Why were conservative bloggers thrown out of Sarah Palin's Norfolk rally?

Conservative bloggers from the prominent Virginia website Bearing Drift were unceremoniously shut down and told to leave the Ted Constant Convocation Center Sunday night, just as former Alaska governor Sarah Palin took the stage.

Palin was the grand finale at Freedom Fest- a rally of conservative all-stars set up by local conservative morning talker Steve Batton at Freedom 1650 a.m. The lineup included Former Virginia Gov. George Allen, FOX news commentator Oliver North and patriotic crooner Lee Greenwood.

Blogger J.R. Hoeft was in the back of the room with his laptop and camera for the bulk of the event which started at 6:30 and ran until after 9 p.m. and Hoeft and Brian Kirwin were even live-blogging the event - offering up the occasional comment on the speeches and the crowd.

But after putting in hours waiting for Palin's appearance - her first in Hampton Roads since the 2008 campaign trail when thousands went to see her speak at the Virginia Beach Convention Center- Hoeft was approached by security as Palin took the stage and told to pack up his stuff. Hoeft said the security guard wouldn't identify who he was with, but said that no video or pictures could be taken of Palin during the event. They were even told to close their laptops.

"The absurdity of it all," Hoeft said on the phone late Monday. "If you're looking for conservative and Republican support in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I think the last thing you'd want to do is have one of the leading Republican blogs summarily dismissed."

Hoeft said he was taken aback by the unfair and restrictive limitations.

"It was extremely bizarre," Hoeft said. "She's potentially hurting her own case by handling it this way."

The restrictions are even more unusual because reporters from the Daily Press, Associated Press and Virginian Pilot were scattered throughout the crowd and allowed to remain in the speech. In fact, we were even able to shoot a video of Palin's full speech from the front row. (The quality stinks - but the audio is all there.) 

A website dedicated to Palin took to defending the conservative icon, noting that palin did not travel with an entourage to the event. Her only company was her daughter Willow - so they think that the local folks are just trying to kick up a fuss.

"Unless it was Willow Palin who kicked you out, it was not the "Palin people" as she did not have any one from her staff with her other than her daughter.

I'll tentatively agree with the blogger that it wasn't a good idea by the Freedom Fest people to kick out an ally. However, the blogger should not cast blame on a party that wasn't even in attendance."

And there are no off-the-cuff comments about the quality of the speech. There are reports that Palin got nearly $100,000 in payment and expenses for that California speech.

Here's Kirwin's take on being asked to stop typing - posted in a comment on Bearing Drift:

"It was pretty funny at the time to me. Sarah was giving boilerplate rhetoric from a written speech. Nothing wrong with that, but what is there to fear by having someone type online some reactions to what you’re saying?

They didn’t kick out the press. They made bloggers from the biggest conservative blog in the state shut down laptops.

We had been told “no video and no audio” – big deal. All I was doing was typing an occasional comment, mostly about what the crowd reaction was.

Palin’s rules, and make no mistake about it, they were her rules as a contracted speaker, made her look like Nixon in drag.

It’s one thing to slap the “lamestream media” and they deserve it. But this was a bit heavyhanded to tell two volunteers with keyboards to stop typing."

Here's Hoeft's wrap-up after he was chucked out of the auditorium.

We're trying to catch up with organizers to see what happened, and we'll update when we get more perspective. Meanwhile, here's the video of Palin's off limits speech.

Congressional campaign ad with a bang

They do things (a little) different out there in Arizona:

h/t J.C. Wilmore

Webb wants safeguards against "deliberate attacks" on oil platforms...

Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Webb is sounding a warning about the potential for "deliberate attacks" against oil wells as oil continues to spill from a BP platform into the Gulf of Mexico.

Webb penned a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar asking about the vulnerability of oil platforms and a risk assessment for potential attacks.

“The Deepwater Horizon incident caused the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history. With dozens of wells operating in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, we must employ policies that mitigate all types of risk,” said Senator Webb. “While Congress continues to scrutinize BP and the regulatory agencies, our nation must be vigilant against deliberate acts, such as an attack or sabotage, that could cause similar devastation.”

