WICHITA, Kan. - Sarah Palin is coming to the Intrust Arena in Wichita, Kansas on May 2. It is a fundraiser for a Christian school. We can only speculate as to what her contract with the school entails as the documents have surely been shredded by now... for everyone's protection of course.
Her appearance in Wichita doesn't surprise me, the demographic here seems right up her alley. There has been an onslaught of 'tea bagger' mentality in our state with sovereignty resolutions, tenth amendment activists packing the gallery of our state house producing a sea of American flags, camo and orange safety gear (I guess some analogies between lobbying and hunting, could be made), the expansion of concealed carry laws, pushes to opt out of national heath care reform before its passage and now that it has passed calls for our state attorney general to join the ranks of the rabid by challenging the national healthcare legislation. It all seems like such a waste of time, energy and money... cue the ½ term Alaskan Governor, please.
The failed vice-presidential candidate turned celebrity political commentator and rock-star of the right and righteous, holds views that run counter to all of the core issues of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Constitutional equality? She does not support an Equal Rights Amendment.
Ending racism? She is aligning herself with a movement that screams racial epithets and spawned the "birthers".
Ending violence against women? As Mayor of Wasilla she looked the other way, as the police chief in her town of 7,000 was the only holdout to fight a state proposal that municipalities pay for the rape kits of their sexual assault victims.
Lesbian rights? She supported a 1998 constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in Alaska.
Ensuring economic justice? Palin is on record of supporting Senator McCain's opposition to S. 1843 the Fair Pay Restoration Act.
Reproductive justice??? Well I think we all know where a woman who would oppose an abortion for her own daughter if she were raped stands on that issue.
In spite of where Ms. Palin stands on the issues relative to Kansas NOW... I was informed via anonymous phone call that I should be supporting her and her efforts, "because she was Governor of Alaska and has made it so far in her career". That it is "contradictory for a women's organization to be opposing a woman."
My first anonymous phone call from the opposition and it is because they are mad about the way we are treating Sarah Palin? Really?? And the statement that Kansas NOW should be supporting her based merely upon her ownership of girl parts... now that is just ridiculous.
My initial reaction to hearing about her appearance was to ignore it, but then I remembered how the people of Salina had such a good time making fun of her appearance in their town with their RNC (Reality NOT Celebrity) event. I truly appreciated their light-hearted and humorous approach to having their own Chamber of Commerce invite her into their town. And what better way to oppose Palin than to host a fundraiser for an organization that she opposes on every level? That is how M.O.P. was born....
Mothers (and Others) Opposing Palin = M.O.P.
Sarah Palin is comin' to town! So all of us socialist tree hugging femi-nazi sinning social justice lovers are going to have a party!
M.O.P. is a pre-Mother's Day Celebration & Fundraiser for the Kansas National Organization for Women.
Join us as we have a few laughs at Sarah's expense, enjoy progressive company, good food, live acoustic music and dynamic speakers. We will raise our voices and coffee cups to toast mothers (and others) everywhere in a pre-mother's day celebration of Socialist Commie Freedom!
There will be acoustic music, comedic entertainment and dynamic speakers to include Kevin Myles from the NAACP and Vickie Stangle, Political Science Professor from WSU.
Ticket pricing is as follows:
Dirty Commie- $35.00 (Includes T-shirt, Meal & Entertainment)
Alaskan All-Star- $55.00 (Includes T-shirt, Button & Name in Program)
MAVERICK- $300.00 (Purchase a Table for 8, Includes FREE Death Panel, Buttons and T-Shirts)
Send check with sponsor level & shirt size to:
KS NOW PO Box 1860 Wichita, KS 67201
Call 620 245 4904 for more information. Shirt sizes & tickets are on a first come, first serve basis, so reserve your seat early!
I'm sorry to have to bring this up but I have to ask, what really is your anti-Palin event hoping to accomplish?
In reality both events are doing the same things - preaching to their perspective choirs. Neither meeting will reach out and have an affect on those outside those circles. The people that need to be reached are those in the middle and the younger generation that is just starting to make up their minds on issues. Young people in whom image is so important.
You really want to counter Palin? Be the anti-Palin. Have your event not at a restaurant, but at a gun range. Dont raise your "tea cups", raise up a beer! Bring in, not a college professor, but a female outdoorsperson who can ride snowmobiles, shoot a Winchester Model 70, diaper a baby, and win public office.
Palin is a mother of 5 children, who competes in outdoor sports equal to the men and can boast of shooting wolves and moose! And she was once a governor. Believe it or not, young women like that kind of "attitude". Is there any anti-Palin in Kansas who can serve as that kind of role model yet still uphold progressive values?
The purpose of the event is to raise funds for a progressive women's organization that works legislatively and through grassroots actions to bring equality to ALL women. That includes hunting, shooting, blue- collar, executives, teachers, social workers, nurses, students and others...many of whom DO have a child on their hip, but some that choose to be without children.
The point is that people feel strongly either for her or against her. Kansas NOW is tapping into the "against" crowd to come together with like-minded people. This isn't an "outreach" event, per say....but I will be sure to run your idea of holding a moose-hunting expedition to my board of directors and see how far that flies.
Don't think your point of appealing to everyday women has gone beyond me...I get what you're saying...but you should know that we have a lot of "everyday Janes AND Joes" that support us. And many young people from the local college are helping to plan the event.
A cash bar will be offered for those that wish to trade tea-cup for beer mug. Please feel free to join us.
Kari,
So how did the event turn out? What did people think about the idea of reaching out to people who enjoy hunting?