Palin criticizes Obama for wanting to redistribute wealth

Vice presidential candidate to speak in Henderson today

Published Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 | 10:13 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 | 10:55 a.m.

RENO — Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin told a gathering of supporters today that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama would “redistribute wealth.” She also hit the Democratic ticket as unprepared for an international crisis.

She brought up the now-famous Ohio resident, Joe the Plumber.

"Joe the Plumber, got our opponent to state his intentions in real language. Senator Obama said he wants to spread the wealth," she said. "Joe Biden calls that patriotic. Joe the Plumber said it sounded to him like socialism."

Palin, who is making a campaign swing through Nevada today, will speak in Henderson at approximately 1:45 p.m. at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway.

During her Reno talk today, she started reading placards in the audience. "We've got Andy the Engineer, Dave the Cop ... We've got, John the Only Republican In My High School."

The Reno/Sparks Convention Center was less than half filled, with a crowd the fire department estimated at 3,000. The room holds 10,000. She brought out 5,000 people in September in Carson City, when interest in Palin was feverish.

Palin spoke for 28 minutes this morning. She seemed tempered in her criticisms, not mentioning '60s radical terrorist William Ayers. Twice she pointed out that her criticisms of Obama’s policies, plans and associations were “not negative, not mean-spirited.”

The crowd responded when she hit the Obama campaign and "friends in the media" for attacking Joe the Plumber, who asked the Illinois Senator about his tax plan during a campaign appearance.

"It doesn't sound like you're supporting Barack the Wealth Spreader in this election," she said, in perhaps the best-received line of the speech.

She brought up Sen. Joe Biden’s prediction at a fund-raising event that an international crisis would occur in Obama’s first six months to test him. "I guess we have to say, thanks for the warning Joe."

He didn't specify what the scenarios were, but Palin ran through some of her own hypotheticals.

She hit Obama on his promise to meet with world's worst dictators without pre-conditions, including Iran's leadership who have said they want to wipe Israel off face of earth, she said. "I guess that's scenario number 1."

"I think the crisis that the Obama campaign is most concerned about is Joe's next speaking engagement."

She brought up Biden’s comments during the Democratic primary about Obama's lack of experience and his praise of McCain.

"The country is facing tough economic times right now, and more than ever we need someone who's tough," she said. "We need John McCain."

She says McCain will help families keep homes, keep their savings and investments and provide affordable health care.

"When it comes to taxes, you have a real choice on Nov. 4th. It's not negative, not mean-spirited... He's (Obama is) hiding his real agenda of redistributing your money."

"John McCain and I are for a real tax cut, that means we take less of your money in the first place. There is only one man who has ever really fought for you," she said.

. . .

10:13 a.m.

RENO -- At the Reno/Sparks Convention Center in Reno, raucous, sign-wielding supporters are here to hear from Gov. Sarah Palin.

The room is more than half empty, with one fire department official estimating the crowd at about 2,000. McCain/Palin campaign says the number is 3,000.

The room holds about 4,900 people. (Palin, on a weekend in September after the Republican National Convention, drew 5,000 people in Carson City.)

Rep. Dean Heller and other Republicans are warming up the crowd.

"Who’s against the bailout?" Heller asks the crowd, which responds with cheers. Heller voted against it both times, and there are plenty of shouts of "thank you!" from the crowd.

(McCain supported the bailout.)

"Nancy Pelosi says this race is over," Heller said, eliciting boos.

"She says there's a 100 percent chance Barrack Obama is the next president of the United States. Nancy Pelosi says none of you will go out to vote. Let’s prove them wrong."

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, the Nevada chairman for the McCain campaign, gets into the "Joe the Plumber" business.

He reads a fake letter from Obama to Joe the Plumber, in which the senator thanks him for spreading the wealth around.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is definitely McCain/Palin country," he said, ticking off a list of red meat issues. Taxes, the surge in Iraq, less government regulation, the Second Amendment, activist judges.

He urges people to vote early. Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert says Nevada will be decided by "dozens of votes, not thousands of votes. That's why it's so important Gov. Palin is here today."

Discussion: 17 comments so far…

By neiman1

10/21/08 at 10:29 a.m.

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Easy decision. If you have a job, vote McCain so you keep what you earn. If you don't, vote Obama and get a "refund" check you didn't pay. Watch what Barney Frank said about raising taxes once Obama is elected and why rich is going to get to a very low number. Remember, Frank is chair of the committee that writes the tax law. He is all in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Mazjm_A...
By DesertMom

10/21/08 at 11:04 a.m.

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Today the International Association of Firefighters denounced John McCain's health plan. Seems people are finally reading the fine print and realize if you have a preexisting condition like diabetes, cancer, etc., you could end up with no health insurance at all under McCain, and even McCain admits there isn't a "fix" just yet: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/...
By KDR81

10/21/08 at 1:20 p.m.

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DesertMom,

A real health care fix would be to advocate for health savings accounts, but no one is doing that.

At anyrate, Obama's plan to disallow Insurance companies to charge higher rates for preexisting conditions will be disasterous. It WILL LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS for everyone, which will in fact lead to more people leaving health insurance.

Obama's counterpoint is misleading at best. McCain's plan doesn't cause more uninsured because preexisting conditions are not covered. At worst, people with preexisting conditions will be no worse off than they are today.
By NVMakz

10/21/08 at 1:41 p.m.

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At anyrate, Obama's plan to disallow Insurance companies to charge higher rates for preexisting conditions will be disasterous. It WILL LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS for everyone, which will in fact lead to more people leaving health insurance."

