PHILADELPHIA (CNN) – Although many Philadelphia Flyers fans cheered and clapped as Sarah Palin took to the ice at the Wachovia Center on Saturday night to drop the ceremonial puck kicking off this town's NHL season, their warm reception was no match for the 90 seconds of sustained booing that rumbled through the arena, drowning out most of the cheers in support of the Republican vice presidential nominee.
As Palin stepped onto the ice before a capacity crowd to drop the puck, joined by her daughters Willow and Piper, the arena's jumbotron flashed a futile message to the thousands of notoriously harsh Philadelphia sports fans in attendance.
"Flyers fans, show Philadelphia's class and welcome America's #1 hockey mom, Sarah Palin," the massive electronic message board pleaded, to little effect. Booing quickly erupted when the smiling candidate emerged from a tunnel leading onto the ice, muffling the applause of any Palin supporters in the crowd.
Some in the audience simply gave her a thumbs down gesture. Others called her names.
Palin spent about a minute and a half on center ice, posing for pictures with Flyers captain Mike Richards and New York Rangers assistant captain Scotty Gomez, an Alaska native. The crowd commotion was sustained for her entire time in the rink.
Palin's showing did not appear to help the Flyers, who looked hapless in the first period, giving up four goals to their rivals from New York. The governor stayed to watch the first two periods with family and staff in the box of Flyers owner Ed Snider, and by the time she departed the Wachovia Center for her hotel, the Flyers had narrowed the lead to 4-2.
From CNN Politics
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McCain gambled one time too many when he picked Sarah Palin for his running mate.
She deserves the boo and so much more!
When it comes to this...you might as well give up!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
Serves her right for trying to bring right-wing politics to a good ole' hockey game. Hockey fans aren't blind followers.
Hay Palin,
Shouldn't your children be in school??? I think you have taught them enough lessons about Politics and the way one should not perform on stage and in public. I feel sorry for you for the impressions you are leaving behind after your speeches. I wish you would read up on the facts and not use the total words of the McCain's campaign staff.
Mr McCain is a old man and should not be running for President. I know Cindy wants to be First Lady but I don't think that will be happening.
WOULD BOO HER TOO IF I WAS THERE. SINCE I'M NOT......
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
McCains problem is sinple...Sarah Palin She almost started a race roit, now she is in Philly trying to stir right to lifers into a frenzy. I believe that she really has issues and she seems to be talking about an enemy instead of an opponent. Whatever belief system she brougt with her, she needs to take it back to Alaska quickly... It makes me nervous!
AP says polite clapping over rode the booing. Who is wrong?
Gov. Palin: Your 15 minutes of fame has now come to an end.
She was not welcome in Pittsburgh either. I am from Pittsburgh and work next to the hotel Sara Palin was at and she was meant with over 250 protesters with Obama signs. We don't want her here and Pittsburg showed that yesterday.
LOL!!!!
Tacky Philly fans. People who watch hockey are losers anyway
sara palin is a nut case, do american a favor take your crazy dumb self back to alaska
John McCain had the option of picking more qualified female running mates for his ticket who would have had a lot more diplomacy.
As an Obama supporter, the most constructive advice I can offer John McCain at this point is that he had options such as Michelle Bachman, a seasoned Senator from Minnesota, Elizabeth Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, just to name a few.
It's moments like these that make me glad to be from Philly.
She gets what she deserves. Elected officials who are idiots and break state laws should be booed!
Maybe Miss Alaska will finally get a grip on reality.
how RUDE. Flyers fans are jerks anyway. Go Sabres!
EXCELLENT!!!! WE WILL BE HEARD!!!!!!!!!
Looks like McCain's sick campaign is finally getting the treatment they've deserved.
Hey Hockey Mom,
The Bible is true. You do reap what you sew!! And all the lies,hate and divisiveness that you and Grandpa McSame have heaped on Barack Obama will come back to your doorstep. God is not mocked, even by you!!!
Wake up America!!!!
Obama/Biden 08/12
Mrs. Palin"
The crowd was simply reacting to your lies, distractions, false accusation, false attacks. misinterpretations, and , misleading statements that you are spouting daly on the campaign trail. Doesn't that bring home to you what kink of candidate you are. Who are those people pulling your strings? You should be more discriminiting and selective about what you are saying on the campaign trail. Otherwise, you are coming across as a submissive Republican puppet.
I am copying the above comment to Mr. McCain, so he becomes aware, if he isn't already, of what you are spouting.
This is no surprise. Philly fans have always been a good judge of character. Or lack of it.
Great hockey fans in Philadelphia. I guess they know a real "hockey puck with lipstick". Keep booing until she crosses the Alaska border. Let's hope that she & the wolf killing "Todd the stud" stays there with her.
So much for Hockey Mom ....
OBAMA/BIDEN 08 and Beyond!