Posted by
Ron Devito on Monday, June 28, 2010 5:09:18 PM
Governor Palin's detractors have a rather strange fixation with the
idea that she gets paid well for some of her speaking engagements.
Anyone who follows news related to Gov. Palin will invariably encounter a
story in which her speaking fee is a major subject of discussion, with
the implication that there is something wrong with her earning money to
speak, and consult.
People Spend Major Money To See, Hear, Bond With Gov. Palin
People pay big money to see and hear Gov. Palin speak, whether it is a
Washington Speakers Bureau paid speech, rally, book signing stop, or
other event. VIP privileges at Gov. Palin's command even greater sums
often reaching a stratospheric $5,000/person, that money going to
benefit the event organizers, not Gov. Palin. Even at her free events,
people spend thousands of dollars, travel thousands of miles, and endure
waits of over a day just to talk with Gov. Palin for 10 seconds, shake
her hand and get an autograph. Several members of the US
for Palin staff have done precisely that.
The "Cashing In" Meme
Gov. Palin's detractors bristle and see it as "cashing in." They
posit that all she cares about is money and herself. It's not just
leftists who carry on with this meme; so-called conservatives who should
know better have jumped on that bandwagon.
Common-Sense
Gov. Palin is a sought-after speaker, which is why she is on the
Washington Speaker Bureau's roster. The Washington Speakers Bureau is in
business to earn a profit. They earn their money by providing
high-demand speakers - such as Gov. Palin. The Bureau schedules and
coordinates her events - a win-win for the Bureau, the event organizers,
the participants, and Gov. Palin herself. Most importantly, there are
no misunderstandings, as there were in Gov. Palin's pre-speakers bureau
days, when her small staff was overwhelmed with thousands of requests,
while operating a Political Action Committee.
Feminism: Celebrating a Woman's Success
Anyone who claims to be a feminist should be proud of what SHE
has accomplished in the past 18 months alone. It was not too long ago
that Gov. Palin was a VP candidate on a losing ticket who returned to
being her state's governor. Her enemies saw the trajectory she was on
and drove her out of office with a barrage of frivolous ethics
complaints and lawsuits that was threatening to bankrupt her. Today,
Gov. Palin is reputed to have earned over $12 million, from speaking
engagements, sales of Going
Rogue, her consultancy on Fox News, and TLC's Sarah Palin's Alaska
still in production. Women should see this success and be inspired.
Gov. Palin did not inherit this money, wheedle it out of an estranged
ex in alimony, or engage in any unseemly activity. To steal a line from
the former Smith Barney, Gov. Palin made her money the old fashioned
way. She earned it. What's wrong with that?
Capitalism Works
If we believe in capitalism, we should celebrate, not chastise Gov.
Palin for earning money, as New York Magazine did with its derogatory "Palin, Inc."
article. At US
4 Palin, we see Palin, Inc. as something to be celebrated.
Perhaps New York Magazine should give copies away gratis - and not take
advertising. Maybe MSNBC should follow suit. After all, if we cannot
trust Gov. Palin's motivations for charging for her work, why should we
trust New York Magazine, and MSNBC? Sounds silly? Because it is silly.
People will spend thousands of dollars on expenses related to all
things Palin, because there is a strong market for her, and her message.
Gov. Palin's detractors know this and it strikes mortal fear into their
hearts.