Gov. Palin takes on ObamaCare in Gwinnett County speech

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One of the major themes of Sarah Palin's speech Tuesday night at an Atlanta-area fundraiser for developmentally disabled children was health care. The first woman to be the vice presidential candidate of the Republican Party told her audience that ObamaCare will limit contributions to health savings accounts and cause the price of medical insurance to increase for Americans, including those with special needs:

She warned that new rules aiming to raise $13 billion by limiting contributions to flexible spending accounts amount to a "hefty tax hike" for families of special needs children struggling with health care costs. And she said families will wind up with fewer care options.

"Our insurance and our care choices will be diminished by this new program," she said to an audience of several thousand at a suburban Atlanta arena. "The government's taking over one-sixth of our economy and we expect the government's going to do a better job than the private sector?"

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The event was billed as a nonpolitical benefit hosted by the Gwinnett County ministry Zachariah's Way, which helps churches serve disabled and special needs parishioners. But Palin couldn't resist a few knocks on the Obama administration.

She said she would work to encourage Americans to treat special needs children with respect and that she was disappointed that one of Obama's aides used the word "retarded." White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel apologized earlier this year for using the word to describe liberal activists whose tactics on health care he questioned.

"America's too good for that," she said to applause. "We're too good to have to put with that."

Gov. Palin is donating her speakers fee to the ministry.

Related: The AJC has a gallery of some photos from the event here.

- JP

AJC: Sarah Palin returns to Gwinnett June 29

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Former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will return to Georgia June 29 for a speaking engagement at the P.U.R.E. Ministry Project, which provides assistance in ministering to people with disabilities. The event will be held at the Gwinnett Arena and gets underway at 7 PM local time.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Aaron Gould Sheinin wonders if the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate will bring with her an endorsement for candidates in any of Georgia’s upcoming Republican primaries:

Palin, the former governor of Alaska who rocketed to national fame as John McCain’s running mate in 2008, has traveled the country bestowing her mark of approval on a select group of Republican candidates.

Her endorsement has brought mixed results, with some wins and some losses. But two of her more recent high-profile endorsements had major impact: Carly Fiorina, the new Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in California, and Nikki Haley, the front-runner to win a Republican run-off for governor in South Carolina on Tuesday.

Gov. Palin recently told WSB radio in an interview that she will be speaking about special-needs children at the upcoming P.U.R.E. fundraiser:

“My heart is in this cause, making our country and hopefully ultimately our world a more welcoming place for those with special needs,” she told WSB Radio. “What we’re learning, certainly with our son, is that they teach us more than what we’ll ever be able to teach them in these wonderful lessons. It’s a blessed position that we’re in.”

Palin shared concerns about health reform legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama. Palin said she thinks the plan, dubbed ObamaCare by critics, hurts special-needs families because of a change in one of the tax provisions.

“I can be candid about this discussion about ObamaCare and some of the decisions being made in Washington, D.C. that I think disrespect life,” she said.

The governor said that she and her family have been traveling across the country to meet with Republican candidates for office and is supporting ones that “I believe respect the (U.S.) Constitution, respect life and equality and free enterprise.”

She has been critical of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, unhappy with their votes for measures which increase the national debt. The former governor and oil and gas commissioner is urging GOP candidates to return to the platform of the Republican party and to look to leaders in the private sector for solutions to the country's economic problems:

“(They) know best how to produce and contribute and grow and thrive and prioritize their income and what it is they produce,” she said. “Those things that are part of the Republican party plank and platform, that’s what Republicans need to get back to and not disappoint the electorate this go around.”

Gov. Palin last appeared in Gwinnett County in December 2008 to campaign for Saxby Chambliss, helping the Republican Senator win a run-off election. She and husband Todd first visited Georgia to watch their son, Track, graduate from basic training at Fort Benning.

- JP

Sarah Palin will return to Georgia in June

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Sarah Palin will return to Gwinnett County, Georgia for the first time since she campaigned for Sen. Saxby Chabliss in December, 2008, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post:

This time, Palin will be the keynote speaker for an event presented by The P.U.R.E. Ministry Project, a ministry of Zachariah’s Way.

The P.U.R.E. Ministry Project is a nationwide effort to assist churches in including, ministering to and caring for individuals with special needs and their families.

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Tickets to the event go on sale at 8 a.m. Friday. Gwinnett residents have a chance to meet Palin during the event by becoming a P.U.R.E. Celebration Partner. These VIP guests will receive exclusive seating and the chance to have a photo taken with Palin at an exclusive catered reception.

A number of free VIP Tickets for pastors and special needs families are also being made available. For more information, just click here or call 678-318–1929.

- JP