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March 28, 2024

Palin criticizes Obama for wanting to redistribute wealth

Vice presidential candidate to speak in Henderson today

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."

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