Obama's concept of no rate / class adjustments for the insurable AND the uninsurable DESTROYS the basic financial and actuarial concepts OF insurance itself.

The result will eventually be almost exactly what happened in the liberal-corroded mortgage markets when rot and bad factors were legislated into the system. A slow, grinding, miserable fade to black....

The systematic rape of ALL Americans by the Obamunists goes on in order to satisfy the FEW for "fairness". Sick, isn't it?
By mikegino

10/21/08 at 4:17 p.m.

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I take issue with the phrase "redistribution of wealth." All Obama wants to do is take money out of the pockets of working class people and give it to loafing class people (layabouts).
By johnevegas

10/21/08 at 4:55 p.m.

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Gosh, where are we now? $800 billion, $900 billion? A trillion dollars given to Wall Street? How much for AIG now? And which banks does the government own now? I've lost count with all the wealth redistribution that's been going on.

I guess redistributing wealth only becomes a problem if a liberal wants to do it. That makes it socialism. If a conservative does it, we call it something socially acceptable like "saving the financial system" but never socialism or nationalization.

Honestly, how shallow can you be?
By benighse

10/21/08 at 6:55 p.m.

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WHY DIDN'T THEY FREE THE "ROSWELL 3 ALIENS" WHEN SHE WAS IN NEW MEXICO LAST WEEKEND, SO THEY COULD GRAB THEIR UFO AT AREA 51 WHEN SHE WAS HEADED TO LAS VEGAS, PICK UP THEIR LEADER, AND TAKE SARAH HOME TO THE PLANET SHE ARRIVED FROM---OFF TO PENTECOSTAL GALAXY FOR END OF DAYS AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES.....YOU BETCHA....AND JOE BRING YOUR SIX-PACK!!
By revtomperl

10/21/08 at 7:19 p.m.

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I figure that McCain and PaleOne are the beneficiaries of the redistribution of wealth from the poor to the wealthy! Ok, all of you, live long and prosper!
By jfnance32

10/21/08 at 8:39 p.m.

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Why stop at just redistribution?

Lets have the government decide how much each person should get paid or even better everybody should get paid the exact same amount of money.

We all know that worked well.

We should take all the money from the rich and tax them at 100%. Boy, what revenue that would bring in!!!!!!!!!

Of course, that is a one time thingy.

Also, why work hard at all? Go out get drunk, get high, do not go to school, go to work late, tell your boss to f himself....do not worry Uncle Obama will give you some rich guy's money.
By johnevegas

10/21/08 at 9:30 p.m.

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"Uncle Obama" is not a communist, but your exaggerations are fun to read.

Can't take that you guy just nationalized a dozen banks can you? And speaking of communism, be careful what you say on your the phone. Bush's NSA might be listening!

The standards you defend do not exist in the Bush administration. You and yours have no leg to stand on this time around. All you can do is try to demonize Obama. It's your only hope!
By texexnv

10/21/08 at 9:30 p.m.

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Palin is the best vote getter Obama has going for him - even better than Joe in getting new converts.

Every time she opens her trap his poll numbers rise.

Too bad McWhacko didn't get her by his side earlier.

This will be the worst defeat in recorded history and Palin certainly paid a big part in it. Palin-Lieberman in 2012!~!
By JayH

10/21/08 at 10:33 p.m.

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Geez, NVMakz and JFN, you guys have nothing better to do than to spout Obama-hate that shows a complete absence of any analysis of what Obama actually proposes. Let's see: "The systematic rape of ALL Americans by the Obamunists goes on in order to satisfy the FEW for "fairness"." Uh, I don't think this or any of his past tax proposals called for raising the taxes on all Americans. In fact, it's been confirmed that he'll raise the taxes only on the top 5% -- and then only to Clinton-Gore levels. Gee, since America ran a surplus during the end of that administration, do you think that your venomous attacks are maybe (a) baseless, and (b) not particularly helpful in helping to bring out country to all pull together to try to resolve our current crises? Hate is fun, isn't it?
By engineeranne

10/21/08 at 10:57 p.m.

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It's Anne the Engineer!
By azsk8fan

10/22/08 at 12:37 p.m.

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And meanwhile people donate hard earned bucks to the campaign so Sarah can go on a shopping spree and buy $92.00 toddler outfits to boot! I don't even own a 100.00 outfit and I'm no toddler. Nothing like shoving their wealth down our throats now is there - these people don't have lick of common sense. Instead of Neiman Marcus try shopping at walmarts like the majority of the citizens have to do because it's all we can afford. And why not do your own hair, Sarah, like so many of us do - oh, that's right - you're amongst the priveledged so you're special.
By revtomperl

10/22/08 at 8:18 p.m.

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Maybe Obama should contribute some of his millions to the McCain campaign. There is evidence that the Republican ads result in more people being in favor of Obama!
By Hangaright

10/23/08 at 9:24 a.m.

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"Obama would be the most anti gun president in American History."

http://www.gunbanobama.com/

The NRA supports McCain-Palin and so do I.
By cayce59

10/23/08 at 10:16 a.m.

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Yeah, Obama, wants to tax only 5%, and then spread the wealth?
I take offense to his wanting to spread the wealth..But, 40 to 45% of the 95% of the people Obama wants to spread the wealth to, don't even pay taxes.

What about the "American Dream?" Isn't it a part about what America stands for? It's about the American people working hard toward their goals, to invest their money to build their own businesses, to live comfortably? Why should they spread their wealth?

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