Reporting from Palin Watch Party In Easley, South Carolina

Veola Carter reported on a Palin Watch Party held in Easley, South Carolina. Veola is an Obama supporter and fellow, and hosted the small party for "undecideds" and Independents. Her report was filed in response to the latest OffTheBus Special Ops assignment requesting members to report on Palin Watch Parties.

QUESTION: How does the crowd react to Palin's speech?
ANSWER: "Most of the 'Independent and Undecided' voters at my party, were angered, positively influenced or left any more perplexed as to which way they will vote, if at all. A couple of them made remarks, about voting for, either, an Independent or Green Party Candidate."

QUESTION: Are there certain aspects of the speech that resonate most?
ANSWER: Yes! (1) The statements that Mrs. Palin made about Mr. Obama's view on how the "terrorist" should be treated after being detained. (2) The remarks re: Mr. Obama's plan to raise taxes (while using her sister and brother-in-law's small business as an example). (3) The continuous assaults on Mr. Obama's and Mr. Biden's lack of military experience. (4) The remarks about Mr. Obama's plans to discontinue drilling for oil and the entire alternative energy issue, in general. (5) Mr. Obama's lack of experience 'governing' (any body of government large or small).

QUESTION: Are there parts of the speech that upsets people?
ANSWER: Yes! The statements about Mr. Obama's lack of 'governing' experience; Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden's non-military backgrounds; Their policy on the alternative energy issue and Mr. Obama's Hollywood/Rock Star persona;

QUESTION: What is the crowd like? What is the age, political party, gender and racial breakdown?
ANSWER: The crowd was relaxed (in the beginning), intense (towards the middle and at the end), focused, but yet, anxious. The average age of the crowd was 50+ yrs old. The political party affiliation was Independent. The gender of the crowd was 60% female and 40% male. The racial breakdown was 75% European-American, 15% African-American and 10% Hispanic.

QUESTION: What do people say about Palin before her speech?
ANSWER: Most of them had a negative opinion of her. Their judgement was based upon the issue surrounding her pregnant teenage daughter. The fact that she (Palin) was unknown, until a week ago, and the fact that she has no foreign policy experience;

QUESTION: Does Palin's speech influence their opinions of her?
ANSWER: Yes! Her speech influenced their opinions of her, in positive, negative and mediocre ways.

QUESTION: Do the men and women at the audience react differently to Palin?
ANSWER: Yes! Some of the men were still left with a negative opinion of her (partly because she's still a woman) and some of the women were left with a more negative opinion of her, because she did not mention her stance on Roe vs Wade. There were more men impressed with her, than women.

QUESTION: What are people talking about before and after the speech? Are they interested in the family drama that has gotten a lot of press in the past few days? Do people care that her daughter is pregnant, that she has an infant, etc...?
ANSWER: People were talking, mostly, about her daughter's teen pregnancy, the medical condition and special needs (now and definitely in the future) of her infant. A lot of the older people 65+ yrs old, could not begin to understand how a mother could or would just put herself, her career, her goals before the needs and wants of her children.

QUESTION: Do people think McCain made a good choice in picking Palin? What do they think this says about McCain?
ANSWER: No! People believe that McCain only chose Palin, because he (McCain) wanted to make his own 'unprecedented' chapter in U.S. history (by choosing a female running mate). This tells people, that McCain will go to any measure necessary to get what he's after. This election is just another 'military strategy,' (similiar to the ones that he had to use) in order to survive during the Vietnam War.

Comments

[raskolnikov72]

very interesting, indeed. thank you!

[Veola Carter - Huffpost Blogger]

Raskolnikov72:

I thank you, for your positive comment!

[mamacat]

Very interesting.

[Veola Carter - Huffpost Blogger]

Mamacat:

I'd like to "thank you" for your positive comment!