Source: Palin expected to appear at GOP fundraising dinner
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/08/art.spalin4.0608.gi.jpg caption="Although the governor had a standing invitation to attend as a guest, Republicans didn't have a clue if Palin would show up, with just hours left until the event was set to begin."]
WASHINGTON (CNN)–A Republican official involved in the planning for Monday night's major GOP fundraising dinner tells CNN that the Alaska governor is "expected to attend" the event "and will be sitting with Sen. John Cornyn and his wife at their table."
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of internal GOP politics, said Palin is not expected to make formal remarks but will be recognized during the program.
A Palin spokeswoman refused to confirm whether the governor planned to attend the event.
The report is the latest headline-grabber out of what was intended to be a low-key trip to the East Coast, out of the glare of the national media. Instead, the Alaska governor has found herself in the political hot seat once again.
With Palin in Washington on Monday attending to state business, Republicans on Capitol Hill had been left wondering if she would make an appearance at the party's high-profile dinner on Monday night, after a late attempt to have her speak at the event appeared to fall through.
Although the governor had a standing invitation to attend as a guest, Republicans didn't have a clue if Palin would show up, with just hours left until the event was set to begin.
Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, had personally reached out to Palin to offer her a seat at his table tonight, according to an aide. But as of earlier in the afternoon, he had not heard back.
A GOP official involved in the planning of the event characterized the situation Monday as just "a minor distraction" from what is expected to be a successful fundraiser.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in the news himself for critical remarks about President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, is set to headline the joint fundraising dinner for the Senate and House Republican campaign committees.
Gingrich was slotted to replace Palin on the program in March after she and her staff waffled over whether she would accept the speaking invitation, which had already been publicly announced by both the NRSC and the National Republican Congressional Committee. At the time, Palin's office in Alaska said that her political staff in Washington had agreed to the invitation without consulting the governor.
Last week, Palin reached out to the committees through Republican fundraiser Fred Malek to say she would be in Washington on the day of the dinner and would be available to speak. Malek and Cornyn attempted to work out a plan that would allow Palin to make a brief speaking appearance on stage.
But Rep. Pete Sessions, the NRCC chairman, was concerned that Palin might upstage Gingrich, so the governor was later told she would not be able to deliver remarks, but was still welcome to attend.
Dems have no reason to fear from Vice President Palin, oopps the GOP lost I forgot. The country has spoken and it's telling palin to go read a book.
Will someone please get TCM a tissue! WAH!
TCM June 8th, 2009 5:51 pm ET
You narrowminded, uneducated, entitlement sucking, morons!
Takes one to know one
Someone posted that Silly Sarah has "class and morals" - oh, please! Give me a break! And, before someone answers that I'm AFRAID of her, don't work, am waiting for a government hand-out, etc., etc. - not hardly! The woman is truly a national joke!
mary June 8th, 2009 5:51 pm ET
Boy, oh boy, you bitter, angry libs. This woman has class and morals and that makes all of you nuts.
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I question the moral compass of a woman who, when faced with the possibility that she might not get a positive welcome at a hockey game, brought her 6-year old on to the rink with her, on the theory that "no one would boo a 6-year old."
It takes a certain disregard for your child to chose to subject her to that. Not very moral, in my mind. Nor very classy.
Barbara June 8th, 2009 5:50 pm ET
Like the Republican Party needs any help!~
This woman is going to break fundraising records in the next two years.
Obama polls numbers are down, unemployment is 9.4 and will continue to climb and guess who is going to be out there bashing and bashin from here on outt? Gov. Sarah Palin
You created her and nothing you do can stop her.
This is going to be so much fun to watch.
Thank god SARA is staying we need a moral person in this time of trouble. She represents a large group of people in our country.
keep running Palin, and the dems will keep winning
Who do the libs have to offer us? Hillary!!!! Geraldine Ferraro!!!! Tonya Sotomayor!!!!! Pelosi!!! Barney Frank!!!! Chris Dodd!!!! Joe Biden!!!! Jimmy Carter!!!! Chappaquiddick Ted!!!! Truth be told the libs are scared to death of Palin. When they attempt to get nasty or be "intellectual" simply suggest the names listed above.
marcus2 June 8th, 2009 5:59 pm ET
June 8th, 2009 5:51 pm ET
wow…it's truly amazing how many liberals are afraid of Palin….running around squawking like little chickens….afraid of Palin, all the while… by TCM
___________________________
Afriad? No. Mocking? Probably. Laughing? Most assuredly.
Hoping she runs in 2012 – ABSOLUTELY!
ROFLMAO!!
Its not that anyone is afraid of Paulin its just the fact that the Paulin kool aid drinkers are so hype up over someone like this who have not the intellect of a average High school student, I guess her followers think they can put lip stick on it and all of sudden she blossoms into an intelligent intellect, fat chance, if she don't have it by know, she never will. So please uncross your fingers and say your prayers everything is going to be alright.
Sara please go away.......you are killing my republican party!!! Idiots like you ensure that we will never be a viable party again. For the sake of the Republican party go under a rock, and take Newt and Rush with you.
Is this really a news story worth this coverage?