Sarah Palin Snubbed for Obama Inaugural Dinner Honoring John McCain?
On the night before Barack Obama is sworn in as the nation’s 44th President, his inaugural committee will host a series of dinners honoring public servants it deems champions of bipartisanship. To be feted are Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Colin Powell, and John McCain, whom Obama vanquished last November. At the McCain dinner, the GOP senator, who managed to suppress his bipartisan tendencies during the hard-fought 2008 campaign, will be introduced by one of his closest Senate confidants: Senator Lindsey Graham. But McCain’s No. 1 booster during the last year will not be among those hailing McCain. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, his controversial running-mate, will not attend the dinner, Bill McAllister, a Palin spokesman tells Mother Jones.
Here is the official Palin office explanation:
According to McAllister, Palin will spend next week in her home state preparing for the legislative session, which begins on Tuesday, and for her State of the State address on Thursday.
Was she even invited? “I don’t know if she was invited,” McCallister says. Don’t know? How could that be? It’s hard to miss an invitation from a presidential inauguration committee. For its part, Obama’s inaugural committee has declined to say whether an invitation was sent to Palin. Repeated phone calls to its press office produced no answer to this simple question.
So, is there still bad blood between the McCain and Palin camps of the Republican Party? Is McCain pissed off about Palin’s latest attack on her media handlers and the MSM in general. And, what about McCain’s daughter refusing to discuss Sarah Palin for the blogs?
Or is McCain just being “The Maverick,” deferring to “The One” and being politically correct while not having that bible thumper, “UNQUALIFIED” HICK around? Part of McCain’s political rehabilitation with the media and Washingtonians, perhaps?
If Palin was left off the guest list, it’s not clear whether the snub came from McCain or the Presidential Inaugural Committee. But it’s not terribly hard to imagine why she might not make the cut. There appears to be lingering bad blood between the McCain and Palin factions, over such issues as the profligate spending spree to attire the vice presidential candidate and her family (Silk boxers for the first dude?) and the McCain campaign’s botched media roll-out of Palin. The Alaska Governor still appears to be holding a grudge against the McCainiacs, as evidenced by recently released excerpts from her interview with conservative filmmaker John Ziegler, whose forthcoming documentary explores the “media malpractice” that supposedly paved the way for Obama’s election. In the interview, she lashed out at the media, but also criticized her McCain campaign handlers for allowing her to become a campaign punchline in multiple disastrous interviews with CBS News’ Katie Couric.
Flap bets it was McCain who deemed it unwise to invite Sarah Palin. After all, isn’t after “The One,” isn’t it all about McCain?
Technorati Tags: Sarah Palin, John McCain, Barack Obama
66 Comments
Deo
Hmmmm, I actually AGREE with Flap on this one. I think McCain snubbed her, I also think that was a bad move. All this talk about coming together, this just fans the fire.
Ling
You’re right. It would be political suicide for the Obama’s people to not invite Palin. I think she was sent an invitation, but refused to attend because McCain must have made clear that he doesn’t want her there. No other explanation. So, do Lieberman and McCain want to switch caucuses, so the ‘balance’ is mainatained, but both are where they want to be?
Flap
Ling, I think you have it right.
It will be a long few months as the “Maverick” gets back into true anti-GOP form.
But, he must be careful because there are rumblings already in Arizona about a GOP primary challenge in 2010.
McCain is done in the Republican Party and the faster he retires the better.
Deo
I really dont think she was sent an invitation. I think it was nipped in the bud.
Palin would go no matter what McCain said, if she got the invite. She just WOULD.
No, McCain MADE SURE, this time. Plus his daughter says Palin is the ONLY thing she wonñt discuss about the campaign , this is alot of bad blood here.
…and Flap, THIS is what I brought up to you in another post. Palin doesnt have JUST the problem of people like me not trusting her, many republicans have set out to derail her. High profile republicans and yes, the anonymous ones, like the senior McCain staffers who leaked all those DIVA and DUMB stories in the FIRST PLACE. She has her work cut out for her…she burned alot of bridges to nowhere SOMEHOW with these people.
