country’s new health care reform law.

She called it “unconstitutional” and asserted that it would raise taxes on families with disabled children by capping Flexible Spending Accounts at $2,500.

A representative for Rainbow Omega said that the organization expected to net about a quarter of a million dollars from the fundraiser after expenses.

- JP

Sarah Palin criticizes ObamaCare in Alabama speech

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The Birmingham News reported Wednesday night that Sarah Palin told a crowd in Birmingham, Alabama that ObamaCare will cost the special needs community $13 billion in taxes and could lead to rationing which may deny health care to seniors and the developmentally disabled:

In a speech in support of the Rainbow Omega home for developmentally disabled adults, Palin attacked recent health care reforms as unconstitutional and likely to result in "panels" that will decide who gets care.

"Those with special needs and our elderly citizens are perhaps the ones who will not receive the care that will have to be rationed," she said

The News' Stan Diel wrote that Gov. Palin told her audience that since she knew she would be introduced by syndicated radio funny men Rick & Bubba, she learned some redneck jokes especially for her speech:

"You know you're a redneck if you saved a lot of money by going hunting on your honeymoon," she said. "Todd and I went moose hunting! We did!"

The 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate expressed her sympathy for Alabamans affected by the Deep Horizon oil spill along that state's coastline:

"I'll never forget the day the Exxon Valdez ran aground," she said. "My heart has been full of prayer and concern for those in the southern part of your state.

Prior to delivering her speech, The News reported that the former Alaska governor greeted residents and supporters of Rainbow Omega, the organization which brought her to Birmingham for the fundraiser. The faith-based organization helps adults who have developmental disabilities.

- JP

Sarah Palin will speak in Birmingham, AL Tuesday

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Sarah Palin will be in Birmingham, Alabama Tuesday, speaking at a fundraiser for the Rainbow Omega organization.

The faith-based non-profit provides residential care, health care and vocational programs for the developmentally disabled:



- JP

Gov. Palin to speak in Birmingham, Alabama May 11

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According to a Mobile Press-Register report, Sarah Palin will speak in Alabama next month at a fundraiser benefiting Rainbow Omega, a nonprofit organization which provides residential care, health care and vocational programs for developmentally disabled adults:

In a release, the organization said Palin's topic would be "Dreams for My Child's Future: My Views as an Advocate for Those With Developmental Disabilities."

Rainbow Omega added in the press release it was a "strictly non-partisan group" and said Palin, whose son Trig is developmentally disabled, would "communicate our mission in a dynamic manner."

The May 11 fundraiser will get underway at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. Lynn Sampson has ticket information at 205-585-4450, or check the web at www.rainbowomega.org. The full press release for the event is here.

Gov. Palin will return to Alabama in the fall to speak at Faulkner University's Annual Benefit Dinner in Montgomery October 7.

- JP