Bristol Palin to speak at Birth Choice event in Oklahoma

March 26 in Edmond
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Birth Choice of Oklahoma, a volunteer organization that provides free services to pregnant young women, announces that Bristol Palin will be the guest speaker for the organization's Annual Life of the Party Charity Dinner and Auction. Bristol will share her personal story about choosing life.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 26. The Dinner and Auction will be followed by the annual Celebration of Life award presentation. It will be held at Oak Tree Golf and Country Club, located in Edmond. Auction items include a Weekend Getaway at Grand Lake; One Week Condo Vacation in Destin, Florida; Ballroom Dancing and Show package; several gourmet dinners; Customized Stain Glass piece; and Reversed Glass Icon. There will also be numerous raffle items including a trip to New York City.

Seats may be reserved for $100 each, and corporate tables are available. There is also a Celebrity Premiere event prior to the dinner and auction.

Tickets for the Celebrity Premiere are $250/each and are limited. There are only 24 left! For more information on the Birth Choice Life of the Party or to make reservations for this evening, please contact Jan O’Neill at 405-606-8426 or e-mail her at joneill@birthchoice.org.

Bristol's mom, Sarah Palin, is also scheduled to speak in Oklahoma at the Women of Joy conference for Christian women April 15 in Oklahoma City.

- JP

Gov. Palin at Women of Joy Conference in OKC April 15

At the State Fair Park Arena
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From The Journal Record:

Women of Joy is on the road again this year and, when the uplifting, spirit-filled event hits Oklahoma City, guest speaker will be Sarah Palin, the first female governor of Alaska and former vice presidential candidate. Dates for the local conference will be April 15 to 17 at State Fair Park’s James Norick Arena. Women of Joy will be making its first appearance in Oklahoma City.

[...]

The meetings offer panel discussions, speakers, musical entertainment and opportunities to worship together, develop friendships and express joy.

The Oklahoma City conference will open at 7 p.m. April 15 with music by Charles Billingsley... At 7:30 p.m. Sarah Palin will share her perspective as a Christian woman raising a family under an extremely public eye.

[More]

Call (800) 374-1550 for more information, or visit the Women of Joy website here. To register, click here.

- JP

Palin fans brave cold to meet her at Tulsa book signing

"She fascinates people"
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Gov. Palin arrived at the Mardel Christian Bookstore in Tulsa Friday nearly 25 hours after the line began forming. About 500 hardy souls had braved the cold weather and camped out in the parking lot overnight. Inside the store, the line snaked around the aisles, according to a Tulsa World report:

Some wore Palin buttons and hats, while others stood on bookshelves trying to get a glimpse of her.

"She fascinates people," said Gilles Mingasson, a French photographer for the magazine Paris Match.

Mingasson and Match's U.S. bureau chief, Oliver O'Mahony, followed Palin from her book signing earlier this week in Arizona to Friday's appearance in Tulsa. They'll continue to follow her into Nebraska and Iowa and perhaps longer, Mingasson said.

At Friday's signing, Palin sat at a table in the rear of the store. She sounded cheerful as she chatted with supporters, often asking their names and how they were doing. Her daughter Piper handed out bookmarks.

[More]

Tulsa's Fox 23 also covered the event. Ian Silver's story and video package are here.

- JP

Tulsa retailer hopes Gov. Palin brings Black Friday crowd

In Tulsa, Mardel Christian & Education is hoping a lot shoppers will bypass the malls today and visit their store at 9725 E. 71st Street instead to meet Sarah Palin. And while they are in the store, Mardel wouldn't mind a bit if they would purchase two copies of Gov. Palin's America By Heart to get personally autographed by the former Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate:

"We've already got people asking to camp out," Kelly Black, Mardel's marketing director, told USA TODAY.

This is the first time that Mardel, a 34-store retail chain that sells Bibles, educational materials and gifts in six states, will be holding a book-signing event with Palin. Black says Mardel wanted to get into the act because Palin's memoir, Going Rogue, did well last year. Besides, Mardel says, each Mardel store is big (average size is 28,000 square feet) and has plenty of free parking.

She is scheduled to sign copies of her second book from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. today, also known as Black Friday, traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.

- JP

Candidates for governor in Oklahoma agree: Palin is presidential material

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The two women who are competing for the top government job in Oklahoma expressed opposing views on most of the issues at Thursday night's OSU-Tulsa gubernatorial debate, but they do agree on at least one thing. Both Democrat Jari Askins and Republican Mary Fallin said they believe that Sarah Palin is presidential material:

"I personally admire Sarah Palin and her true grit, her hard work, her tenacity, her willing to say whatever's on her mind," Fallin said. "She's earned great admiration, especially trying to put up with some of the things she's had to go through with even the national media.

"I appreciate what she does. She certainly has been a leader in talking about how we get America back on track."

Askins said she has not met Palin yet but that she would love for her to come to Oklahoma.

"I'd love to go hunting with her," Askins said. "Take her turkey hunting."

Askins said she thinks it would be a nice and informal way to become acquainted with Palin.