The republican governors at the Miami convention leaked all kinds of stuff, too, anonymously.
Flap
Well, Deo, since you are not a Republican Party person perhaps you do not understand.
This happens ALL OF THE TIME between GOP candidates and in party apparatus elections. The sniping, the snarking and midnight flyers under the door are renown in GOP party circles.
Of course, there is tension between the Palin and McCain camps – just as there are between Palin and Huckabee; Palin and Romney; Palin and Pawlenty – plus others.
But, it is McCain who is infamous for leaking this stuff to the MSM to make him himself look like the “Maverick” or the Martyr. The ‘CUDA will not let this go and I look forward to the knife she sticks in his back next week.
Deo
. The ‘CUDA will not let this go and I look forward to the knife she sticks in his back next week.
=================================
So, do I…see you next week.
Gina
Well, I look at it this way, irregardless of who snubbed who or who was or wasn’t invited, President Elect Obama is far better off NOT having Sarah Palin attend any of the inauguration. She’s made it perfectly clear for the whole world to see that she is a selfish,vicious,vindictive woman with an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Is she a racist? Duh!
She’s made it clear, it’s all about her and always has been. I still can’t believe that John Mccain would pick someone so inept as a running mate. She needs to stay in Alaska, stay out of the media. Perhaps she’ll freeze into a block of ice and never thaw out. Mind you, I was a registered Republican until Sarah Palin came along and never believed I would vote for a Democrat,let alone change my party affiliation. Hearing her voice makes me ill
Flap
Funny, Gina, but I do not believe you about being a Republican and changing your party registration.
But, why do you hate her so much?
Diana Dee
Why would people invite Palin to this dinner? McCain himself has said that he would NOT endorse Palin for president in 2012. Palin was the biggest mistake of McCain’s political career and it may have cost him the White House. Palin is too far right and the country has deep wounds. Add to that all of the dis-function of her personal life and I think that she should just stay in Alaska.
Flap
McCain said what? Don’t think so.
The idea of the dinner was to bring people together, no?
FAIL
Happy
It is a good thing that she will not be in Washington for Obama’s day. She was very harsh on him on the campaign trail.
Almost hostile. I really hope for this country she just stays in Alaska. It is amazing this country liked this woman. She is everything that progress does not stand for. Enjoy the inauguration. We are in better hands today. Good bye Bush!!
Deo
I don´t think Palin BELONGS at this dinner, however since she has inflicted herself onto the political scene, she is in the limelight. SO, it now seems like a DISS, and on McCain´s part. McCain is a republican, he belongs to the same party as Palin, it was HIS idea to bring Palin forward…SO, he should have invited her just to be BIG about it. To SHOW that the country REALLY does want to come togther, just as Obama said we should. It is a time to rise above all this nonsense. Apparantly, McCain thinks it would be impossible to do this with Palin in tow. They are cutting her off to cut off the media HE SAID SHE SAID circus, but you see, it PERSISTS.
It´s like Tonya Harding, some things just have to run the course, I guess.
I don´t know, I guess I would have to be privy to the guestlist and see WHO WAS invited.
They could have thrown her an invite to keep peace and tranquility.
Deo
I take that back, it doesn´t matter WHO ELSE was invited. Palin was chosen as BY McCain as his running mate. HE SHOULD HAVE INVITED her to make it full circle. It´s political etiquette. It would have been the professional and kind thing to do.
It´s disrespectful, not just to Palin, but to the post of the vice presidency.
I donñt think she is a threat, I just think McCain USED her to get what he wanted, and that didnt work, so garbage disposal time for Palin. Which is fine with me, but if I were him I would have done differently. Well, I would not have made that decision in the first place. It was desperate, just as it was perceived to be, DESPERATE on McCain´s part.
Dana in NYC
“It´s disrespectful, not just to Palin, but to the post of the vice presidency.”
