Here is Sarah Palin’s speech video and transcript from her electrifying appearance accepting the vice-presidential nomination. Stay with us as we live-blog during the time of her appearance at the RNC convention. In the earlier video she says that she is ‘honored to be chosen’ as John McCain’s VP pick.
Use this revised article at an open thread to discuss her RNC speech occurring on September 3rd, 2008. The time of the speech is at 10pm EST. We will live-blog Sarah Palin at the RNC convention, and will have the video and transcript posted here as soon as it is available.
Her nomination has already been received enthusiastically around the world including one cheeky British newspaper which described her “X appeal” which is presumably a reference to her ability to attract young women voters from Generation X. Clearly she has the wow factor as a VP candidate for everyone except liberal elements in the United States.
This is the most anticipated convention speech in a generation for both excitement and importance to a national ticket so tell us what you think.
Earlier this week she made a direct appeal to women voters by referring to the “good old boy” network, congratulating Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and recognizing Geraldine Ferraro’s VP run.
The Sarah Palin Vice President RNC convention speech was much anticipated. Her acceptance of the nomination rivals Barack Obama’s DNC speech in historical significance and the ratings for it will probably be higher than the GOP presidential candidate himself.
Palin’s speech on Wednesday already has all the buzz. The schedule was a little up in the air depending on what happened with the hurricane, but it is worked out now.
Sarah Palin is honored to be chosen, and John McCain is lucky to have her.
Sarah Palin Speech (Video)
Sarah Palin Speech (Video)
Sarah Palin’s GOP Convention Acceptance Speech
Transcript of speech (highlights; full transcript is below):
Remarks by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Vice Presidential Nominee to Address the 2008 Republican National ConventionOn her experience as a public servant:
“I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education better. When I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.”
On why she is going to Washington, D.C.:
“I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.”
On energy policies that the McCain-Palin administration will implement:
“Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems - as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines…build more nuclear plants…create jobs with clean coal…and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers.”
On John McCain:
“Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.”
[full transcript of Sarah Palin's speech is below]]
The full transcript available at the old media elite at ABCNews.
9.3.2008 - Sarah Palin Speech (RNC)
10:30 p.m. ET: Sarah Palin accepts the nomination for Vice President of the United States. [crowd goes wild!]
She accepts the challenge of a tough fight.The pollsters overlooked one thing when they wrote off John McCain a year ago. The caliber and sheer guts of the man, John McCain.
The American people didn’t. We understand that there is a time for politics and a time to put the country first.
He refused to break faith with the Soldiers in Iraq who have brought victory there in sight. As the mother of one of those troops, that’s exactly the kind of man I want as Commander in Chief.
She introduces her family. She praises small towns and small town people. They are the backbone of this great country. They support the country in good times and bad. They grow our food and fight for our country.
Media considers her disqualified for not being part of the Washington establishment. News flash to reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to get their approval, I’m going to Washington to serve the great people of this country.










August 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
What we have here is a female Bush (no pun intended). It doesn’t take a genius to see what Rove, Cheney, et. al. have in mind. They want unlimited power for the Administrative Branch, but at the same time a President who is a mere figurehead. This is what they have had for the past eight years, and this is what they want to continue. They will use their stranglehold on the American political process to get McCain elected. Do not expect McCain to live out his first term in office–he is gravely ill with melanoma, and this fact has been skillfully hidden. This woman will become President, and hopefully (for them) get reelected twice, leaving them in power forever. This has all been planned for a while. Palin did not go from small-town mayor to Governor of Alaska all by herself.
It is all very depressing, and America and the American people are going to suffer a great deal, as we continue to live out a scenario not all unlike “Animal Farm.” The only hopeful thought I have is, evil rides high, but has a habit of collapsing suddenly from its own weight. I will wait and see. Wait and see. I have great faith in America, and the ability of our democracy to weather this most recent assault upon our freedoms and upon our way of life.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Very good conspiracy, Ed. We’ll get Mulder and Scully on the case.
The point of Sarah Palin representing electrifying “change” is precisely that she is not like George Bush. She is a federalist, Goldwater conservative, budget-cutting, brilliant woman who can shoot straight. She is cuter than George too.
