(April 13, 2010 - Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images North America)
Do you remember the charming little story of a couple of college students digging through the trash to find the appearance demands contract for Former Governor Sarah Palin? Remember it was supposedly a phony and an attempt by two co-eds to “silence her”? We on the same page now? Well it appears that the contract was real (and yes at least two people should be fired for casually disposing of it) and a California judge has ordered its release under a Freedom of Information Act request.
(May 4, 2010 - Photo by PacificCoastNews.com)
Before you take a look at the contract or scroll down for a summary provided below… I want to make two things clear. First. Sarah Palin is a private citizen; she is not an elected official; she is a businesswoman and accordingly has every right to benefit from the demands on her time. She is beloved and she brings a crowd to any event she attends and is thus worth every penny that anyone is willing to pay her for her time. Second. This is the United States of America where we purport to believe in Free Market ideals like supply and demand. There is but one Sarah Palin in the political universe and the demand is high. This is capitalism at work folks.
I guess I should have said that I needed to make three points because inevitably two never cut it. I have voiced my opinion (here and here if you need an example) in the past about Gov Palin’s appearance fees, demands, etc. I have no problem with her asking for them, receiving them, or even others paying them. That said, she cannot be afforded the right of two bites at the apple. If she is going to receive benefits such as these for gracing audiences with her presence, she should not be afforded saintly or occasionally martyrdom status for showing up places. She simply cannot have it both ways. I don’t want to hear the “Oh she’s so courageous for making an appearance” or “she’s such a great person to do this” nonsense – the chick’s making loot in the process. Who the hell wouldn’t hop on a private jet, stay in five-star hotels, eat snazzy food, take home six figures, and be fawned over by thousands of adoring fans – regardless of a little negative brush-back?
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Here’s a quick breakdown of some of her “requests” from Think Progress – and yes I know what that is – no one else on the Right would dare talk about this…
(June 2, 2009 - Photo by Photo Agency) - Ow Wait that was BRAD PITT
– Jet: Not just any private plane will suffice: “The private aircraft MUST BE a Lear 60 or larger (as defined by interior cabin space) for West Coast Events; or, a Hawker 800 or Larger,” for East Coast events. But even if organizers arrange for a private jet, if Palin “changes her mind and opts to fly via commercial flights for US events, the Customer must be prepared to cover the cost of first class round trip airfare for two, and full, unrestricted round trip coach for two.”
– Visiting with heads of state: For international appearances, Palin “reserves the right to visit privately with the host government’s Head of State,” as well as “accept the invitation of [the] host government to overnight at an official residence.”
– Stage: The contract has very specific instructions about how the stage and lectern should be arranged. Lighting should be “comfortable, but at an appropriate production level for the Speaker,” and the lecterns should be made of wood — “no Plexiglass or thin lecterns.”
The contract also makes numerous demands to limit the public’s and the media’s access to Palin:
– Questions: All audience questions must be pre-approved, and can only be asked by a moderator or “designated representative,” who must be approved by Palin’s party.
- Hotels: All hotels have to be “deluxe” and pre-approved by her representatives, with the room booked under an “alias.” Even non-overnight stays require hotel rooms, including a “holding suite” and “one or two single rooms.”
– Media: “All requests for press or media coverage” of the event must be submitted far in advance for approval. “If media coverage is approved,” Palin’s Representatives need a complete list of “media outlets expected to attend” 10 days in advance.
– Recording: The media are only permitted to record the first three minutes of Palin’s speech, and then just for B-roll (no audio, video only). Recording of any other kind is strictly prohibited, unless authorized by Palin, and all personal recording devices, including cell phones, have to be turned off “at all events in which Speaker is present.” Only a campus photographer is permitted document to entire speech, and then only approved photos can be published.
– Autographs and photo ops: “Unless agreed to” early on, organizers “shall not permit or assist in the request for autographs while the speaker is on site.” Photo opportunities have to be pre-approved, and photos are for personal use only and can’t be re-printed. The contract provides very specific instructions, including a diagram, of how the photo opportunity should be conducted.
– Face-time: Paying the $75,000 for Palin’s visit won’t buy you access to the half-term governor. Palin, her “traveling party, and the plane crew will be the only passengers onboard the private jet.” And “[o]nly representatives of the Speaker or WSB are to meet the speaker at the arriving/departing airports.”
– Promotional material: All advertising, press releases, and promotional materials, such as flyers and posters, must be pre-approved, as must be sponsoring organizations.
– Receptions: A full list of all those attending (”including name, title, and affiliation”) must be provided in advance.
Just an Everyday Gal like You and Me!!!
(March 10, 2008 - Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images Europe) - Shoot - That was the Jonas Brothers
*yawn*
I think I’ll just shorten the “Must Read” list a bit–I really don’t have time for blogs that have noting to write about.
Ha. Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Sheldon. I promise to improve on the content manana!
Larry you’re an idiot. If this post was a feature ripping into those that exposed this story you would be commenting that it was a magnificent accounting. Just because T mentioned the P word and didn’t follow it with praise doesn’t mean that your lemming conservative sensibilities have to take a hit. Get over yourself Larry. You’re a tool, a moron, and a follower. Grow a pair and stand for something in your meaningless life. I love Sarah Palin and I disagree with T regularly about her, but he was only writing a story that the rest of the conservative world won’t write because of a-holes like you. If Palin is the woman that I believe she is and you appear to think she is, she should stand up to the truth and take it like a man. If she wants to get paid and pampered like a diva then she is going to have to face the repercussions when the public finds out about it. Get a life Larry. You’re a loser.
Wow… and here I was hoping to get to bed at a reasonable time tonight and right as I was ready to fall off I got a notification that I had a response. While I had hoped it was Larry, I was pleasantly pleased to see that it wasn’t. For the record. I love it when anyone comments around here. I appreciate them – even when they are comments disagreeing with me. In fact, I think I like those more. What fun would it be and what good would it serve if I only had readers who nodded their head in agreement? Okay it’d be nice for like a day – I can admit that.
That said, I don’t think Larry’s comment qualifies as disagreeing with me so I really don’t give a damn what he thinks. Come back or not – he offered nothing to this discussion, so I sincerely appreciate Manny taking him to task. So thank you Manny. I was looking at a comfy pillow and not in the mood for rebutting another Palin apologist. Having read the words – “lemming Palin apologist” (which I will be using again at a later date) I was compelled to chime in.
Manny – in his own way, managed to illustrate a frustration that I have dealt with on more than one occasion – in fact, it has actually driven me away from conservative commentary on more than one occasion. I do in fact appreciate Sarah Palin for the role she plays in “conservative politics” but I have begun to loath her blindly adoring fans. What other person in recent history has been given a pass for repeatedly making an ass of herself than this woman – from the “conservative right?” I say no one. That said, we all have our flaws, but unlike Gov Palin, we usually have to account for them. When, when, when will she be forced to account for hers? When will people realize that she is not only – not the answer – she may in fact be the problem?
I can’t echo Manny in telling you that you’re a loser or that you need to get a life Larry, but I will tell you that you need to take a good look in the mirror, think about what you truly stand for, ask yourself what you would accept from those who disagree with you, and once you’ve completed that task you still haven’t kicked your own ass for still fawning over Sarah Palin… then see Manny’s comment and note for yourself that I agree.
[...] one who penned Going Rogue; the one who’s made a fortune travelling the country and the globe making appearances; the one that stumped for John McCain in ’10 throwing consistency out the window endorsing a [...]
[...] one who penned Going Rogue; the one who’smade a fortune travelling the country and the globe making appearances; the one that stumped for John McCain in ’10 throwing consistency out the window endorsing a [...]