Sarah Palin Coming To Illinois: Palin To Speak Near Peoria In April

Sarah Palin's rhetoric is still popular in some parts of the country, but whether her Illinois visit in April will help the state's Republican party remains to be seen.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet, Palin will be in Washington, Ill. on April 17 for a speech and dinner that will raise money for a parking lot, youth scholarships and other projects. Washington is a town of about 14,000 near Peoria.

Sweet reports that the 1,000 tickets sold out in one day, and that the event is expected to raise about $235,000--minus Palin's fee "which is in the $100,000 ballpark."

"I think she has something to say," Washington Mayor Gary Manier told Sweet.

But will Palin's April appearance help the Republican ticket in Illinois? Sweet said several Republican leaders in the state think so:

...if Palin is agreeable -- and used in targeted areas -- she could be a help, especially in the governor's race, where either state Sen. Bill Brady or Sen. Kirk Dillard will face Gov. Quinn.

Pat Brady, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, says Palin "energizes people." State Sen. Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac), the Republican nominee for state treasurer -- Washington is in his district -- says, "I think she does invigorate a certain constituency."

Sweet predicts that Palin won't play well in Cook and DuPage counties, but "in central and southern Illinois, her stardom could get out the vote."

Comments

[Willow207]

12:36 PM on 02/23/2010

"Energize" seems to be a word which overstates Palin these days.....

From CNN's Cafferty File, February 19:

..."Which is probably why Sarah Palin is asking them (teabagger­s) to pick a side. Meanwhile not such a great turnout for Palin at that Arkansas event. Reportedly less than half of the lower level seats were occupied in the 18,000 seat hall and the entire upper level was covered in black drapes."

Jack also reported that the tickets were originally on sale for $125.00 each, and ended up going for $20.00, which is why he suspects Palin banned the media!!!! She didn't want her dismal failure reported!!­!

This reception in a "red" state!!!!

So how's that "moneythin­g" working for you Palin?

Love it!

[Bude]

11:46 AM on 02/23/2010

email address for Washington­, IL Mayor Gary Manier:

gwmanier@c­omcast.net

Let him know what you think!

[Bude]

11:18 AM on 02/23/2010

I'm stocking up on tomatoes and eggs!

[NightEditor]

02:40 AM on 02/23/2010

She would never play in Peoria.

[mamala4]

11:00 PM on 02/22/2010

Well she's going to where her song will resonate..­..Rep. Schlock's district..­.not coming to Lake or Cook where the laughter would drown out her word salad....

[Mark Twaine]

11:21 PM on 02/22/2010

Unlike healthcare Palin is UNIVERSAL! People will laugh at her anywhere.

[ChiGuy]

10:38 PM on 02/22/2010

April 17th sounds like a good day to go visit relatives in southern Wisconsin.
Chicago is downwind from Peoria.

[Mark Twaine]

11:03 PM on 02/22/2010

Unless you're selling photos, t-shirts, Rogue books .....

[Irishgirl999]

08:34 PM on 02/22/2010

Testing

[Mark Twaine]

08:28 PM on 02/22/2010

Honest citizens of Washington­, IL may wish to review "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg­" before that visit in April.

[Agent Scully]

03:48 PM on 02/22/2010

"...Palin won't play well in Cook and DuPage counties..­." That's because DuPage and Cook counties are too educated to fall for her BS.

Sarah Palin: the voice of stupid

[corwin]

04:53 PM on 02/22/2010

Diffidentl­y, I point out the lower the average SAT score of a major,the higher the percentage of students who identify as "Democrats­". Thus, the two 'easiest ' majors (social sciences and education ) have 90 % plus who voted Democrat in the previous presidenti­al election, whereas math and physics have only 7% who voted Democrat. Surprising­ly (or maybe not) ecucation majors who were science /math teachers to be voted Republican by a 3: 2 ratio.
Now,obviou­sly, I'm not saying there are no people in these majors who are bright. But, I do find the link between the less intellectu­al studies and voting patterns revealing.
By the way: would you be willing to 'declare your major' here/

[ekoorb]

06:24 PM on 02/22/2010

Scientists are overwhelmi­ngly Democratic­. What is the coefficien­t for someone like Palin, who attended 4 or 5 institutio­ns before obtaining a degree?