Sarah Palin is change we can believe in.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Edward, boy, you sound like a defeatist. The pick of Sarah Palin sure got you down, didn’t it. I think it was a brilliant pick, but come on, you still have 2+ months to go. Give it a fight, at least.
BTW, Sarah Palin is no Bush. Bush was a son of privilege, Yale grad, etc. She’s more like Reagan if you ask me. Humble origins, out of nowhere political career, country charm, and a look that just screams, “America.” Based on that alone, I can see why you’re down, Edward.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Clearly Sarah Palin screams America more than Obama bin Biden.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I LOVE little Piper’s tiara. That is so adorable!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Clearly Sarah Palin has scared the Obama camp. The things they are saying and the comments they are leaving are so mean spirited and hateful that its obvious a raw nerve has been hit.
Edward - your conspiracy theory is insulting to women on so many levels that its hard to know where to start. Fortunately, its so ludicrous that it hardly deserves are response.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Don’t you guys get it, only liberal women can be competent. Conservative women are bitter clingers who are nothing but subservient stepford wives. Come on pubs.
Seriously, it is sad how the left in this country is treating this lady. That only means one thing, they are concerned. I thought Bob Beckel was going to pass a stone this morning, he did not look well when talking about this pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Actually, most dems I’ve talked to are thrilled with this choice. They were most scared of Pawlenty followed by Romney and Lieberman.
The reason Dems are happy: it undercuts the #1 argument against Obama (in the minds of swing voters like myself — not the pundits here at this site who wouldn’t vote for a democrat if it were Jesus Himself), that being inexperience.
Republicans counter: yes, but we’re talking about VP, not President.
Common sense counters back: Yes, but we’re talking about a candidate (McCain) who is approaching the life expectancy for a man his age, and who has a history of health problems. That makes his VP pick very important in terms of substance and experience. And I’m sorry, < 2 years as governor of a state whose population is 1/16th of new york city is not very impressive (not that Obama’s 8 years in state senate is that impressive, but I think he’s proven that he’s no lightweight).
In the end, it ends up taking the inexperience issue out of the equation, which leaves (again, for swing voters, I know you rightpundits hate obama for his ideology not his ethnicity) the “otherness” issue. That should be dampened by mere exposure to his name, his face, his voice. So I really think in the end this is not a smart pick even for campaign purposes. Of course I changed my mind about that just today — initially I thought, “brilliant!” just like a lot of you. Obviously we’ll find out in the coming weeks.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Ironydetector, it doesn’t undercut the argument. It augments the argument. Every time you counter with “Palin is inexperienced,” the GOP will counter with your #1 guy is less experienced.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
The argument was coming from McCain’s camp, and organically from undecideds, and it had major traction. Now it won’t, because every time someone says “Obama’s not experienced,” the dem camp will respond, “he’s more experienced than the person you chose to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.” McCain’s age and health makes that a very potent counter-argument. It’s more important for Obama to be able to counter the experience argument than it is for him to be able to play it against the VP of the other side. Had McCain chosen Pawlenty, he’d still have the inexperience card to play. Now he doesn’t.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
McCain’s association between women’s suffrage and Palin’s being “a devoted wife and mother of five” is interesting — it’s as if he’s saying, “it’s nice that women have the vote and all, but we all know their most important roles in life are as devotees to men and nuturers of children.”
August 29th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
The “heartbeat away” argument didn’t work against Dan Quayle. It didn’t work against Cheney.
Irony, I see your point. All I’m saying is that if this turns into a credentials battle, McCain will still win.
Also, Biden’s experience/insider status seems to cut against Obama’s “change” mandate, so you have a reverse problem on the Dems side.
In any case, when all is said and done, the VP isn’t that important. What is important is that the blogosphere and news reports are focused on Sarah, not Obama, one morning after the “biggest speech ever.”
Point to McCain.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
You’re right that Obama has the reverse problem, but I would add that it’s not as “scary” as the worst-case scenario on the McCain side, at least to most people. I think people feel that at least Obama has someone experience to lean on — his own, and, just as important, Biden’s (this was actually the case made about Bush-Cheney by a lot of under-enthused republicans back when — they said, “he may not be great, but he’ll have a great team.”). On the other side, McCain has plenty of experience, but if it (or he) fails, Palin starts to look a little frightening, despite her compelling character.