This is one of those security threats that has seriously scary potential, for it's environmental implications and the ramifications when it comes to national security. President Barack Obama and the federal government are still pressuring BP to get the spill stopped so the the cleanup can continue in ernest. Webb's full letter is after the jump.

Sarah Palin's Norfolk speech from Freedom Fest in full - video and audio

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was the prime-time guest for Freedom Fest in Norfolk Sunday, where she gave a 30 speech blasting President Barack Obama's policies and lauding America's military community for protecting the country.

Before you click on the Youtube video below you need a couple of warnings. One - the video is nearly 28 minutes long and follows her speech wall to wall from "hello" to "God Bless the U.S.A." But the battery ran low so I wasn't able to capture the quick question and answer session at the very end.

Secondly, I shot the video with my left hand while taking notes with my right. It is extremely shaky video - so if you're prone to seizures, sea sickness or headaches - avoid watching it and simply listen to the audio. I apologize in advance and expect some ridicule as a luddite that struggles with a serious case of the DT's. Unfortunately taking notes shook the camera during times when she was saying interesting things. (One colleague said it's something like a partisan Blair Witch Project) 

Palin doesn't break much new ground in the speech, it echoes a lot of the words offered by former governor George Allen and Oliver North offered to the crowd earlier in the rally. But the video does take on a little bit more significance when you realize that security at the Ted Constant Convocation Center kicked conservative bloggers from prominent partisan site Bearing Drift out the rally right when Palin took the stage. More on that later.

But here's the video in full - it's still unclear why Palin wouldn't want sympathetic ears and eyes to land on the speech.

If you want to skip through here's a quick hit cheat sheet.

4:15 - military and defense spending

8:33 - the Bush years vs. Obama 

10:01 - "War on terror"

13:46 - Israel vs. the Turkish flotilla

14:20 - lamestream media

17:15 - Obama bowing to dictators on a "worldwide apology tour

18:15 - North Korea and South Korea

24:00 - "I say not just no but hell no."

24:50 - November midterm elections vital - need to change administrations

26:20 - Military a force for good in the world

27:00 - Reload

Webb agrees with Supreme Court ruling on Chicago gun ban...

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on McDonald v. Chicago is making major headlines across the country today as gun rights activists hail it as a major victory over state and federal gun control regulations.

 

The case centered on a Chicago ordinance - so I'm going to let the Daily Press' mothership - the Chicago Tribune - take center stage to explain the ruling and the fallout.

 

Here's a snippet: 

Daley said a new ordinance would be drafted soon and would protect the residents of Chicago as well as 2nd Amendment rights.

"I'm disappointed by the decision, but it's not surprising," Daley said at a news conference. "We're still reviewing the entire decision, but it means that Chicago's current handgun ban is unenforceable, so we're working to rewrite our ordinance in a reasonable and responsible way to protect 2nd Amendment rights and protect Chicagoans from gun violence."

The mayor made the announcement hours after the Supreme Court said Americans nationwide have a constitutional right to have a handgun at home for self-defense, even in cities which until now have outlawed handguns.

And here's Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Webb's statement on the ruling:

 

“I support today’s decision of the Supreme Court in the case of McDonald v. Chicago. With this decision, the Court has ruled that wholesale, sweeping bans and restrictions on firearm ownership cannot be enacted by state and local governments.

 

“I joined a number of my colleagues in filing an amicus brief in this case, in support of a gun owner seeking to overturn Chicago’s handgun ban.

 

“As a United States Senator, I will continue to vigorously defend 2^nd Amendment rights.  I will also look for ways of working with my colleagues to ensure that firearms are kept from criminals and the mentally ill.”  

 

It's Virginia versus Georgia in a peanut showdown....

It's time for Virginia voters to show some state pride.

Check out this letter from the head of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association- the state is in the running for best peanuts and the online contest only lasts for another 24 hours or so - and Virginia and Georgia are running a tight race for the top. This might not sit well with some folks down in Kings Bay Georgia - YOU know who YOU are - but here in Hampton Roads, the peanuts' reputation is on the line.