The ultimate disrespect to the post of vice president was choosing Palin to run in the first place. Two months into the campaign she still couldn’t describe what the job entailed. I venture that any of us commenting on this article would be better prepared before we went to a job interview. This dinner is for “champions of bipartisanship” and Palin’s hyperpartisan tone during the election leave her no place at this table. Besides which, why would she want to “hang out with a terrorist” like Obama. Isn’t he like the Anti-Christ for her ilk?
Deo
To Dana in NYC
You´re totally RIGHT! Especially if that is the theme, Champions of bipartisanship. Palin hasn´t any grace, and this inability to give credit where it is due has really hurt her in many peoples eyes(except for the people with very low expectations, TEAM SARAH)-I just can´t figure out who is the bigger dweeb. McCain orPalin.
He foisted her on us, and now I guess he doesn´t want to be seen with her. The cord has to be cut and snip, snip there it goes.
The republican s are waging a leper campaign of their own.
She really IS a dolt, you´re right, you´re right you´re right. My 13 year old daughter was able to name a supreme court decision other then RoevWade, there is no excuse for ignorance. Palin never had what it takes, and now she knows shes not running on the fast track.
She truly IS the new Tonya Harding.
Gina
In response to you not believing I was a registered Regpublic Flap, I truly was. My husband and my boss were Democtrats, so this made for interesting debates at home as well as work. They both tried to get me to switch over, but I’m not easily talked into anything.
I saw John McCain speak in Washington D.C. about ten years ago, and swore that if he ever ran for President of the United States, I would vote for him in a heart beat–well he ran and he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate (it was then that I began to question his judgement). I still believe he was pushed by the party to ask her to be his running mate. Number one and foremost-she’s a woman. He had others in mind, others far more intelligent and qualified but the Republican party strongly disagreed with his choices, and if he wanted their political as well as financial support he needed to give in to the choice of the Republican party. It was very scary to think that if something should happen to John McCain, SHE’D BE OUR PRESIDENT!
I hate her sarcasm, she has absolutely no class, and again her viciousness, her vindictiveness is a little more than I want to deal with. When you work with a bunch of women all day, you have your fill of all the backstabbing that goes on. I guess another reason I dislike her, is because she’s stupid, and I have very little tolerance for stupidity. Perhaps not everyone is gifted with high levels of intelligence, but she didn’t even show a shred of COMMON SENSE.
She came off as downright stupid, and then blaming everyone else but herself for her comments or should I say, lack of. She’s an embarrassment to women and to the Republican Party, and for the Republican party to endorse her nomination as John McCain’s running mate as vice president of the United States was totally unbelievable to me. The further the campaign went, the more embarrassing she bacame, and the more embarrassed I became to say I was a Republican, let alone a woman.
A few weeks before the election, I changed my political affiliation.
Flap
@Gina
Still don’t believe you and in what state do you reside?
Flap
@14 Dana
It was Team McCain that was calling the shots on the campaign rhetoric, not Palin.
Flap
@15 Deo
If Sarah Palin is such a poor candidate and person why do you care?
It is obvious that you are not a Republican and you hail from a very blue state of New Jersey.
Wouldn’t she be a good candidate to beat in a subsequent election?
whackyyaqui
Your over looking one thing..we got Biden instead..he belongs in a zoo…quote”do you know how many east indians we have in Delaware? Im not kidddng. They work in almost all the 7-11’s and Dunkin Donuts.” Now if this isnt our man of the hour I dont know what is.
Flap
@20
Yeah I had the Biden – Donut post here: http://flapsblog.com/2006/07/07/joe-biden-watch-indian-american-slur-sinks-slow-joe/
bobby norwich
Sarah Palin was invited but graciously declined saying, “Naw, I’m not comin cuz it’s openin day for moose huntin by helicopter up here in the great state of Alaska. Buh-bye to all my friends (cough) from the McCain campaign.”
Deo
It´s kind of insulting to the people of America.
