Rolling Thunder Vets: Sarah Palin Is A Real American (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- Sarah Palin came prepared.

Whether formally invited or even welcomed, the former governor arrived at the Rolling Thunder biker rally Saturday donning black pants, a t-shirt and apparently her own Harley Davidson helmet.

Thousands gathered among idling motorcycles and tricked-out hogs to catch a glimpse of her appearance, and to the well-wishers who managed to wiggle and squirm their way through the media horde and Altamont-esque security team, Palin had a black sharpie ready.

WATCH:

It hardly mattered that there had been zero advance notice on the details of her arrival.

“This is awesome,” Palin told HuffPost of the event. “This is good. Anything we could do for all the vets.”

Palin did not come to the Pentagon’s far north parking lot to give a lengthy discourse on veteran’s issues or pinpoint exactly where the Obama administration had failed our P.O.W.s and those still missing in action. She came to be seen and prove to the chattering class that her celebrity could still steal the spotlight from all the other leading Republican presidential hopefuls -- even at a news-free photo op. (Quick: Imagine Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney riding a Harley.)

She could even still flirt. "You got all this leather," she cooed at one fan as she fingered his leather vest. "Cool!"

Her daughters, Bristol, 20, and Piper, 10, stood awkwardly nearby. Bristol refused to comment on whether she thinks her mother should run for president. Piper, behind oversized shades, hid behind her mother and therefore could not be reached for comment.

A big beefy Sammy Hagar doppleganger bounded up to Palin and insisted on showing off all of his many tattoos. Of his body art, Palin noted she liked the Jesus fish best.

The former Alaska governor managed to stay message free. When someone shouted if she could do better than President Obama in some kind of motorcycle race, she demurred, joking that she could definitely beat him a snow mobile race.

One old head shouted “President Palin!” Others, realizing that the title had to be earned, yelled that Palin should at least run in the Republican primary. Palin at least represented Real America, they argued. Even with the multiple homes, bestselling books, and the snow mobiles.

Before hopping on the back of a Harley and riding out among the first wave of riders, HuffPost asked Palin about the reason for her popularity -- what does she think representing 'Real America' actually means?

And for one brief moment, she stopped smiling and wasn’t quite so sure what to say next.

Comments

[Paul Andrews]

12:40 AM on 06/05/2011

Does anyone remember Howard Dean ? He was DNC chair. well he said that he believes that Sarah Palin can beat OBAMA in 2012.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/164765-howard-dean-warns-palin-could-beat-obama-in-2012

[Paul Andrews]

12:28 AM on 06/05/2011

Well all you lefties out there The DOW is in the longest slump since 2004

[rowdiman]

09:56 PM on 06/01/2011

Bikers also do alot of drugs.

[Marlene Hobart]

05:57 PM on 06/02/2011

Assuming that you know this from how?

[rowdiman]

06:16 PM on 06/02/2011

Prison Tours

[feed the enemy]

09:11 PM on 06/01/2011

Does a real American, in their official role as half term Gov, give an official shout out to a secessionist group, the AIP, who's anti-American slogan is match by it's anti-American agenda?
And are the Vets enjoying the donut hole she gave in donations, or the fact that she ran with McCain, who voted down all benefits for Vets every time?

[bjammin]

08:18 PM on 06/01/2011

"Piper, behind oversized shades, hid behind her mother and therefore could not be reached for comment."

That line alone should win you guys the Pulitzer. Funny stuff.

[SocialistBoy]

07:36 PM on 06/01/2011

"Before hopping on the back of a Harley and riding out among the first wave of riders, HuffPost asked Palin about the reason for her popularity -- what does she think representing 'Real America' actually means?

And for one brief moment, she stopped smiling and wasn’t quite so sure what to say next."

Hey!! No fair asking her 'gotcha questions' o.k. !!!

[Redunzl]

09:55 PM on 06/01/2011

Just more empty regurgitations from the RWNJ's.

They like to throw out phrases like "real Americans", "traditional American values."

When you ask them to define what it means, they can't do it.

[Grannyover70]

03:59 PM on 06/01/2011

These "real" Americans are actually pretty snobbish and arrogant. Perhaps they, or Sarah, can
give me a list of what makes a "real American" and who they are insinuating is not. I always
thought that real Americans are made-up of many diverse people of many sizes, shapes, and
ideas. I would like a peak into their pigeonhole. This would be a heckofa country if only
people that rode around on Harleys, shot wolves from an airplane,and is able to speak hyperbole fluently was the criteria for being "real".

[RockyMissouri]

03:12 PM on 06/01/2011

Aieeee...........!

[southernblue]

03:00 PM on 06/01/2011

Currently reading Frank Bailey's new insider book. She could have set up certain people to make the statement about her being a true American. That's how she operates.

[Sean Myers]

01:20 PM on 06/01/2011

funny. i hope she runs for president, too. but not because i support her.

[sprootles]

01:18 PM on 06/01/2011

"She came to be seen and prove to the chattering class that her celebrity could still steal the spotlight from all the other leading Republican presidential hopefuls -- even at a news-free photo op."

And to prove she could still take an issue like veterans and POW's and make it all about her.

"She could even still flirt. "You got all this leather," she cooed at one fan as she fingered his leather vest. "Cool!"

Seriously...she acts like she's auditioning for M e a n Girls and expects to be thought of as 'presidential'?

"A big beefy Sammy Hagar doppleganger bounded up to Palin and insisted on showing off all of his many tattoos. Of his body art, Palin noted she liked the Jesus fish best."

Playing the J e s u s card to cover using her gender to get the attention of part of the audience and 'flirt' her way along the political process. She thinks she was treated poorly due to her gender? She should stop this type of behavior or at least stop feigning offense when called on it.

"Palin at least represented Real America, they argued. Even with the multiple homes, bestselling books, and the snow mobiles."

This is what is s c a r y about these people. They fork over their dough to her and they still don't get it. They think she is one of them, with her lifestyle, and they still don't get it.

[Kyle10]

01:11 PM on 06/01/2011

"Real American" = "This person somehow reflects my parochial myopia."

[livefortruth]

12:43 PM on 06/01/2011

Geez, that video convinced me Sarah Pain is POTUS material.

[Brent Willcom]

12:28 PM on 06/01/2011

I was born in America so does that make me a "real American?" When someone uses the term "real American" it really means one is a rac1st.

[wayoutleft]

12:54 PM on 06/01/2011

PLUR fanned. I would add "overweight" to "rac1st"

[fatback65]

12:25 PM on 06/01/2011

Palin is a phoney only interested in financial gain and a complete poser.