So if you've been out to Surry recently - or swung by the Virginia Diner on your way out of the Shad Planking in Wakefield - now is the time to get your voice heard.  Here's the letter and the website:

Dear Virginia farmers and friends,

Early last week the Virginia Peanut Growers Association and other state peanut organizations became involved in a promotion sponsored by Roll Call newspaper, a respected daily paper distributed on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The promotion is centered around the Congressional baseball game to be held on June 29, 2010.

As part of the promotion, there was supposed to be a contest involving tasting and voting on the different states' sample peanuts among Congressional staffers.

This has grown via the Internet so that now over 3,000 votes have benn cast. Georgia had a few hundred votes before the other states ever became involved.

With tremendous help from our Department of Agriculture and many others last week, Virginia has established itself as Georgia's only competion. We are on multiple Facebook pages, including Governor McDonnell's.

The closest we have gotten is 35% to 38%. As of right now, they are at 41% to our 33%.

We need a last push and I am counting on all of you to save us from the incessant headlines sure to come about Georgia peanuts winning a nationwide taste test.

I need you to do two things now (the contest concludes on June 29th).

1) Go to http://www.cqrollcall.com/baseball and vote for Virginia.

2) Send an email to as many others as you can and ask them to do the same. Try to choose those whom you can count on to do this. Also, ask them to pass it on once they have voted.

All we need is votes!

Don't forget to pass this on to your spouse, college-age or older children, etc. With 3,000 votes cast, you can see where a few hundred more votes will make a big difference.

With your help and that of your contacts and theirs, we can do this.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Dell

Thomas R. Cotton, Jr.

Executive Secretary

Sens. Warner And Webb statement on the passing of Sen. Byrd...

Virginia U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner worked with U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd for only a few years in Washington, but the eldery West Virginia native must have made an impression.

Here's a statement from Warner.

 “I knew of Senator Robert Byrd and his work long before I ever met him.

“Senator Byrd understood that for the Senate to work effectively, members have to be willing to work together in a bipartisan way, treat their colleagues with trust and mutual respect, and always put the interests of the nation first.

“In a Senate career that spanned more than a half-century, I believe it can be said that few people understood this institution any better than Robert Byrd.”

UPDATE: Here's the statement of Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Webb on Sen. Byrd.

 “The impact Senator Byrd has had on the institution of the Senate will be felt for many years. He was an ardent defender of the traditions of this body, and of its rightful place in the constitutional balance. He was also a force in ensuring that the views of all its members received fair treatment, whether he agreed with them or not. During the few years we served together in the Senate, I was proud to stand with him in fighting for a better way of life among the people of Appalachia, who found in Senator Byrd a steadfast advocate. He was an exceptional legislator and statesman, and he will be greatly missed.”

Rigell's wife takes his place at Freedom Fest

Campaign workers for Republican Scott Rigell have been putting up signs around Old Dominion University today in the run up to Freedom Fest.

With dark blue Rigell t-shirts - they're everywhere and with good reason - thousands of conservative voters are here to hear Sarah Palin and George Allen speak. And Rigell was scheduled to take the stage.

Except it was his wife Teri who spoke to the crowd.

Could it be that Rigell doesn't want to share the stage with Palin because of recent polling data that suggests her endorsement might actually hurt candidates on the trail.

I wonder what U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye's folks make of all this?

 

Freedom Fest kicks off in Norfolk - everyone's waiting for Sarah Palin to arrive...

Freedom Fest is up and running inside the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk and the crowd outside and inside can't wait for Sarah Palin to arrive.

Palin is the marquis speaker at tonight's concert - rally that is a salute to the troops and the first responders including police officers, firefighters and medics. Former Virginia governor George Allen is already here, and despite the rumormill he's not confirming the scuttlebutt that he's going to take on U.S. Sen. Jim Webb in 2012.

It doesn't matter how many times we ask him - Allen is not going to say just yet.

Lee Greenwood is on stage now - he just sang the national anthem - and he's got more tassels on his jacket then anyone else in the building. Greenwood - of course - is the singer best known for the uber-patriotic "God Bless the U.S.A." 

Col. Oliver North is also in the building.

According to the organizers Palin is already in Hampton Roads - she got in early Sunday morning. But she probably won't go on for another couple hours. Her book is on sale everywhere and so is Allen'e new one. They apparently ber signing them later on.