Palin is THICK. You know ,you love her, but to others, well, think about hearing…HI, This is Tonya Harding and we think she´s going to make a great vice president, NO president, for you.
You HAVE to raise your head up and say, WTF? Are they pushing TONYA HARDING AS PRESIDENT, did I fall asleep and wake up in BIZARRO WORLD??? No, I don´t think Tonya Hardiong would be suitable.
Well, it´s the same with Palin. You may as well be saying Tonya Harding to us- Just insert Tonya Harding every time you say Sarah Palin and you will GET how it sounds to those who feel she isn´t prez material. That is the only description I can give you, because you keep saying AFRAID. well, If Tonya were prez I would be a little CONCERNED.
It´s the USA, whatn do you mean, WHY DO YOU CARE???
Deo
It´s Ok, Gina, Flap doesn´t believe that I AM AN AMERICAN, or some such nonsense. I am not a citizen, you are not a registered whatever….
Flap has no problem believing EVERYTHING Sarah sez, so wear his disbelief as a badge of honor.
Laura
Did you guys happen to notice all of the T. Boone Pickins commercials prior to the debates? The ones that asked you to pay attention to who mentioned the use of alternative energy sources? I thought that he was endorsing Obama, because, as an Alaskan (who has many reasons to KNOW Sarah is stupid), I felt pretty sure that wasn’t her track, not with all the “drill, baby, drill” rhetoric. I was surprised to realize he was endorsing McCain/Palin. Do you think perhaps he was behind the McCain pick of Palin due to her oil ties, and that there is some subversive motive behind all of that? I’m just questioning…
Thrilled Citizen
I think the inaugural committee had NO desire to have her there because she is too consumed with her own agenda. She is not willing to get behind this president, she is not willing to but her ego on the shelf and work with people who do not see things the way she does. Besides, this dinner was about being honorable, about being respectful and about unity. She knows nothing about that. Her self serving rhetoric would have been a distraction. She doesn’t know when to be quiet, when to defer to others. I am certain that I had a better chance of being invited to that dinner than Palin.
Johnny Ward
Sarah Palin was/is nothing but fluff. She became very useless after she was exposed for the things that she was not. I know John McCain wished that he had chose anyone else.
Chel
I’m still stuck on Ling’s comment…”It would be political suicide for the Obama’s people to not invite Palin.” WHAT?!?!? Are you kidding me? Please explain that one! Palin has about as much effect on Obama as I do. Either way she doesn’t deserve to be there period. She has not said a positive thing about anyone since she LOST the election for McCain. Even after she introduced herself to us with the nastiest speech of the campaign, Obama still defended her and her daughter by reminding us his mother was also a young single parent. I’m glad she’s still spouting hate. She’s just showing everyone that she cares more about appearing to be a good politician than actually being a good politician in Alaska.
Deo
Man, I am SO with Chel on that one. When I read that comment by LING, I said the SAME thing. She isn´t even a pimple on Obama´s ass, he is simpley CORDIAL to her WHEN and IF he sees her. POLITICAL SUICIDE, you make her sound like she matters, OR that OBAMA thinks about it one way OR the other.
Palin did not have the grace to acknowledge Obama´s kindness RE Bristol Palin, in fact, she made it sound the opposite during her Zeigler CLOSE-UP.
Most uncool.
Flap
@23
But, Deo, Sarah Palin lost.
I still do not understand your PDS – Palin Derangement syndrome.
Is it because Bush is now gone?
Deo
I should ask you, Flap? Is it because Bush is gone? Are you replacing one person who says Nuk-U-Lar, and basically takes a crap on the English language every time they open their mouths, with ANOTHER? Are you replacing Bush worship with Palin worship. He is a guy from Connecticut who talks like a Texan and she is woman from Idaho-Alaska who talks like Marge Gunderson of Minnesota. There are so many similarities between Incurious and Incuriouser.
The inaugeration ceremonies were quite impressive! Very proud today….this Palin stuff is trivial. I must admit though, this blog gets it´s share of people that DO not Palin…or AS FLAP insists, because it´s more dramatic and a little hysterial,…HAVE PALIN DERANGE SYN., what a perfectly ridiculous term.