That said, I agree with you: (Short term) Point to McCain. And probably several more next week. After that, we’ll see. In any case, it’s a very dynamic and exciting election scenario, which is not always true!
August 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
What we have here is a female Bush (no pun intended).
How very adolescent of you.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
McCain’s association between women’s suffrage and Palin’s being “a devoted wife and mother of five� is interesting — it’s as if he’s saying, “it’s nice that women have the vote and all, but we all know their most important roles in life are as devotees to men and nuturers of children.�
Why is it that men on the left think there’s something wrong with being a wife and mother? Why is it that they think that women have to be like men to be valued.
Maybe some women enjoy being wives and mothers. I assume some men enjoy being husband’s and fathers.
BTW - raising your children (whether you are male or female) IS the most important job any of us will ever do.
Women have a lot to offer society without having to act like men. We are different, not inferior. Men are different from us - not inferior. Why can’t liberals understand that? Why do they have to devalue anyone that isn’t doesn’t act masculine?
August 29th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Beth: Nicely put. There’s nothing wrong with traditional gender roles, and there’s nothing wrong with non-traditional gender roles. What matters is that parents are the best parents they can be.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
We get a progressive woman than actually accel in all depts. in her life, which is what the libs have always screamed women should do, and what do they do ?
They start shredding what is the spitting image of the kind of woman they champion.
A$$HOLES
August 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
“Actually, most dems I’ve talked to are thrilled with this choice. ”
actually i talked to those same dems … they all say the fact that palin is much more experienced than obama … even though she is only running for vp … terrifies them …
oh, and they also told me that you should not mention this to the dem toady ironydetector because if he finds out … he will just bother them again and try to convince them to vote for an unqualified obama
so ….. shhhhhhhhh … don’t tell ironydetector.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
ummm …. mccain … sculy may be available … but mulder is in rehab for sex addiction
August 29th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Wow !
Did you guys see O’Reilly just put up the banner MSNBC placed under the “breaking news ” when Palin was announced ?
Right under her pic as the anoouncement was made MSNBC placed a banner under her that said;
” How many houses does Palin add to the republican ticket?”
Unf*cking believeable.
Disgusting.
Show that to the moonbats that say the media is not in the tank for Obama.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I apologize for my sexist comment, Beth. You were right to call me out on it.
This is from Rush’s Web site today:
“I knew that it would be the Republican Party that first had a woman at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”
I am sure that Rush knows that the Vice President’s offical residence is the Naval Observatory, and not the White House. This woman Palin is being groomed to be President of the United States.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Ed,
I will be thrilled if she is elected in 2016. This will serve to move about 6 to 7% of the culturally conservative Dems in states like PA, MI, CT, NH, WI, NM, CO and MN. It is all over but the shouting.
An absolutely brilliant pick by Mac. The social cons are now mobilized - I am even going to give money although McCain was my 5th choice. Wow!
August 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
BTW - did someone give a speech, somewhere last night? I am trying to remember - at the tip of my tongue - nope - still can’t remember.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
[...] more partisan set of comments can be read at this Rightpundits post (but check out this one for the video of her speech today as well as a transcript of McCain’s comments today, all [...]
August 29th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Okay. Let’s never throw the “Obama isn’t experienced� card out there again. She became governor in 2006… She answered a question on the rumors of her becoming VP with the answer “What does a VP do?� Just a month ago… She is being investigated right now… Go do some searches. You’ll see she flip-flopped on why she fired the guy. First she said it was because she wanted him in a new job to focus on alcohol abuse in Alaska. And then, less than a month later, she said she fired him because she didn’t believe that he could control alcohol abuse in Alaska. She has been in charge of a state with more reindeer than people. There is a big different in pushing the button to switch on the lights in a god-forsaken town in Alaska and having your finger on the red flashing button. What happens, God forbid, if something happens to McCain (if he becomes President) and she becomes President. The sad thing is that there are many more competent women he could have chosen from. But he took this decision because he will do everything to become President. He did it because it is good for him. Not what is good for this country. It is a sexist decision trying to play “women� to get their vote. Shame on McCain.