After confusion, Palin back on the program for Iowa rally
Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – She's in again.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is set to appear at a tea party rally in Iowa Saturday, a source close to Palin told CNN.
And Christine O'Donnell is out (again), the source said.
Palin had initially accepted an invitation to speak at the Saturday's "Restoring America Event" in Indianola, an event that generated national buzz as Palin approaches a final decision about whether to run for president.
But members of Palin's staff indicated Wednesday that her appearance was being put "on hold" due to "planning issues" and concerns that the group behind the event, Tea Party of America, was being "dishonest" about the speaking program.
After the confusion, rally organizers "stepped up their game today" and "sorted out" various logistical issues that had concerned the governor's aides, the Palin source told CNN Wednesday afternoon.
The source said event organizers had been sending them "mixed messages" about the program - including the question of whether O'Donnell, the former Delaware Senate candidate whom Palin endorsed in 2010, would participate.
O'Donnell was, for the second time in 48 hours, removed from the program Wednesday afternoon.
Ken Crow, one of the rally organizers, told the Des Moines Register that he dis-invited O'Donnell at the Palin camp's request.
The Palin source said O'Donnell's representatives misled the tea party group about the extent of the governor's relationship with O'Donnell.
O'Donnell's representatives told event organizers that she would be in Iowa on the date of the rally and would like to come by and "say hi" to Palin, the source said. O'Donnell was then added to the speaking agenda.
The source told CNN that O'Donnell aides lied to organizers and said Palin had been communicating via text message with O'Donnell about the rally.
"The governor hasn't spoken to her in a year," the Palin source said of O'Donnell.
Palin advisers said earlier Wednesday that Palin might make a separate showing on Friday in Des Moines to meet with supporters, but that appearance is not confirmed.
An aide to O'Donnell disputed that people close to her mischaracterized her relationship with Palin to the Iowa rally organizers and asserted they did not lie about the extent of conversations between the two late Wednesday.
O'Donnell spokesman Matt Moran said O'Donnell will not travel to Iowa this weekend and sign copies of her book "Troublemaker." After she was initially dis-invited she cancelled her flight. When she was re-invited to the rally organizers offered to pay for her trip.
Moran said O'Donnell thought it would be an honor to be at the event and never intended to upstage anyone.
“As of this morning we saw a very classy move by Ken Crow, but since then there's been a lot of inconsistent and false statements by organizer-attendee aides, which is unfortunate. Christine talks about 'rising above it' in her book, and we hope the event is a phenomenal success,” Moran said in a statement.
In a series of tweets late Wednesday O'Donnell did not criticize the event's organizers.
"Now we have to help their efforts by not letting anyone falsely spin this into infighting," she wrote.
On some of the accusations from sources close to Palin she responded: "My team did not misrepresent my schedule" and decided to criticize the media. "I really doubt anyone from Palin's team would say such blatant inaccuracies."
–CNN's Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
Remember the good old days - the days BEFORE this Wasila Grizzly Quitta, this Alaskan Crazy person - was sprung upon the rest of us? McCain, MOST of us will never forgive you! And to those of you who actually support this awful person and think that the rest of us are AFRAID of her, PLEASE! We are not afraid of her. She will never ever hold office again. It is just that this sorry excuse of a human being cannot see what she is doing to this country, and that other countries are actually laughing at us because of TeaPubs like her. She is not a true American, not a Patriot. And she is too dense to know that MOST of us want her to go away, to go back to Alaska, stay there, try to raise a normal family, and leave the rest of us alone.
Let's see now, is this flop, flip, flop, flop, flip? Or is it flip, flip, flop, flip flip?
Does *anybody* really believe Palin will not put herself in the running for the nomination? It's what she's been working towards since leaving Alaska. Her running for the nomination is guaranteed, just as much as her not getting it because she's unelectable. But then, none of the GOP candidates announced so far have any chance of beating Obama. They need someone who's smart, steady, and who keeps religion out of politics.
I think that Odonnell should show up anyways. I'd like to see Palins reaction on that one.
I think that Odonnell should show up anyways. I'd like to see Palins reaction on that one.
She's in. She's out. She's in. She's out. What is she....a Jack in the Box?
Palin has always stood on principle.
Alright I see a Catfight brewing...I thought it would be Payless and no brain Bachmannn
hy does media ignore that Palin IS campaingn and bypassing campainge laws..She is a lier and a FRAUD!!!!
So, I guess that Sister Sarah, the Prophet of the 21st Century carries a different "biblical approach" to her political ambitions. Sounds to me like "ALL MEN/WOMEN ARE NOT HER BROTHERS/SISTERS!! The next thing you know Sarah will be publishing her very own "Bible"!!! You bettcha!!!
These teabaggers couldn't organize a lemon-aid stand for Pete's sake. Pay attention America-this is what Republicans get when they vote extreme right and this is what Democrats get when they stay home-like in 2010.....
This is no joke,,,,no matter what Bachmann says......
Palin is just there to gather $$$$ for herself. She will not enter the Presidential Race at all. She knows that she is finished. This is just a hoodwinking year for her. After 2012 she will be well roasted.
Is this a joke?
"The governor hasn't spoken to her in a year," the Palin source said of O'Donnell. Ms. Palin gets to keep the title of Governor after half a term ? Great bennies for quiting...
You put your Palin in; you put your Odonnell out; you put your Palin in and you shake it all about...
I think I'll go shake my Palin all about right now.
Palin, O'Donnell or Bachmann, it doesn't seem to matter. They all seem so similar and that's not a compliment.
Whatever Sarah wants, Sarah gets. Which party is moving in circles to accommodate her? The real candidates should be a little upset with what is going on in Iowa and NH. Somebody has to be in charge and make the decisions.
So, bimbo #1 has (again) replaced bimbo #2. Move along. Nothing to see here. These aren't the Bimbos you're looking for.
Does it really matter which airhead speaks? Both are low on air pressure.
dear rest of the nation. i apologize that ,y state is populated with alzheimic old people who believe in fairy gods and vote for whacko republicans. it's just that all the sane or young people leave the state, and the geriatric population gets a bit tipsy from all their meds. it's embarressing to say the least, Palin, stop taking advantage of these old folk's confusion.
Why is it that every time Palin burps or farts the media feels obligated..no obsessed to report it? After all, isn't she just a money-grubbing, lying, media whore with a dim intellect? What does that say about the media and the people who crave this drivel?
They replaced the witch with the...you get the picture.
"The governor hasn't spoken to her in a year," the Palin source said of O'Donnell.
Are they referring to Palin as the Governer? She QUIT THAT JOB. SHE ABANDONED HER ELECTED OFFICE AS GOVERNER. Why are they calling her The Governer? She's an unemployed rogue opportunist.
Reminds me of a bunch of grade schoolers. I'm not coming if you invite her!
Chaos follows these women and the tea party wherever they go!