Well, it´s good day today! BUT I had to answer my pal, Flap!
Flap
@31 Wow, Deo, you are quite the personal hater now, aren’t you?
And, you are pretty good at the personal attacks and name calling.
Stereotypical of the BDS and PDS LEFT.
Gina
It’s entirely up to you Flap, as to whether or not you believe me. I don’t know about you, but I don’t appreciate when someone implies that I’m lying. I replied as honestly as I know how. By the way, I reside in Colorado, a red state until this election.
Flap
Colorado has been a “purple state” for some time now.
Daniel
As a lifelong Democrat and strong supporter of Obama, I am profoundly grateful to Sarah Palin for all she did for our party. Nobody, nobody, nobody nobody, could have revealed the ignorance and hypocracy of the Republican base the way Sarah so masterfully did. She should not only have been invited. She should have been the guest of honor.
kate
Sarah incited a mob to scream “traitor†and “kill himâ€.
She coined the phrase “palling around with terroristâ€.
She didn’t deserve to receive an invite and I doubt that she did.
Palin’s pure buffoonery shtick didn’t have a place in any of the celebrations, and as for her “supporters†…………let’s just say when she runs in 2012 she’ll be lucky if that support amounts to 2 million votes!
Flap
@35
A Democrat finally tells the truth. But, why are others so incensed about her now?
Is Palin a threat?
Flap
@36
Didn’t Obama pal around with a known terrorist? In fact, Obama did pal around with William Ayers.
I believe Team McCain came up with that slogan, by the way.
And, Palin did not incite a mob to yell traitor and kill him. How silly…..
I thought last night McCain’s dinner was for reconciliation in an expression of bipartisanship, no? So, why wasn’t she invited? Palin remains the Republican Governor of Alaska.
kate
First: It’s wasn’t a Governor’s Ball.
Second: It doesn’t matter who constructed the southern strategy of “Palling around with terrorist†the point is that she’s the idiot that actually uttered the words, to paint the visual imagery of Ayers equals Bin Laden. She should have questioned why that needed to be said! She did nothing to stop that stupidity during that campaign speech were audience members screamed “kill himâ€. Stay Classy Sarah.
kate
With Sarah seeming so gleeful at the prospect of President Obama being harmed, maybe it was the secret services idea for her to be snubbed.
Flap
She did nothing to stop the stupidity of a few people in an audience. Oh please. You said @36 Palin incited the mob and that my friend is a lie.
The dinner was for reconciliation and bipartianship yet the GOP VP candidate was not invited. McCain should have invited her and he didn’t which says a lot about him.
How juvenile or pathetic – whichever way you want to look at it.
Flap
@40
Are you really kidding me?
Your Palin Derangement Syndrome is now showing.
kate
@ 42
Palin Derangement Syndrome….. is that like misunderestimating someone??
Flap
@43
Nope. Moronic attacks on Sarah Palin: http://michellemalkin.com/2008/08/31/palin-derangement-syndrome/
Anna
@ FLAP JOHN MCCAIN DID SAY THAT ABOUT SARAH, YOU CAN GO TO YOUTUBE AND LOOK IT UP, HE WAS ASKED WHATS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE HE MADE? HE POINTED TO SARAH………..
Flap
@45
Oh, he did? What does pointed to Sarah mean?
Show me the link.
kate
Moronic attacks on Sarah Palin…that’s a paradoxe for the ages.
Good night Flap.
Anna
@ Flap he was asked his biggest mistake he made in the campaign, HE POINTED TO SARAH PALIN, HIS BIGGEST MISTAKE im looking for the link for you.
Flap
Well, you keep looking……
Anna
@ Flap I sure will, do you think im making it up or mistaken? I don’t make things up and I’m not hardly mistaken, I just dont remember where I was so I am going through all of these videos for you, I like to say I told you so 🙂