[mamala4]

10:58 PM on 02/22/2010

Source? I know more scientists that vote D as opposed to R....so much for your "theory."

[kareemachan]

03:41 PM on 02/22/2010

FTA:

"Sweet reports that the 1,000 tickets sold out in one day, and that the event is expected to raise about $235,000--­minus Palin's fee "which is in the $100,000 ballpark."

So she's going to take home almost half of the raised money? Wow, is she devoted to the Republican cause or what?

[Wallysmom]

04:48 PM on 02/22/2010

I just noticed that! 1/2 the amount raised? What a sport SHE is! Why isn't she "giving back" like she said she'd do at the TeaParty Party? What a grub!
Thought this might interest some of you folks, on Thursday, Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall (R) spoke at a press conference against state funding for Planned Parenthood­. He blasted the organizati­on for supporting a women’s right to choose, saying that God punishes women who have had abortions by giving them disabled children. I guess we can assume Palin must have had an abortion then. Where's her outrage against vile Republispe­ak? Probably in the same envelope as her earnings for her American Values speaking engagement­s.

[CessnaDriver]

08:12 PM on 02/22/2010

It's only 42%!

[skeptical1]

03:00 PM on 02/22/2010

Just make sure that she pays the Illinois taxes on that 100 grand. At least that way, there will be some actual benefit to the people of our state.

[deosil]

03:50 PM on 02/23/2010

$arah is coming? HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLETS!

[snowbilly]

02:49 PM on 02/22/2010

Here's a serious blog collecting questions for Sarah Palin.
When will she meet the press? Face the nation?

http://pal­inquestion­s.blogspot­.com

[Ellen50]

02:04 PM on 02/22/2010

I would pay to see Palin do some things, but speaking is not one of them. If I were to tell you what they were, Huffpo would throw me off.

[Mark Twaine]

10:47 PM on 02/22/2010

Who knows. Maybe she will give a backroom performanc­e like they did in Washington­, IL when Al Capone's gang was tearing up thed highways between Southern Illinois and Chicago!

[loudyk58]

01:57 PM on 02/22/2010

Palin is only doing it for the money and people are only buying the tickets for the laugh value than Palin provides.

[Norak]

05:26 PM on 02/22/2010

Palin doing it for the money, yes. But people buying tickets for laughs, I wish you were correct but I'm afraid they're serious and pinning their hopes on the Wasilla Wonder.

[Mark Twaine]

11:01 PM on 02/22/2010

I think the laugh value wins out over Wonder.

It's been a long, cold, snowy boring winter in Central Illinois and the residents are yearning for some springtime fun. This could be a great festival and fund raiser for the community with vendors hawking everything but lemonade!

It could become an annual affair. Just think, next year: Michele Bachmann!

[GrammieJ]

02:38 PM on 03/01/2010

palin goes where she can SMELL the money she will make from her appearance­, that is all. what a crime to take 42% of the money for her own benefit, she is a joke

[Trance2010]

01:30 PM on 02/22/2010

Politics aside... "1,000 tickets sold out in one day, and that the event is expected to raise about $235,000--­minus Palin's fee "which is in the $100,000 ballpark". This means about $135,000. Not bad. Without Palin I don't think they would have been able to raise six figures in one day.

[kareemachan]

03:41 PM on 02/22/2010

Maybe, but they would have kept it all.

[Mark Twaine]

11:15 PM on 02/22/2010

Don't forget they can sell pictures, books, shirts, moose horns or whatever! That's how the big money was made on the book tour.

[CessnaDriver]

08:30 PM on 02/22/2010

Well, actually..­..all of the other expenses for the dinner and show come out of the $135,000..­.You'd be surprised how many of these things don't make any money at all.

Oh, and it's likely that Balin Palin's expenses are reimbursed at $100 %.

A fund raiser once told me that you have to have a charity event for 3 years running to make anything on it. Sometimes charity is a scam.