Palin v. Sebelius? "Team Sarah" Organizes Against Obama Pick

An online community of female supporters of Gov. Sarah Palin is launching a last minute campaign to derail the candidacy of Kathleen Sebelius for the secretary post at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Team Sarah, which was founded to support and mobilize for the McCain-Palin ticket and claims tens-of-thousands of members, blasted out a petition on Monday morning urging members to "flood the phone lines" in opposition to Sebelius' candidacy.

Hi Team!

Today's the day! Our Not on Our Watch! Phone Bank Blast is set for TODAY from 2pm - 4pm ET. Write a note & stick it on your forehead, set your cell phone alarm - do what you have to do to remember to make your calls TODAY!

Our goal is to flood the phone lines of the Senate Finance Committee and make our message heard loud and clear - NO SEBELIUS! Not on Our Watch!

For the complete project information, including the phone numbers of the members of the Senate Finance Committee, visit: http://www.teamsarah.org/profiles/blogs/team-sarah-announces-the-not or "gather around the Water Cooler.

Also, if you haven't sent out your postcards or letters yet, it's not too late! Send them out as soon as you can so that they reach the Senate Finance Committee this week.

Sebelius's nomination is set to come to a vote before the Senate Finance Committee this Tuesday, April 21. The nomination is expected to pass through the committee and ultimately the Senate, though on Friday the terrain got a bit rougher, when ranking Republican Sen. Charles Grassley criticized the Kansas Governor for understating the amount of money she raised from doctor who performs abortions -- likely the same revelation offending the Team Sarah members.

Progressive groups have been pushing for an expeditious confirmation of Sebelius for weeks, arguing that the administration is being disadvantaged by lacking a cabinet figure to tackle a subject of such key political and economy importance (health care).

Here, for instance, is the SEIU's petition:

Earlier this month, a Republican Senator put a mysterious hold on the confirmation of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services Secretary. It's hard to believe that while the clock ticks on fixing health care, the top leadership position in the government's health agency is left vacant. This is simply unacceptable.

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Comments

[landoffools]

THE WASILLA HILLBILLES !

The gift that keeps on giving !

[dimplesmile7]

Kathleen Sebelius we are behind you all the way! I don't get the Sarah Palin supporters. She lost the election in November and lost by a huge margin. She drove the independents, moderates and minorities away. Do you really believe that people have amnesia about her hate speeches, and botched interviews every time she opened her mouth. Do you really believe she has the ability to draw people back to the party? People are going to change their minds about her because Sarah has done nothing impressive since leaving the campaign trail. She is failing with her family right in the public's eye. The fact that she dissed her legislators did not help at all. Please get out of your heads that Sarah is a force to be reckon with when she has even failed to defeat an 18 year old in a media war.

[Gladys1963]

Well said!

[stevezep]

It's a way for Palin to still be in the spotlight and it's her way of still voicing what she thinks is right. Well it is a woman's choice and probably the reason it may take six months to have a "legal" abortion is because of all the red tape.

Just wait, next they will try to keep one of our elected officials out of office. Oh wait, they already did that in Minnesota. My bad.

Can we graduate out of high school? Move ON!

[maryyooch]

I think you mean Jr. High School.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Shouldn't "Team Sarah" be focused on more pressing matters?


Like bullying Levi Johnston or something?

[roshni]

Here is the number to call to support Sibelius: 202-224-4515

[KarenT]

She's passed in the House...no­w the Senate.

[tiotom77]

"The doctor performed abortions"­...Late term abortions. That means 6 month pregnant. Pretty close to birth.

[roshni]

Legal abortions.

[AKWrongWinger]

Looks like TEAM GUMP fails again, GO OBAMA! If you are not for him you belong in GITMO!

[Fyrefly86]

Mean Girls Syndrome

[roshni]

202-224-4515
Call this number and express your support for Sibelius.

[TidalShadow]

That notice seems very unprofessional for a political action group. Perhaps I'm naive, but I would assume that a more businesslike announcement would be more successful at generating political action.

[JTCan]

It's just her turn to be the one to say NO....the repugs seem to be taking turns blocking anyone appointed.­....their latest "strategy"­......

[MideastDove]

It's all about abortion.

[tiotom77]

You're right! This doctor performed in question performed late term abortions. Babies in the womb for over six months. That's pretty close to Birth.

[roshni]

It's all about a legal procedure.

[maryyooch]

Most people do not have abortions at 6 months (or close either way) unless it is a dangerous pregnancy. You need to educate yourself and stop believing everything the reichwingers say, because everything they say is bullsh*t!

[AndThenOneDay]

I picture the Team Sarah acolytes following through to the letter and actually putting a note on their foreheads. They should be easy to spot as you go around today. Help them cross the street if you have time.

[nancytheragingliberal]

Who cares about the crazies comprising "Team Sarah?" Why is this mean spirited woman on my TV and Blogs 24/7? She su**s and su**s to the high hills. Dangerous.

[getreal23]

Sarah thinks Catherine is a threat to her in the future.

[hortonhearsawho2]

she may be convinced, however, the idea of palin and a thought, well, not happening.

[Spiderxx1]

Exactly!

[R Flan]

Sarah just needs to keep watchin' those skies up there, in case Putin rears his head...

[EvasDaddy]

I joined "Team Sarah" to see what they had to say. They are aware of infiltrators, and much of their effort is aimed at rooting them out.

There was never anything of substance on the site, so I decided to enter their chatrooms, which are dominated by evidently bored people talking about everything OTHER than Sarah Palin.

I eventually joined in, pointedly bringing up politics. I was immediately attacked for "making trouble", and except for one or two defenders, was essentially run out of the chat room. (I asked whether Palin intended to address lingering questions about her husband's involvement in state business)

There was a push by "Team Sarah" honchos to not get "nasty" with infiltrators, with the intended goal of winning over the detractors. I wrote the administrator about my negative experience and received a note of apology, an acknowledgment of the problem, and an assurance that "most" members were helpful and open minded.

When it happened again (like immediately), I wrote again, pointing out that some people had not gotten the message of tolerance. I never heard from the administrator again, and the next time I tried to sign into "Team Sarah", I received a notice that I had been bannned.

I urge all huffposters to sign in to Team Sarah at least once. It's a hoot.

[hackerblaster]

I had signed up and after having to click on the "Don't you just LOVE Sarah Palin" button I sent a message telling them it was unprofessional to require people to click on something like that. I was banned.

[Checquoline]

I think I would puke in my mouth.

[brt929]

I am afraid of mind control and losing points on my IQ. I've tangled with some of these cultists before, and they scare me!

[brt929]

EvasDaddy:

If you really want to be mystified- try the PUMA website.

I believe in everything they are talking about- yet these people HATE Obama, and supported the McCain/Palin ticket.

I don't get it. The McCain/Palin ticket stood for the exact opposite of everything they espouse at their website- women's rights, the war on poverty, etc. How did they get where they are? I just don't get it.

[ObamaYouBetcha]

Funny stuff about the paranoia running rampart on that site! Sounds like about 50% of the folks on TeamSarah are just there to ch eck out all the crazies, or have multiple identities. I've read a bunch of posts and comments around the interwebs about how very paranoid they are, and they spend a lot of time verifying, ferreting out identities and trying to identify all the "infidels" who are there to potentially bash their precious Sarah. Bwwaaahh .......