Sarah Palin's CLSA Speech May Be "Borat"-Style Practical Joke

Sarah Palin is planning her first trip to Hong Kong, having accepted one of a over a thousand speaking invitations. She may have chosen poorly.

Business Insider reports that the request from brokerage firm CLSA was made "almost certainly as a practical joke."

In the past, they've polled Asian fortune tellers for index targets, hired anime cartoonists to draw Japanese research, and generally love to push the boundaries between entertainment and analysis. They are a real research firm, it's just that they love to sprinkle in some hilarity every now and then as a smart marketing gimmick.

Sarah Palin is this year's big laugh for them.

"Our keynote speakers are notable luminaries who often address topics that go beyond traditional finance such as geopolitics," company spokeswoman Simone Wheeler said in a statement.

"We just felt it would be a fabulous opportunity for CLSA clients to hear from Mrs. Palin," Wheeler said, adding that CLSA approached Palin with the offer.

Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore said the story makes sense, given that Palin is hardly an investment expert: "If CLSA's purpose is comic relief in hiring her, they may get their money's worth... that's if she shows up."

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Comments

[tj101]

The invitation is a practical joke?!?

Fabulous!!!

[Barbara Schuckers]

We'll see if the speech is a joke when its over. The joke this week was Van Jones. I wonder how much he can collect on unemployment? I shouldn't be too happy about that because it's the working people that have to pay that. Not that too many people are still working. Uh well, maybe he can get a bailout.

[sippewissett]

This assignment works from Palin's end because it's part of her new Gravy Train strategy. No one said you have to be smart to be rich in America. However her unsavory record in Alaska continues to haunt her, including the latest revelation that her quitting cost the state plenty, not the least of which was a special session of the legislature. http://www.adn.com/palin/story/922853.html

None of that bothers Palin now that she is accountable to no one but the lobbyists who pay her; however this speech could backfire on her plenty because she is an idiot about economics and finance, let alone knowing where Hong Kong is, so even with a professionally written speech from a writer from the Speakers Bureau, it's hard to imagine her coming out of this looking even slightly smart, you betcha.

[Patriot Ig]

You don't need to be smart to be rich in America. You also don't need to be smart to become a successful politician. Look to Washington for a multitude of examples.

[MelRoy]

I think this is a win-win for both CLSA and Palin.

I think Palin is past the point of caring whether she's being set up for ridicule. She's in it for the money. Even if all her speaking engagements are just for the comic relief of the audience, she is getting what she wants - paid.

And CLSA gets loads of publicity, for the relatively modest price of her speaking fee.

[sippewissett]

You are naive if you think that the kind of publicity CLSA is getting is good for their brand. Many of their members who fail to see the humor in such a move are up in arms and since they manage billions of dollars, these are not people who prefer humor over sober economic and financial acumen.

[Carsy]

You do have a point, these are hard economic times and CLSA needed perhaps a bit of shock factor at this conference. I don't know how anyone from that group can watch her speech in July without rolling their eyes and wondering what Simone Wheeler is thinking. I'm guessing there is some guy on the board that thinks she's hot and wants to met her in person.

[loudyk]

I'm thinking there is a mistake here. CLSA also stands for Contact Lens Society of America. I'm sure that is where Palin is giving her speech. It's more up to her speed.

[loudyk]

It is also located in Virginia. Hong Kong, Virginia...she won't notice the difference.

[kissfm]

If you just do a quick Google, former speakers at the CLSA forum have included President Clinton. Guess that was all a Borat-spoof as well, yes?

[BushIsAWarCriminal]

They are a real research firm that 'sprinkles in' jokes like this Palin invite. Obviously Clinton wasn't a joke. He was a real politician, and a great President. And best of all, he made the Rethugs angry as a wet dog on a cold day.

[MelRoy]

No, but Clinton and Palin have something in common: the power to attract audiences and generate headlines.

It's a public relations coup for CLSA. Tell me, y'all - how many of you heard of CLSA before this?

[sippewissett]

Yeah, but how many would entrust their money to a firm that invites Palin as the keynote speaker in front of international money managers? Get it? They can hurt their brand, not promote it.

[lordmi]

or maybe they need the sip of Comedy on their meeting?

[SukNg]

"CLSA provides edible dinner entertainment". Brokers have a larf. Yet another day in dog-eat-dog world, HK. Looking forward to reports of her Far-East Disaster.

[FINJA]

Oh, laughter

The fact that she was ever elected to public office is a true "Forrest Gump" type of story.

I am sure she will enlighten all who hear her speech :)

[hauty007]

why comment, wait & see.

Dr. King suffered incredible persecution for his stand, as does Sarah.
Both could have taken the easy way out, but both chose to take a stand--because it was right.

[nailinpalinnow]

::simply rolls eyes::

[Nagarjuna]

If only we could figure out what Sarah's "stand" is.

Bible Spice likened to Dr. King. Now I've heard it all. What next, Mrs. Potato-Head compared to Gandhi?

[BushIsAWarCriminal]

You compare Palin to Dr. King? And your mates compare President Obama to Hitler while considering running Dick for President in 2012. Who runs the GOP? Britteny Spears?

[ricmarc]

this is a " fabulous opportunity". simply fambulous, absolutely fabuouls. any way you look at it it is fabulous, really, really fabulous.

[mamapower]

I guess they want to see a "STUPID-AMERICAN" in person.

[PSM42]

So long as they make sure it is the Tina Fey version -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/18/sarah-palin-on-snl-with-t_n_135887.html

[nailinpalinnow]

Sarah will not be punked, but Murdoch doesn't mind lowering expectations.

Big Sarah In Little China - Murdoch Will Have The Last Laugh

http://nailinpalinnow.blogspot.com

[Stanislaw]

A Borat-style joke? Well, that can't be right because Borat doesn't quit his jokes halfway through.