"I haven't been hunting grizzly bears, but if she would invite me up there (Alaska), I can promise you I'd go," Askins said.

"She's a wonderful communicator. She does a great job in trying to reach the people and communicate with them, and I think everyone in the U.S. realizes now that if you have the desire, anyone who sets their mind to it can run for president of this country, and she's certainly one of those."

Fallin said Gov. Palin would be one of the top candidates for president in 2012.

- JP

In Oklahoma, Gov. Palin urges unity among Republicans

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Sarah Palin told a Tulsa audience of 1,000 tonight that it's time for the GOP establishment to put aside their differences with the grassroots and make the most of a series of victories by tea party-backed candidates going into the November election:

She told the enthusiastic crowd that voters have six weeks to turn things around and "reign in the federal government."

Palin also cheered Tuesday's political upsets by candidates affiliated with the tea party movement, including Christine O'Donnell's surprise win in Delaware over veteran Rep. Mike Castle for a U.S. Senate seat.

Gov. Sarah Palin also cheered the success of Oklahoman Mary Fallin:

Palin, who endorsed Fallin's candidacy for governor in mid-summer, said the 5th District Congresswoman "is ready to shake things up in the governor's mansion."

Wednesday's event was a fundraiser for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative organization based in Oklahoma City.

During her speech, according to Tulsa television station KOTV, Gov. Palin discussed the need for fiscally responsible limited government and the importance of the free market as keys to reinvigorating the economy.

Video of Sarah palin's speech, courtesty of Palin TV:


Support Palin TV

- JP

Gov. Palin speaks tonight at the Tulsa Convention Center

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Sarah Palin is in Oklahoma today, and she will deliver a speech in Tulsa tonight:

Palin is the featured speaker at the annual Liberty Gala held by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs at the Tulsa Convention Center. The council says they brought her to Tulsa because her message of free market, entrepreneurship and individual liberty is one that resonates with all Oklahomans.

Palin's trip comes less than 24 hours after her political clout was on display Tuesday night, when Christine O'Donnell won the Republican Primary in Delaware after being backed by Palin.

This is Gov. Palin's second trip to Tulsa and her third visit to Oklahoma. She was in Tulsa in March with Glenn Beck on the "Taking Back Our Country" tour. The 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate also made a stop in Norman last December as part of her Going Rogue book tour.

Other appearances where she has been the speaker this week have been pro-life events. We expect tonight's speech to be more politically focused, as OCPA deals with public policy ideas, according to its mission statement, "consistent with the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and individual initiative."

- JP

Tulsa World: Sarah Palin returning to Tulsa September 15

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The Tulsa World is reporting that Sarah Palin will return to "Green Country" next month:

Former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will return to Tulsa on Sept. 15, it was confirmed Thursday.

Palin will be the keynote speaker for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Liberty Gala at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Gov. Palin was last in Tulsa at a March rally sponsored by talk show host Glenn Beck.

From OCPA's news release:

“Governor Palin’s message of free market entrepreneurship and individual liberty resonates not only with the core values of OCPA, but with all Oklahomans,” said OCPA President Michael Carnuccio. “She has transformed the landscape of American politics and is the most powerful movement conservative in our nation.”

Palin is also a vocal supporter of the special needs community. Her appearance comes on the heels of Oklahoma’s passage of the most important school choice measure in state history. House Bill 3393, which was signed into law in June, will provide scholarships to students with special needs that will allow them to attend any private school of their choice where their needs are better served.

Palin will join a prestigious group of past OCPA speakers, including Congressman Paul Ryan, Justice Clarence Thomas, General Tommy Franks, former Speaker Newt Gingrich and the late conservative icon William F. Buckley, Jr.

The 2010 Liberty Gala will be held at the Tulsa Convention Center on September 15 at 6:00 p.m. located at 100 Civic Center in Tulsa.

For ticket information, download the OCPA registration form or call (405) 602-1667.

- JP

Palin-backed Mary Fallin wins big in Oklahoma

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U.S. Representative Mary Fallin cruised to victory Tuesday, winning the GOP nomination for governor in a landslide. Fallin, who was called back to Washington before the polls opened to cast a vote on a military funding bill, wasn't able to vote for herself but captured 59 percent of the vote in the GOP primary. Her nearest rival won 34 percent, and two other challengers were in the single digits.

Fallin is a two-term congresswoman who served twelve years as the Sooner State's lieutenant governor, and she has the endorsement of the first woman to be the Republican Party's candidate for vice president. Sarah Palin sent her congratulations to Rep. Fallin via Twitter, encouraging the GOP nominee with, "We can see November from our house!"

Like Gov. Palin, Falin has also made some history. She is the first Republican and first woman to be elected lieutenant governor since Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907. If Fallin wins in November, she will make more history by becoming the state's first woman governor.

- JP

Suzy Parker: Sarah Palin in Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Suzi Parker's perspective on Saturday's kickoff event for the "Taking Our Country Back Tour" before a Tulsa crowd of nearly 5,000 is up at The Daily Caller. Here are few excerpts:

In her Oklahoma speech, Palin was less fiery than in more recent ones including a February event [in] Little Rock, Ark. – her first at a political fundraiser.