There's beer - Bud Light and Heinenken - and three kinds of wine on sale and a little kiosk next to me - I'll be back in a few.

Or after a few.

Poll says Palin endorsement could hurt GOP nominees - Decision time for Rigell..

Virginia Democrats see Sarah Palin coming and they're banking that the negative feelings toward the former Alaska governor far outweigh her draw at the ballot box.

By any metrics Palin is a star with conservative Republican voters. She's draws big crowds and sparks a high level of loyalty and devotion from a intense pack of hardcore fans. But more broadly, Palin inspires indifference, jokes and even hatred even within the GOP ranks - let along with Democrats.

If you think the "elite liberal media" is simply making this up, all you need to do is return to the Virginia gubernatorial campaign trail where Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell ran circles around Democrat Creigh Deeds. McDonnell made no bones about his conservative roots and his ties to Regent University - the Hampton Roads college founded and run by controversial evangelical leader Pat Robertson.

Palin's team offered to campaign and help fundraise for McDonnell on the trail - after all the Virginia gubernatorial race was a high profile nationally watched race - but McDonnell steered clear of the the GOP star. McDonnell was certainly running to the center and painting himself as a moderate - so you could kind of understand why he wouldn't want a firebrand nearby.

But if Palin is such and star why would McDonnell avoid her?

The answer likely lies in some recent polling data put out by NBC/and the Wall Street Journal (with the WSJ on board this numbers can't simply be chalked up to liberal bias.) 

Plus it's not like the poll is a boon for Democrats. In fact the overall outcome of the poll suggests that it will be a Republican year come Election Day an idea that we've repeated over and over here on the plank.

But here's some great digging analysis from Greg Sargent over that the Washington Post. breaking down how Palin's positives are far outweighed by her negatives. The conclusion: a Palin endorsement is TOXIC in a general election campaign.

The poll asked people how they'd respond if a Congressional candidate had various hypothetical attributes. Asked how they'd feel if a candidate were "endorsed by Sarah Palin," the response was....

Enthusiastic about this attribute 8

Comfortable with this attribute 17

Have some reservations about this attribute 15

Very uncomfortable with this attribute 37

So a majority, 52%, reacted negatively. And an astonishing 37 percent would be "very uncomfortable" about a Palin endorsement, more than four times the eight percent who would be "enthusiastic" about it.

Even better, there were only two attributes a candidate might have that were seen as worse than a Palin endorsement: Supporting Bush's economic policies; and supporting the elimination of various Federal agencies and/or Social Security.

Ouch - supporting Bush's economic policies? That is not good territory.

Those kind of numbers leave Republican Scott Rigell with a predicament. Rigell is running against Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye and he'll be on stage with Palin during this weekend's "Freedom Fest" in Norfolk.

The wind appears to be at Rigell's back in the race for Virginia 2nd District, which includes parts of Hampton and Norfolk and all of Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. The conservative district went Democratic in 2008 - but the national political mood suggests that Rigell has the advantage here if he plays his cards right.

But Nye has shrewdly carved out a moderate record in Congress, he's got the ingrained benefit of incumbency and a healthy bank account. He's not going quietly.

So what does Rigell do - does he follow the path of his political godfather McDonnell and try to downplay his links to Palin on the trail? Or does he consider Palin and asset and try to trumpet her support?

Virginia Democrats are going to try to get their base riled up about Palin and it appears to be working. They've set up a website where Virginia voters can sound off on Palin.  Here's a statement Virginia Democratic Party chair Dick Cranwell emailed out to supporters.  

Many people laugh at the things Sarah Palin says, but what she's trying to do is no laughing matter. President Obama and our democrats in Congress have spent the last 18 months cleaning up the mess that President Bush left behind - and right-wing ideologues like Sarah Palin have been fighting us every step of the way.

And here are some of the responses arriving at Democratic offices:

Sarah, Please submit some positive ideas. Attacking others is not policy making! - Webb N.

Have you ever thought you could do more good for the country by working with the president, than against him? - Sylvia

It ought to be interesting to see exactly where Rigell stands on Sunday.