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Palin draws 20,000: Rally brings out GOP in Noblesville(Kokomo Tribune Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 18--NOBLESVILLE -- Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin received a warm welcome from Indiana Republicans on what is likely to be the only visit by the party's national ticket before Election Day. Approximately 20,000 people, some waiting long hours, packed Verizon Wireless Music Center to hear the Alaskan governor who has energized the party as it battles to maintain control of the White House. Palin said Hoosiers know the stakes in this election and added that the presidential debate on Wednesday between Democrat Barack Obama and her running mate, John McCain, showed voters the choice they have to make. She focused much of her 45-minute speech on jabbing Obama and extolling McCain's leadership qualities. She was interrupted many times by supporters chanting "U.S.A." and "Sarah." In her closing statement, she noted the lack of U.S. military service shared by Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden. "There is one man in this race who has ever really fought for you," Palin said, alluding to McCain's service during the Vietnam War. "He will still be fighting for you." Early in her speech, Palin asked the audience several questions: Do you want to elect a politician who has faith in government, or a leader who has faith in all of you? Do you want a politician who wants to raise taxes, or a reformer who will lower taxes and create jobs? "Joe the Plumber," made famous during this week's final presidential debate, was again referenced at the rally. She said McCain wants to work for people like Joe and will work to encourage small businesses by cutting taxes. "Joe the Plumber got Barack Obama to state his true intentions," she said. "To spread the wealth. He wants to take more of your money and let government decide how to distribute it. "Some call that socialism," Palin continued. "I call it a real bad medicine. We're calling them out on it." She then went on to say that Obama has voted 94 times to raise taxes and wants to add $1 trillion in new government spending. She also told the crowd that Obama has ties to ACORN, a community activist group that is under investigation for allegations of voter registration fraud in 13 states. "That is not mean-spirited or negative campaigning," Palin said. "We're talking about someone's record. Their campaign claims his only connection to ACORN was as a legal representative." She added that Obama's campaign has provided the troubled group with $800,000. "That's a lot of baggage to drag into the Oval Office," Palin said. "We're entitled to answers before Election Day. That speaks to a candidate's judgment and truthfulness. "On Election Day, there is a choice between a candidate who won't disavow a group involved in voter fraud and a leader that won't tolerate it." Palin continued by saying the Obama campaign keeps talking about the past, which is a way to find blame, she said. "We're looking to the future, where you find solutions," she said. "They rather run against the current administration, and that is wearing thin. The only name on the ballot is John McCain. He is the 'Maverick' and will put the country first." During her speech, she also touched on the need for energy independence and the war against terrorism. "We're in tough economic times," Palin said, "and we're ready to lead from day one." The Republican ticket will abandon a failed energy policy, she said, and work toward energy independence by developing new energy sources that will create thousands of new jobs. "God has so richly blessed this land, not just with oil and gas, but with wind, solar and bio mass," she said. "We have more coal in the U.S. than oil in Saudi Arabia. "We will drill here and will drill now," Palin said of offshore drilling for oil and natural gas and in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuse. She closed by saying that the GOP ticket believes as Ronald Reagan did that the country needed to move forward to more freedom and away from larger government. "America is not the problem, America is the solution," Palin said. "We still believe America is that shining city on the hill." To see more of the Kokomo Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kokomotribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, Kokomo Tribune, Ind. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |