(CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin canceled a July trip to Sudan due to "scheduling problems," a source with knowledge of the trip confirmed to CNN Thursday.
Palin was scheduled to travel to the southern part of the war-savaged country with Franklin Graham, son of evangelical leader Billy Graham, to attend the July 9 independence ceremony, information she first told a London newspaper earlier this month.
"She is not going to Sudan due to scheduling problems," said the source, who would not speak on the record because Palin's travel itinerary is considered private.
Palin's representatives refused to comment on the trip. News of the cancelation was first reported by The Washington Post.
But a spokesman for Graham said he still plans to travel to the North African country and confirmed that he and Palin spoke on the phone last week.
"She would be a very good person to help draw attention to the plight of the Christians in South Sudan," Graham told The Post. "We've got George Clooney, we've got some Hollywood-type people. I'm very grateful for what Mr. Clooney has done. But we need everybody we can find."
The two traveled to Haiti in December to visit Samaritan's Purse relief projects. Franklin is president and CEO of the humanitarian organization.
Palin's decision follows several weeks of silence from the potential presidential candidate, raising questions about the future plans for her bus tour. She addressed the reports on her Facebook page Wednesday, saying she has jury duty and is "looking forward to hitting the open road again" when "the next leg of the tour continues when the time comes."
The former GOP vice presidential candidate traveled up the East Coast earlier this month on the first leg of her "One Nation" bus tour.
From CNN Politics
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"...draw attention to the plight of the Christians in South Sudan." Really? Just the Christians? What about the plight of ANY HUMAN BEING in the Sudan?
She's a quitter, what do you expect?
What hapenned Stupid Sarah? Did you find out that 5-star hotels were hard to come by in the Sudan? Could they not fulfill all of your prerequsites/demands before you deigned to set foot in this God-forsaken land?
I have a number of Sudanese friends that were quite relieved to hear that you were NOT coming.
They say they don't know what Americans see in this woman!
Smart people my Sudanese friends.
"She is not going to Sudan due to scheduling problems,"
-------------------------------------------------–
Code for: Nothing in it for me $$$$.
Haiti was happenning, the Sudan is sooo yesterday,right Sarah dahling?
Poser.
I guess that she figured out that the media wouldn't be coming along to "watch" her. Shaking my head, when will enough be enough of this person?
Peace
I'd love to see her drive her Bus around Sudan . She did such a great job in Haiti !
Only Sarah has the touch of Mother Teresa and the wisdom of Mama Grizzly .
Palin / Perry 2012
God/Guns/Glory
Must not be any 5 star hotels in the Sudan.
Only a moron like herself would go to South Sudan when it declared independence. Violence has be gripping the region ever since the referendum.
Nobody in their right mind would go to South Sudan when it declared independence. Violence has be gripping the region ever since the referendum.
Scheduling problems ??
If there were any value to humanity in your going to Sudan – - if you truly believed in a cause larger than yourself – - You wouldn't let a "scheduling problem" prevent you from going. Why don't you try being humble and honest with the American people just once?
Sarah Palin, I have no respect for you based on your behavior.
And Rev. / Mr. Franklyn Graham, your alignment with the rightwing, Fox News-type Republicans is disgusting. They are some of the most un-Christian people on the face of the earth. You lack the credibility of your father. Even if he was a "closet Republican" I don't ever recall him engaging in highly partisan pronouncements the way you have. You are an American Mullah, not an American pastor.
Sounds like missy, found out that like Haiti, the Sudan is populated mostly by black people!
No money in it for her, plus, she doesn't know where it is.
She was probably not being paid enough. so she quit. Sounds like a trend for her. That's too bad, because I was hoping she would go there and decide to stay...
This is for the best. The Sudanese have suffered enough, no need to heighten their suffering by unleashing Palin on them.
Michelle thought about going, but the food and 5 star hotels in South Africa was more appealing.
@thomas You are joking right???!!!!???
I thought she didn't have a passport.
She got the message: "They eat white people over there." Ummh...tastes just like chicken!
Franklin and Sarah deserve each other. Both rant nonsense and are wannabes. In Franklin's case he is trying to measure up to his father and coming in a really poor 1,000 place. Sarah couldn't help a pack of wild dogs to a piece of meat. What a pair.
The people of Sudan should be so (un)lucky.
Graham thinks that Sarah is not a Hollywood type??? What is this man smoking, and why hasn't he figured this woman out? She has nothing to offer in a trip to Sudan or anywhere else. Sarah never pursues any good causes and is always "invited" by Graham; otherwise, she would not consider it. Her scheduling problems are a joke.
She couldn't find Africa on a map..of Africa.
Even though I am not a supporter of sarah palin, but I am very disappointed.
GOP = Godless Odd People. Palin is a joke just like the rest of the GOP Bozos.
Renee Hernanadez perhaps you have no idea of the situation but what the article is referring to by the plight of christians in northern Sudan is the massacre of christians by Muslims in southern Sudan .
Does Sarah Palin even know where Sudan is? Sudanese people don't care about Sarah Palin period!