Palin's full speaking contract revealed
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/05/13/art.palin.0505f.gi.jpg caption =" A judge has ordered the contents of Palin's speaking contract with a California school to be made public."](CNN) – So just what does it take to get Sarah Palin to speak at your fundraising gala?
A "deluxe" hotel suite, a first class ticket or a private jet ("Lear 60 or larger"), pre-selected audience questions, and "bendable" straws – not to mention the $75,000 in cash.
That's according to Palin's speaking contract with Cal State Stanislaus – ordered to be released by a California judge this week after the state school refused to make the document public last June.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown began an investigation in April into whether school officials were trying to avoid public disclosure laws by discarding documents. A state senator asked for the probe after he said the school refused to turn over some requested records concerning the event.
The university argued it was not compelled to release the contract because Palin was speaking at a fundraiser for the university's private, non-profit foundation.
But Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne disagreed, saying the foundation ultimately was a branch of a public entity and therefore documents relating to its business must be made public pursuant to public record laws.
"The reasonable inference from the evidence produced is that the university, in its official capacity, has 'used' the contract…in the conduct of the public's business; therefore, said contract is also a public record," Beauchesne wrote in his opinion delivered earlier this week.
Much of the contents of the contract had already been revealed: the school had previously disclosed how much it paid the former Alaska governor and portions of the contract were discovered in a dumpster by students last April.
Still, the document provides a revealing picture of the types of demands an A-list speaker can make, and serves as a reminder that no detail is too small to omit - from the lighting ("should be at a comfortable, but appropriate production level"), to the water ("unopened bottled still"), to the lectern ("no plexiglass or thin lectern please").
The June 25 speech came after months of controversy amid charges the financially-strapped school was paying too much to secure Palin.
But the Alaska governor's speech ultimately brought in record amounts of money for the foundation, and a school spokeswoman called the gala "the most successful fundraiser in the university's history."
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It's called Judeo Christian, " a man for himself" translation-being greedy is okay. " God created all men equal" translation minorities are not men so its okay to enslave them body, soul and the mind. "Equal opportunity for all" translation but you have to identify your skin color to get the equal opportunity. SO SARAH IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS GREEDY SHE IS JUST EXCERCISING THE HYPOCRICY IN JUDEO CHRISTIAN!!
I would be the happiest man in the world if I never heard the words Sarah Palin ever again. Please realize that 90% of the public thinks you are nothing but a joke. And the other 10% was sure Bush was the best president ever.
I don't know why everyone's gone so nuts over her demanding pre-selected questions. George Bush had the same thing during is "ask president Bush" sessions during the 2004 campaign! And just look at all the good he did! You freedom hating libs really crack me up.
I am hoping that at the end of this year that the IRS is going to very carefully scrutinize Sarah's Tax Return. This could be very interesting if they release the results!
Sarah Palin is a total joke. And that joke is being played on Americans who think she has ANYTHING of substance to offer this country. She DESERTED her constituents in Alaska, she's not well informed at all on any political or social issue, her "endorsements" of political candidates are worthless, and her own party, the GOP, would love it if she would just STFU and go home.
However, she a perfect example however of capitalism at work: "the least amount of service for the most amount of profit."
YMMV.
Would they make this big of a deal if it was a democrat? Pre-selected questions no big deal; at least she doesn't need the teleprompter to tell the audience her answer.
This is pretty standard for most of the sought after speakers minus the flexible straws. Its not a big deal. Its politics for those seaking to get this contract language brought out public and nothing more.
For the morons who keep using the "Well look at how much Bill Clinton and other speakers charge" red herring, keep in mind that Bill Clinton and other speakers HAVE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING IN THEIR LIVES. At least they finished their terms in office.
Sarah Palin is no one.
My only question is, will she play "Free Bird" at the encore or will she just stick to the new material?
Anyone who would pay money to listen to this women speak is mentally challenged.
As long as right wing neocon nutjobs worship her, she can demand those high prices. It worked for Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly and the rest of the hypocrits.
So, in the end, there was nothing unusual about the contract. Once again, a comotion over nothing. NEXT!
And for what? Geez, what a waste of money. This woman should just go away somehwere.
Apparently she doesn't spend any of the money on educating herself or read on the plane. She's as dumb as ever.
To:
Lone Rider August 27th, 2010 12:49 pm ET
"Dosent sound much different than what Obama demands"
How do you know what, if anything, PRESIDENT Obama "demands"?
to Lone Ranger – What does Obama demand? Get your facts straight. And please – don't ever compare that nicompoop to our intelligent, compassionate president. She's beneath even wiping his butt.
I will Palin to shut up and go away
@Steve(the real one) Your comment, like so many of Palin's just shows how little you know. Obama, as with any other President, holds press conferences without knowing the questions. They call on the reporters pool in a specified order and never know what they are going to get asked. Get your facts together before blabbering your ignorance.
I wouldn't pay her a penny or waste my time listening to her illiterate speeches since there is clearly no substance behind her thinking, logic and reasoning. Then again, a fool and his money are soon parted.
To 'Steve the real one'......................when and where have the President's questions been precreened?
This is almost funny in a twisted sort of way. Wow, for someone who is supposed to be pro America she sure demands a lot from people in order to speak at their functions. Especially a fundraiser. You would think out of the goodness of her heart she would have been happy to do it for a lot less. Perhaps then she might gain some respect. Just goes to show you that most all politicians are filthy liars. You betcha!
If people are dumb enough to pay, I'm sure they'll think they got a good deal. She only appeals to the teabbager types so let them pay.
I have to chuckle about all of this. I'm taking a stab at this, but I believe most public speakers have demands, as do actors and singers and the like. Palin is no different. For anyone who thinks anyone of these public figures is like you and me, you are sadly mistaken. None of them are. All of them are used to someone else providing for their needs. Can you blame her? She went from Governor of the largest (by land) state with (I believe) the smallest population to being able to shop in stores they don't even have in Alaska. This is pretty heady stuff.
There are other things I don't like about the woman, but I don't begrudge her earning a living. I don't like the fact that she didn't fulfill her obligation to Alaska by serving as their governor until the end of her term, but as someone who doesn't live there, it didn't affect me. If she demands $75,000 to speak and she gets it, well, more power to her.
Now, the preselected questions: I haven't heard that Obama has done this, but I'll give the comment writer the benefit of doubt and say he has. So did Bush and I'm sure so do a lot of our government officials when they speak. What do any of you expect? They don't want to be hit with an uncomfortable question during a speech. None of them want to look bad. It goes with the territory.
I am confused about her lectern request: ("no plexiglass or thin lectern please"). Anyone know why? What's the difference? As I've never seen her speak, does she pound on them? Is she scared she'll break it? It seems like a strange request, but if someone is willing to grant it, I guess I shouldn't really care.
Regarding the comment about Obama's vacation plans, please look up the facts. He pays for his own vacations. Every president in modern history has taken vacations, so get off it.
And, a lot of First Ladies have aides – Hilliary, Laura and now Michele. It is a very public position and they are expected to represent our country at functions – and they don't receive a paycheck for it.
I worry about this country as I think the haters on both sides are going to slowly destroy it.
Anyone surprised?
1. Half-term Governor
2. Absentee mother. Honestly, her children must think she's two dimensional since they only see her on TV
3. Divisive
4. Greedy
'nuf said
I might pay $75,000 to see her naked, as long as she promised not to open her mouth...