She quoted Reagan’s “less government, more common sense” approach frequently to applause.

“He did not apologize for America,” she said.

[...]

Three things she wants Washington to understand: tax cuts, energy independence and lifting America’s spirits.

She loves to scold nemesis Obama, too: “No, thank you, Mr. President, you can keep that change.”

[...]

Palin grabbed the hand of a grieving mother who lost her son in Iraq last year and walked off stage with her. And she didn’t leave after her speech. During Rich and Wilson’s set, Palin stood slightly off stage enjoying the show while the nearby crowd snapped photos with their cell phones, especially during “Barracuda.”

In her speech, Palin said that America needs to hang on until November. But the Palin fans can’t wait until 2012. When her black SUV rolled out of the convention center with police escort, about 50 admirers – many holding her best-selling book – waved good-bye to her.

“We need Sarah Palin,” one woman said to another.

“Amen,” she said.

Read the full Suzy Parker op-ed at The DC here.

- JP

Tulsa World: Palin criticizes expanded government, federal spending

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Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck spoke at the Tulsa Convention Center Saturday to kickoff the "Taking Back Our Country Tour." Gov. Palin talked about "a growing movement across this country" and said that Americans need to keep in mind that government should work for them and not the other way around. Shannon Muchmore covered the event for the Tulsa World:

Palin told the packed crowd that regular, everyday Americans are standing up to politicians in Washington who don't listen to what the people want.

"We understand what they're trying to do to this country," she said. "We understand it and we don't like it. That's why we're taking our country back."

Palin took a few shots at President Barack Obama - whom the crowd booed - and the leadership in Congress.

Expanded government and continued federal spending will hurt the country, she said.

"There is no need for a fundamental transformation of America," she said. "No thank you, Mr. President, you can keep that change."

During his speech, Beck said that if the country doesn't change its direction, Americans will be remembered as greedy, corrupt and riddled with debt.

"If we don't change our course, that's what will be written into the history books," he said. "The winners write the history books, and if we don't change, we are losers."

Read the TW full story here. A report from Tulsa station KOTV is here.

- JP

Sarah Palin's Tulsa Speech on Twitter

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Gov. Palin is at the podium in Tulsa. Follow the tweets on the Palin Twibe Twitter page here.

Living on Tulsa Time: Sarah Palin Will Be in Green Country March 13

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Sarah Palin will appear at a Taking Our Country Back Tour event in Tulsa March 13:

Former governor of Alaska and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be in Tulsa next month as part of a concert featuring conservative talk show host Glenn Beck.

It will be Palin's first official trip to Tulsa. Her most recent high-profile speech was earlier this month in Nashville at the national Tea Party Convention.

The March 13 concert will also include appearances by country musicians John Rich and Gretchen Wilson. Tickets are available now for $45 to $125 plus fees. Author and commentator Dick Morris was originally scheduled to appear, but he will not be able to do so.

About half of the 6,500 seats have already been sold, said Tony Holden, the event's organizer.

Holden expects Gov. Palin's speech to begin at the Tulsa Convention Center about 1:30 p.m. The concert begins at noon and Beck's speech will be about 30 minutes later. He says national television networks have expressed interest in airing the governor's address, but no broadcast arrangements have been made. Holden also said at a news conference that Sarah Palin will receive a speaking fee, but it is "nothing major." 

All the proceeds from the concert will go to a yet-to-be determined veterans' organization. Palin and Beck will be having one-on-one session with a few select people that offer charitable donations to the cause, Holden said.

The concert space will have large video screens to broadcast the show, and Palin may spend some of her time answering questions from the audience, he said.

Tickets can be purchased online here or by telephone at 1-866-7-BOKCTR.

- JP

Freezing fans give Sarah Palin a warm welcome in Oklahoma (Updated)

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From Oklahoma City's newspaper, The Oklahoman:

Hundreds of people spent the night outside Hastings Books — and several hundred more joined them this morning — to get wristbands giving them a chance to get Sarah Palin's autograph.

The former vice presidential candidate and governor of Alaska is due at 7 p.m. to begin signing copies of her memoir "Going Rogue." Norman is her only Oklahoma stop on a national book-signing tour.

The first 500 people in line got wristbands that were handed out at 6:30 a.m. today, but Hastings officials said the actual number who will get their books signed will depend on Palin. Another 250 wristbands went to a standby crowd who will get a chance for an autograph if Palin continues signing after the first 500.

[...]

Karen Vermelis and Jana Stuart of Norman spent the night bundled in coats, wrapped in blankets and sitting in lawn chairs underneath a tarp.

"We didn't get much sleep. It was noisy, but it's fun," Vermelis said.

By morning, she said, the line went all the way to the east end of the strip mall where Hastings is located, then curved around a corner and snaked down an alley.

"It almost surrounded the mall," she said.

More from The Oklahoman here and Tulsa's KOTV here.

Updates:

NewsOn6: Freezing fans give Sarah Palin a warm welcome in Norman here.

The Oklahoman: For Sarah Palin fans, a signing bonus here.

- JP